Fashion and Things Feminine.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 161, 31 March 1916, Page 3 (Supplement)

Fashion and Things Feminine.

By IDA MELLER

SUGGESTION FOR A BLOUSE RENO\ ATI ON. Great economies, it is wed known, can be effected by clever renovations, and the earele.-, woman otten casts aside as useless things that the more ingenious would hav,e converted into really practical articles. A half-worn dress may be well worth while the expenditure of a little time, thought and skill in order to bring it up-to-date, and many a coat, skirt or blouse, worn shabby in parts, but sound and good elsewhere, might b.e "refreshed" ill a quite satisfactory manner at a trifling cost, or at, perhaps, no cost at all, it the wi'l and ability are there to ueal with it. Silk blouses and others are apt to wear shabby under tlie arms, where they must endure stretch, of court-e, that tries the material, while the rest of the bodice is in good condition; but there are various ways in which a reno\aion may be arrived at that will enable the l sound part of the blouse to remain serviceable and the worn part to lie replaced by something pretty and fashionable, differing in substance to

No. 1918. the re-t of the blouse possibly, but contrasting with it 111 a perfectly agreeable manner. A suggestion is offered in the accompanying illustration of how to renovate a silk blouse, the top and underarm parts of which have worn shabby, 'flie renovation resolves itself into a dressy little blou-e that can be worn with any skirt and would be useful for various occasions. The top and underarm parts of the original blouse are cut away and a bolero effect is introduced by substituting piece-lace for the discarded silk anc edging it with a frill of narrow lace. The piece-lace is cut to a iicallop edge, which adds greatly to the decorative ness of the renovation, but the latter could be earned out without a bolero effect, if preferred, the lace lvemg put on with a simple, straightacross effect and a piping, and having no frilling. About three-quarters of a yard of -10-incii piece lace would be needed for the renovation. The lace is gauged on the shoulders and the silk slaves are gauged at the wri-ts, where they are drawn into novel cuffs of satin, matching the collar at the neck and the bow-t'e. Where the silk centrefronts of a blouse are still quite fresh, tho hu-c renovation need not be applied c o elaborately, but c-nn slope upwards from the under-arr.i parts. The skirt illustrated is gathered at ihe waist and is made with two deep tucks above tho hem. It is a very useful, simp'-' blouse-skirt and copiewell in any soft material, such as voiie, cloth, cashmere, or -atin-laine. Crepon is also a nice material for a blousesk i rt. Pattern of blouse 7d, skirt 7d. A SCHOOL COAT FOR A GIRL. Alt article of necessity to til-? wardrobe of every little girl who has roaeoed the going-to-school age, is ' nil -'eiigi h coat foi ever.-day wear. It sh.i.,M be made of serge or home-nun, suiting, or

rougli oToC.i, and no better pattern for the same can be suggested than the raglan coat illustrated, which is absolutely simple and offers no difficulty to the home dressmaker. To make the coat for a girl of seven

Copyright.

or e'gnt years ol age about yards of -ii-MiKh material wU be neeueu.

iue pattern is in mx pieces, which include one trout, ha'f ttto back, oiksleeve, cliffj halt the collar and the belt. Ihese should be laid on the material, folded with right and left selvedges together (see diagram), the straight edges of 'tack and collar laid against the fold to avoid seams. The liont and s'covc must be cut on xiie straight of material, each pattern being cut out in duplicate. 'l'ii,e collar and cutis can be faced with silk if desired: or, on the other hand, they may -how a face of theeoat material and a' lining of sateen, i'he belt must be lined, and this, the collar, and cuff., should June an inter-lining of canvas to keep them taut. Jhe linings should bo cut on the material pattern.

In making up the coat, tack in each* fiont a facing of material and canvas, about two or three inches wide; turn in and machine the front edges together. Stitch the sleeves on to the back and fronts, and stitch the side anU under-sleeve seam-. Hem the bottom of coat, or turn it up once and face the raw edge with braid. Line the collar and stitch it to the neck, face tlio v.Tists, line the cuffs, and slip-st'tch them to the sleeves. Machine the edges of the belt, when lined and interlined, b:nd the turnings of all the seams and the odge of front facing unless the coat be lined, and make buttonholes in l ight front, sewing on cor responding buttons to left front. Provide, also, the belt with a button and buttonhole fastening. Two butons, for the sake of trimm'ng, may also be add,<xl to the back of belt, and the latter should bo stitched to the coat to keep it in place. It is always advisable before cutting material to fit the patterns carefully" or cut it out :n lining and fit the latter-

The- hat worn with the font is a verv good, useful model for n Tt if intended Icr foit or beaver, with ribbon or piece-s'ik trimming, wound round the crown and arranged in earloops in front.