ECONOMICAL BABY GARMENTS

Shannon News, 23 November 1928, Page 4

ECONOMICAL BABY GARMENTS

A slip made to be worn under baby dresses 22 inches long can generally be worn without alteration until the child is three or four years old. Then, if there is anything left, it can easily be lengthened by stitching to the buttonhole side of the shoulder strap a neat piece as wide as the shoulder and of the same material. Point each end of the new strap and make a buttonhole to correspond with the button on the slip." When baby begins to creep his dresses are often iu his way. As a result, they woar out rapidly, due to constant strain. The busy mother will find it a great help to put three largo snaps on the under side of the hem of each dress so the skirt may be snapped together between the legs. The fasteners do not show, so the dress may 'be worn snapped together or not as occasion demands. Simple creepers.

Creepers for the baby that are easily made as well as easily buttoned and unbuttoned, washed and ironed, arc cut from a plain kimono or butterfly pattern and finished with a narrow hem at the bottom. Of the same material make a pointed strap about 4 inches wide and 10 inches long when finished, and adjust' it to the middle of the front of the dress, so that the strap will come up between the legs and button at the back of the garment. Make three buttonholes on the strap at the back, one at each point, and sew on buttons to correspond.

These arc much more convenient than bloomers both in the making and ironing. When "the child walks the strap may be removed and applied as two pockets over the most worn spots, if necessary. This gives him a short play dress and the entertainment that a pocket always affords little folk. Rompers that are thin and outgrown so that it is impossible to wear underclothing beneath them, often make splendid nightgowns for summer without any alteration whatever. Such little garments of nicer material and in good condition may be cut off at the top of the curve at the crotch and finished with a narrow hem or a bindinng of colour. to match the material, to form a smock if the child is a little girl, or to tuck into jumpers Or suspender pants if a boy.- With a little care in .the selection of material and style for tho trousers, one niay get together remarkably attractive suits at practically little or no expense. Utilising Discarded Items.

When the baby grows too large for his basinette it is often a problem how to use his sheets to advantage. One mother uses these iu couples for slips for the older girls and nightgowns for the smaller children. The latter are cut from the kimono pattern and have a seam at the shoulders. The portions cut out under the arms furnishes material for cuffs on the sleeves, or for lengthening the sleeves, and a straight band for a loose collar at the neck of the tennis-flannel gowns. v By the way. if these kimono-style garments are put together at the. underarm scam by a strip of straight goods about an inch . wide, - they can be worn until the. cloth, is in shreds without being torn across the armhole. The straight piece takes all the strain that otherwise comes a a sharp cut in the material.

To apply such a piece, cut off the underarm edge of , the pattern about half an inch on both front and back portions and stitch both, to the straight strip, one each side of it. On nightgowns and underwear the strip may be sewed to form a flat seam and if the selvages are used as much as possible when eutting or tearing the strips only one side of each strip will have to be folded down to give a smooth finish.