ECONOMY IN RIDING DRESS. 195 



riding, or is going away. If the size of the waist seems to 

 suit you, answer without delay, and if, when sent on ap- 

 proval, you find that the cut and quality are good, close at 

 once with the bargain, and get such alterations effected in 

 the article as may happen to be required. I have known 

 one or two ladies with very moderate dress allowances who 

 secured really excellent riding habits in this way, — but, of 

 course, everything will depend upon the maker ; a high- 

 class house rarely or never turns out an indifferent cloth, 

 and the cut is certain to be good. 



Again, you may be able to borrow a pair of well-made 

 riding trousers from some intimate lady friend, and if you 

 are smart and can make a couple of pairs for your own use 

 by the pattern lent you, it will be a great saving of expense. 

 Breeches will be more difficult to accomplish successfully : in 

 fact, I regard the cutting of them by amateurs as very nearly 

 impossible, so perhaps they had better not be attempted : 

 but, with proper self-measurements and a good pattern before 

 you, I can see no reason why comfortable riding-trousers 

 should not be creditably turned out. When making these, 

 cut the linings for the different parts the exact size of the 

 various pieces, and take care to tack piece and lining together 

 before running up the whole. If this is not done you will 

 experience great difficulty in adjusting the linings when the 

 garment has been put together — indeed, you will probably 

 fail completely, for it is a most difficult thing to do, and 

 the plan I have named is a very good one, although the 

 seams cannot (when it is adopted) look quite as neat on 

 the inside as if a tailor had had the doing of the job. If 



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