Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 April 1893 — TOGS FOR LITTLE TOTS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TOGS FOR LITTLE TOTS.

HOW CHILDREN’S GARMENTS CAN BE MADE. By Utilizing; Old Material* Which Are Worn or Soiled In Parts the Little Folks Can Be Clothed Tastefully and Economically. Experience or an Expert. New York correspondence:

OME women who ■ ■ * realize the possii bllltles the dyeing J and oleaning processes afford, will Indulge In the rlchL eat and most delipPK cate fabrics, and that they are gWfflssSi. not only the betdressed therejye. for, but that they are actually economical When

they do buy a new gown It will be of a light color, and usually of some novelty goods of the best quality. Light undress leather shoes that have served their summer or evening use go Into the black bag, and In oourse of time come out blaok. And this woman smiles when she is called extravagant for having such fine shoes and so many of them. As a matter of faot, she almost as seldom buys a new pair as she throws an old one away. Tnle woman never runs to cheap passementeries and embioldery. Now and then she appears with a piece of really beautiful embroidery or genuine metal bead work. Well, you see, that sort of thing will clean; cheap stuff won’t, and It isn’t so very expensive when you oonslder, perhaps, that it costs a few cents a yard, and Is the only expense for her “new dress,” except the making. All the rest came out of that trunk that is still left full of bundles and boxes, each labeled and full of possibilities. This same woman keeps a book. She

has so many different things of various lengths, colors and materials that she might forget her own resources. The book Is full of plans for costumes. For instanoe, she writes: Empire gown, yellow foundation skirt, pale yellow and rose-pink, striped crepe over, bolero jacket of strawberry velvet, lined with cream silk, bertha of cream erepe, and sleeves of same caught up with yellow and rose-pink, narrow ribbon to match stripes. The riDbon was all that had to be gotten for that dress, and the combination was a new one, the different materials coming from as many previous uses. Another time-worn expedient for utilizing old materials which are worn or soiled In Darts Is to make them over tor children's garments. Some of my readers may Infer from these Illustrations that I am leading up to that method, but the garments are described so that each jean be made at home, and the maker can suit her own taste and purse with most of them in the souroe of her nfeterlals. The pretty crocheted Jaoket which the babe of the Initial wears Is made of white zephyr wool and trimmed with a pink border. The jacket is begun at the bottom of the back above tho colored border by foundation loops of the required length, and then crocheted back and forth, one single crochet and one loop. The single crochets are put In every second foundation loop, then in every loop. At the top each part is crocheted alone, but attention must be paid to the pointed opening. When the fronts are finished about eight rows are

crocheted to the neck, which forms the loundation for the sailor collar. In every loop must be put two single crochets, and this must be continued to the outer edge of the collar, which Is crocheted in one with the Jacket From there the fronts and back are continued in addition to the collar. The border is composed of five rows of pink and six of white zephyr. Careful attention must be given to the corners where the stitches are gained. When the back and fronts are done they are Joined, commencing four inches from the bottom, but sufficient space should be left for the -sleeve. The latter is crocheted around and around into this opening, and the border is the same as that on the Jacket The last row of the white le made of picots, and the same edge Is put all around the Jacket It is tied with a string and tassels of pink zephyr. The string Is made of chain stitches and is twelve and a half Inches In length. A dress for a little girl of four or five, having a blouse at once easy to make and comfortable to the wearer, Is to be seen in the next sketch. It is of tartan cloth In red and blue with straw-col-ored stripes. The blouse is red cloth embroidered with straw-colored twist. It is particularly suitable for Bchool wear. Sailors’ suits are so often selected for small boys that there is little of novelty In them, but they always have a dressy look, while appearing as they are, entirely serviceable. It must be this fact that leads so many mothers, who would almost faint at the thought of having their sons upon the water, to make imitation Jack Tats of their dear little fel-

lows. The blouse of the one shown has seams only under the arms, and is put on over the head and gathered at the wrist with an elastto. As will be seen from the illustration, the blouse has a slit below the collar, which is buttoned invisibly, and prevents its being torn in putting on. The oollar is loose and can be buttoned to the neck band; the plastron is loose also and fastens to the blouse with tiny buttons underneath tho oollar. This arrangement affords a chanoe to have a variety of collars and plastrons. The trousers are trimmed with gold buttons. There is a dress for a little girl from four to eight years old in the fourth picture, and Dlue woolen stuff would be a good material for it, with the yoke and

sleeves of red and blue plaid. It ts more dressy than my other example of the mixture of tartan and plain material, being a little moro elaborate, but not much mote difficult to make. It would be equally as pretty If velvet took the place of the plaid In the yoke and sleeves, but tho velvot should be black or several shades darker than the woolen goods. Tho length of her skirt is over to be the dear little maid's woe. Tho tot of today is as particular that her Groonaway shall sweep the ground as the ohild a little older Is that her skirts shall be well abyve her anklo3. A llttlo later she will want them longer again, then she will begin to plan misery for herself and want long dressos, and when she gets them and has to stay in them she will beseech the powers of fashion to relieve h"r from her thraUdopi. Bpt what does the tot \ h w about that. For the little maid who rebels against a Greenaway, a dear little cloak is made for just this soafon. The broad-walsted bodice fits smoothly and Is a little short-walstod. The skirt, of tho eloak falls full from It to just below the knees. The sleeves are full and loose and end at the wrist in a round cuff. Any soft oashmere In bright rod or clear green is the proper goods. The bodice is embroidered stiff, with close black braiding. The skirt and sleeves are accordion pleated, and the cuffs are braided to match the bodice. The latter Is lined with a bright, conti ast ng silk, if green has been ohoson for the coat, or with blaok, if red is tho color. With the cloak the dearest little bonnet, just like the old-fashioned pictures, can be worn; one that fits close about tho face and that has a couple of quaint bows at the

top and the bottom In the back, to say nothing of the one under the chin. Tho bonnet should match the color of tho cloak. The little feet should have solid and low-heeled shoes, and the stockings must, of course, be black, and warm, that the ankles may not be cold. Copyright, 1898.

COMFORTABLE AND PRETTY.

A MIMIC SAILOR.

DRESSILY GARBED FOR PLAY.

A CHILD'S SPRING COAT.