American Agriculturist, August 16, 1924 
109 
A Busy Mother’s Sewing Short Cuts 
A. A. Readers Tell of Kitchen and Sewing Room Economics 
F OR busy mothers who do even a part 
of their own and their family’s sew¬ 
ing, the following hints from the experi¬ 
ence of a mother of three (who does all 
her own and the children’s sewing), are 
offered. 
First, in selecting patterns, whenever 
possible choose those of simple lines. 
They are easier to use, garments of this 
sort are quickly made up and they are not 
tired of so soon. 
One can, unless in case of a style for 
very special occasions, choose patterns 
with a view to using them again and 
again. By a change of materials and 
trimming, the same pattern may be used 
for all the children’s rompers. This will 
time in cutting, too, as several 
scallop or other trimming on the fold. 
Once you get acquainted with it your 
work basket will never be without it. for 
its cost is small. A supply of elastic is 
needed, too. One will find many uses for 
it if some is always at hand. It may be 
bought by the reel, if desired. 
salt and 1 tablespoon cornstarch. To this 
add 1 egg, well beaten. Stir thoroughly 
and add to the boiling vinegar. Let 
thicken, cool, thin to desired consistency 
with milk and add to finely shredded or 
chopped cabbage. Always mix dressing 
for salad with a fork, using a lifting motion 
Middy'suits are cunning for the kiddies, to prevent its becoming soggy and heavy. 
and look all the more middy-like if braid 
trimmed. The braid may be bought by 
the yard or piece and is sold by some 
concerns already stitched to a contrasting 
colored band, which is to be stitched to 
Never stir with or use a spoon. 
Cabbage and Apple Salad. —To finely 
shredded cabbage add an equal amount 
of diced apple. Use the’dressing described 
above, substituting 1 tablespoon for 1 tea- 
It takes but little longer to use a bit of 
braid or some bias-binding to make 
youngsters’ clothes pretty, and they 
appreciate it, bless them! They love 
save tune m cutting, too, as 
garments may be cut at once, assembled pretty clothes as well as we grown-ups 
and laid aside to be “run up” when and their instinctive good taste and liking 
convenient. for beauty may be developed or ruined 
Mother’s house-dresses may all be cut by the way they are clothed. This is an 
from one pattern; they’ll scarcely show it important duty for us mothers, after all— 
if a little attention is given to details of let us not shirk it.— Mabelle Robert. 
finishing. > # - 
I like one-piece or two-piece patterns, 
and have a number of such dresses, a 
brassiere, step-ins, child’s underwaist, 
rompers, overalls, etc 
of date for several seasons, for with the 
simple pattern as a foundation one may 
add distinctive touches to bring it up to 
the minute. 
Think Before You Buy Patterns 
The same is true of patterns for any of 
the other garments above mentioned. 
There seem to be a few styles that are 
more or less standardized; the raglan- 
sleeved coat for a child is a noteworthy 
example. This style of coat has many 
things to recommend it: it has simple 
lines, is easier for a home sewer to put 
together than one with “fitted” sleeves, 
and has a swagger air that is irresistible, 
whether worn by the small boy or his 
sister. 
Besides all this, it is often better for a 
make-over than a pattern with the other 
style of sleeves, as the narrow part at the 
shoulder allows them to be cut from a 
better portion, perhaps, of the original 
garment. 
After the patterns and the cutting 
comes the putting together. In this, 
creased hems, paper clips, and a warm 
iron always play an important part. I 
almost never baste a garment, unless one 
for “Sunday Best.” The basting isn’t so 
bad, but ripping bastings from an other- Simple, isn’t it? 
wise finished garment is a nuisance. 
One of my greatest helps in sewing is 
a supply of bias-binding in white and in 
colors. It is always handy. The half 
inch width, or wider, is easiest to use, I 
believe. For a child’s underwaist, for 
the middy and is a very effective trim, spoon of sugar. To the apple and cabbage 
may be added raisins and nuts, either or 
or both, for novelty. 
Cabbage, Peas and Onion Salad-—To 
finely shredded cabbage add the left-over 
peas, well drained (any amount up to 1 
cupful), and Yl onion chopped finely. Mix 
well with a fork and add the following 
dressing. 
Dressing .—Yl cup sour cream, 1 tea¬ 
spoon sugar, Y teaspoon salt, 1 table¬ 
spoon vinegar. Beat well and pour over 
salad. Serve immediately. This dressing 
may be used on cabbage and onion with¬ 
out the peas, or on cabbage, onion and 
celery. In summer this dressing is 
delicious on lettuce. 
Macaroni Salad. —Two cups boiled 
macaroni, fi cabbage shredded, Yl cup 
peas, H onion chopped. Mix well and use 
ordinary boiled dressing. 
Cabbage as a Base for Salad. —Use cab¬ 
bage in the place of lettuce. Place 
shredded cabbage on a salad plate. On 
this put two or three thin slices of Spanish 
’onion on which a ball of cottage cheese 
is placed. Pour mayonnaise over the 
cheese. This may be garnished with 
slices of hard-boiled egg, or eggs may be 
used in place of the cheese. 
Burned Granite Ware 
M Y favorite little granite kettle got 
badly scorched and I was very 
A becoming dress style will not be out sorry, because granite ware doesn’t stand 
burning well. One can clean iron and 
aluminum, but the process of cleaning 
usually starts granite flakes peeling off 
and the utensil is ruined. I washed 
vigorously with a metal dishcloth and 
plenty of scouring powder and finally 
boiled the kettle well in ashes and water, 
but nothing would fade the blackened 
bottom; the coating seemed as permanent 
as the kettle itself, so I gave up at last, 
thinking it could be used only for dry 
articles or dishwater. 
When some wild strawberries were 
discovered in the orchard I snatched that 
kettle and started after them but, re¬ 
membering how badly my roses needed 
spraying, I set the dish on the grindstone 
frame in the sun while attending to my 
rose bugs first. Two or three hours later 
I picked up the kettle and was surprised 
to see the burned bottom had risen in 
scales all over like blistered paint. I 
rubbed it lightly with my finger and, to 
my great delight, that scorched surface 
rubbed off like dust, leaving the granite 
clean and smooth underneath. Hereafter 
when my granite ware burns I shall 
simply wash it clean and put it out where 
the sun can do for me what I have no 
idea how to accomplish for myself. 
—Mrs. E. M. Anderson. 
example, I use this binding on all raw 
Using Every Bit of Food 
W ITH the aid of an exceedingly capa¬ 
ble mother-in-law, a natural ability 
to make things edible inherited from my 
own mother, and a reckless desire to pre¬ 
edges except the lower, and stitch some pare something new, I have during the 
over the shoulders to reinforce the waist 
[where the pull of the hose-supporters 
come. I have found that two eyelets 
(with their connecting strip of cloth) 
cut from the lacing section of an old 
corset and attached with one such strip 
at each side of the waist for garter pins, 
will add to the life of the garment. 
Colored Binding a Pretty Touch 
The binding at neck and armholes 
might be colored for a girl’s underwaist. 
The colored binding is also a dainty 
and easy way to finish and trim the 
practical step-ins and brassieres that 
are so much worn. It is more lasting than 
lace for everyday wear, too. 
In making a child’s drawers, finish side 
openings with a continuous piece of the 
binding. It guards against tearing out 
at side seams. 
For outer garments its usefulness is 
almost unlimited. It finishes and trims 
so nicely, and is appropriate for use on 
such a variety of clothing. Bind the neck 
opening of children’s play suits and they 
will not tear down where fastened. There 
are many kinds and colors of this binding. 
Some is plain, < some is folded and has a 
past few years evolved the following 
dishes. The main idea of all of them is 
to use every scrap—to have no left-overs 
—utilizing every bit of everything. 
Cabbage—“The Versatile Vegetable 
Cabbage Salad. —When cabbage is used 
alone in a salad I have found the following 
dressing makes it more palatable: 
Melt 1 teaspoon butter in Yl cup vine¬ 
gar and let come to a boil. Mix 1 teaspoon 
mustard, 1 teaspoon sugar, Yl teaspoon 
Tomatoes—They’re So Good for You 
Cream of Tomato Soup.—To one pint 
of tomatoes add 1 teaspoon sugar and let 
come to a boil. Put through colander and 
replace on stove. Let one pint of milk 
come to a boil and thicken with one table¬ 
spoon of flour in water. To this add salt 
to taste and 1 tablespoon butter. When 
the milk mixture is ready, add Y teaspoon 
soda to tomatoes, stir well and add the 
milk. Serve immediately with crackers 
or toast cubes. 
Tomatoes, Rice and Cheese.—Boil Yl 
cup rice. Drain in colander. In buttered 
casserole place layer of rice, layer of finely 
cut cheese, layer of tomatoes and repeat. 
Place salt and pepper on top and pour Yl 
cup tomato juice over it all. Bake Yl 
hour. 
Tomato Rarebit.—Melt 2 tablespoons 
butter in a spider. Add 2 tablespoons 
finely chopped onion and let it brown. 
Add 1 cup tomatoes and let the mixture 
come to a boil. Let 1 tablespoon butter 
melt in another dish and stir in 1 table¬ 
spoon flour. Add 1 cup milk and stir 
until it thickens. Then add Yl tablespoon 
mustard, mixed in little water, and Y 
cup finely cut cheese. Stir well until 
cheese melts. Then add Yl teaspoon salt 
and put in tomato mixture. Stir well and 
serve at once on buttered toast.— 
Marion K. Clark. 
Preserving Shoe Soles 
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137 East 43rd Street New York City 
Take a Trip to 
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Only 2 Days from New York 
Average Summer Temperature Only 77° 
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AS soon as the glazing is worn 
x \ the bottoms of new shoes, paint the 
soles with hot linseed oil. It will quickly 
soak in and the soles should be given as 
much oil as they will absorb. 
This method preserves the leather; 
it makes the leather hard and besides 
being waterproof, the soles will wear 
about three times as long as they other¬ 
wise would. The glazing can be removed 
by sand papering if preferred. The 
sooner the oil is applied, the less of the 
leather wears away. 
A few cents spent should save many 
dollars on children’s shoes and on those 
of the farmer who often has to walk on 
wet ground.—E. S. 
Have Good Hair 
And Clean Scalp 
Cuticura 
Soap and Ointment 
Work Wonders 
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WASHINGTON. D. C. 
When writing advertisers be sure to 
say you saw it in the 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
