SCISSORS AND CUTTING

A pair of scissors is an instrument used for cutting, consisting of two blades crossing each other, and moving on a pivot.

Scissors are of many sizes. Large scissors are called shears (Fig. 2, c), and small scissors with the ends of the blades rounded are called pocket scissors (Fig. 2, d), as they are convenient to carry in the pocket. In shears, the round bow is for the thumb, and the oval bow is for two of the fingers; one blade is more pointed than the other, and when cutting this blade should be held down- ward. In button-hole scissors (Fig. 2, b) a screw is attached to regulate the size of the button-hole. When passing scissors, hand the bows to the person, keeping the point towards yourself.

In order to cut straight, draw out a thread of the cloth, and cut along the line thus made (for drawing a thread, see page 116). In materials from which a thread cannot be easily drawn, fold the cloth where it is to be cut, pin the selvedges together on each side, crease, and cut on the crease. In materials in which the threads are plainly marked, either by plaids or stripes, there is no need of drawing a thread or folding the. cloth.

To cut bias, cut on a slanting line across both the warp and the woof.

To cut an exact bias, lay the selvedge or a warp thread of the cloth, on a line with a woof thread, and cut on the fold.

· What is a pair of scissors?

· Name the different kinds of scissors.

· How should shears be held?

· How can cloth be cut straight?

· How can it be cut when a thread is not easily drawn?

· How is an exact bias cut?

Part II—Plain Sewing

PLAIN SEWING

Sewing is work done with the needle and thread. The following directions should be before the pupil during class work. (The illustrations generally represent the stitches enlarged.)

The above represents a three inch rule, to use when certain measurements are required. The first inch is divided into halves and quarters, the second inch into eighths, and the third inch into sixteenths.

Fractions of a yard: —

3 feet or 36 inches is a yard.

27 inches is three quarters of a yard.

18 inches is one half of a yard.

9 inches is a quarter of a yard.

4 1/2 inches is an eighth of a yard.

2 1/4 inches is a sixteenth of a yard.

· How many inches in a yard?

· Three quarters of a yard?

· One half?

· A quarter?

· An eighth?

· A sixteenth?

DRILLS

Drill No. 1— For practice in using the needle and thimble.

Materials—A needle and a thimble.

Directions—

1. Place the thimble on the second finger of the right hand.

2. Hold the pointed end of the needle between the end of the thumb and forefinger of the right hand.

3. Place the thimble on the eye of the needle.

4. Push the needle between the thumb and forefinger, being careful not to cramp the other fingers.

5. With the left hand push the point back into its former position.

6. Repeat until it can be done easily.

Drill No. 2 — For practice in the motion of stitching, hemming, etc.

Materials—No. 8 needle, No. 50 thread, and a strip of white cotton cloth.

Directions—

1. Thread the needle, but make no knot.

2. Hold the cloth over the forefinger of the left hand, keeping it in place with the thumb and second finger, as in Fig. 6.

3. Hold the needle between the thumb and the forefinger of the right hand.

4. Insert the needle from right to left, taking up a little of the cloth, and push the needle nearly through.

5. Take the pointed end of the needle between the thumb and cushion of the forefinger of the right hand.

6. Draw the needle and thread through, bringing the thimble finger down near the forefinger, with the thread passing between the third and little fingers. Keep the little finger nearly straight to guide the thread.

7. Repeat until the motion is learned.

Drill No. 3—For practice in the motion of basting, running, gathering, etc.

Materials— No. 8 needle, No. 50 thread, and a strip of cotton cloth.

Directions—

1. Have the needle threaded, but make no knot.

2. Hold the cloth between the thumb and forefinger of each hand, as in Fig. 7.

3. With the right elbow away from the side, put the point of the needle through a few threads of the cloth, placing the thumb and forefinger of the right hand over it.

4. Pressing the end of the thimble against the eye of the needle, take three or more stitches in the cloth over the cushion of the left forefinger, moving only the elbow joint. (Fig. 7.)

5. Draw the needle and thread through as in Drill No. 2.

6. Repeat until the motion is learned.

Drill No. 4— For practice in the motion of overcasting. Materials. — No. 8 needle, No. 50 thread, and a folded edge of cotton cloth.

Directions—

1. Have the needle threaded, but make no knot.

2. Hold the fold of the cloth slanting across the edge of the cushion of the left forefinger, keeping it in place with the thumb and second finger, as in Fig. 8. (Figure 8. showing the work and hand in position.)

3. Put the needle in from the back of the fold, pointing it towards the left shoulder.

4. Draw the needle and thread through as in Drill No. 2.

Drill No. 5— For practice in the motion of over-handing.

Materials— No. 8 needle, No. 50 thread, and a folded edge of cotton cloth.

Directions—

1. Have the needle threaded, but make no knot.

2. Hold the fold of cloth horizontally along the edge of the cushion of the left forefinger, and around the end of the finger, keeping it in place with the thumb and second finger, as in Fig. 9. (Fig. 9—Showing the work and hand in position.)

3. Hold the right elbow away from the side, without bending the wrist, and so that the palm of the hand is towards you.

4. Insert the needle from the back of the fold, pointing it directly towards the chest.

5. Draw the needle and thread through as in Drill No. 2.

CANVAS-WORK

The stitches in sewing can be easily learnt on canvas, using bright-colored single or split zephyr, according to the quality of the canvas.

Fig. 10 represents a corner of a square of canvas, with the stitches taken in the following order:—

1. Uneven basting.

2. Running.

3. Stitching.

4. Overcasting.

5. Overhanding.

6. Catch-stitch

7. Button-hole stitch.

8. Darning.

9. The edges are worked with the blanket or loop-stitch.

Date: 2015-12-17; view: 627