HINTS FOR HOME DRESSMAKING.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2049, 17 September 1880, Page 4

HINTS FOR HOME DRESSMAKING.

Tho first necessity iu the attempt at making or remodelling a dress at home, is to have a dear idea of what you want to do, of the jesult you want to produce, and then try to do £t. A little oareful thinking at first often saves much after-tribulation, and even an admired design should not be determined upon until it has been found to suit the material and purpose, and is not likely to test too hardly the droasmnking ability of an amateur. In remaking a dross of unwashubla material, or which is to be combined of part old and part now fabrics, out first a licinc skirt, and then proceed to mount the different ports of the upper portion upon it, following the design and the directions closely, but trying it on with sufficient frequoncy not to make mistakes, which can only be remedied with much trouble and lea.' of time. The bottom of the skirt should bn finished with a hom, a binding, end narrow facing (if it is a silk or woollen dress), before the flouncing is put on. Cording, now, is not oasd, or at loasfc Tory unf rcquently, and more as a trimming than to strengthen seams. The most fashionable baequos are perfectly plain and straight round, and whatever is "trimmed on," should bo made to seem, as much as poosible, a part of the thing itself, not merely patched on. Still, it is much better to be csroful of the neatness, the regularity, the genera! fitness of a design, than to attempt excrunrdicary and unusual effects. Trimmed Bkirts, as a rule, aro best for silks and woollens; overskirts, or polonaise-, for washing materials. Some of tho ligct summer dresses will, however, be mado and worn without overskirta or trimmirg, exc-pS perhaps a narrow flounce or two. A fi.,hu will cover the shoulders. In tho matter of flounces one can be guided by taste ar.d convenience. Narrow gathered »uflles aro coming in again, and if time is not of great importance these may bo used very successfully to give style to inexponsivo summer miiuoriulg, such as hareije or wool grenadine Flounces with pleats laid in clusters, with spaces between, aro also useful where the quantity of material is rather limited, f.Lo spaces being filled up or not, as may be considered desirable, with straps or contrasting loop 3 or pleats.