The Mary Frances Sewing Book; Or, Adventures Among the Thimble People

The entire contents of this book are protected by the
stringent new copyright law, and all persons are warned
not to attempt to reproduce the text, in whole or in part,
or any of the illustrations.

Copyright, 1913, by
Jane Eayre Fryer

BY THE SAME AUTHOR

THE MARY FRANCES COOK BOOK
——OR——
ADVENTURES AMONG THE KITCHEN PEOPLE

The Mary Frances Cook Book is the exceptionally clever and fascinating story of a little girl who wanted to learn to help her mother. Only it is much more than a story. It tells in story form how Mary Frances learned to cook. She wants to know what all the kitchen pots and pans are for, so she asks them. And they tell her—the pots and pans talk. The book gives recipes in the simplest, plainest words. It describes every operation clearly—just what Mary Frances did, and how she learned to avoid mistakes. The book stimulates the imagination and creates a desire to follow Mary Frances’ example. 8vo. Cloth, 170 pages. Over 200 colored illustrations by Margaret G. Hays and Jane Allen Boyer.
PRICE $1.20 NET

PREFACE

Dear Girls:

Many of you already know Mary Frances’ old friends, the Kitchen People, and have learned to love them. I hope all of you will do so in time.

This book tells the story of Mary Frances’ new friends, the Thimble People, who helped her spend a delightful summer vacation at her Grandmother’s. It tells how she met Sewing Bird, who was a real Fairy Lady, and the other Thimble People; and how they taught her a lot of fascinating secrets, and finally took her on a long journey to Thimble Land, and brought her back safely, after the most marvelous adventures. Because they proved so helpful and friendly, she wants you to know them, too.

The Thimble People, like the Kitchen People, are peculiar in that they can be of little help to those who dislike them; so that, unless you are prepared to be fond of them, it is best not to seek their acquaintance.

Toward those who show indifference or dislike, they behave in a most contrary manner. For example, Tommy Pin Cushion is a regular porcupine, and bristles right up instinctively at the least inkling of dislike. But if he knows you like him, he will roll over himself to help.

Another thing (and Mary Frances says to be very particular on this point)—if any little girl, who really wishes to learn to sew, will follow the lessons exactly as given by the Thimble People, she can hardly fail to win the Needle-of-Don’t-Have-to-Try for her very own.

In the hope that all will achieve this much-to-be-desired end, this record of Mary Frances’ new adventures is sent out to the girls of America with the best wishes of

The Author.

Merchantville, N. J.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER		PAGE
I.	Sewing Bird	17
II.	Sewing Bird Begins to Teach	26
III.	The Long and Short of Basting	32
IV.	Sewing Bird’s Secret	40
V.	Sewing Bird Teases Dick Canary	45
VI.	The Stitch Grandma Learned	50
VII.	Blanket Stitch, and Its Sister	54
VIII.	Sewing Bird Fairy Lady	58
IX.	Magic and Mystery	66
X.	A Doll’s Laundry Bag	75
XI.	Mr. Silver Thimble and Mr. Emery Bag	82
XII.	Mary Frances’ Treasure Box	89
XIII.	Making a Doll’s Apron	93
XIV.	A Loan from the Thimble King	98
XV.	Three Little Kittens	103
XVI.	A Surprise from Mother	107
XVII.	Mary Marie’s Handkerchief	115

CHAPTER		PAGE
XVIII.	A Nightie For Her Little Nap	125
XIX.	Her Bath-Robe	135
XX.	Ma Chine	145
XXI.	Aunt Maria Makes a Visit	159
XXII.	A Ruined Dress	175
XXIII.	The Flannel Pet	182
XXIV.	The White Pet	191
XXV.	Can the Dolly Talk	201
XXVI.	A Fur-lined Cape	212
XXVII.	A “Dress-up” Dress	217
XXVIII.	A Party Dress	224
XXIX.	Mary Marie Goes Automobiling	234
XXX.	Mary Marie Goes in Bathing	243
XXXI.	Muffs and Caps and Prettiest Traps	248
XXXII.	Who Stole Mary Marie’s Clothes	254
XXXIII.	Mary Frances Visits Thimble Land	258
XXXIV.	What Was in the Fairy Bag	269
XXXV.	Mary Frances at Home	278

LIST OF PATTERNS

		PAGE
1.	Doll’s Laundry Bag	67
2.	Doll’s Apron	93
3.	Doll’s Handkerchief	119
4.	Doll’s Nightgown	127
5.	Doll’s Bath-Robe	136
6.	Doll’s Kimono	154
7.	Doll’s Dressing Sack	156
8.	Doll’s Pinafore	171
9.	Doll’s Morning Dress	177
10.	Doll’s Flannel Petticoat	186
11.	Doll’s Underwaist	188
12.	Doll’s Lawn Petticoat	195
13.	Doll’s Drawers	198
14.	Doll’s Rompers	208
15.	Doll’s Bloomers	210
16.	Doll’s Leggings	211
17.	Doll’s Fur-lined Cape	215
18.	Doll’s Afternoon Dress	219

		PAGE
19.	Doll’s Guimpe	228
20.	Doll’s Party Dress	229
21.	Doll’s Automobile Coat	238
22.	Doll’s Automobile Bonnet	240
23.	Doll’s Bathing Suit	244
24.	Doll’s Fur Muff and Tippet	249
25.	Doll’s Sun Bonnet	250
26.	Doll’s Work Bag	251
27.	Doll’s Rain Coat	269
28.	Doll’s Polo Cap	270
29.	Doll’s Wedding Dress	271
30.	Lady’s Work Bag	273
31.	Lady’s Belt	274
32.	Baby’s Bib	274
33.	Girl’s Collar	275

INSTRUCTIONS

		PAGE
1.	To Outfit a Work Basket	27
2.	Making a Knot	29
3.	Even Basting	36
4.	Uneven Basting	38
5.	Running Stitch	40
6.	Stitching	41
7.	Half Back-stitching	47
8.	Catch Stitching	48
9.	Overhanding	52
10.	Overcasting	52
11.	Hemming Stitch	53
12.	Blanket Stitch	54
13.	Button-hole Stitch	55
14.	Canvas Sampler	56
15.	Cross Stitching	57
16.	Grand Sampler on Canvas	59
17.	Hemming on Muslin	73
18.	Needles and Threads	76

		PAGE
19.	About Cloth—Weaving and Spinning	92
20.	Gathering	94
21.	Stroking of Gathers	95
22.	Setting Gathers	96
23.	Kensington Outline Stitch	104
24.	Hem-stitching	119
25.	Sewing on Lace Edging	120
26.	Making a Fell	122
27.	French Seam	130
28.	To Sew on Hooks and Eyes	139
29.	To Make Eyelet Loops	140
30.	To Sew on Loops of Tape	142
31.	Feather Stitching	157
32.	Sewing on Buttons	160
33.	Button-holes	167
34.	Making a Placket	179
35.	Felling on Flannel	187
36.	Making Tucks	196
37.	Whipped Ruffle	199
38.	French Knots	231
39.	Eyelets	245
40.	Slip Stitch	250

		PAGE
41.	French Hemming on Damask	275
42.	Darning Stockings	275
43.	Darning Woolen Goods	276
44.	Patching on Gingham	276
45.	Patching on Flannel	277
46.	Spider’s Web	277

Little Marie has lost her clothes

And can’t tell where to find them;

Let them alone,—and they’ll come home

With all their buttons behind them.

Illustrated Page

THIMBLE PEOPLE

Sewing Bird.
Mr. Silver Thimble.
Mr. Emery Bag.
Tommy (Tomato) Pin Cushion.
Scissors Shears.
Pen Cil.
Needle Book.

Illustrated Page.

BodKin.
Ma Chine.
Work Basket.
Bees Wax.
Yard Stick.
Common Ordinary Pin.
Button-hole Scissors.
Needle-of-Don’t-Have-to-Try

Illustrated Chapter Heading.

Clyx.com

E-text prepared by Emmy, Brian Wilsden, MWS, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by Internet Archive (https://archive.org)

THE MARY FRANCES SEWING BOOK or ADVENTURES AMONG THE THIMBLE PEOPLE By JANE EAYRE FRYER

E-text prepared by Emmy, Brian Wilsden, MWS,
and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team
(http://www.pgdp.net)
from page images generously made available by
Internet Archive
(https://archive.org)

THE
MARY FRANCES
SEWING BOOK

or
ADVENTURES AMONG THE
THIMBLE PEOPLE

By
JANE EAYRE FRYER