A Woman’s Gardening Costume 
CLOTHES FOR THE FEMININE DEVOTEES OF GARDENING COMBINING UTILITY 
WITH ATTRACTIVENESS—A PRACTICAL GARMENT AND HOW TO MAKE IT 
by Grace Tabor 
NE may cut flowers and dawdle about the garden in almost 
any picturesque frock from the wardrobe — indeed, the 
I 
for real gardening activities, 
more picturesque the better—but 
know by experience that it takes real gardening garb 
to work freely and comfortably and efficiently—and 
remain sightly. And right here let me say that this 
applies to men quite as much as to women; but the 
men must work out that part of it themselves. It 
is quite beyond me. 
Every normal woman demands three things of 
her clothes: That they be becoming (I put this in 
the position its importance demands) ; that they 
protect her according to the demand of the circum¬ 
stances under which they are to be worn; that they 
be as durable as is consistent with their purpose. 
No one wants an over-durable ball gown, of course, 
hut everyone wants sports’ clothes to have strength 
and staying powers. And gardening dress comes in 
the latter category, I take it. 
A complete protection of the body from the sun is 
the most imperative demand of the second class 
made upon the garden outfit, and I wish to lay 
•especial emphasis upon this, because there is an alto¬ 
gether too prevalent notion that the individual who 
shrinks from tan and a general weather beating is 
if one is 
is not a garment to appeal. For we all know that a good, prac¬ 
tical bathing suit is not over-attractive as a human habiliment. I 
do not claim for this long, straight garment, which has finally come 
into being under numerous experiments, any superlative degree 
of beauty, but I think no one will deny that it has 
possibilities that do not lie in the sea-going dress. It 
is cut without a pattern, as the chart shows, and when 
it is put together the wearer steps into it, draws the 
bottom of the bloomers up to just below the knee, 
turning the applied hem up around the leg; draws it 
up over the skirts; gets into the sleeves and fastens 
it as any coat or dress would fasten down the front. 
I find the best material for all-round use is khaki. 
If you prefer some other color to this, however, 
choose a galatea or a good quality of denim. The 
khaki color is undoubtedly the best, I think, although 
a strong, clear red is perhaps cooler under the direct 
rays of the sun. But red may draw bees to you; so, 
if you are mindful of them, avoid it. Bumblebees, 
especially, seem to be attracted, under the impression, 
no doubt, that they are approaching some great, bril¬ 
liant flower. Moreover, red cuts have a disconcert¬ 
ing fashion of transferring some of their brilliance to 
A gardening 
practical as 
becoming 
the 
.somehow not the “real article." Believe me, this is 
not so; and sunburning and its attendant agonies 
never do anyone a particle of good, and have done many, many 
people very real and definite harm, physically as well as artis¬ 
tically. A burn made by the sun is quite as surely a burn as 
•one made with fire, and, extended over a large area of the body, 
is only a degree less dangerous than the latter, because it is less 
intense. As a matter of fact, sunburn is known to have been 
fatal in more instances than one. 
So, to cover up completely is a requisite; and in the dress 
which I have finally 
worked out and 
adopted I proceeded 
along this line so de¬ 
terminedly that not 
a cranny admits di¬ 
rect sun-ravs to the 
skin anywhere. 
Some enthusiastic 
gardeners tell me 
that they prefer a 
suit to any- 
else which 
they have ever tried, 
and I have no doubt 
the bathing suit 
comes as near the 
ideal garden dress as 
anything not made 
for gardening can 
do. Unless one’s 
garden is absolutely 
private, however, it 
costume 
well as 
bathing 
thing 
A bathing-suit is convenient, if out of place, 
garden 
section upon which they rest. So, in choosing, 
always make sure that the color is not only fast, but 
one that will not crock. 
Sew on the pockets in the positions the diagram 
shows; bring the sleeves to the proper length by adding as much 
to them as may be required—khaki is usually 27 inches wide. Sew 
the garment up with French seams, as indicated; gather the wrists 
and the bottoms of the bloomers into bands three-quarters of an 
inch wide when finished. Run half-inch elastic into this; draw 
them snugly, but not uncomfortably tight; face the neck; finish 
the front opening with a lap to go under at the left side, and button 
blindly, or button with small, round buttons, matching the ma¬ 
terial and loops. 
Sew on strips at 
either side to hold 
up the belt, and 
make a belt of the 
material, or use one 
of leather in a har¬ 
monious color. A 
plain, round Dutch 
collar, with a bow 
tie the color of the 
belt, is the most 
effective neck finish. 
The hat is a com¬ 
bination of boudoir 
cap and the sea- 
m an's sou’wester, 
chid, for complex¬ 
ion’s sake, I should 
advise facing the 
under side of the 
brim with red. Of 
( Cont. on page 230) 
A large hat is essential when working in the garden 
on sunny days 
