Chapter I: Front Matter

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Jane Eayre Fryer]

THE MARY FRANCES SEWING BOOK

or

Adventures Among the Thimble People

by

JANE EAYRE FRYER

Illustrated by Jane Allen Boyer

The John C. Winston Co. Philadelphia

CAUTION

The entire contents of this book are protected by the stringent new copyright law, and all persons are warned not to attempt to reproduce the text, in whole or in part, or any of the illustrations.

Copyright, 1913, by Jane Eayre Fryer

* * * * * *

BY THE SAME AUTHOR

THE MARY FRANCES COOK BOOK
――OR――
ADVENTURES AMONG THE KITCHEN PEOPLE

The Mary Frances Cook Book is the exceptionally clever and
fascinating story of a little girl who wanted to learn to
help her mother. Only it is much more than a story. It
tells in story form how Mary Frances learned to cook. She
wants to know what all the kitchen pots and pans are for,
so she asks them. And they tell her―the pots and pans talk.
The book gives recipes in the simplest, plainest words. It
describes every operation clearly―just what Mary Frances did,
and how she learned to avoid mistakes. The book stimulates
the imagination and creates a desire to follow Mary
Frances’ example. 8vo. Cloth, 170 pages. Over 200 colored
illustrations by Margaret G. Hays and Jane Allen Boyer.

PRICE $1.20 NET

* * * * * *

DEAR GIRLS:

Many of you already know Mary Frances’ old friends, the Kitchen People, and have learned to love them. I hope all of you will do so in time.

This book tells the story of Mary Frances’ new friends, the Thimble People, who helped her spend a delightful summer vacation at her Grandmother’s. It tells how she met Sewing Bird, who was a real Fairy Lady, and the other Thimble People; and how they taught her a lot of fascinating secrets, and finally took her on a long journey to Thimble Land, and brought her back safely, after the most marvelous adventures. Because they proved so helpful and friendly, she wants you to know them, too.

The Thimble People, like the Kitchen People, are peculiar in that they can be of little help to those who dislike them; so that, unless you are prepared to be fond of them, it is best not to seek their acquaintance.

Toward those who show indifference or dislike, they behave in a most contrary manner. For example, Tommy Pin Cushion is a regular porcupine, and bristles right up instinctively at the least inkling of dislike. But if he knows you like him, he will roll over himself to help.

Another thing (and Mary Frances says to be very particular on this point)―if any little girl, who really wishes to learn to sew, will follow the lessons exactly as given by the Thimble People, she can hardly fail to win the Needle-of-Don’t-Have-to-Try for her very own.

In the hope that all will achieve this much-to-be-desired end, this record of Mary Frances’ new adventures is sent out to the girls of America with the best wishes of

THE AUTHOR.

MERCHANTVILLE, N. J.

CHAPTER PAGE

I. SEWING BIRD 17

II. SEWING BIRD BEGINS TO TEACH 26

III. THE LONG AND SHORT OF BASTING 32

IV. SEWING BIRD’S SECRET 40

V. SEWING BIRD TEASES DICK CANARY 45

VI. THE STITCH GRANDMA LEARNED 50

VII. BLANKET STITCH, AND ITS SISTER 54

VIII. SEWING BIRD FAIRY LADY 58

IX. MAGIC AND MYSTERY 66

X. A DOLL’S LAUNDRY BAG 75

XI. MR. SILVER THIMBLE AND MR. EMERY BAG 82

XII. MARY FRANCES’ TREASURE BOX 89

XIII. MAKING A DOLL’S APRON 93

XIV. A LOAN FROM THE THIMBLE KING 98

XV. THREE LITTLE KITTENS 103

XVI. A SURPRISE FROM MOTHER 107

XVII. MARY MARIE’S HANDKERCHIEF 115

CHAPTER PAGE

XVIII. A NIGHTIE FOR HER LITTLE NAP 125

XIX. HER BATH-ROBE 135

XX. MA CHINE 145

XXI. AUNT MARIA MAKES A VISIT 159

XXII. A RUINED DRESS 175

XXIII. THE FLANNEL PET 182

XXIV. THE WHITE PET 191

XXV. CAN THE DOLLY TALK 201

XXVI. A FUR-LINED CAPE 212

XXVII. A “DRESS-UP” DRESS 217

XXVIII. A PARTY DRESS 224

XXIX. MARY MARIE GOES AUTOMOBILING 234

XXX. MARY MARIE GOES IN BATHING 243

XXXI. MUFFS AND CAPS AND PRETTIEST TRAPS 248

XXXII. WHO STOLE MARY MARIE’S CLOTHES 254

XXXIII. MARY FRANCES VISITS THIMBLE LAND 258

XXXIV. WHAT WAS IN THE FAIRY BAG 269

XXXV. MARY FRANCES AT HOME 278

PAGE

1. DOLL’S LAUNDRY BAG 67

2. DOLL’S APRON 93

3. DOLL’S HANDKERCHIEF 119

4. DOLL’S NIGHTGOWN 127

5. DOLL’S BATH-ROBE 136

6. DOLL’S KIMONO 154

7. DOLL’S DRESSING SACK 156

8. DOLL’S PINAFORE 171

9. DOLL’S MORNING DRESS 177

10. DOLL’S FLANNEL PETTICOAT 186

11. DOLL’S UNDERWAIST 188

12. DOLL’S LAWN PETTICOAT 195

13. DOLL’S DRAWERS 198

14. DOLL’S ROMPERS 208

15. DOLL’S BLOOMERS 210

16. DOLL’S LEGGINGS 211

17. DOLL’S FUR-LINED CAPE 215

18. DOLL’S AFTERNOON DRESS 219

PAGE

19. DOLL’S GUIMPE 228

20. DOLL’S PARTY DRESS 229

21. DOLL’S AUTOMOBILE COAT 238

22. DOLL’S AUTOMOBILE BONNET 240

23. DOLL’S BATHING SUIT 244

24. DOLL’S FUR MUFF AND TIPPET 249

25. DOLL’S SUN BONNET 250

26. DOLL’S WORK BAG 251

27. DOLL’S RAIN COAT 269

28. DOLL’S POLO CAP 270

29. DOLL’S WEDDING DRESS 271

30. LADY’S WORK BAG 273

31. LADY’S BELT 274

32. BABY’S BIB 274

33. GIRL’S COLLAR 275

PAGE

1. TO OUTFIT A WORK BASKET 27

2. MAKING A KNOT 29

3. EVEN BASTING 36

4. UNEVEN BASTING 38

5. RUNNING STITCH 40

6. STITCHING 41

7. HALF BACK-STITCHING 47

8. CATCH STITCHING 48

9. OVERHANDING 52

10. OVERCASTING 52

11. HEMMING STITCH 53

12. BLANKET STITCH 54

13. BUTTON-HOLE STITCH 55

14. CANVAS SAMPLER 56

15. CROSS STITCHING 57

16. GRAND SAMPLER ON CANVAS 59

17. HEMMING ON MUSLIN 73

18. NEEDLES AND THREADS 76

PAGE

19. ABOUT CLOTH―WEAVING AND SPINNING 92

20. GATHERING 94

21. STROKING OF GATHERS 95

22. SETTING GATHERS 96

23. KENSINGTON OUTLINE STITCH 104

24. HEM-STITCHING 119

25. SEWING ON LACE EDGING 120

26. MAKING A FELL 122

27. FRENCH SEAM 130

28. TO SEW ON HOOKS AND EYES 139

29. TO MAKE EYELET LOOPS 140

30. TO SEW ON LOOPS OF TAPE 142

31. FEATHER STITCHING 157

32. SEWING ON BUTTONS 160

33. BUTTON-HOLES 167

34. MAKING A PLACKET 179

35. FELLING ON FLANNEL 187

36. MAKING TUCKS 196

37. WHIPPED RUFFLE 199

38. FRENCH KNOTS 231

39. EYELETS 245

40. SLIP STITCH 250

PAGE

41. FRENCH HEMMING ON DAMASK 275

42. DARNING STOCKINGS 275

43. DARNING WOOLEN GOODS 276

44. PATCHING ON GINGHAM 276

45. PATCHING ON FLANNEL 277

46. SPIDER’S WEB 277

Sewing Bird. Mr. Silver Thimble. Mr. Emery Bag. Tommy (Tomato) Pin Cushion. Scissors Shears. Pen Cil. Needle Book. BodKin. Ma Chine. Work Basket. Bees Wax. Yard Stick. Common Ordinary Pin. Button-hole Scissors. Needle-of-Don’t-Have-to-Try]