---------------------------------------- ---------------------- ,note3 ,tags that surround words ,materials ,required3 indicate bold4 ,tags that surround the words ,a ,hurdle ,race indicate italics4 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------- ,the ,child's ,rainy ,day ,book ,other ,books by ,mary ,white ,,how ,,to ,,make ,,pottery ,,how ,,to ,,do ,,beadwork ,,how ,,to ,,make ,,baskets ,,more ,,baskets ,,and ,,how ,,to ,,make ,,them ,illustration3 ,building a piece of pottery with coils of clay--as the ,indians do ,,the ,,child',s ,,rainy ,,day ,,book ,,by ,,mary ,,white ,,illustrated ,,by ,,the ,,author ,illustration ,,new ,,york ,,doubleday1 ,,page ,,company #aije ,copyright1 #aije1 by ,doubleday1 ,page ,company ,published1 ,october1 #aije ,all rights reserved1 including that of translation into foreign languages including the ,scandinavian4 ,,to ,,my ,,sister ,anna ,white ,sherman ,,and ,,her ,,children ,roger1 ,herbert1 ,elizabeth1 ,rosamond and ,anna ,,contents ,,chapter ,,page ,i4 ,a ,,foreword ,,to ,,mothers #a ,,ii4 ,,simple ,,home-,,made ,,toys ,,and ,,games #e ,,iii4 ,,basket ,,weaving #ce ,,iv4 ,,knots ,,with ,,raffia ,,and ,,cord #ec ,v4 ,,what ,a ,,child ,,can ,,do ,,with ,,beads #gc ,,vi4 ,,clay ,,working #ajc ,,vii4 ,,indoor ,,gardening #abe ,,viii4 ,,gifts ,,and ,,how ,,to ,,make ,,them #adc ,,ix4 ,,paper ,,flowers ,,and ,,toys #agc ,x4 ,,games ,,for ,,two ,,or ,,three ,,to ,,play #bja ,,list ,,of ,,illustrations ,building a ,piece of ,pottery with ,coils of ,clay--as the ,indians do ,frontispiece ,,facing ,,page ,playing the ,bean ,bag ,game #h ,planning a ,book ,house #ab ,basket ,weaving #db ,knots with ,raffia and ,cord3 #a4 ,the beginning of a ping pong net4 #b4 ,a ,turk's-head knot4 #c4 ,raffia work bag4 #d4 ,doll's hammock4 #e4 ,a rattan napkin ring #fh ,a ,little ,garden for a ,little ,girl #acf ,making a ,chrysanthemum #aih ,a ,ball-and-,fan ,race #bjh ,,list ,,of ,,figures ,,figure ,,page #a #i ,rattan ,ring #i #b #ad #c #ae #d #ag #e #ai #f #bj #g #ba #h #bb #i #bc #aj #bd #aa #bf #ab ,a #bi #ab ,b #bi #ab ,c #cj #ac #cj #ad #ca #ae #ch #af #ci #ag #dj #ah #da #ai #dc #bj #di #ba #ee #bb #ef #bc #eh #bd #ei #be #fj #bf #fl #bg #fb #bh #fb #bi #fc #cj #fc #ca #fd #cb #fe #cc #ff #cd #fg #ce #fg #cf #fh #cg #gj #ch #gj #ch ,a #gi #ci #hj #dj #ha #da #hb #db #hd #dc #hg #dd #ij #de #ia #df #ia #dg #ib #dh #ib #di #id #ej #id #ea #ie #eb #if #ec #ig #ed #ig #ee #ii #ef #ajj #eg #ajg #eh #ajh #ei #aji #fj #aaj #fa #aaj #fb #aaa #fc #aab #fd #aaf #fe #aag #ff #aai #fg #acb #fh #ace #fi #ach #gj #adh #ga #adh #gb #adi #gc #aea #gd #aea #ge #aef #gf #aeh #gg #afj #gh #afb #gi #afc ,leather ,tag ,case #aff #hj #afi #ha #aga #hb #aga #hc #age #hd #agf #he #ahj #hf #aha #hg #ahb #hh #ahc #hi #ahd #ij #ahe #ia #ahg #ib #ahh #ic #ahh #id #ahi #ie #aia #if #aib #ig #aic #ih #aic #ii #aid #ajj #aie #aja #aie #ajb #aih #ajc #bjf #ajd #bac ,a ,foreword to ,mothers ,,child',s ,,rainy ,,day ,,book ,,chapter ,i ,a ,,foreword ,,to ,,mothers ,how shall we answer the ever recurring rainy day question1 ,what shall ,i do8 ,we hear it wherever children are kept indoors--from whatever cause4 ,all of us are concerned with the answer--mothers1 fathers1 teachers1 big brothers and sisters--even maiden aunts4 ,we all know what is coming when ,jack turns from the rain-splashed window with a listless face and ,dorothy1 none too gently1 thrusts her favourite doll into the corner with its face to the wall4 ,one might suppose that1 with the hosts of mechanical toys1 of costly ,french dolls1 each with a wardrobe as much in keeping with fashion as that of a society woman1 the small sons and daughters would be content for a year of rainy days4 ,but that proves how little one knows about it4 ,such toys are too perfect1 too complete1 and very soon they are pushed into the background4 ,the boy's real treasures are the willow whistle that ,uncle ,tom taught him to make last summer1 the boat that he is building and the game he invented--a favourite one with all the children4 ,bedtime and getting-up time for the ,french doll may come and go1 while she lies forgotten in the corner1 for is there not a dress to be made for the clothespin doll8 ,we need only to look back about twenty years to realise how natural all this is4 ,what do we remember8 ,not the toys that were brought us when father and mother went on a journey4 ,they are very hazy--these visions of a doll in silk and lace1 and a donkey with real hair and a nodding head4 ,what became of them afterward8 ,we forget4 ,but the games we made up1 the paper dolls we cut from fashion papers1 the target we laboured to make of coiled straw--these are as fresh in our memories as if we had played with them yesterday4 ,shall we not answer the question by giving the children something to do1 not by entertaining them but by helping them to entertain themselves4 ,simple ,home ,made ,toys and ,games ,,chapter ,,ii ,,simple ,,home ,,made ,,toys ,,and ,,games ,a ,bean ,bag ,game ,materials ,required3 #a_/b yard each of blue1 red1 yellow and green gingham1 #c quarts of small white beans1 ,a length of ,no4 #f rattan1 ,a bunch of red raffia1 ,a tapestry needle1 #c screw eyes1 #b #a_/b yards of strong twine1 ,a spool of ,no4 #dj white cotton1 ,a needle1 ,scissors4 ,very many good games can be played with bean bags4 ,the following is a simple one to prepare4 ,cut from blue gingham three pieces1 each five inches wide by twelve long4 ,other pieces of the same size are cut from red1 yellow and green gingham--three of each colour4 ,these pieces are made up into bags by doubling them and stitching up the sides with strong thread2 leaving one end of each open4 ,this will give a small girl something to do for more than one rainy day4 ,when they have all been stitched1 fill each bag half full of small1 white beans1 turn in the edges of the open end and sew it up1 over and over1 with strong thread4 ,be very careful to sew the seams securely1 for if you do you will have a good1 durable bag instead of one from which the beans are always dropping4 ,the other part of the game is a large ring of rattan ten inches across1 which is made as follows3 ,soak a piece of ,no4 #f rattan in water for a few minutes4 ,while you are waiting for it to get pliable thread a tapestry or darning needle with red raffia4 ,whittle an end of the rattan into a long point4 ,next coil the rattan into a ring1 ten inches across2 lay the end of your raffia1 with its tip turned to the right1 on the rattan ring and bring the needle1 threaded with raffia1 around and over the ring4 ,the raffia is then brought under the long end of rattan1 around it and down under the ring1 binding the second coil of rattan to the first with what is called a ,figure ,eight stitch 7see ,fig4 #a74 ,hold the ring firmly in your left hand while you sew with the right4 ,first under and around the lower coil1 then up1 under and around the upper one4 ,it is pretty work1 besides making such a firm1 light ring4 ,illustration3 ,playing the bean-bag game ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #a ,when you have bound the second coil to the first almost all the way round the ring1 cut the rattan so that it will overlap the beginning of the ring about an inch1 and whittle it to a long1 flat point4 ,continue the ,figure ,eight stitch as far as you can1 then bind the raffia round and round the ring1 and sew back and forth through the raffia covering till it is secure4 ,you can then cut it close to the ring4 ,illustration3 ,,rattan ,,ring ,fasten a screw eye at the top of the frame of the playroom door and one on each side of the doorway1 on the edge of the frame1 four feet and a half from the floor4 ,tie a piece of strong twine1 about a yard long1 at the top of the ring and another1 three-quarters of a yard1 on each side4 ,fasten the upper string to the screw eye above the doorway so that the ring will hang with its lower edge about four feet from the floor4 ,tie the other strings through the screw eyes to right and left of the doorway4 ,the game is now complete4 ,from two to four children can play it4 ,each has three bean bags of one colour and takes his turn at throwing them through the ring1 standing on a mark eight feet from the doorway4 ,one player keeps the score1 and whenever a bean bag is sent through the ring the child who threw it is credited with five points4 ,the one who first succeeds in making fifty points is the winner4 ,a ,book ,house for ,paper ,dolls ,materials ,required3 ,a large blank book with a stiff cover1 and preferably with unruled pages1 ,a number of old magazines1 ,some pieces of wall paper the size of the book's pages1 ,several pieces of lace or other fancy paper1 ,a tube of paste1 ,scissors4 ,any little girl who is looking for a home for a family of paper dolls will find a book the very best kind of a house for them4 ,and then such fun as it will be to furnish it6 ,first comes the house hunting4 ,a large new blank book with unruled pages would be best of all1 and that is what we want if we can get it1 but of course all doll families cannot live in such luxury4 ,an old account book with most of its pages unused will make an excellent house4 ,i have even known a family of dolls to be cheerful and happy in an old city directory4 ,it will be easy to find furniture in the advertising pages of magazines1 rugs can be cut from pictures in the same magazines and bits of wall paper are used for the walls of the book house4 ,tissue paper of different colours and papers with a lace edge make charming window curtains1 while thicker fancy papers may be used for portieres4 ,on the cover of the book a picture of the house1 or just the doorway1 may be pasted4 ,the first two pages are of course the hall4 ,for this you will need a broad staircase1 hall seat1 hardwood floor and rugs1 with perhaps an open fireplace or a cushioned window seat to make it look hospitable4 ,try to find furniture all about the same size1 or if you cannot do this put the smaller pieces at the back of the room and the larger ones toward the front4 ,next there will be the drawing room to furnish1 then the library1 the dining room and pantry1 not forgetting the kitchen and laundry4 ,use two pages for each room1 leaving several between the different rooms1 so that the book shall not be too full at the front and empty at the back4 ,if it does not close easily remove some of the blank pages4 ,cut out the different pieces of furniture as carefully as possible1 paste them in as neatly as you can1 and you will have a book house to be proud of4 ,flowered papers will be the best for the bedrooms1 or plain wall papers in light colours2 and with brass bedsteads1 pretty little dressing tables and curtains made of thin white tissue paper 7which looks so like white muslin71 they will be as dainty as can be4 ,now and then through the book it is interesting to have a page with just a bay window and a broad window seat with cushions and pillows--as if it were a part of a long hall4 ,hang curtains of coloured or figured paper in front of it so that they will have to be lifted if anyone wants to peep in4 ,when you have finished the bathroom1 playroom1 maids' rooms and attic there will still be the piazza1 the garden1 the stables and the golf course 7covering several pages71 to arrange4 ,if you have a paint box and can colour tastefully you will be able to make your book house even more attractive than it is already4 ,illustration3 ,planning a book house ,united ,states ,mail ,materials ,required3 ,a pasteboard box1 about #c by #f inches1 ,some old white pasteboard boxes with a glossy finish1 ,a box of paints1 #c unused postal cards1 ,a tube of paste1 ,pen and ink1 ,scissors4 ,this is a fine game for rainy days4 ,any boy can make it and if he likes to use pencil and paint brush he will find it as interesting to make as to play with4 ,get a small pasteboard box about six inches long by three wide and an inch deep--such as spools of cotton come in4 ,cover it with white paper1 pasting it neatly and securely4 ,then draw and colour on the lid a mail bag1 which should almost cover it--either a brown leather sack or a white canvas one with ,united ,states ,mail on it in large blue letters4 ,do not forget to draw the holes at the top of the bag and the rope which passes through them to close it4 ,you have now something to hold the counters for the game4 ,these are made to look like letters and postal cards4 ,to make the letters1 rule a set of lines three-quarters of an inch apart1 across a box or cover of shiny white cardboard4 ,then another set1 crossing the others at right angles4 ,these should be an inch and a quarter apart4 ,the postal cards are ruled in the same way 7on real1 unused postal cards71 so as to make oblong spaces4 ,cut these out with a sharp pair of scissors4 ,there should be thirty cardboard pieces and at least twenty-five of the postal cards4 ,now draw on the cards1 with a fine pen and black ink1 marks like those on a postal card--the stamp in the corner1 the lettering and the address4 ,make pen lines on all of the pasteboard letters like ,fig4 #b and paint a tiny red dot on each to look like sealing-wax4 ,on the reverse side of one write something to look like an address1 and paint in large letters ,d4,l4,o41 7to stand for ,dead ,letter ,office7 in the corner4 ,six other letters are also addressed in the same way1 but have instead of ,d4,l4,o4 a red stamp and a blue one1 the latter wider than it is high1 to represent a ,special ,delivery stamp4 ,nine pieces should also be cut from brown cardboard in the shape shown in ,fig4 #c to represent packages4 ,paint three red stamps in the corner of each of these4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #b ,rules for ,playing ,united ,states ,mail ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #c ,two or more persons can play this game4 ,when the pieces are equally divided among the players1 the one on the right of the dealer throws a piece on the table1 saying as he does so1 ,i send a letter to ,b----1 for example1 and then counts five1 not running the numbers in together1 but as deliberately as a clock ticks4 ,before he has stopped counting1 the player on his right must name a city or town beginning with ,b4 ,if he succeeds in doing this he wins the piece1 otherwise it goes to the player who threw it4 ,when all the pieces have been played each player counts his score4 ,the value of the pieces is as follows3 ,each postal card counts one1 each letter two1 each package six4 ,the ,special ,delivery letters are worth ten points each1 and the person who is so unfortunate as to have the letter with ,d4,l4,o4 upon it loses ten points from his score4 ,flying ,rings ,materials ,required3 ,a flour-barrel top1 #c_/d yard of yellow cheesecloth1 #e large wire nails1 #c lengths of ,no4 #d rattan1 ,a bunch of red raffia1 ,a bunch of green raffia1 ,a bunch of yellow raffia1 ,a tapestry needle1 ,some small tacks1 ,a hammer1 ,a tube of glue1 ,a sheet of note paper4 ,boys and girls will enjoy this game1 and both can help in making it4 ,the materials are simple and easily obtained1 which is also an advantage4 ,first of all we shall need a flour-barrel top4 ,this should be covered with yellow cheesecloth drawn smooth and tight and tacked in place along the outer edge4 ,measure with a rule to find the exact centre and make a pencil mark on the cheesecloth at that point4 ,another mark is made above this one1 half way between it and the edge4 ,a third mark is placed at the right of the middle one and half way between it and the edge1 as well as one to the left and one below it at the same distance from the centre4 ,a large nail is driven into the barrel top at each of the five marks 7see ,fig4 #d74 ,two screw eyes are then put in at the top1 about a foot apart1 so that it can be easily hung4 ,next draw on note paper that is not too stiff the figures #e1 #aj1 #ae1 #be and #ej4 ,make them about an inch high and quite thick and go over them with ink4 ,with a small pair of scissors cut out these numbers and paste each under a nail1 as shown in ,fig4 #d4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #d ,next there are the rings to be made4 ,follow the directions given on pages #f and #g1 using ,no4 #d rattan instead of ,no4 #f1 and these rings should only be two and a half inches across4 ,make three rings of each colour1 green1 red and yellow1 and the game is complete4 ,to ,play ,it3 ,hang the barrel top on the wall or against a screen and see who can throw the most rings on the nails standing six feet away4 ,each player has three rings of a different colour1 and each in turn throws his rings at the mark4 ,when he succeeds in tossing a ring on one of the nails he scores as many points as the number under the nail indicates4 ,how to ,make a ,cork ,castle ,materials ,required3 ,a number of old corks1 the larger the better1 ,a tube of glue1 ,a penknife1 ,a piece of pasteboard a foot square1 ,a sheet of dull green tissue paper4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #e ,such fascinating castles can be made from old corks--or if you live near a cork factory you can get plenty of odds and ends of cork bark that will be even better for the purpose4 ,with a penknife cut small bricks1 half an inch long by quarter of an inch wide and an eighth of an inch thick4 ,if you are planning a round tower1 such as is shown in ,fig4 #e1 make the bricks in the wedge shape shown in ,fig4 #f4 ,cut them as nearly alike as possible1 but it will do no harm if they are not perfectly regular2 the castle will only look more ancient and interesting4 ,it is wonderful how much the bits of cork look like stone4 ,when you have a good supply of bricks ready you may begin to build4 ,use glue to stick the blocks together2 the kind that comes in a tube is the easiest and cleanest to handle4 ,leave spaces for doors and windows1 and for the roof use a large flat cork from a preserve jar4 ,mark it off into battlements such as are shown in ,fig4 #e1 and cut them out carefully4 ,then glue the roof securely on the walls of the castle4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #f ,where shall we place it now that it is made8 ,a green mountain side is a good location for a castle1 and it can be made quite easily4 ,bend a piece of pasteboard about a foot square 7an old box cover will do7 into dents that will almost break it1 these look quite like hills and valleys and sharp crags1 especially when they have been covered with green tissue paper4 ,to do this spread a layer of paste or glue all over the pasteboard and then press the paper upon it4 ,if it wrinkles1 so much the better1 for it will look more like grass and growing things4 ,a ,doll's ,shaker ,bonnet ,materials ,required3 ,a piece of fine straw about #d x #f inches1 ,some scraps of plain-coloured china silk1 #a_/b yard of straw-coloured ribbon1 #a_/d of an inch wide1 #a_/b yard of narrow ribbon the colour of the china silk1 ,a spool of straw-coloured sewing silk4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #g ,the daintiest little ,shaker bonnet may be easily made by a little girl to fit one of her dolls4 ,from the brim of an old leghorn1 or other fine straw hat1 cut two pieces1 the shapes shown in ,figs4 #g and #h4 ,for a doll six or eight inches long the front piece will need to be about five inches long by an inch and a half wide4 ,bind the curved edge of the front piece with the straw-coloured ribbon1 sewing it through and through with small stitches1 using straw-coloured sewing silk4 ,sew one edge of a piece of the straw-coloured ribbon close to the curved edge of the back piece from ,a to ,,aa 7see ,fig4 #h74 ,mark1 with a pencil1 a dot at the middle of the curved edge of the back portion and one at the middle of the straight edge of the front part4 ,pin the two parts together at these dots and sew the edges together4 ,in doing this you will have to turn back the ribbon which edges the back portion4 ,next bring the ribbon forward to cover the rough edges of the straw where the two parts join and sew its loose edge along on the front portion4 ,cut a piece of ,china silk seven and three-quarters inches long by an inch and three-quarters wide4 ,make a narrow hem all around it4 ,a tiny pencil mark is then made on the lower edge of the back piece and another at the middle of the silk strip4 ,gather the silk just below the hem on the upper edge and sew it to the lower edge of the bonnet at the back4 ,stitch a piece of narrow ribbon eight inches long at each side of the front1 for strings1 and the bonnet is done4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #h ,leather and ,string ,puzzle ,materials ,required3 ,a strip of thick leather1 #g inches long by #b wide1 ,a piece of heavy linen string a foot long1 ,a knife4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #i ,with a sharp knife1 a small strip of leather and a bit of strong string any boy can make this simple puzzle4 ,it is easier to make1 however1 than it is to do1 as the boy's friends will discover4 ,fig4 #i will show how it is made4 ,a strip of leather five and a half inches long1 an inch and a quarter wide at one end and five-eighths of an inch at the other1 is first cut4 ,then1 starting at about five-eighths of an inch from the narrow end1 cut with a sharp knife two slits down the middle of the piece three-eighths of an inch apart and three inches long4 ,at three-eighths of an inch from the wide end a small piece1 one-quarter of an inch square1 is cut out of the middle of the strip 7see ,fig4 #i74 ,from the scraps of leather remaining cut two pieces1 each one inch long by five-eighths of an inch wide4 ,make a hole in the middle of each4 ,then pass a piece of stout linen cord eleven inches long back of the long1 open strip in the large piece of leather1 leaving the ends of equal length4 ,pass both ends down through the square hole and tie each of them securely through the hole in the middle of one of the small pieces of leather4 ,this completes it4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #aj ,the object is to try to get the string1 with the small piece of leather at either end1 off the large piece of leather without cutting or untying it4 ,the only way to do this is shown in ,fig4 #aj4 ,holding both ends of the string1 close to where it passes back of the narrow strip in the middle of the large piece of leather1 pull the strip out through the small square hole4 ,one of the small pieces of leather can then be slipped through the loop thus formed1 releasing the string4 ,a ,bed for a ,little ,doll ,materials ,required3 ,an oblong pasteboard box an inch or more longer than the doll it is to hold1 #a_/b yard of flowered or striped muslin1 #a_/d yard of blue and white seersucker or other cotton1 ,some cotton or wool wadding1 #a_/b yard of thin white cotton cloth1 #a_/d yard of outing flannel1 #a_/d yard of white piqu4 ,almost any little girl who chooses to do so can make this dainty bed for one of her small dolls4 ,she will only need an oblong pasteboard box with a cover1 and large enough to hold the doll comfortably4 ,if mamma will let her have some pieces of cotton1 flowered1 striped and plain and a little cotton or wool wadding1 she will have all the materials she needs4 ,first cut from blue and white striped cotton a bag the length and width of the box4 ,stitch it neatly together around three sides1 turn it right side out and fill it with cotton or wool wadding4 ,turn in the edges on the fourth side and sew them together over and over4 ,with a darning needle threaded with blue cotton or silk the mattress can be tufted here and there4 ,the needle is first run through to the under side1 then one little stitch is taken1 bringing the thread back again to the right side1 where the two ends are tied tightly together and cut close to the knot4 ,if these tufts are made at equal distances1 say one inch apart1 all over the mattress it will make it look very real4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #aa ,the pillow is made in the same way as the mattress1 except that it is not tufted4 ,cut the sheets and pillowcase from thin white cotton1 allowing enough for hems4 ,make the pillowcase a quarter of an inch wider and about an inch and a quarter longer than the pillow4 ,stitch it around both sides and on one end and hem the other end4 ,tiny blankets may be cut from outing flannel1 and a spread made from a piece of white piqu or other thick white wash material4 ,the bed can now be made up1 but it will look very plain4 ,a fluffy canopy and valance 7or flounce7 of flowered or striped white muslin will improve it wonderfully4 ,the cover is set on end and the head of the bedstead is pressed into it 7see ,fig4 #aa71 making a frame for the canopy4 ,measure from the front corner of this frame to the middle of the front and cut a piece of muslin half again as wide as this measurement and long enough to reach from the top of the frame to the bottom of the bed4 ,another piece the same size is cut1 and then both are turned in and gathered at the top1 hemmed on the other edges and sewed into place on the top edge of the canopy frame1 so that the two will meet in the middle4 ,they are both looped back against the front edge of the frame1 see ,fig4 #aa1 and sewed there securely4 ,the valance or flounce around the lower part of the bed is cut wide enough to allow for hemming at the bottom and to turn in at the top4 ,it should be long enough to reach once and a half around the bed4 ,turn in the upper edge of the valance1 gather it to fit the bed and pin it in position4 ,then sew it with a strong needle and coarse thread on to the box through and through4 ,this makes as comfortable and pretty a bed as dolly could wish4 ,floor ,baseball ,materials ,required3 ,a piece of white chalk1 ,a piece of sheet lead1 #b by #b inches1 and as thick as a fifty-cent piece1 #c or #d strands of scarlet raffia1 ,a tapestry needle1 ,a gimlet4 ,this is a delightful game for a rainy day1 and the preparations for it are very simple4 ,in fact1 when you have fashioned the disk of lead with a raffia covering1 there is nothing to provide but a piece of chalk4 ,you can buy1 from almost any plumber or tinsmith1 for a few cents1 a scrap of sheet lead two or three inches square and about as thick as a half dollar4 ,upon this piece of lead lay a half dollar1 draw around it with a pencil and cut out the circle with a sharp1 strong pair of scissors4 ,it cuts as easily as cardboard of the same thickness4 ,bore a hole one-quarter of an inch across through the centre of the disk with a gimlet or sharp-pointed awl4 ,it is possible to use the disk just as it is1 but it makes less noise if it is covered with raffia4 ,to do this1 thread a worsted 7or tapestry7 needle with raffia--the grass-like material that you have seen used for making baskets4 ,tie the other end of the raffia through the disk1 as shown in ,fig4 #ab ,a1 put the needle down through the hole in the centre1 up through the loop in the raffia 7see ,fig4 #ab ,b7 and pull your strand up close to the edge4 ,this will make a stitch like that shown in ,fig4 #ab ,c--what sailors call a half hitch and mothers a buttonhole stitch4 ,make more of these stitches around the disk1 until finally it is entirely covered 7see ,fig4 #ac74 ,if the strand of raffia gives out before the disk is covered sew the short end through the last two or three stitches on the edge of the disk and start a new piece by bringing the end through the last stitch on the edge4 ,the short ends of both strands should be covered with the buttonhole stitches as you go on4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ab ,a ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ab ,b ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ab ,c ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ac ,now mark the diagram shown in ,fig4 #ad on the playroom floor with chalk1 making the diamond two feet long by a foot and a half wide4 ,in the centre of it is a circle1 four inches across1 which is home4 ,each player takes his turn at throwing the disk1 standing on a line eight feet away4 ,if he throws the disk into the space marked #a he counts that he has a man on first base2 if on #b1 that he has one on second2 and if on ,h1 a home run is counted4 ,if by chance with his first and second throws he puts the disk into #b and #c and with the third throw sends it into ,h he will have three runs to his credit4 ,should he throw the disk into ,f he loses one point from his score1 and when he has thrown the disk outside the diamond three times he is out4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ad ,a ,rug for the ,doll's ,house ,materials ,required3 ,a small wooden frame1 ,a piece of cream-coloured canvas1 ,a ball of dull green worsted1 ,a ball of cream white worsted1 ,a steel crochet needle1 ,no4 #b4 ,hooked rugs such as our grandmothers used to make are great fun to do4 ,why should not a little girl make one of finer materials for the floor of her doll's house8 ,either an empty slate frame or a wooden frame such as is sold by dealers in kindergarten supplies for chair caning will do very well to hold the canvas of which the rug is made4 ,instead of strips of woolen we shall use worsted of various colours1 and a strong steel crochet needle will be needed for hooking4 ,when you have decided upon the size of the rug you wish to make cut a piece of canvas an inch wider and longer than it is to be1 and make a hem a quarter of an inch wide all around it4 ,with a needleful of white linen thread sew the rug into the frame1 taking the stitches through the edge of the canvas and around the frame until it is securely fastened in4 ,suppose a green rug is planned1 with a group of white stripes at each end4 ,it will be well to mark on the canvas where the stripes are to run before beginning the work4 ,the worsted should be wound into balls4 ,starting with an end of the green worsted1 at the lower right side of the frame1 hold it under the rug and hook it up through the canvas with the crochet needle4 ,draw up a long enough end so that it can be cut off when the rug is finished and leave a thick texture4 ,do not make all the loops the same height1 for if now and then one is left too low to cut with the others it will make the rug wear better4 ,one after another of these loops is drawn through the canvas1 leaving two threads of canvas between every two loops1 in a straight line across the rug4 ,when the edge of the rug is reached a row is made above the one just finished1 bringing the worsted from left to right4 ,so it goes on till the rug is finished1 only changing the ball of green worsted for a white one when it is time to make the stripes4 ,after the hooking is done1 the tops of the longer loops are cut off with a sharp pair of scissors1 so as to make a smooth1 soft rug4 ,it will wear better if it is lined4 ,when you have completed this rug you may want to make others with patterns woven into them4 ,draw the pattern on the canvas with a soft lead pencil and it will be quite easy to work4 ,basket ,weaving ,,chapter ,,iii ,,basket ,,weaving ,the rattan of which the baby's go-cart and mother's armchair are woven came from a far-away forest in ,india4 ,troops of monkeys may have swung upon the very pieces on which your baby brother is bouncing1 for the rattan hung from tree to tree in long festoons4 ,one day some brown natives cut it down and stripped it of its leaves4 ,it was then packed in bundles and sent to this country4 ,the hard1 shiny bark cut into strips has been woven into cane seats for chairs1 and the inner part or core of the rattan was cut by a machine into the round strands that you see in wicker furniture4 ,it takes a man's strong hands to weave great armchairs and baby carriages1 but boys and girls can make charming little mats and baskets as well as tiny chairs and tables for the doll's house1 and other interesting things4 ,dealers in kindergarten supplies sell the rattan in different sizes1 from ,no4 #jj1 which is as fine as cord1 to ,no4 #g or ,no4 #h1 which is almost as thick as rope4 ,you will only need the medium sizes1 ,nos4 #b1 #c and #d1 for your weaving1 with some raffia--the soft but strong fibre that the gardener uses for tying up his plants4 ,this you will also find at the kindergarten-supply store4 ,a pair of shears1 a yardstick and an awl are the only tools you will need4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ae4 ,,twist ,,of ,,rattan ,rattan comes in long skeins or twists 7see ,fig4 #ae74 ,always draw it out from the loop end1 so that it will not get tangled and break4 ,two sizes of rattan are generally used in making a basket1 the thicker for the spokes or ribs and the fine for the weavers4 ,both must be soaked in warm water to make them soft and pliable4 ,as many spokes as are needed are first cut the required length and tied together with a piece of raffia4 ,the weavers are then coiled into rings1 so that they also can be soaked4 ,this is done as follows3 ,starting near one end of a length of rattan1 coil it into a ring4 ,twist the short end around this ring once or twice to hold it 7see ,fig4 #af74 ,coil the rest of the strand into rings1 one above the other1 and twist the other end of the rattan around them all until they are held securely4 ,have ready a basin or pail of warm water--not hot--and let the spokes and weaver soak in it for ten or fifteen minutes4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #af ,suppose we begin with a mat1 which is started1 just as the baskets are1 at the centre4 ,a ,mat or ,stand for a ,teapot ,materials ,required3 #d #ab-;inch spokes of ,no4 #d rattan1 #a #g-;inch spoke of ,no4 #d rattan1 #a weaver of ,no4 #b rattan4 ,feel the ends of your weavers and you will find that some are stiff while others are almost as soft and pliable as cord4 ,choose a soft one to start the mat4 ,the four spokes arranged in pairs are crossed in the centre1 the vertical ones being above the others1 or nearer to you4 ,place the short spoke1 seven inches long1 between the upper parts of these vertical spokes4 ,they are held in position by the left hand1 which is1 as always1 the one that holds1 while the right is the weaving hand4 ,an end of the weaver 7which has first been unwound7 is placed along the horizontal spokes1 back of the vertical ones1 with its tip toward the right4 ,the forefinger of the right hand now presses the weaver across the vertical spokes and down behind the horizontal ones on the right 7thus binding the end of the weaver securely71 next over the lower vertical spokes and behind the horizontal ones on the left 7see ,fig4 #ag74 ,this is repeated1 and then1 starting with the upper vertical spokes1 the spokes are separated and the weaving begins 7see ,fig4 #ah74 ,if you want to do close1 even work1 do not pull the rattan as you weave1 but press it with the forefinger1 under and over the spokes as close to the work as possible4 ,the spokes should be very evenly separated1 for upon this much of the beauty and strength of your baskets will depend4 ,think of the regular spaces between the spokes of a wheel and how much trouble one badly placed spoke would make4 ,when there is just enough weaver left to go around once1 the edge is bound off4 ,this is very much like overcasting4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ag ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ah ,after going under one spoke and over another1 the weaver is passed under the last row of weaving just before it reaches the next spoke4 ,it then goes behind that spoke1 in front of the next and under the last row of weaving before the next spoke4 ,when a row of this binding has been made around the edge the mat is finished with the following border3 ,cut the spokes all the same length1 not straight across but slanting1 so as to make a point that can easily be pushed down between the weaving4 ,then hold them in water for a few minutes4 ,when they are quite pliable the first spoke 7any one you choose to begin with7 is pushed down between the rows of weaving beside the one to the left of it or spoke ,no4 #b4 ,no4 #b is pushed down beside the next one to the left1 ,no4 #c1 and so on all the way around the mat4 ,take care that at least an inch of each spoke is pressed below the edge of the mat4 ,small ,candy ,basket ,materials ,required3 #d #ad-;inch spokes of ,no4 #d rattan1 #a #h inch spoke of ,no4 #d rattan1 #b weavers of ,no4 #b rattan4 ,this little basket may be woven of rattan in the natural colour and afterward dyed or gilded1 or one can buy the rattan already coloured4 ,weave a bottom like the beginning of the mat1 and when it measures two inches in diameter 7that is1 from side to side1 across the centre71 wet the spokes and turn them up4 ,the spokes should be turned up away from you1 for the side toward the person weaving is always the outside of the basket and the weaving should go from left to right--as you read4 ,bend them over the middle finger so that the sides of the basket will be curved4 ,illustration3 ,basket weaving ,place the bottom of the basket on your knee1 with the side which in starting was toward you turned down and the spokes bent upward1 and do the weaving of the sides in that position4 ,in joining a new weaver lay it across the end of the old one1 back of a spoke 7see ,fig4 #ai74 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ai4 ,,joining ,,weavers ,the weaver at first should not be drawn too tight1 but allowed to go easily1 though it must be pressed closely down upon the row beneath it4 ,when about three-quarters of an inch has been woven up the sides1 the spokes are drawn gradually closer together by a slight tightening of the weaver1 and this should be continued until an inch more has been woven4 ,bind off and finish with this border4 ,the spokes for the border should measure at least four inches from the last row of weaving to the end of the spoke4 ,cut and soak as described in the directions for making a mat4 ,spoke ,no4 #a crosses the next one on the left1 or ,no4 #b1 and is pushed down beside the next spoke1 ,no4 #c4 ,no4 #b crosses ,no4 #c and is pushed down beside ,no4 #d1 and so on around the basket4 ,doll's ,table of ,rattan ,materials ,required3 #f #bb-;inch spokes of ,no4 #c rattan1 #a #ab-;inch spoke of ,no4 #c rattan1 #a weaver of ,no4 #b rattan1 ,a piece of fine wire1 #d or #e inches long1 ,several strands of raffia1 ,an awl4 ,perhaps you did not think it was as interesting to make a mat as to weave baskets1 but you will be glad you know how to do it when you see some of the things that can be made with mats4 ,for example1 this dear little wicker table1 just the size for a doll's house and the shape for an afternoon tea4 ,two groups of spokes1 one of three and the other of three and a half1 are crossed in the centre4 ,the short spoke should be put between two others1 never on the outside of a group4 ,the mat is woven like the other mat and basket until it is three and a half inches in diameter1 when the edge is bound off4 ,bring each spoke across the next one and press it down beside the next1 as in the border of the basket1 except that the long end is not cut off1 but brought out between the fourth and fifth rows of weaving on the under side of the mat4 ,the loops of the border are drawn in so that they will not be more than a quarter of an inch beyond the weaving4 ,the long ends of the spokes 7which are to form the legs of the table7 are brought together and bound with a piece of fine wire just under the centre4 ,separate them into three groups of four spokes each4 ,the odd spoke is either cut off or whittled very thin and bound in with one of the three groups4 ,a strand of raffia is now doubled around two or three spokes1 above the wire binding1 and wound tightly around one of the groups until it has covered two inches1 from the binding down4 ,at the end a half hitch or one buttonhole stitch is made1 to keep the raffia from slipping4 ,it is then wound up again to the top4 ,the raffia is brought down the second leg as far as the first one was wound2 here it is turned with a half hitch and brought up again in the same way4 ,the third leg is also wound down and up again1 with a half hitch at the bottom to hold it4 ,after this third leg has been covered the raffia is brought in and out between the legs1 where they separate1 in order to spread them more4 ,it is then tied and the ends are cut close4 ,finally the spokes at the end of each leg are cut slanting so that the table will stand firmly4 ,doll's ,chair of ,rattan ,materials ,required3 #f #bj-;inch spokes of ,no4 #c rattan1 #a #aa-;inch spoke of ,no4 #c rattan1 #d #aj-;inch spokes of ,no4 #c rattan1 #a piece of ,no4 #c rattan about #i inches long1 #b weavers of ,no4 #b rattan1 ,several strands of raffia1 ,an awl4 ,would you like to make a tiny high-backed chair to use with the tea table in the doll's house8 ,it is only a trifle more difficult to make than the table4 ,two groups of twenty-inch spokes of ,no4 #c rattan1 one having three and the other three and a half spokes in it1 are crossed at the centre1 bound around twice with a weaver of ,no4 #b rattan and woven into a mat three inches in diameter4 ,after binding off the edge the following border is made3 ,each spoke is brought down beside the next one1 as in the border of the mat1 except that the long end is drawn out between the second and third rows of weaving on the under side of the mat4 ,when all the spokes have been brought out in this way underneath the mat1 or seat1 the four groups of three spokes each which are to form the legs are so divided that the vertical spokes in the centre of the chair seat shall run toward the front and back of the seat4 ,the thirteenth spoke is whittled to a thin point and bound in with one of the other groups1 which are wound with raffia down to the end1 turned with a half hitch and brought up again4 ,a neat way to start the raffia is to thread it across a row of weaving in the chair seat1 just above the group it is to bind4 ,a piece of ,no4 #c rattan about nine inches long is coiled into a ring and held within the space enclosed by the legs1 about half way down1 where it is wound around with a strand of raffia and bound securely to each leg4 ,the back of the chair is formed by inserting four spokes of ,no4 #c rattan1 ten inches long1 beside those in the seat1 at that part of the seat which has been chosen for the back4 ,to do this push a sharp pointed awl in between the weaving1 beside a spoke1 draw it out and you will have made room for the new spoke to run in4 ,bend the spokes up and weave back and forth upon them with a ,no4 #b weaver1 turning on the outside spokes4 ,needless to say1 the weaver must be very soft and pliable in order to make these sharp turns4 ,you will find that you can make almost any kind of a back you choose4 ,if you decide to make an oval-shaped back1 then when you have woven it high enough1 bring each of the outside spokes over and down beside the other one1 running it in between the weaving4 ,the inner spokes are crossed at the centre and run down beside the outer spokes4 ,to make an armchair insert six spokes instead of four at the back of the seat and weave the outer spokes in with the others for a few rows4 ,they are then bent over and forward to form the arms4 ,each is cut to the desired length and run in beside one of the side spokes in the seat4 ,a ,bird's ,nest ,materials ,required3 #h #ah-;inch spokes of ,no4 #c rattan1 #a #aj-;inch spoke of ,no4 #c rattan1 #a #a_/b weavers of ,no4 #b rattan1 ,a bunch of raffia ,a tapestry needle1 ,no4 #ah4 ,at the ,bird ,market in ,paris charming little nests are sold1 woven of rushes on spokes of brown twigs1 in the shape of an ,indian tepee4 ,they are intended for caged birds1 who cannot build their own nests of sticks and grass and horsehair from the fields and wayside4 ,some free birds like them1 too--wrens1 for example4 ,a boy or girl who has made the mat and basket and doll's furniture will have no difficulty in weaving one of these nests4 ,then there will be the delight of hanging it in a tree 7not too near the house7 and watching to see what bird will choose it when nesting time comes4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #bj ,let us weave a nest that shall be light and yet firm4 ,spokes of rattan will give it strength and weavers of raffia will make it soft and comfortable4 ,two groups of spokes1 one of four and the other of four and a half1 are crossed at the centre1 bound three times with a strand of raffia and woven into a bottom an inch and a half across4 ,another weaver is then added and an inch of pairing is made4 ,pairing1 or bam tush1 as the ,indians call it1 is a simple stitch4 ,two weavers are started1 each one behind a spoke 7see ,fig4 #bj74 ,the one on the left is brought over the first spoke1 under the next and down in front4 ,it is now the turn of the second weaver1 which also passes over the first spoke on its right1 under the next and outside1 where it is held down in front while the other weaver repeats the process4 ,so it goes on around the nest4 ,the spokes are then wet so that the bottom may be formed into a bowl shape1 with sides rounding up from the very centre4 ,a row of pairing in ,no4 #b rattan is next woven to hold the slippery raffia in place4 ,this is followed by five-eighths of an inch of raffia woven in pairing1 the sides still being flared4 ,two rows of pairing in ,no4 #b rattan are then woven1 drawing the spokes in very slightly4 ,at this point1 which is the widest1 the nest should measure eleven inches around the top4 ,a row of under and over weaving is started1 and at the place which has been chosen for the doorway the weaver is doubled back on a spoke and woven from right to left until it comes to the second spoke to the right of the one it first doubled around4 ,it is brought around this spoke1 thus making the beginning of a doorway1 which has an unused spoke in the centre of it4 ,the weaver then returns to the spoke it first doubled around1 where it doubles back again4 ,this is repeated until the doorway is an inch and a quarter high4 ,two rows of pairing in ,no4 #b rattan are then woven all the way around1 forming a firm top for the doorway1 where they cross it4 ,the spokes are drawn in closer and closer with rows of pairing in raffia1 until1 when an inch and a half has been woven1 they meet at the top4 ,the ends of the spokes are left uneven lengths and bound around with a strand of raffia threaded through a tapestry needle4 ,a loop to hang it by is made of two strands of raffia1 five and a half inches long1 covered close with buttonhole stitch in raffia4 ,the spoke in the centre of the doorway should be cut at the lower part of the opening1 just above the weaving1 and after it has been wet until quite pliable it is bent and pressed up between the weaving beside the upper part of the same spoke4 ,knots with ,raffia and ,cord ,,chapter ,,iv ,,knots ,,with ,,raffia ,,and ,,cord ,sailors' knots are of course fascinating to boys1 but why should not girls enjoy making them1 too8 ,think of the dolls' hammocks1 the work bags and twine ball nets one can make1 and think of being able to tie a good1 square knot--one that will hold--instead of the granny knots that brothers and boy cousins laugh at6 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ba ,of course you know how to tie the simplest knot of all--the one shown in ,fig4 #ba4 ,let us call it the loop knot1 for it is made by tying the ends of a strand together to form a loop4 ,you have used it often for that purpose1 ,i am sure1 and sometimes to tie two pieces of string together4 ,you can make a pretty and useful sponge bag of raffia in the natural colour with this knot4 ,the wet sponge will not hurt the raffia1 and in such an open bag the air soon dries it4 ,knotted ,sponge ,bag ,materials ,required3 #be strands of raffia1 ,a length of ,no4 #e rattan1 ,a tapestry needle4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #bb ,roll a length of ,no4 #e rattan into a ring1 as described on page #ch1 so that it can be soaked in warm water till it is pliable4 ,cut it into three pieces1 each forty-seven inches long4 ,tie an end of one of these pieces into a ring seven inches in diameter and twist the long end in and out once around this 7see ,fig4 #bb74 ,at the end of this row the ends1 where they meet1 should overlap an inch4 ,if they are longer1 cut them off with a slanting cut and tie them tightly together with a piece of raffia4 ,two more rings1 the same size as the first one1 are made with the other pieces of rattan4 ,hang one of the rings where you can reach it easily1 on a low bedpost1 for example4 ,double a strand of raffia and tie it through the ring as shown in ,fig4 #ba1 drawing the knot up quite close4 ,twenty-two strands are knotted on in this way4 ,space them along the ring about an inch apart1 and1 beginning with any pair of strands1 tie the right-hand one with the nearest strand of the next pair on the right1 making an even mesh at an inch from the first row of knots4 ,continue this all around the ring1 when you will have made one row4 ,ten more rows are knotted in this way4 ,then bring the ends of all the strands straight down together and tie them below the centre of the ring with a piece of raffia4 ,the ends are cut off evenly at about two inches and a half from where they were tied1 to form a tassel4 ,the two other rings are used for the handles of the bag4 ,lay one of them against the ring at the top of the bag so that the places where the rings are tied will come together4 ,thread a tapestry needle with raffia and bind the rings together with buttonhole stitch for an inch4 ,then sew through and through the binding to make it secure and cut the end close to the ring4 ,the other ring handle is bound to the opposite side of the top ring in the same way4 ,a ,doll's ,hammock ,materials ,required3 #ad strands of raffia1 ,a tapestry needle4 ,even simpler to make than the sponge bag is a doll's hammock of raffia4 ,it is knotted in just the same way4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #bc ,lay twelve strands of raffia evenly together4 ,bend them to find the middle1 or middle them1 as the sailors say4 ,lay the short end of another piece of raffia on the middle of the twelve strands1 with its tip turning toward the left1 and wind the long end round and round from right to left1 binding them together for two and three-quarter inches4 ,bring the two ends of this binding together to form a loop1 wind a strand of raffia tightly around them 7see ,fig4 #bc71 and tie the ends securely4 ,you will then have twenty-four ends to knot together1 two and two1 as the knots in the bag were made4 ,pin the loop on the cushion of a chair or tie it to a low hook or to the doorknob1 so that you can pull the strands taut4 ,the first row of knots is tied about two inches from the loop and after that the rows are only an inch apart4 ,the finishing of the edge of the hammock is of course different from the bag4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #bd ,it is done in this way3 ,in starting the second row of knots the left strand in the first pair is of course left untied1 and1 after knotting the row across1 the right strand of the last pair is also left free4 ,when the third row is started the loose strand on the left side of the hammock is knotted in with the left one in the first pair of strands in this row 7see ,fig4 #bd74 ,in other words1 the strands which are left untied at each side of the hammock when the second1 fourth1 sixth and all the even numbered rows have been knotted1 are tied in with the outside strands in the next uneven numbered row4 ,to make a hammock for a little doll thirteen rows of knotting will be enough4 ,when the last row has been tied bring the ends of the strands together1 start a new strand at two inches from the last row of knots1 and bind the ends together tightly for two and three-quarter inches to make a loop like the one at the other end4 ,after the loop is finished cut the ends close to the binding1 and with a tapestry needle threaded in the end of the binding strand sew it through and through1 to secure it1 and cut its end close to the binding4 ,how to ,tie a ,square or ,reef ,knot ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #be ,once upon a time a little girl was carrying a bundle of cookies by the string1 when suddenly the knot slipped and the cookies rolled in every direction1 over the sidewalk and into the street4 ,if the baker's wife had known how to tie a square knot instead of that useless granny1 the accident would never have happened4 ,i wonder if you have ever had an experience of this kind4 ,if so1 ,i am sure you will like to learn how to tie the ends of a piece of string together so that they cannot slip4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #bf ,take the ends of a piece of string1 one in each hand4 ,cross them and bring the upper end down under the long end of the other piece 7see ,fig4 #be74 ,now turn it back in the opposite direction above the first part of the knot1 to make a loop1 and pass the other end down through it 7see ,fig4 #bf74 ,in this way each end of the string will come out beside its own beginning4 ,two ,hitches ,there is no simple knot that you will find more useful than the half hitch4 ,it is described in the directions for making the game of ,floor ,baseball in ,chapter ,,ii4 ,two of these half hitches1 side by side1 are called by sailors a clove hitch4 ,in making nets this clove hitch is used to attach the first row of meshes to the top line or head rope1 as it is called4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #bg ,another use for the half hitch is in the process that sailors call kackling 7see ,fig4 #bg74 ,this is used to prevent two ropes from rubbing against one another1 or chafing4 ,a beautiful handle for a basket or bag may be made with this knot4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #bh ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #bi ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #cj ,take two pieces of rope and some light cord1 or1 if it is to be the handle of a basket1 two pieces of heavy rattan1 ,no4 #e1 and some ,no4 #jj rattan with which to do the knotting4 ,if you use the rattan be sure to soak it for ten minutes in warm water and choose a soft piece of the fine rattan for knotting4 ,hold the heavy pieces of rattan side by side1 lay an end of the fine rattan upon them at the middle 7see ,fig4 #bh71 with its tip turning toward the left1 and hold it there with the left hand1 while with the right you bring the long end up and around both of the large pieces of rattan up and under the short end of the fine piece4 ,it is then brought down and around the two large pieces of rattan and the end is passed down through the loop made in starting the hitch 7see ,fig4 #bi74 ,draw the tying strand up tight and bring the long end up and around the large pieces of rattan and up under the loop it left in starting 7see ,fig4 #cj74 ,take care to keep the fine rattan wet so that it will be very pliable2 if it dries it will surely crack as you tie it4 ,net ,making ,if you would like to make a ping-pong net or a net for crabbing1 you will find it quite easy to do and very interesting4 ,after you have made these small nets you may feel like trying a tennis net if you have plenty of time and patience4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ca ,at a hardware store you can buy tightly twisted cord of the size you wish to use in making your net4 ,it is generally sold by weight4 ,if you are planning to make a ping-pong or tennis net you will also need a heavy piece of cord for the head rope4 ,a crab net would of course be netted on to an iron ring attached to a long wooden handle4 ,a needle such as is shown in ,fig4 #ca may be made quite easily by any boy who can whittle4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #cb ,when you have wound your cord on the needle1 stretch the head rope taut between two convenient points1 the backs of two chairs1 for example1 and begin at the left by tying one end of the cord to it4 ,make a loop the size you wish the mesh to be and fasten the cord to the head rope with a clove hitch1 or two half hitches 7see ,fig4 #cb74 ,when you have worked as far as you wish1 get on the other side of the net and work back again4 ,this row of meshes and all that follow after are made by fastening them to the upper row with a sheet bend 7see ,fig4 #cb74 ,after the second row is finished come around to the other side again and knot the third row4 ,when the net is wide enough knot it to a piece of rope the size of the head rope with a row of clove hitches4 ,the ,weaver's ,knot ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #cc ,in weaving bead chains on a loom1 and in doing other things1 you will often need to tie a new piece of thread or cord to a very short end4 ,the weavers have a knot they use for this purpose1 and as it is a simple one perhaps you would like to learn it4 ,hold the old end in a vertical position 7that is1 as if it were standing up71 lay the new piece back of it1 its short end turning toward the left and reaching an inch or more beyond the vertical thread4 ,bring the long end around in front of the vertical thread1 up back of its own short end on the left and across in front of the vertical thread 7see ,fig4 #cc74 ,all these threads are held in position by the fingers and thumbs of the left hand1 while the right hand brings the thread around4 ,the vertical or old end is now turned down through the loop in front of it and there held by the thumb1 while with the fingers of both hands the long and short ends of the new thread are pulled up tight4 ,turk's ,head ,there is a beautiful knot called by sailors a ,turk's head4 ,girls will find that they can make the prettiest buttons imaginable with it1 using silk cord of any colour1 and both boys and girls will enjoy making napkin rings of rattan with a more open arrangement of the same knot4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #cd ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ce ,to make a button take a yard of cord1 and at about four inches from one end bend it into a loop 7like the one shown in ,fig4 #cd71 about half an inch across4 ,the long end should come above the short one4 ,next make a second loop lying above and to the left of the first one 7see ,fig4 #ce71 bringing the long end under the short one left in starting4 ,the long end is then brought over the left side of the second loop1 under the left side of the first loop1 over the right side of the second loop1 under the right side of the first and around to the beginning1 inside of the short end 7see ,fig4 #cf74 ,this makes one row1 or the beginning of the button4 ,if you have a bodkin with a large eye1 the long end of the cord can be threaded into it and this will make the work easier4 ,the next row follows the first one exactly--close to it and always on the inside4 ,when the cord has followed in this way four times1 to complete four rows 7keeping the button form always in mind and moulding the cord into that shape71 a firm little button will have been made4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #cf ,napkin ,ring ,material ,required3 #a length of ,no4 #d rattan4 ,illustration3 ,at the top of the plate is the beginning of a ping-pong net4 ,below it at the right is the ,turk's-head knot4 ,still lower the knotted raffia work bag hangs4 ,on the left is swung a doll's hammock of knotted raffia and above it a rattan napkin ring1 made with the ,turk's-head knot ,with a piece of rattan in the natural colour or a length of coloured rattan you can make a useful and very pretty napkin ring by following the directions just given1 with only one change4 ,in beginning the second row 7shown in ,fig4 #cf71 the long end is brought to the left or outside of the short end and continues around on that side4 ,five rows may be made instead of four4 ,keep the ring form in mind all the time1 have the rattan wet and pliable and mould it into the shape of a ring1 keeping the top and bottom as nearly the same size as possible4 ,green ,raffia ,work ,bag ,materials ,required3 ,a bunch of green raffia1 ,a length of ,no4 #e green rattan1 ,a tapestry needle4 ,a ,tapestry ,needle ,when your mother was a little girl her mother used to make with linen twine a kind of coarse1 heavy lace called macram4 ,one of the knots she used was called ,solomon's knot1 and that is the one you will use if you decide to make this work bag4 ,a length of ,no4 #d rattan and a bunch of raffia1 both in a soft shade of green1 will be needed4 ,these you can buy of a dealer in basket materials for a few cents4 ,twist three rings like those for the upper edge and handles of the sponge bag described in the first part of this chapter4 ,hang one of these rings on a low bedpost or on a hook placed so that you can reach it easily when seated4 ,take two strands of raffia1 double them around the ring1 and with the four ends thus made tie a ,solomon's knot as follows3 ,hold the two upper strands straight and taut4 ,bend the under strand on the left across them to the right 7see ,fig4 #cg71 and bring the under strand on the right over the end of the left strand1 back of the middle strands and through the loop made by the left strand in starting4 ,another pair of strands is knotted on in the same way1 and another1 until there are twenty-two groups around the ring4 ,starting anywhere on the ring1 the two strands on the right of a group are brought beside the two on the left of the next group to the right4 ,the middle pair of these four strands are held straight down1 while the strands on the right and left are tied upon them in a ,solomon's knot4 ,this knot should be half an inch from those in the first row4 ,make a double knot this time as follows3 ,after tying the knot 7shown in ,fig4 #cg71 take the end which is on the right after the first knot has tied1 bring it over to the left1 above the middle strands1 and bring the one on the left down over the end of the strand which was on the right1 back of the two middle strands and up through the loop left in starting the right strand 7see ,fig4 #ch74 ,the whole row is made in this way4 ,ten rows are knotted1 each one about half an inch from the row above4 ,the bag is finished in the same way as the sponge bag1 with a tassel and two handles4 ,if you choose you can line it with silk of the same colour as the raffia1 or1 if it is to be used for a duster bag or to hold grandmother's knitting1 it will not need a lining4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #cg ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ch ,what a ,child ,can ,do with ,beads ,,chapter ,v ,,what ,a ,,child ,,can ,,do ,,with ,,beads ,long1 long ago when the world was young1 the child who wished for a gay and pretty necklace for her little brown throat strung berries and seeds or pieces of shell and bone that her father ground smooth by hand and pierced for stringing4 ,for thread there were grasses and fibres of plants or sinews of deer4 ,indian children sometimes used beads of clay1 and so did the little ,egyptians1 for the fine clay by the river ,nile made beautiful beads1 as well as pottery4 ,the children of the ,north--the little ,esquimaux--had beads of amber1 and the ,indian tribes farther south strung shells that look so much like the teeth of animals one can hardly believe they are anything else4 ,look for them at the ,natural ,history ,museum and you will see that this is so4 ,nowadays there are of course many more kinds of beads--beads of glass1 china1 gold and silver1 and even of semi-precious stones4 ,after all1 though1 the child who lives in the country or by the sea can gather the most interesting kind of all--such as were strung by those children who lived so long ago--seeds1 berries1 shells and seaweed4 ,gather them on a sunshiny day and store them away for use in the dull hours when you are obliged to be indoors4 ,the seeds of muskmelons are soft enough to pierce2 watermelon seeds will take more effort and a stronger needle4 ,then there are the orange berries of bittersweet and the red ones of holly4 ,haws or hawthorn berries are a beautiful red1 too1 and perhaps you will find in a neighbour's garden a bush of ,job's tears--gray1 white or brown4 ,the grape-like seaweed which bursts with a pop when you step on it makes very pretty beads4 ,cut each one close to the bulb1 yet far enough to leave a short piece of the stem on each side of the bead4 ,pierce the bulbs while they are still wet1 and after they have dried for a few days they will be ready to string4 ,apple and flax seeds1 beans and peas before they have dried1 make excellent beads4 ,a few of the small glass beads which come in bunches may be used with these natural beads1 and will set them off wonderfully4 ,although they are usually sold in bunches1 eight skeins to a bunch1 the skeins can sometimes be bought separately4 ,olive-green crystal beads of the size that dealers call ,no4 #c-j are beautiful with red berries1 and what could be prettier to string with brown seeds or ,job's tears than gold-lined crystal beads8 ,let us use them in making a chain for a muff or fan4 ,muff ,chain in ,brown and ,gold ,materials ,required3 #ab brown seeds or ,job's tears1 ,a bunch of gold-lined crystal beads1 ,no4 #c-j1 ,a spool of ,no4 #fj white linen thread1 ,a ,no4 #e needle4 ,have you ever seen any ,job's tears--the interesting tear-shaped seeds of an ,east ,indian grass8 ,it grows very well in this climate1 and you may like to raise it yourself4 ,think of being able to pick beads from a plant of your own6 ,be careful to boil these beads before stringing1 for a little grub sometimes lives in them1 and he may appear when you least expect him or may even make a meal of the thread on which the beads are strung4 ,if you have not the ,job's tears1 apple seeds will look almost as well1 or you can buy at the grocer's whole allspice4 ,use a ,no4 #e needle and a piece of ,no4 #fj white linen thread four inches longer than you wish the chain to be when it is finished2 two yards and a quarter is a good length4 ,string a seed and draw it down to the middle of the thread1 then string some of the gold-lined crystal beads for about three-quarters of an inch4 ,a seed is next threaded on1 and then quarter of an inch of gold-lined beads4 ,keep on in this way1 first threading a seed and then quarter of an inch of gold-lined beads1 until there are only two inches of the thread left4 ,tie this end through a bead to keep the others from slipping off4 ,thread your needle with the other end of the strand and start by stringing three-quarters of an inch of the gold-lined beads1 then a seed and quarter of an inch of gold-lined beads4 ,when this end of the strand has been strung--just as the other was--to within two inches of the tip1 tie the two ends together and the chain is finished4 ,raffia and ,bead ,chain ,materials ,required3 #b strands of rose-pink raffia1 ,a bunch of large rose-pink crystal beads1 #b fine darning needles4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ch;,a ,another pretty and simple chain is made of large rose-pink crystal beads strung on pink raffia2 or you can use seeds or berries instead of the crystal beads1 in which case the raffia will have to be split4 ,tie the strands of raffia together at one end1 and on each of the other ends thread a fine darning needle4 ,string one bead1 then pass both needles through a single bead and through another and another 7see ,fig4 #ch;a74 ,two beads are then slipped on each strand 7see ,fig4 #ch;a74 ,next both needles pass through three beads1 and so on to the end of the chain4 ,tie the ends securely4 ,double ,chain of ,seeds and ,beads ,materials ,required3 ,a bunch of crystal beads1 letter ,e1 #be large beads of a deeper shade or the same number of seeds or berries1 ,a spool of ,no4 #fj white linen thread1 ,a ,no4 #e needle4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ci ,a double chain like the one shown in ,fig #ci may be made of crystal ,e beads strung with seeds or larger beads of a deeper shade4 ,measure off a piece of white linen thread1 ,no4 #fj1 double the length you wish the chain to be4 ,three yards twenty-two inches will make a chain sixty-five inches long1 which is a good size4 ,in one end of it thread a ,no4 #e needle and string one large bead1 or seed1 which should be pushed down to the middle of the strand4 ,here it may be tied1 to hold it in place4 ,next string two inches and a half of ,e beads1 then another large bead1 or seed1 and so on to the end of the strand1 where the tip is tied through the last bead4 ,the other end of the strand is then threaded and two inches and a half of the ,e beads are strung1 the needle passes through the next large bead on the end first strung 7see ,fig #ci71 and two and a half inches more of the ,e beads are threaded4 ,so it goes on to the end of the chain--the needle always passing through the next large bead on the strand already strung1 after two inches and a half of ,e beads have been threaded4 ,braided ,raffia ,chain ,materials ,required3 #c strands of pale green raffia1 #ff darker green crystal beads1 ,no4 #j4 ,illustration3 ,,fig #dj4 ,a braided raffia chain with a cluster of three crystal beads every few inches is so simple that any little girl can make it4 ,choose pale green raffia and beads of a deeper shade1 and it will look like clover leaves on their stems4 ,string twenty-two of the green crystal beads1 ,no4 #j size1 on a strand of split raffia4 ,on two other strands thread the same number of beads4 ,tie the thin end of each piece around the last bead1 so that it cannot slip off4 ,the other ends are all tied together4 ,now pin the knot securely to a cushion1 or tie it to a hook at a convenient height and braid the three strands together closely and evenly for about two inches4 ,then slip a bead from each piece up close to the work and braid it in as shown in ,fig4 #dj4 ,this will make a clover leaf4 ,after braiding two inches more slip another bead on each strand up close to the work and make another leaf4 ,when it is finished tie the ends together securely4 ,a ,daisy ,chain ,materials ,required3 ,half a bunch of olive green opaque beads1 ,no4 #c-j1 ,half a bunch of milk white beads1 ,no4 #j1 #a skein yellow crystal ,e beads1 ,a spool of ,no4 #fj white linen thread1 ,a ,no4 #e needle4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #da ,next best to making a daisy chain out-of-doors is to string one of beads4 ,and this rainy-day chain will last as many months as the real chain would hours4 ,first string sixteen green beads1 then eight white ones4 ,run the needle down through the first white bead and string a yellow one4 ,next pass the needle through the fifth white bead 7see ,fig4 #da7 and draw the thread up tightly4 ,this makes a daisy4 ,string another stem of sixteen green beads and make a daisy as you did the first one4 ,the whole chain is strung in this way4 ,chain of ,watermelon ,seeds ,strung ,with ,beads ,materials ,required3 #abj fresh watermelon seeds1 ,a bunch of pink crystal ,e beads1 ,a spool of ,no4 #fj white linen thread1 ,a ,no4 #e needle4 ,a chain that is very pretty and effective may be made with watermelon seeds and pink crystal ,e beads1 the colour of the inside of a watermelon4 ,the seeds can be pierced quite easily with a ,no4 #e needle4 ,take two pieces of white linen thread1 well waxed1 the length you wish the chain to be1 and two needles4 ,tie an ,e bead on the end of each piece of thread4 ,lay them side by side and string four more ,e beads on the strand at the right4 ,pass the needle on the left up through the three middle beads of the five on the right strand 7see ,fig4 #db71 and string one more ,e bead4 ,next thread a seed on each strand and string the ,e beads in the same way4 ,so it goes on for the whole length of the chain4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #db ,if you are fond of playing ,indian and have no ,indian costume1 you ought to be happy4 ,that seems a strange thing to say1 but the reason is this3 ,you can have all the fun of making a costume yourself1 you can learn how to do it in the ,indian way1 and after it is finished it will be far more like the dress worn by ,western ,indians than those that are sold ready made4 ,suppose we begin with the belt4 ,it is woven on a loom--not an ,indian loom1 which1 as perhaps you know1 was a bow strung with several strings which served as the warp threads for the belt or chain4 ,possibly you have a loom of your own and know how to use it2 but if not you can either buy one for twenty-five or fifty cents1 or1 what is still better1 make one yourself4 ,a simple1 good loom may be made from a cigar box4 ,a ,home ,made ,bead ,loom ,materials ,required3 ,an oblong cigar box1 about #b #a_/b inches deep1 #d small sticks of wood #b #a_/b inches long and #a_/b-;inch square1 #af #a_/b-;inch screws1 #f small screw eyes1 #f tacks1 ,a sharp knife1 ,a screw driver1 ,a hammer1 ,sand paper4 ,choose a good strong cigar box1 one that is quite shallow1 and remove the cover4 ,rule a line one inch from the bottom of the box on each long side and draw a sharp knife across the line several times until the upper part separates easily from the lower without injuring it4 ,smooth the tops of the sides with sandpaper4 ,fasten each of the small sticks of wood inside a corner of the box1 to strengthen it4 ,this is how it is done4 ,drive one of the half-inch screws up from the bottom into the end of the stick1 another into it through the side1 and two1 one near the top and one lower down through the end of the box1 into the stick4 ,on the outside of the box at one end six round-headed tacks are driven in a row an inch and a half from the top and about three-quarters of an inch apart4 ,drive six screw eyes in the same position on the opposite side4 ,cut a row of notches on the top of each end of the loom1 about one-sixteenth of an inch apart1 and deep enough to hold a thread4 ,the loom is then ready for weaving4 ,chalk-white beads are much used by the bead-weaving ,indians like the ,sioux and ,winnebagos1 especially for the ground-work of their belts4 ,let us choose them for the background of the belt and weave the design in ,indian red and blue4 ,indian ,bead ,belt ,materials ,required3 #a bunch chalk white beads1 ,no4 #c-j1 #d skeins each ,indian red and dark blue beads1 ,no4 #c-j1 #a spool ,no4 #fj white linen thread1 #a spool ,no4 #ij white linen thread1 ,a ,no4 #ab needle1 ,a piece of wax4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #dc ,cut twenty-two pieces of ,no4 #fj linen thread about six inches longer than you wish your belt to be4 ,tie a loop at one end of each piece and slip it over the round-headed tacks at one end of the loom4 ,bring the long ends one at a time through twenty-two of the notches at the top of the loom and stretch them across to the notches in the opposite end4 ,draw them taut and tie them through the screw eyes4 ,these make the warp threads for the belt4 ,as you will see by the pattern1 the belt is twenty-one beads wide and you have twenty-two threads4 ,this is so that there will be a thread on each side of every bead4 ,thread the needle with ,no4 #ij white linen thread4 ,tie one end of it to the warp thread on the left 7as you hold the loom with the end on which are the screw eyes toward you74 ,bring the needle out to the right below the warp strands1 string twenty-one white beads and press them up between the warp strands1 so that one bead will come between every two threads4 ,run the needle back from right to left through the beads1 making sure that it goes above the warp threads4 ,this makes one row4 ,the whole belt is woven in the same way1 except that when the figure begins the beads should be strung according to the pattern4 ,for example1 in making the first row of the pattern shown in ,fig4 #dc1 you will string nine white beads1 three ,indian-red ones and nine more of the white4 ,the next two rows will be the same1 and then you will string six white beads1 three ,indian-red1 three blue1 three ,indian-red1 and six white4 ,wax the thread you weave with1 so that the sharp-edged beads will not cut it4 ,in joining new needlefuls use the weaver's knot shown on p4 #ff4 ,armlets are woven in the same way1 but much wider--about forty beads wide and long enough to go around the upper part of the arm4 ,tie them together with strips of chamois1 knotted in with the ends of the warp strands4 ,head bands1 bracelets and chains are also woven in this way4 ,bead ,wrought ,indian ,shirt ,materials ,required3 #a large chamois skin1 #b smaller chamois skins1 #a spool white linen thread1 ,no4 #ij1 ,a ,no4 #aa needle1 #a_/b bunch dark blue beads1 ,no4 #d-j1 #a_/b bunch ,indian red beads1 ,no4 #d-j1 #a_/b bunch white opaque beads1 ,no4 #d-j1 #bh large ,indian red opaque beads4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #dd ,although this shirt and the moccasins and leggings that go with it are so simple to make1 you are almost sure to need the help of your mother or governess in planning and cutting them4 ,the shirt is the size for a child of seven or eight1 but it can easily be enlarged so as to fit a boy of twelve or fourteen4 ,it is made by the pattern shown in ,fig4 #dd1 which is drawn on the scale of one inch to a foot4 ,one large chamois skin and two of medium size will be needed4 ,double the large skin lengthwise to cut the upper part of the shirt4 ,this should be ten inches deep and a yard wide4 ,cut at the centre a slit about nine inches long for the neck4 ,the ends form the sleeves4 ,lay the two smaller skins together and cut from them the lower portion of the shirt4 ,the back and front are alike1 each measuring nineteen inches wide at the top1 twenty-two inches at the bottom1 and fifteen inches deep4 ,make a pencil mark at the centre of each lower edge of the upper part and one at the middle of the top of both of the lower pieces4 ,turn up an inch at each lower edge of the upper part of the shirt and baste the doubled edge of one side against the top of one of the lower parts1 keeping the pencil marks at the middle of each together4 ,sew the edges together over and over with ,no4 #ij white linen thread4 ,join the other side in the same way4 ,the overlapping edges of the upper part of the shirt should be kept on the right side4 ,sew the sides of the shirt together with a row of backstitching1 four inches from the edge4 ,the edges are cut into a fringe four and a half inches deep at the ends of the sleeves and three inches on the sides and bottom of the shirt4 ,the edges of the upper part which hangs over the lower are also cut into a short fringe4 ,work two narrow bands of bead embroidery round the neck1 and if you like you can also work a band half way down the lower part of the shirt and one near the lower edge just above the fringe4 ,they are made in this way3 ,thread a ,no4 #aa needle with white linen thread and make a knot at the other end4 ,start at the right of the neck close to the edge4 ,bring the needle through to the outside of the shirt4 ,string four beads1 press them down close to the shirt and bring the needle through to the inside4 ,this makes a stitch which runs up and down at right angles with the neck opening4 ,bring the needle out again on a line with the place where it went in and close beside it1 string four more beads1 bring it up and run it in again just at the left of where the work began 7see ,fig4 #de74 ,this simple stitch is the one that is most used by the ,indians in embroidering their buckskin shirts1 leggings and moccasins4 ,string different colours1 according to the pattern4 ,several designs for this work are shown in ,figs4 #df1 #dg and #dh4 ,if you wish to decorate the shirt still more1 cut strips of chamois about a quarter of an inch wide and five inches long1 pierce a row of holes1 two together1 at intervals of an inch and three-quarters across the shirt 7see ,fig4 #dd71 bring the strips of chamois through them and tie them once4 ,string a large ,indian-red bead on each end and tie a knot to keep it from falling off4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #de ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #df ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #dg ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #dh ,indian ,leggings ,materials ,required3 #b small chamois skins1 #a_/b bunch dark blue beads1 ,no4 #d-j1 #a_/b bunch ,indian red beads1 ,no4 #d-j1 #a_/b bunch white opaque beads1 ,no4 #d-j1 ,a spool of ,no4 #ij white linen thread1 ,a ,no4 #aa needle4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #di ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ej ,nothing could be easier to make than ,indian leggings1 and you can put as much work or as little as you choose into the embroidery4 ,cut from two small chamois skins two pieces in the shape shown in ,fig4 #di4 ,they should each be eight and three-quarters inches at the lower edge1 twelve inches at the top and twelve high4 ,the design shown in ,fig4 #ej will be simple and effective1 and narrow bands like those in ,fig4 #ea may be worked along the edge that laps over and across the bottom4 ,six strands of chamois about eight inches long are brought through the leggings on each side at an inch from the edge4 ,these form the fastenings4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ea ,beaded ,moccasins ,materials ,required3 #a medium-sized chamois skin1 #a_/b bunch dark blue beads1 ,no4 #d-j1 #a_/b bunch ,indian red beads1 ,no4 #d-j1 #a_/b bunch white opaque beads1 ,no4 #d-j1 #a spool ,no4 #be white linen thread1 ,a ,no4 #c needle1 #a spool ,no4 #ij white linen thread1 ,a ,no4 #aa needle4 ,to make the pattern for these moccasins you need only stand on a sheet of brown paper and draw with a pencil around your bare foot so as to get its exact size and natural form4 ,cut the pattern out and take it to a shoemaker1 who will cut from it a pair of leather soles4 ,the uppers you can cut from a paper pattern copied from the shape shown in ,fig4 #eb4 ,it will not be difficult to plan them to fit the soles1 for you have only to measure the distance around the outer edge of the soles and make the uppers measure about an inch more along the outer edge1 to allow for the seam at the back and for a little fulness across the toe4 ,work them in some simple design1 like the one shown in ,fig4 #ec4 ,a pretty beaded edge is made with a stitch which is very like the one used in working the bands4 ,thread a needle with ,no4 #ij white linen thread and bring it through the top of the moccasin close to the edge4 ,fasten the end by taking two or three small stitches4 ,string six beads of a colour used in working the bands and bring the needle through the edge from the inside of the moccasin out1 about a quarter of an inch from the beginning1 making the stitch shown in ,fig4 #ed4 ,before starting the next stitch pass the needle under the first one4 ,work the whole upper edge of the moccasin in this way1 then stitch it together up the back1 making a seam a quarter of an inch wide4 ,it should be stitched on the inside and then turned right side out4 ,the uppers are stitched on to the soles with a ,no4 #c needle and a well-waxed piece of white linen thread1 ,no4 #be4 ,should this prove too hard work for small fingers the moccasins may be taken to a shoemaker to finish4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #eb ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ec ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ed ,bead ,wrought ,silk ,bag ,materials ,required3 ,a piece of silk or ribbon1 #e inches wide by #g #c_/d inches long1 #a bunch of crystal beads1 ,no4 #d-j1 the same colour as the silk1 #a skein of ,no4 #d-j beads of a contrasting colour1 ,a spool of letter ,a sewing silk of the same colour as the silk1 ,a ,no4 #aa needle1 ,a yard of inch-wide ribbon the colour of the silk4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ee ,the daintiest little silk bag may be made by any small daughter for mamma or a dearly-loved aunt to carry a bit of lace work or some other treasure4 ,a piece of soft ribbon five inches wide and seven and three-quarters inches long in a pale shade of lavender makes a charming bag4 ,a network of lavender crystal beads of the same shade1 with a pearl or gold-lined crystal bead at the point of each diamond-shaped mesh1 gives the finishing touch of daintiness 7see ,fig4 #ee74 ,start by threading a fine needle with a piece of sewing silk the colour of the bag4 ,fasten the end by taking one or two small stitches near the left side of the strip of silk at about two inches from the lower edge4 ,string six lavender beads1 one pearl and seven lavender beads1 and take a stitch a quarter of an inch from the beginning and on a line with it4 ,now run the needle down through the last bead strung 7see ,fig4 #ef71 and string six more lavender beads1 one pearl and seven lavender4 ,another stitch is made a quarter of an inch from the last one1 the needle is run down through the last bead1 and it goes on in this way until a row has been made across the piece of silk4 ,the bag is then stitched up the sides and around the bottom on the wrong side and turned right side out4 ,bring the needle attached to the beadwork down through the six lavender beads and one pearl one1 at the left side of the first half diamond made1 and string six lavender1 one pearl and six lavender beads4 ,pass the needle through the next pearl bead on the right in the row above and string another six lavender1 one pearl and six lavender beads to make another half diamond4 ,so it goes on around the bag4 ,this row and all the other ones are only attached to the row above1 not to the silk4 ,the last row of netting should reach a little below the bottom of the bag4 ,a twisted fringe is then made as follows3 ,run the needle down through the beads on the left side of the first mesh in the row just finished1 through the pearl bead at the point1 and also pass it through the pearl bead on the back of the bag which lies just beneath it4 ,string thirty lavender beads and pass the needle up through the beads on the right side of the first mesh and down again through those on the left side of the second mesh4 ,it runs through the pearl bead at the point of the mesh and the one under it at the back of the bag4 ,string thirty more beads and twist the thread on which they are strung once around the right side of the loop just made4 ,the next loop is made in the same way--passing the needle up through the beads in the right side of the second mesh1 down through those in the left side of the third one1 and through the pearl bead at the point of the mesh at the front and the one below it at the back4 ,thirty more beads are then strung4 ,when you have made this fringe all across the bottom of the bag1 fasten the end of the silk by sewing it two or three times through the bottom of the bag4 ,finish the top of the bag with drawing strings as follows3 ,turn in a hem three-quarters of an inch wide at the top of the bag and baste it4 ,hem it around neatly with the lavender sewing silk and make a casing for the drawing strings to run through1 by putting a row of backstitching a little over a quarter of an inch above the bottom of the hem4 ,there should be two little holes made on each side of the bag on the outside of the hem between the stitched seam and the bottom of the hem4 ,they are put there so that the ribbon drawing strings can run into the casing4 ,you can make them with an ivory or metal piercer called a stiletto1 or any other tool that has a sharp round point4 ,the neatest way to finish these holes is to sew the edges over and over with a needleful of sewing silk4 ,half a yard of narrow ribbon should be allowed for each drawing string4 ,thread it in a bodkin1 or ribbon needle1 which is run into one of the holes at the side of the bag1 through the casing at the lower part of the hem1 all around the bag and out of the hole beside the one where it went in4 ,now tie the ends of this drawing string together1 thread the other one through the bodkin and run it into a hole on the opposite side of the bag1 through the casing all around the bag and out of the little hole beside the one where it went in4 ,the ends of this piece are also tied1 and then the bag is done4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ef ,clay ,working ,,chapter ,,vi ,,clay ,,working ,have you ever noticed how1 when it rains1 one road will dry at once1 and on another your footprints will hold the water like a cup for hours8 ,do you know the reason for it8 ,the first road is sandy1 and so the water filters through the coarse particles and soon disappears4 ,the other is mostly of clay1 which is close and fine1 and after your foot made that little hollow it was doubtless half baked by the sun so that it became like natural pottery4 ,you probably know all this1 and have felt with your own fingers the difference between the sand1 in which you have built forts and dug with your shovel in the summer and played with on the kindergarten sand table in winter1 and the soft1 smooth clay that you have formed into bird's nests1 eggs and other things in kindergarten4 ,years and years ago1 before our great-great-great-grandfathers were even thought of1 some man noticed the same thing that you do--that one part of the earth held water for hours1 while it disappeared so quickly from other parts--and it set him thinking4 ,why not make a bowl in which he could carry water when he was travelling or hunting in dry places8 ,this is the way1 some wise men think1 the making of pottery began4 ,cups and small vessels could easily be moulded from small lumps of clay1 but large pieces--great bowls and jars--it was soon found would have to be formed in a mould4 ,shallow baskets1 pieces of gourd or fruit rind1 were the moulds in which these large pots were started4 ,in beginning the bottom1 either a small piece of clay was patted flat into a form like a cookie and fitted into the bottom of the mould1 or else a strip of clay was coiled round and round into a mat shape1 working the coils together with the fingers4 ,the sides were almost always built up with coils of clay1 then1 with the fingers and some rude tools--smooth stones1 bits of shell or pieces of gourd--they were smoothed and polished4 ,soon the potters began to decorate their vessels with patterns cut or pressed into the damp clay and even painted them with coloured clay1 ground fine and mixed with a liquid4 ,the clay objects you enjoyed making in kindergarten were not very strong4 ,a bowl or cup that is moulded from such clay will not hold water for very long either4 ,it will soon soften and fall to pieces4 ,that is what happened to the first clay bowls and cups4 ,if clay is baked in the sun it becomes a little harder and more useful--but not much--so the first clay workers found that they must bake their clay pots more thoroughly if they were to be really strong4 ,some of the old potters--like the ,catawba ,indians--baked their vessels before the fire1 and as the clay they used was very good they found it made them hard enough4 ,in other tribes the potters made a bed of bark1 set fire to it and baked the pot until when it came out it was red hot4 ,at first the clay workers used the clay just as they found it1 but when they began to make large pots and cauldrons to cook in they found that powdered shell or sand mixed with the clay made them stronger and less liable to crack in baking4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #eg ,the cooking vessels had almost always rounded bottoms1 because in those days the floors of houses were of sand or soft earth into which the rounded bottoms would set and hold the pots upright4 ,these pots were set directly over the fire and kept in position by stones or sticks of wood4 ,some that had handles or flaring rims could be hung over the fire by cords or vines4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #eh ,the ,indians moulded all sorts of things out of clay besides these utensils4 ,drums were made by stretching buckskin over the tops of earthen pots4 ,then there were whistles and rattles1 trowels1 modelling tools1 figures of men and animals1 and many toys like those shown in ,figs4 #eg1 #eh and #ei4 ,beads were also made of clay1 and so were tobacco pipes in many shapes4 ,one would have the face of a man on the bowl1 another a goat with open mouth1 or a bird with its neck outstretched and bill parted1 and on another the bowl would be formed by a natural-looking snake coiled up for a spring4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ei ,in time men learned more about clays and how to mix and form and bake them1 until now1 as you know1 pottery that is beautiful and serviceable is made all over the world1 and in great factories china and porcelain made of the finest clays are moulded1 decorated and fired for our use4 ,it will be interesting to you sometime to see one of the factories where such ware is made1 but although it is so fine and smooth and perfect and so useful to us1 ,i doubt if the workmen who make it have half the pleasure in their task that the first potters had in moulding their rough cooking utensils and clay pipes4 ,so ,i am glad to think that although you may never be able to make china1 you can work in clay as the ,indians used to do1 for that you will enjoy far more4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #fj ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #fa ,of course you would like to make something that you can use1 something that will not crumble and break like the things you modelled in kindergarten4 ,to do this you will need to get a clay which can be baked--or fired1 as potters express it--and you must have a clay that is so mixed or arranged as to bake well in the kiln 7or pottery oven7 to which you are going to send it4 ,if you live near a pottery where flower pots or gray stoneware are made you can probably arrange to buy your clay there1 and after your pottery is finished have it baked at the same place4 ,the clay that is used at a stoneware pottery is arranged so as to fire at a much greater heat than the flower-pot clay1 and so the ware is stronger1 but the flower-pot ware will be strong enough for the things you will make4 ,although this clay is gray before it is baked1 it comes from the kiln a beautiful ,indian red4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #fb ,you will not need many tools beside your own fingers and thumbs4 ,one boxwood modelling tool the shape shown in ,fig4 #fj1 and another with more flattened and rounded ends 7see ,fig4 #fa7 will be enough to begin with4 ,these you can buy at a kindergarten-supply store4 ,later you may need the sheet-steel tools shown in ,figs4 #fb and #fc4 ,dealers in hardware sell the sheet steel1 and these tools can easily be cut from it--doubtless the dealer will do it for you4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #fc ,buy fifteen or twenty pounds of clay at a time1 ready mixed if possible4 ,if it comes to you in the dry state--in rock-like pieces--you must first pound it to a powder4 ,this you can do out of doors by spreading the lumps of clay on a paper laid on flat stone and pounding them with a smaller stone1 or1 if it must be done in the house1 spread the clay on a strong bench or table and pound it with an old flatiron4 ,it is now ready for soaking4 ,put a little water in an earthen crock and add the powdered clay to it1 mixing it with your hand and adding clay until it is the right consistency to mould4 ,if you find you have too much water1 pour off some after the clay is well mixed1 and if it is still too moist1 spread it on a board in the air until it has dried out sufficiently4 ,keep the clay in an earthen crock with a cover4 ,pour a little water into it first1 just enough to moisten the bottom of the crock1 and then put in the clay4 ,when it is to be left over night or a longer time1 make deep holes in the clay with your thumb and pour water into them4 ,lay a damp cloth over it and cover with the earthen top4 ,if at any time it dries out so that it cannot be easily moulded1 let it dry entirely1 pound it to powder again and mix as already described4 ,if you live in the country the place to work with clay will be in an outbuilding1 a woodshed1 barn or workshop where there is a good strong table or bench4 ,the best place for a city child to work is a playroom where there is a wooden floor1 an old table and nothing valuable to be harmed with clay or water2 or a light1 dry cellar4 ,a girl should wear a long-sleeved apron and a boy a pair of overalls4 ,in such a workshop and costume you need not give a thought to clothes or carpets4 ,have a pitcher of water and a small bowl for the slip--or clay thinned with water until it is about as thick as cream--which is almost as important as the clay itself4 ,when you are ready to begin work1 take a lump of clay about as large as a grape fruit2 pound and knead it on the table4 ,next draw a strong wire through it1 dividing it into halves4 ,press the two outer surfaces together and knead out the air-holes which you will see on the inner surfaces4 ,repeat this process several times1 and all these air bubbles will finally be expelled4 ,suppose you begin with something simple--some tiny red building bricks which will delight your small brother--perhaps even you may not feel to old to enjoy playing with such a real toy4 ,building ,bricks ,materials ,required3 ,about #c pounds of clay1 #b level boards1 #ae by #bj inches1 #a_/b yard of white cheesecloth1 ,a rolling pin1 ,a foot rule1 ,a strong1 sharp knife4 ,the clay of which these bricks are made should be well kneaded1 and it should also have a great deal of what potters call grog mixed through it4 ,grog is baked clay pounded into small pieces--an old flower pot will do if you are using flower-pot clay4 ,mixed with the unbaked clay it tempers it1 that is1 it makes it less likely to shrink and crack in baking4 ,cover a level board with a piece of wet white cheesecloth and tack it securely upon it4 ,mould the lump of clay into a square1 by hand1 lay it on the board and pound it with the thick part of your hand into an irregular square cake1 then roll it with a rolling pin till it is about three-eighths of an inch thick4 ,have ready another board the same size and covered with wet cheesecloth1 lay it on top of the clay sheet and reverse it so that the clay shall be transferred to this second board4 ,roll it again till quite smooth and set it away overnight4 ,the next day take a foot rule and a sharp pencil and mark the clay sheet into bricks1 two inches long by an inch wide4 ,cut them out with a strong1 sharp knife1 but do not lift them until they are thoroughly dry1 which will be in three or four days4 ,they should then be carefully packed and sent to the pottery to be fired4 ,a ,clay ,whistle ,materials ,required3 ,a piece of clay about the size of a lemon1 ,the wooden modelling tools1 ,a bowl of slip1 ,a pen knife4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #fd ,the ,mexicans mould tiny whistles of clay1 which are as simple as possible to make and very fascinating to own4 ,if you would like to make some for yourself and your friends this is the way to do it3 ,mould a small piece of clay into a cup shape about an inch across and three-eighths of an inch high4 ,put it in the air to dry for ten minutes4 ,now roll a piece of clay1 about the same size1 on the table with the palms of both hands 7near the base of the thumb71 lightly1 yet so as to make the clay roll entirely around with each push4 ,if the roll flattens from too hard pressure1 pat it till it is round again and roll it until it is of even thickness--about quarter of an inch in diameter4 ,it is then flattened evenly by patting it with the fingers1 one end is cut into a long point and the coil is started on edge with the narrow side up on the top of the cup of clay1 whose rim must first be wet with slip4 ,bend the upper edge of the roll of clay in quite a little1 to follow the shape shown in ,fig4 #fd4 ,hold the long end of the clay strip with the left hand1 while1 with the thumb and middle finger of the right hand held on each side of the coil to support it1 the forefinger presses it down firmly on the top of the little cup4 ,when the coil has gone all the way around cut the end into a flat point1 which will fit evenly in with the one at the beginning1 and press the edges together with the flat part of the nail of your forefinger4 ,do this where the edges of the coil come against the rim of the cup4 ,make quick and firm yet short strokes of the nail up and down1 inside the cup and out4 ,then let it dry for a short time1 about ten or fifteen minutes4 ,roll another coil in the same way and attach it1 after brushing the top edge of the clay cup with slip1 bending the top edge of the coil in very decidedly so as to leave only a small opening at the top4 ,the third coil is made in the same way1 but put on so as to make the sides go straight up like the neck of a bottle or vase4 ,one more straight coil completes the neck1 and a piece of clay is then put across the top1 closing it4 ,after the whistle has dried for an hour or more a triangular hole is cut with a knife in the lower part 7see ,fig4 #fe71 and a slit in the top4 ,a hole is also made in the bottom4 ,it should then be thoroughly dried for several days before sending it to be fired4 ,not every one of these whistles makes a good clear sound1 but they are so easy to mould that you will not mind one or two unsuccessful attempts when you finally make one that blows clear and shrill4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #fe ,clay ,rattle ,materials ,required3 ,a piece of clay about the size of an orange1 ,a bowl of slip1 ,the modelling tools4 ,the ,indians used to make clay rattles like the one shown in ,fig4 #ff4 ,it is formed like the whistle except that the cup-shaped piece which is made in starting should be an inch and three-quarters across and three-eighths of an inch high4 ,roll the strips of clay as already described and brush the edge of the cup-shaped piece with slip before attaching each coil4 ,the handle should be about three inches long4 ,before closing the end of it drop in four or five clay pellets1 about the size of small peas1 which have been well dried in the sun4 ,then seal it with a piece of clay1 let it dry for several days and send it to the pottery to be fired4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ff ,birds' ,drinking ,dish ,materials ,required3 ,about #b #a_/b pounds of clay1 ,the wooden modelling tools1 ,the oval tools of sheet steel1 ,a bowl of slip1 ,a low wide bowl1 ,a small sponge1 ,a knife1 ,a ground glass slab about a foot square1 ,a cloth in which some ground flint is tied4 ,one of the best ways to attract the birds is to have a drinking dish1 wide and generous1 always ready for them on the lawn4 ,this is of course taking for granted that you live at least a part of the year in the country4 ,isn't it delightful to think that you can make such a dish with your own hands8 ,it is a little more difficult than the other things you have made1 but what of that--it will be worth the trouble if you can give a lawn party to the birds every day6 ,as this is to be quite a large dish1 you will need to have a mould to form it in1 or at least to support the sides in starting4 ,choose some low1 wide bowl or dish1 one about two inches high and ten inches across the top4 ,have ready some powdered flint tied up in a piece of cotton cloth--you can buy it of dealers in potters' supplies or possibly at the pottery where your clay work is fired4 ,this is to dust over the inside of the mould to prevent the clay from sticking to it4 ,take a lump of clay1 about two and a half pounds1 knead and pound it until all the air bubbles are worked out4 ,a small piece of the clay is then patted out with the hands on a table or board and rolled smooth with a rolling pin until it is three-eighths of an inch thick and about two inches wider than the bottom of the bowl you have chosen4 ,lay it in the bottom of the mould1 which has first been dusted with ground flint4 ,press the clay lightly but carefully against the bottom and sides1 making sure that it fits close against them4 ,then cut the top edge even with one of the wooden modelling tools4 ,with the same tool cut crisscross strokes in this upper edge and wet it with slip1 to prepare it for the first coil of clay1 which is made and attached like those used in forming the whistle4 ,these coils should1 however1 be larger--about an inch wide and long enough to go all around the bowl once4 ,join every coil in the same way1 taking care to press each one against the sides of the mould as well as upon the coil beneath1 and to smooth the inside of the bowl with your fingers and the modelling tools4 ,after attaching a coil1 let the bowl dry for ten or fifteen minutes--in the air1 unless it is a cold day4 ,be careful never to let your clay work freeze or it will be spoiled4 ,when the bowl is about two inches and a half high set it away overnight to dry4 ,in the morning it will have shrunk so that it will slip easily out of the mould4 ,turn it bottom up on a table and wet the cracks between the coils with slip1 then fill them in carefully with clay of the same stiffness as that of which the bowl is made4 ,never put water or wet clay on a piece of clay work that is almost dry1 or it will crack4 ,after it has been set away for a few hours to harden1 make it smooth and even as follows3 ,first take the oval tool of sheet steel with rough edges1 hold it in your right hand1 not straight but bent to fit the curves of the outside of the bowl2 with it scrape the large humps away from the sides of the bowl1 making quick1 light and short strokes in every direction--up1 down1 across and diagonally4 ,when the largest humps have been removed1 go over the bowl in the same way with the smooth-edged oval tool4 ,then take a damp sponge1 one from which the water has all been squeezed1 and pass it lightly over the bowl1 smoothing it with the fingers4 ,make it as even and perfect as you can4 ,next the bottom is to be finished4 ,draw with a pencil a circle on the bottom of the bowl1 about an inch in from the edge all around1 and scrape1 with the sharpest wooden tool1 a layer of clay out of the bottom within the circle1 so that the outside ring shall form a ridge about one-sixteenth of an inch above it4 ,now cut the top edge of the bowl as even as you can by eye1 using a knife4 ,then make it perfectly even in this way3 ,pour a little water on the ground-glass slab1 hold the bowl bottom up and move it firmly yet quickly round and round on the wet surface and then quickly slide it off at the edge of the slab1 before it has a chance to cling to the glass4 ,if the bowl seems too heavy for you to hold securely in moving it about so quickly1 it will be wise to let an older person do this for you4 ,then there will be nothing more to do but let it dry for a few days and send it to the pottery to be fired4 ,indoor ,gardening ,,chapter ,,vii ,,indoor ,,gardening ,a ,rainy ,day in ,october ,all summer long the out-of-door gardens kept us busy1 planting1 weeding and watering4 ,when we had had a week or two of sunshiny weather we began to wish a cloud would sail over the blue sky and bring the rain our thirsty flowers needed4 ,we could see the reason for rainy days in summer-time4 ,now1 however1 it is different2 a rainy day in autumn is so cold and disagreeable4 ,it settles down to work in a business-like way--not like a summer shower1 which has1 all through1 a hint of the sun behind the clouds4 ,no1 an autumn rain is chilly and gray and lasting1 and the best way to forget it is to find something interesting to do indoors4 ,suppose we plan an indoor garden4 ,there are the plants that were brought in from the garden the other day--geraniums1 heliotropes1 lobelias and begonias--all need our care and attention4 ,a boy with a taste for woodworking can make a shelf and put up brackets in a window where the sun will reach them4 ,even a plant table may not prove too difficult for him4 ,there is one particularly interesting thing that both boys and girls can do1 and that is to plan ,christmas gifts of budded or blossoming plants for their family and friends4 ,how is it to be done8 ,why1 by planting bulbs in ,october4 ,you have seen bulbs1 of course1 at the florists2 they are mostly dingy brown or yellow and look like onions4 ,if anyone in the family had a garden last summer there will be sure to be catalogues of seeds and bulbs in the house1 and you can begin by making a list of the bulbs you wish to send for4 ,such a number as you have to choose from--tulips1 crocuses1 lilies1 hyacinths1 narcissus1 daffodils1 and plenty more4 ,they are not costly either4 ,hyacinths can be bought for from six to fifteen cents each2 these are the ordinary ones4 ,roman hyacinths1 which have beautiful white flowers1 cost only four or five cents4 ,chinese lily bulbs are more expensive2 one can be bought for ten cents or three for twenty-five cents1 but they are large and the blossoms are so fragrant and beautiful that they are well worth it4 ,these are grown among pebbles in a dish of water4 ,they will look well in a glass dish or in a shallow pottery bowl--such as you can buy for ten or fifteen cents at a ,japanese store4 ,for hyacinths1 tall1 slender glasses are to be had at the florist's for fifteen cents4 ,they come in several colours1 but the dark green is best--and that reminds me that there is a case you can make of rattan and raffia around one of these glasses to enable you to hang it beside a window4 ,this you can do some other rainy day4 ,the ,chinese lily bulbs are put into a dishful of tepid water which has a few small pieces of charcoal in it4 ,a number of small stones are fitted around the bulbs to keep them upright and steady1 and then they are put near a window where the sun comes4 ,hyacinths may be grown in the glasses or in flower pots1 just as one chooses4 ,a mixture of good soil from the garden and sand is best if they are to be grown in pots4 ,be careful in taking the garden soil to sift it through your fingers1 making sure that no worms are lurking in it1 to trouble the bulbs later on4 ,put stones for drainage and some pieces of charcoal at the bottom of each pot4 ,the bulb is planted so that about one-third of it is left above the earth4 ,if it is to be grown in water1 use rain water and fill the glass so that the base of the bulb will just touch it4 ,however they are planted1 in pots or in glasses1 they should be left in a dark1 cool place like an airy cellar1 until they are rooted4 ,this will take about two weeks for those in glasses and six for the potted hyacinths4 ,if it is possible1 bury the pots in the open ground about six inches deep1 or cover them with soil1 for about five weeks4 ,they can then be put into the window garden4 ,consult the bulb catalogues for suggestions as to the care of your plants4 ,basket ,case for a ,hyacinth ,glass ,materials ,required3 ,a dark green hyacinth glass1 #b weavers of ,no4 #b rattan1 #b weavers of ,no4 #b black rattan1 ,a bunch of copper red raffia1 ,a tapestry needle1 ,no4 #ai4 ,after you have bought your hyacinth glasses1 and before the bulbs are put into them1 you may like to make for each a simple case of basket work by which it can be hung against the window frame4 ,it is made of rattan rings bound together with raffia of some colour that will look well with the hyacinth blossoms4 ,a dark green glass with a covering of black and the natural-coloured rattan bound with copper-coloured raffia is a good combination1 if the hyacinth is to be white4 ,make two rings of black rattan like those described in the directions for making a sponge bag 7see ,chapter ,,iv74 ,one should be large enough to slip over the glass1 down to about half an inch from the bottom of it1 the other to three inches from the bottom4 ,this second ring must be made on the glass1 as the flaring top will not allow so small a ring to slip over it4 ,this will not be difficult to do4 ,tie the rattan around the glass just below where you wish it to be placed 7about two and three-quarters inches from the bottom71 then slip it up where the glass is narrower and twist the ends around this foundation ring twice1 as shown in ,fig4 #bb4 ,this makes a ring of three circuits1 the foundation ring counting as one4 ,make four rings of the natural-coloured rattan1 each measuring two inches and a quarter in diameter on the inside4 ,these are made with two circuits2 that is1 after tying the foundation ring the ends are twisted all the way around it once1 instead of twice as the black ones were1 and are cut just so that they will lap4 ,bind these four rings together in a hollow square with bindings five-eighths of an inch long of raffia in buttonhole stitch 7see ,fig4 #fg74 ,fasten the ends of the rings by making the binding come over them4 ,slip this square over the top of the glass and down between the two black rattan rings4 ,here each of the four light rings is bound with raffia in buttonhole stitch to the black ring above it1 as well as to the one below4 ,to make a loop to hang it by1 tie a ring of black rattan around the neck of the glass1 twist its ends twice around it1 and then without cutting the ends tie them into another ring an inch and a quarter in diameter1 inside measurement1 which stands out from the glass and forms a loop4 ,this ring is made with two circuits4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #fg ,growing ,plants in ,fibre ,later on1 in ,november and ,december1 there may come days when you are kept indoors1 and then perhaps you will like to do some more gardening with bulbs4 ,shall we begin with the spring bulbs--tulips1 crocuses and daffodils8 ,it is wonderful1 isn't it1 to think of being able to plant them when out of doors the earth is covered thick with snow8 ,this is how it is done3 ,buy from a florist or seedsman a fibre mixture which they sell for this purpose4 ,take a large tub or pail and put some fibre into it1 add plenty of water and stir the fibre thoroughly with a stick4 ,let it remain in the water for two days1 stirring it from time to time so that it shall get water soaked4 ,it will then be ready for use4 ,if you plan to give the plants away when they are in bud they should be started in jars or bowls that can be included in the gift4 ,japanese or ,spanish pottery bowls can be bought for from ten to twenty-five cents each1 and one of these with a daffodil or narcissus growing in it will make a delightful birthday gift for someone you love4 ,if you are not planning to give them away1 of course you will be able to collect about the house enough bowls and jars of china and pottery to hold them4 ,put a few pieces of charcoal at the bottom of each dish--these are to keep the water pure and the fibre wet4 ,put into each bowl some of the wetted fibre until it is about two or three inches deep1 depending on the depth of the bowl4 ,place the bulbs on the fibre so that they just touch and fill all in with the wet fibre4 ,put more fibre over them and press it gently down and around them--not too hard4 ,fill the dish in until it is nearly solid4 ,now put the bowls away in a cellar or any dark but airy room where they will not get frostbitten and watch them day by day to see that the fibre does not get dry2 it must be kept moist but not soaking wet4 ,be especially careful that the bulbs do not get dry4 ,when they are all rooted and have grown perhaps an inch1 bring the bulbs into a lighter room and let them have plenty of air4 ,put them on the window sill or even in the garden in the middle of the day1 if it is not too cold1 and as they begin to show some buds water regularly and often4 ,planting ,indoors in ,february ,as early as ,february you can begin to plan your out-of-door flower garden and start some seeds indoors4 ,tuberous begonias1 ,canterbury bells1 verbenas1 single dahlias1 scarlet sage or salvia1 tufted pansies and cosmos can all be started now4 ,first of all you will need some flats or low wooden boxes--they should be about three inches deep and not too large to handle4 ,if it is possible to get such shallow boxes at your grocer's so much the better1 otherwise you can have a soap box or two sawed down to the required height4 ,if they have no cracks or holes for drainage1 bore some and partly cover them with pieces of an old flower pot1 rounded side up4 ,put pebbles or other rough material in the bottom of the box4 ,now you are ready for the soil4 ,get good1 rich loam from the garden and sift it into the boxes4 ,you can then begin planting4 ,the large seeds should be planted about half an inch deep1 medium sized ones as deep as four times their own width2 the very small ones are just pressed into the earth1 and the smallest should have a piece of glass placed over the box so that they will not dry out entirely4 ,wet the soil until it is quite moist and press it with a level board after planting4 ,set the boxes in a sunny window1 one that faces south or southeast1 and keep them moist1 but not wet1 with a bulb sprinkler 7see ,fig4 #fh74 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #fh ,march ,planting ,this blustery month of bad weather out of doors you can have a delightful time with your indoor garden4 ,the bulbs you started in fibre should be in bloom by this time1 and while you are enjoying them you can start some flower seeds for your out-of-door garden4 ,this is the time to plant what are called annuals--that is1 plants that live just a year--like batchelor's-buttons1 sweet peas1 nasturtiums1 four-o'clocks1 marigolds and zinnias4 ,use flats or shallow wooden boxes1 like those already described1 to plant in4 ,choose good garden soil and1 before filling the boxes1 heat it in the oven1 very hot--this will kill the weed seeds4 ,sow the seeds in rows an inch and a half apart and three-quarters of an inch apart in the row4 ,when all the seeds are up1 thin the little plants out so that they will be an inch and a half apart in the row4 ,put them in a sunny window as close to the glass as possible and keep the shades rolled high4 ,if you do not give them enough sun they will become thin and spindly--like children who never go out4 ,turn the boxes now and then so that all sides will get the sunlight4 ,you will need to put some labels into each box1 bearing the names of the seeds that are planted there4 ,the best ones are made from the covers of old grape baskets4 ,cut them into strips1 write on each the name of the seed and the date1 and stick it into the earth4 ,illustration3 ,a little garden for a little girl ,gradually as the weather gets warmer you can give the little plants more air by opening the windows1 and later by putting them out of doors in some sheltered but sunny spot4 ,when there is no longer any danger from frost1 the boxes can be set out of doors day and night1 only taking them in in case of a severe storm4 ,the seedlings may need to be separated and transplanted indoors before it is warm enough to set them in the out-of-door garden4 ,common grape baskets do very well for this purpose and hold about a dozen little plants--flats may also be used4 ,allow as much space between the seedlings as possible1 for if they are too close the roots will twine about each other and make it very hard to transplant them later on4 ,when they are large enough to be transplanted put them into a basin of lukewarm water and plant them in their new box one at a time4 ,do not put them in the sun for a few days1 but keep them shaded until they have taken root4 ,starting ,gourd ,vines in the ,indoor ,garden ,of course you have seen gourds1 perhaps not growing1 but surely you know how they look when dried4 ,hard1 smooth-shelled things of a beautiful golden brown colour1 they grow in the strangest shapes4 ,some are round or oval with a queer twisted stem 7see ,fig4 #fi74 ,they have many uses--to hold the stockings open and smooth 7so that grandma can darn them easily71 as bird houses1 match holders1 and even for drinking cups4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #fi ,they are the fruit of a vine which would be charming to train on a trellis or arbour in your out-of-door garden1 and then when harvest time came you would have the interesting gourds to dry and use as you chose4 ,if you would like to raise them1 sow the seeds in shallow wooden boxes indoors in ,march4 ,plant them a quarter of an inch deep1 and when the little plants crowd one another and are strong enough to transplant remove them to larger boxes and plant them six inches apart4 ,when planting the vines out of doors in ,may or ,june put plenty of manure about them and give them ample space4 ,if the vines bear many gourds1 and all small ones1 pinch off some and the others will develop better4 ,do not pick the gourds until they are quite ripe2 that is1 when they begin to look slightly yellow4 ,they need plenty of hot sun in order to come to perfection4 ,leave them as long as possible on the vines1 only being careful that they are not touched with frost4 ,in the ,south they are sometimes left on the vines all winter4 ,after picking them1 hang them in an airy place in the house or out of doors4 ,leave a little of the vine on each one and they can then be hung by strings tied to these handles4 ,if you follow these few rules your gourds should dry smooth and hard4 ,how to ,start ,lavender ,indoors ,do you know the smell of lavender--that sweet1 refreshing perfume that clings to some of grandmother's treasures of linen and embroidery8 ,one catches a whiff of it in old gardens sometimes1 and it is always welcome4 ,you can buy the seed from a florist or seedsman--,lavandula vera is what the true ,english lavender is called1 and that is best4 ,if it cannot be had1 ,lavandula spica is next best4 ,it takes time to raise either1 but it will be such an addition to your out-of-door garden that you will not regret the time spent4 ,about the first of ,march the lavender seed should be sown1 in window boxes or flats4 ,make shallow drills with your finger1 drop the seed in and cover lightly4 ,sprinkle them every day with your bulb sprinkler until they come up4 ,when the little plants each have four leaves they may be transplanted4 ,before starting to transplant them they should be thoroughly wet4 ,set them five inches apart4 ,in the winter protect the plants with litter--leaves1 straw1 etc4--six inches deep4 ,the next year1 in ,march1 they should be set in rows three feet apart4 ,when the plants are in full bloom the sprigs are cut1 and then dried in a cool1 darkened room or closet4 ,lay them on paper so as to save all the blossoms4 ,the lavender flowers may be made into the daintiest of sachets by filling with them sheer linen bags or pale lavender silk ones4 ,the sprigs that are left after the blossoms have fallen may be used like ,chinese incense to sweeten a room1 by lighting the blossom end of a single piece and letting it burn in a vase or incense holder4 ,gifts and ,how to ,make ,them ,,chapter ,,viii ,,gifts ,,and ,,how ,,to ,,make ,,them ,it is wonderful what your head and hands can do when you begin to plan gifts for family and friends at ,christmas1 birthdays and the in-between times when un-birthday presents--as ,alice in ,wonderland called them--are so welcome4 ,but ,i am sure you know the breathless feeling of having to make or buy a long list of ,christmas presents with only two weeks or so in which to accomplish it4 ,why not keep a gift box or drawer1 where you can pack away the pretty things you take such pleasure in making on dull days all the year round8 ,there are ever so many things--games1 toys1 baskets and beadwork--which you will find in other chapters--that will help to fill this gift box1 and ,i am going to tell you about some others4 ,there are several things to think of in planning a gift4 ,it should be something that will be within your means1 something that is worth giving1 however small--not trash2 but what is most important of all is that it shall really please the one who receives it4 ,if it can be a lasting pleasure so much the better4 ,suppose you try keeping a notebook2 begin it now1 and write down the little things that you hear the family wish for during the year--tiny things1 maybe1 but just what they want4 ,for instance1 ,aunt ,helen1 who writes1 never has enough pencils--her nieces and nephews know why4 ,father is unable to find an express tag when he wants one1 because he has no case to hang close beside his desk4 ,joe says he wishes someone would make him a chamois cover for his new knife--it is getting scratched already2 and mamma cannot find that recipe for potted pigeons that she cut from the paper ,saturday evening4 ,what a number of entries you will be able to make in your gift book6 ,see how it reads3 ,aunt ,helen3 ,one dozen pencils4 ,father3 ,leather tag case and tags4 ,mother3 ,a blank book with her newspaper recipes pasted in4 ,joe3 ,a chamois knife case4 ,and this is just a beginning4 ,when you visit your friends you will soon see or hear what little things will please them4 ,then you can begin collecting the materials for your gift box1 and when a rainy day comes what pleasant hours you will spend4 ,let us begin with the ,beaded ,knife ,case ,materials ,required3 ,some scraps of chamois skin in the natural or another colour1 #a skein ,no4 #d-j beads in a colour that will harmonise with the leather1 #a ,e bead of the same colour1 ,a spool of letter ,a sewing silk the colour of the leather1 ,a ,no4 #aa needle4 ,one of the simplest and prettiest gifts you can make is this beaded knife case4 ,if you have made the ,indian costume described in ,chapter ,v4 you will have plenty of scraps of chamois left4 ,otherwise you can buy a small chamois skin in the natural colour1 or1 if you prefer another colour1 skins of beautiful tints may be bought4 ,red is very effective and not as costly as some others4 ,in buying a skin1 choose a colour that you will not tire of1 for you will be able to make so many small things of it that it will be well to have a colour you will always like2 either red or green or a soft brown that is not too light will be a good choice4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #gj ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ga ,from a piece of cardboard cut the patterns shown in ,figs4 #gj and #ga4 ,if the case is for a penknife1 the larger one 7,fig4 #gj7 should measure one inch wide by four and one-eighth inches long1 and the other should be the same width but two and three-quarters inches long4 ,cut two pieces of chamois from these patterns1 lay the smaller one against the larger1 with the rounded ends of both together and the edges of the sides fitted evenly1 and baste them so4 ,now start at the top left-hand edge of the smaller piece1 where it comes against the edge of the larger one1 and sew the edges together with the stitch shown in ,fig4 #gb4 ,this is how it is done3 ,thread a ,no4 #aa needle with sewing silk the colour of the chamois4 ,fasten the end by sewing through and through the edges of the case4 ,string three beads and make one over-and-over stitch through both edges of the case1 bringing the needle out at about one-eighth of an inch from where it started4 ,run the needle up through the third bead1 string two more1 make another stitch1 run the needle up through the last bead strung1 and so on4 ,when you have gone all the way around the double edge1 continue the stitch across the top of the smaller piece and around the rounded top of the larger4 ,next a loop must be made to fasten the case4 ,hold a small pencil at the top of the larger piece of chamois close to the rounded edge1 and1 starting about an eighth of an inch from the centre of this end1 fasten an end of a needleful of sewing silk2 take a stitch around the pencil and in at one-eighth of an inch the other side of the centre4 ,take six or eight stitches back and forth in this way4 ,this will make a loop1 which should be covered with buttonhole stitches4 ,now slip the knife into the case1 turn the flap 7the rounded edge of the larger piece7 down and mark the place to sew the large bead over which the loop is to fit1 in order to fasten it4 ,sew an ,e bead the colour of the smaller beads at this place1 bring the loop over it1 and the case is complete4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #gb ,needle ,book of ,flowered ,silk ,materials ,required3 ,a piece of flowered silk or ribbon #e inches long by #c #a_/b inches wide1 ,a piece of plain-coloured ribbon the same size1 ,a piece of white flannel #aj inches long by #g inches wide1 #a_/b yard of narrow ribbon the colour of the silk1 ,a spool of sewing silk the same colour1 ,a piece of bristol board #aj by #g inches4 ,the ,shakers make needle books of fine straw cloth1 that are so dainty and yet simple that they are well worth copying4 ,fig4 #gc shows the shape in which the cover of the book is cut4 ,it may be made of two pieces of bristol board2 one covered with flowered silk or ribbon1 the other with plain silk that will harmonise with the flowered4 ,the two are then basted together and sewed over and over4 ,two pieces of flannel are cut the same shape1 but about half an inch smaller all the way around4 ,these are laid inside the cover1 which is then bent exactly at its centre so that both ends will come evenly together4 ,a hole is punched through both sides of the cover and the flannel at about half an inch in from the edge and quarter of an inch from the doubled middle of the cover4 ,another hole is made on the other side of it and a narrow ribbon threaded in a bodkin1 or ribbon needle1 is brought in through one hole1 across the back and out through the other4 ,the ends are then tied in a pretty bow 7see ,fig4 #gd71 which finishes it4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #gc ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #gd ,sweet ,clover ,bags ,materials ,required3 ,all the white sweet clover that a little child can gather1 ,some pretty cotton cloth1 ,a needle and thread1 ,scissors4 ,did you know that the white sweet clover that grows in long spike-shaped sprays on low bushes along the wayside is even more fragrant when it is dried8 ,gather some this summer1 and spread it where it will dry in the sun1 turning it often4 ,strip the blossoms from the stems1 and when a rainy day comes you can make with them some gifts that will be welcome wherever they go4 ,keep the flowers in a covered box till you are ready to use them1 then make linen1 or even pretty white cotton1 bags about ten inches long by six wide4 ,fill them with the dried clover1 sew up the ends securely1 and they will be ready to send to grandmothers1 aunts and cousins1 to make their linen closets fragrant4 ,a little pillow of white cotton filled with these flowers1 with a pretty outer case of fine linen1 makes a delightful gift for an invalid friend4 ,eyeglass ,cleaner ,materials ,required3 ,several sheets of soft white tissue paper1 ,a piece of green or brown leather #d inches wide by #f #a_/b inches long1 ,a strip of leather #ae inches long by #a_/d of an inch wide1 #a skein ,no4 #c-j beads1 #b large beads of the same colour1 ,an awl or punch4 ,one of your friends who wears eyeglasses was told by a wise person that the best thing with which to clear her glasses was--what do you think8 ,not a handkerchief or a piece of chamois1 but soft tissue paper4 ,that is simple enough1 ,i'm sure1 said she2 but it wasn't1 for whenever she wanted a piece of tissue paper it didn't happen to be near1 so she used a handkerchief or chamois most of the time4 ,she found the tissue paper was much better1 however1 and wondered why children who don't know what to give to friends who wear eyeglasses or spectacles1 don't give them a pad of tissue paper to hang by the dressing table or some such convenient place4 ,true1 its use would have to be explained1 for not many people know that tissue paper is such a good cleaner of glasses2 but when they have tried it they will be really grateful for the helpful little gift4 ,cut soft white tissue paper in sheets four inches wide by six and one-half long1 and make a cover of green or brown leather the same size4 ,punch two holes at the top of the cover1 each about half an inch down from the top and one inch in from the side4 ,lay the cover on the pile of tissue paper sheets and run an awl or punch through the holes in the cover1 making holes in the same places through the tissue paper4 ,cut a strip of leather about one-quarter of an inch wide and fifteen inches long1 thread it in a bodkin1 run it through the hole on the right of the cover1 through the sheets of tissue paper and out of the hole on the left of the cover4 ,here it is tied in a bow1 leaving a long loop at the back to hang it by4 ,a large bead of a colour that will look well with the leather may be strung on each end of the bow and a knot tied to keep it from falling off4 ,if you choose1 the edges of the cover may be worked with the bead stitch shown in ,fig4 #ed4 ,a ,german ,wonder ,ball ,materials ,required3 #a hank of single zephyr worsted of some pretty colour1 ,several tiny gifts4 ,one of the most delightful of gifts can be planned by a little girl of boy for a friend who is learning to knit4 ,this is the wonder ball4 ,it is one of the many good ideas that come to us from ,germany--the land of knitting4 ,buy a hank of worsted of some pretty colour and a number of tiny gifts--a thimble1 a wee package of chocolate1 the smallest of baskets and any other little things you can think of4 ,start winding the worsted around the very choicest gift--so that it shall be at the centre--then by degrees1 as you wind1 lay the other gifts on the ball and cover them with the worsted4 ,your little friend should be told to knit till all the presents are found4 ,pin ,case for ,travelling ,materials ,required3 ,a piece of flowered silk or ribbon #h inches long by #e inches wide1 ,a piece of plain-coloured silk #h inches long by #e #a_/b inches wide1 ,a piece of cotton wadding #g #a_/b inches long by #d #a_/b inches wide1 #a_/b yard of ribbon #a_/b inch wide1 the colour of the silk1 ,a spool of sewing silk the same colour4 ,the friend who travels will be glad to have a case in which to keep her pins4 ,it is very simple to make4 ,cut from any pretty piece of silk or velvet a strip five inches wide by eight long1 or a piece of five-inch flowered ribbon the same length will do even better4 ,another strip of thin silk--white or some colour that will look well with the first piece--should be cut the same size1 if the flowered piece is of silk2 if it is of ribbon1 cut the lining silk half an inch wider4 ,a piece of the cotton wadding that comes in sheets is cut half an inch smaller in length and width than the others4 ,half a yard of narrow ribbon to match the silk1 and a spool of sewing silk will also be needed1 and if you like you can give a still more festive touch to the case by filling it with fancy pins1 those with pearl or gun-metal heads4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ge ,first baste the strip of cotton wadding on the lining silk through the centre1 then turn quarter of an inch of the edge of the silk up over the wadding and baste it securely around all four sides4 ,now baste the flowered silk cover against the other side of the wadding1 turning in all rough edges1 and making sure that the edges of the lining and cover are quite even1 one above the other4 ,sew them together over and over1 as neatly as possible1 with the coloured sewing silk1 and stitch the ribbon at its centre to the middle of one end of the case to form strings 7see ,fig4 #ge74 ,after it is filled with the pretty pins and rolled up1 bring the ribbons around it and tie them in a dainty little bow4 ,a ,case for ,tape ,materials ,required3 ,a piece of flowered or figured cotton #h inches long by #d #a_/b inches wide1 ,a piece of plain-coloured cotton the same size1 #c_/d yard of #a_/b-;inch ribbon the colour of the cotton1 ,a package of ,india tape1 ,a bodkin1 ,a spool of cotton4 ,a case that is made in very much the same way as the one for pins is used for holding pieces of tape of various widths4 ,it is something that almost any aunt would be delighted to have for her work basket4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #gf ,packages of what is called ,india tape are sold at many of the dry goods shops for five or ten cents4 ,they contain bunches of tape of different widths1 a yard or two in each bunch4 ,pieces of pretty cotton1 one figured or flowered1 the other plain1 will do quite as well as silk to make the case4 ,then you will need a simple metal or bone bodkin and three-quarters of a yard of narrow ribbon or silk braid4 ,that is all except a spool of cotton1 needle and scissors4 ,cut a piece of plain-coloured cotton eight inches long by four and a half wide1 and lay the bunches of tape all along it1 about an inch apart4 ,now lay a piece of half-inch wide ribbon or silk braid along above the bunches of tape and exactly at the middle of the strip of cotton1 as shown in ,fig4 #gf4 ,pin the ribbon to the cotton lining at each side of every piece of tape1 making a loop that is large enough for each bunch to slip through without pulling the cotton lining4 ,a little loop should also be made just large enough to hold the bodkin4 ,now take out the bunches of tape and stitch the ribbon to the lining where it is pinned4 ,cut a piece of flowered cotton the same size as the lining1 and1 turning in the edges of both pieces for a quarter of an inch all the way round1 lay them together with the raw edges in and baste them evenly one above the other4 ,next sew them together over and over all around4 ,stitch the middle of a piece of ribbon sixteen inches long to the middle of the right end of the case1 slip the bunches of tape and the bodkin through their loops1 roll the case and tie the ribbon strings around it4 ,it will then be ready to pop into your gift box4 ,a ,braided ,raffia ,lamp ,mat ,materials ,required3 ,a bunch of raffia1 ,a bunch of coloured raffia1 ,a tapestry needle1 ,no4 #ai4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #gg ,a lamp mat will be a welcome gift to mamma or even to your big brother for his room at college4 ,the simplest one to make is of braided raffia4 ,take six pieces of raffia and tie them together at one end4 ,fasten this end to a nail or chair back1 at a convenient height4 ,if the raffia is dampened a little it will work more smoothly4 ,now braid it into a three-stranded plait1 using two pieces for each strand4 ,when a new piece is needed lay it above the end of the old one and continue4 ,the ends are cut close after the braid is finished4 ,you will need a great deal of this braided raffia--about ten yards of the natural colour and two or three of the coloured--but do a little at a time and you will find it pleasant work4 ,when you have enough prepared1 thread a ,no4 #ai tapestry needle with a split strand of raffia and bind the end of it tightly around the end of the natural-coloured braid1 taking a stitch or two through it to secure the binding4 ,now cut off the knot 7which tied all six pieces together in starting7 close to the binding and coil the braid into a tiny round centre4 ,run the needle through this centre back and forth1 then start coiling the second row1 bringing the long end of the braid around with its edge under the outer edge of the centre4 ,the needle is run in slanting from right to left 7see ,fig4 #gg71 then out from right to left1 so that the stitches form a ,v within the coil4 ,the whole mat is coiled and sewed in this way1 except that when the last row of natural-coloured braid is stitched on1 the end is bound as it was at the beginning and brought gradually in under the mat1 where it is sewed securely4 ,be sure that you have finished a row before you end it off4 ,this you can tell by counting the rows1 from the centre out1 on all sides of the mat4 ,an end of the coloured braid 7which is to form the border of the mat7 is also bound with a split strand of coloured raffia and sewed against the under side of the mat4 ,it is then sewed around like the rest of the mat1 except that in the first row you will have to take great care to run the stitches through the natural-coloured braid so that they will not show4 ,be sure to finish the border at the part of the mat where it was started4 ,sewed ,raffia ,lamp ,mat ,materials ,required3 #ab or #ad yards of cotton clothesline or window cord1 ,a bunch of raffia1 ,a bunch of coloured raffia1 ,a ,no4 #ai tapestry needle4 ,a soft1 thick lamp mat that is beautiful to look at and very useful is quite simply made as follows3 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #gh ,buy twelve or fourteen yards of cotton clothesline4 ,it is white and smooth1 and twisted like the fibre clothesline4 ,or there is a soft cotton window cord that is even better1 because it is smoother4 ,thread a ,no4 #ai tapestry needle with a strand of raffia1 putting the thick1 or root1 end through the needle4 ,lay the other end of the raffia on the rope1 with its tip turning toward the long end4 ,starting at the very end of the rope1 wind the long end of raffia around it 7and its own short end7 for an inch or more4 ,then coil it into the smallest ring you possibly can1 bring the long end of the raffia around1 up through the centre of the ring and around again1 taking in two coils--the one of which the ring was made and a second one made by bringing the long end of the rope around the ring 7see ,fig4 #gh74 ,the first and second coils are covered in this way with a simple over-and-over stitch1 which binds them together1 passing around both and up through the centre4 ,with the third coil the real stitch begins4 ,it is an ,indian one called the ,figure ,eight ,stitch4 ,the needle passes under the third coil 7that is1 the long end of rope which you are coiling around71 around1 over it1 under the coil below1 around1 over it and up again1 under and around the third coil--drawing the coils close together4 ,the whole mat is sewed in this way4 ,if you choose1 you can work a design of coloured rings as a border or a solid border of the coloured raffia4 ,fig4 #gi shows how the new pieces of raffia are added4 ,cross the old and new ends on the rope1 bring the needle threaded with the new strand under the lower coil1 out in front1 over the lower coil1 under and around the upper one1 and so on4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #gi ,doll's ,hat of ,raffia ,materials ,required3 ,a bunch of raffia1 ,a tapestry needle1 ,no4 #ai4 ,how would you like to make a doll's raffia hat1 as a birthday gift for one of your special friends--one that will fit her favourite doll8 ,of course it is to be a surprise1 but you will have plenty of opportunities to measure the dolly's head4 ,the raffia comes in so many colours that you will be able to choose one to match a special gown4 ,when you are ready to begin1 make five yards or more of braided raffia as described in the directions for the braided raffia lamp mat1 and start the hat in the same way as the mat was begun1 except that an oval instead of a round centre is formed4 ,when you have made a large enough top for the crown1 bring the coil of braid around1 with its upper edge a little above the middle of the row just finished1 drawing it quite tight1 and in sewing make the stitches run like the twists in the braid--so that they will show as little as possible4 ,the next row is sewed in the same way1 and the next1 until the crown is the height you wish4 ,in starting the brim flatten the braid and bring it around more loosely4 ,be sure that each row of braid is sewed half way under the row to which you are stitching it4 ,make the whole brim in this way1 keeping the braid always flat and loose so that it shall not pucker4 ,when it is as large as you wish1 you can make the edge roll slightly by drawing the last two rows quite tight as you sew them on4 ,fasten the end of the braid at the back of the hat by binding it with the raffia in your needle and stitching it firmly on the under side of the brim4 ,leather ,tag ,case ,materials ,required3 ,a piece of heavy leather #c #a_/b inches wide by #f #a_/b inches long1 ,a piece of leather #c #a_/b inches wide by #d #a_/b inches long1 ,some strips of leather #a_/d inch wide1 ,several kindergarten beads of a colour to match or harmonise with the leather1 ,a punch to make round holes1 #b dozen baggage tags1 ,scissors1 ,a bodkin4 ,illustration3 ,,leather ,,tag ,,case ,one of the best presents a child can give to his father1 or a man friend1 is a leather case full of tags4 ,things made of leather are so handsome and durable that you cannot do better1 in buying material for your gift box1 than to invest in a skin of heavy leather in the natural colour1 red or green4 ,another useful thing for your gift work will be a punch with which to make round holes in leather or cardboard4 ,you will then only need a pair of scissors1 a pencil and a few beads in order to be equipped not only to make this tag case but several other charming gifts4 ,measure and mark with pencil on the leather two pieces1 one six inches and one-quarter long by three inches and one-half wide1 the other four and one-half inches long by three and one-half inches wide1 and cut them out carefully4 ,also cut a number of strips of leather a quarter of an inch wide and as long as the skin will allow4 ,on each corner of the smaller piece of leather mark a dot three-sixteenths of an inch in from the edge4 ,then make three more dots the same distance from the edge and about an inch apart on each side1 and two near the bottom1 the same distance from the edge and each other4 ,now with your punch make holes through these dots4 ,lay this piece of leather on the larger one1 with the lower edges and sides together1 and with a pencil mark through the holes on the piece below4 ,dots are also made three-sixteenths of an inch in from the edge at each of the upper corners of the larger piece of leather1 two about an inch apart at the middle of the top edge1 and one more on either side1 half way between the dots at the upper corners and the upper ones of those already marked from the smaller piece of leather4 ,all these dots have holes punched through them4 ,now lay the pieces together1 the smaller one on top1 with its lower edge and sides fitting exactly with the bottom and sides of the larger piece4 ,starting at the upper right-hand corner of the smaller piece1 bring a bodkin threaded with a long strip of leather up through the holes in both pieces1 then up through the next hole below in both pieces1 lacing them together all the way around to the other side4 ,here the bodkin is slipped off and the end is knotted with another strip of leather4 ,on this new strip the bodkin is threaded and brought up through each hole in succession along the left side1 the top and down the right side of the large piece of leather4 ,it stops where the lacing began1 and the ends are there tied together4 ,a large bead is slipped on each of these ends and one on each of the two ends on the opposite side1 and a knot is made at the tip to keep the bead from falling off4 ,to make a loop to hang it by1 thread the bodkin with a short strip of leather1 run it down through the left of the two middle holes at the top of the case and out again through the right one4 ,cut it the length you wish the loop to be and thread a bead on each end1 making a knot at the tip to keep the bead on4 ,beaded ,leather ,pen ,wiper ,materials ,required3 ,two circular pieces of leather about #c #a_/b inches in diameter1 #c circular pieces of natural-coloured chamois about #c inches in diameter1 ,a strip of leather #a_/d inch wide and #a_/d yard long1 #a skein of beads1 ,no4 #c-j1 #a skein of beads1 ,no4 #c-j1 of another colour4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #hj ,a pen wiper is such a usual present that you may think no one would care for it1 but look around and you will surely find a big brother or sister1 or perhaps a friend1 who hasn't one4 ,and this is such an interesting pen wiper to make4 ,it is very simple1 just two round pieces of leather and three of chamois4 ,the top piece of leather has the design shown in ,fig4 #hj worked on it in beads of a colour that will look well with the leather you have chosen4 ,black and crystal beads will harmonise with red leather or dark-green crystal and opaque white4 ,if the leather is not so bright a colour1 the beads may be more gay4 ,work the design with the stitch described in the directions for making an ,indian beaded shirt in ,chapter ,v41 bringing the strings of beads farther apart at the outer edge of the circle than on the inside4 ,when the beadwork is done1 put the pieces of leather together with the chamois ones between1 mark two dots a quarter of an inch apart at the centre of the top1 punch holes through the dots and then through the other pieces of chamois and leather4 ,a bodkin threaded with a strip of leather is then run down through one hole1 up through the other1 and the ends are knotted together and cut quite short4 ,baby's ,worsted ,ball ,materials ,required3 ,a piece of thin cardboard a foot square1 ,odds and ends of worsted1 ,a worsted needle1 ,a piece of string1 ,scissors4 ,we have not made any plans1 as yet1 for a gift for the baby4 ,suppose we make him a great1 fluffy worsted ball4 ,among your mother's odds and ends of worsted you will find plenty of gay colours that will be exactly what you want4 ,then you will need some thin cardboard1 or bristol board4 ,on this mark two circles1 five inches in diameter1 and at the centre of each of these1 two smaller circles an inch and a quarter in diameter4 ,cut out the two large circles and the small holes within them4 ,you will then have two circular pieces of cardboard with a round hole in the centre of each1 making it look like a cookie4 ,take a strong but slender piece of string about a foot long and lay it around the hole in the centre of one of the pieces of cardboard1 with the ends coming together below the outer edge 7see ,fig4 #ha74 ,lay the other piece of cardboard directly over the first one and hold them firmly together 7see ,fig4 #hb7 while with a needle threaded with worsted you sew around and around the cardboard rings1 bringing the needle each time through the hole in the centre and around the outer edge of both rings4 ,when a needleful of worsted is finished leave the end hanging and start another4 ,keep on until the hole in the middle is quite filled up and the whole thing looks like a puffy cushion4 ,now take a sharp pair of scissors and cut the layers of worsted at the outer edge of the pasteboard rings all the way around4 ,do this carefully but quickly1 and be sure not to cut the two ends of string1 for now is the time to use them4 ,they are tied together just as tightly as possible1 and as close to the centre4 ,the cardboard rings are then slipped out1 leaving a soft1 fluffy ball of many colours4 ,clip off the uneven ends of worsted here and there1 and the ball will be complete4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ha ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #hb ,raffia sewed in the same way over tiny cardboard rings1 then tied and cut1 makes fascinating little pompons for a doll's hat4 ,paper ,flowers and ,toys ,,chapter ,,ix ,,paper ,,flowers ,,and ,,toys ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #hc ,it sometimes seems1 on a rainy day1 as if there was nothing to do because you have not the materials that are needed for certain occupations--but there is always paper4 ,you may not1 of course1 have all the things that are used in making tissue-paper flowers1 unless you have been so thrifty as to buy them1 looking forward to just such a time as this4 ,but if you cannot make the flowers at once1 you can decide which ones you wish to do and plan a list of the materials you will need4 ,then there are numbers of things that you can fashion from watercolour paper1 or even heavy note paper and cardboard2 so let us get out pencil and paper1 paste and scissors1 and begin4 ,materials ,required3 #b large sheets of linen writing paper #a sheet of deep-yellow tissue paper1 #a sheet of olive-green tissue paper1 ,a little cotton batting1 ,a long wire stem1 ,a tube of paste1 ,pen and ink1 ,scissors4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #hd ,how would you like to make a game of your very own with which you and your brothers and sisters or some of your friends can play8 ,it is quite simple--just a great paper daisy with a slip of paper pasted on the under side of each petal4 ,upon each slip is written a sort of conundrum1 the answer to which is the name of a plant or flower4 ,if you can get a real daisy for a model1 so much the better4 ,fold a large sheet of linen writing paper diagonally so that you will have a square eight by eight inches4 ,bend it over again diagonally1 and then again and again1 so that it will have been folded four times in all4 ,now draw the outline of a daisy petal upon the folded paper 7see ,fig4 #hc71 and cut it out through all the thicknesses4 ,this will give you a sixteen-petaled daisy4 ,the centre has next to be made4 ,cut from deep-yellow tissue paper eight circles three inches across1 six circles two inches1 and six an inch across4 ,this is easily done by folding the paper into as many thicknesses as you wish circles of each size1 so that you can cut through them all at once4 ,before separating the circles cut the edges into a fine fringe about three-eighths of an inch deep4 ,fold a piece of olive-green tissue paper in the same way as the white paper for the petals was folded1 but once more1 and cut it like ,fig4 #hd4 ,this is for the calyx4 ,next cut some slips of paper just large enough to be pasted on the underside of the petals and write on each a number and a conundrum from the following list3 #a4 ,a public building in ,philadelphia4 #b4 ,a plant that rhymes with pansy4 #c4 ,a foolish wild animal4 #d4 ,a wise man4 #e4 ,fit for a king4 #f4 ,a girl's name4 #g4 ,a plant for ,sundays4 #h4 ,for thirsty folk4 #i4 ,several droves of sheep4 #aj4 ,part of a pet4 #aa4 ,two girls' names4 #ab4 ,something that we know flies1 though no one has ever seen it4 #ac4 ,a rosy athlete4 #ad4 ,a necessary article of food and a piece of china4 #ae4 ,a girl's name and a metal4 #af4 ,an animal and a covering for the hand4 ,the following key1 or answers to the conundrums1 you will of course keep hidden until after the game has been played3 #a4 ,mint #b4 ,tay #c4 ,dandelion4 #d4 ,sage4 #e4 ,goldenrod4 #f4 ,sumach 7,sue ,mack74 #g4 ,jack-in-the-pulpit4 #h4 ,pitcher-plant4 #i4 ,phlox 7,flocks74 #aj4 ,cattail4 #aa4 ,rosemary4 #ab4 ,thyme4 #ac4 ,scarlet runner4 #ad4 ,buttercup4 #ae4 ,marigold4 #af4 ,foxglove4 ,when the slips have each been pasted on a petal the daisy is put together in this way3 ,take a long1 stout piece of wire1 such as is sold for paper-flower stems2 put the yellow circles all together1 the larger ones at the bottom1 then the medium ones and the smallest on top4 ,bend one end of the wire into a tiny ring and run the other end down through the centre of the yellow circles1 then through the middle of the white circle with the petals on its edge1 putting a touch of paste between the centre and the petals4 ,now paste a thin layer of cotton batting to the lower side of the petal-edged piece1 at the centre1 and run the wire stem through the middle of the green calyx1 pasting the paper lightly to the cotton4 ,wind the stem with olive-green tissue paper cut in strips two inches wide1 and cut from the same paper some leaves as much as possible like the little leaves of a daisy plant4 ,the directions for playing this game are given in chapter ,x4 ,how to ,make a ,country ,girl ,materials ,required3 ,a sheet of brown paper1 ,a sheet of heavy watercolour paper1 #f by #h inches1 ,a pencil1 ,a box of watercolour paints1 ,scissors4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #he ,little country girls are almost always useful1 and though this one is only made of paper she can be useful too4 ,she will serve as a dinner card or a penwiper1 or even carry courtplaster to those who need it4 ,if you do not care for any of these things you can play with her1 for she makes a charming paper doll4 ,fig4 #he shows one side of the little girl1 the other is just the same4 ,she is made as follows3 ,cut from brown paper the pattern shown in ,fig4 #hf1 making it six and a half inches high by four and three-eighths inches broad--at the widest point4 ,take care to mark the dotted lines exactly where they are in the picture4 ,it will be better to draw the apron1 sunbonnet and little shoes on the pattern1 for then you can copy directly from it instead of from the smaller one in the book4 ,lay the pattern on a piece of heavy watercolour paper and draw around it with a sharp-pointed pencil1 marking the dotted lines exactly4 ,next the little girl must be cut out4 ,do this carefully with a pair of small1 sharp scissors4 ,bend the paper on the dotted lines so that it will look like ,fig4 #he4 ,on all the lines except the one down the front ,a 7see ,fig4 #hf7 and the two marked ,b the paper is bent forward1 on these two it turns back and the flaps on the bottom of the shoes are turned back4 ,now for the finishing touches4 ,for these you will need pen and ink and a box of watercolour paints4 ,the dress1 where it peeps out beyond the white apron1 the bands on the sleeves and the dots and edge of the sunbonnet1 should all be painted some pretty colour--pink1 red1 blue1 green or yellow--whatever you choose4 ,the shoes should be black1 and the outlines of the apron and pockets1 the gathers of the sleeves and sunbonnet are all drawn in black ink4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #hf ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #hg ,the little girl is now complete unless you wish to have her stand by herself1 in which case cut a circular piece of cardboard and glue her upon it by the flaps on her shoes4 ,if you would like to make her useful1 you can attach two or three tiny sheets of courtplaster between her skirts or several leaves of flannel1 so that she can serve as a penwiper4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #hh ,a ,paper ,santa ,claus ,materials ,required3 ,the same as for the ,country ,girl4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #hi ,another delightful little paper person made on the plan of the ,country ,girl is the ,santa ,claus shown in ,fig4 #hg4 ,he makes a charming ,christmas card to carry greetings or a gift4 ,the pattern 7see ,fig4 #hh7 is made five and one-eighth inches high by five and a quarter inches wide1 of brown paper1 in the same way as the pattern of the country girl4 ,santa ,claus is also cut from watercolour paper and bent according to the dotted lines4 ,the colouring should be red and white1 of course1 with a green holly wreath4 ,it would not do to forget the ,saint's pack1 which is cut from the pattern shown in ,fig4 #hi4 ,it is painted brown1 with gaily coloured toys--dolls1 drums and ,noah's arks--peeping out at the top4 ,paste it between the two sides of ,santa ,claus near his shoulders4 ,a ,seashore ,boy ,materials ,required3 ,the same as for the ,country ,girl4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ij ,as a companion for the ,country ,girl you can make1 if you like1 a ,seashore ,boy 7see ,fig4 #ij7 in just the same way4 ,the pattern given in ,fig4 #ia shows where the paper is to be folded4 ,from all the folds the paper should bend backward except on the lines marked ,a1 from these it bends forward4 ,the colouring should be mostly blue and white4 ,the great sun hat will be straw coloured1 of course1 with a blue band4 ,his short socks are of white1 with brown legs showing above them1 and his suit should be blue1 or a white one with a blue tie4 ,the pail may be painted red4 ,a ,valentine ,favour ,materials ,required3 ,a piece of watercolour paper a foot square1 ,a box of watercolour paints1 ,a strip of scarlet china silk #e inches wide by #a_/b yard long1 ,a yard of scarlet baby ribbon1 ,a spool of scarlet sewing silk1 ,a bodkin1 ,a tube of paste1 ,scissors4 ,a boy or girl with deft fingers can make the most attractive little valentine favour imaginable in a short time and at very slight expense4 ,it is a double heart of watercolour paper1 painted scarlet and with a silk puff of the same colour drawn up at the top1 making a bag for bonbons4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ia ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ib ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ic ,the heart is perhaps the most difficult part1 but a child who has learned in kindergarten to weave with paper will be able to do it without much trouble4 ,cut from watercolour paper two pieces in the shape shown in ,fig4 #ib4 ,the paper should be doubled and the fold laid against the straight edge at the bottom of the pattern4 ,the size does not matter very much1 though if the heart is to hold anything the pieces should measure four inches and a quarter from the doubled edge to the top of the rounded end and two and five-eighths inches across4 ,rule with pencil a light line across each piece at two and five-eighths inches from the straight end4 ,five lines are also ruled in the other direction1 the first one seven-sixteenths of an inch from one side of each piece of paper and the others the same distance apart 7see ,fig4 #ib74 ,cut along these lines with sharp1 strong scissors from the double straight edge to the ruled line near the top of each piece4 ,the lower part of both pieces will thus be cut into doubled strips4 ,now take a piece in each hand1 rounded end down1 and weave the lower strip of the piece in your right hand through the strips in the left-hand piece4 ,as the strips are double1 the weaving must be done rather differently than with single strips of paper4 ,the strip with which you are weaving goes around the first strip in the left-hand piece1 through the next one1 around the next1 and so on 7see ,fig4 #ic74 ,when it comes to the end it is pushed down a little way and the next strip on the right is woven above it1 only that this one passes through the strips that the first one passed around1 and around those that the first one passed through4 ,weave one after another until all six of the strips in the right-hand piece are woven in with those on the left--when it should open to form a heart-shaped bag1 as shown in ,fig4 #id4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #id ,colour the heart on both sides with vermilion watercolour paint and it will then be ready for the silk top4 ,cut from scarlet ,china silk a strip five inches wide by half a yard long4 ,sew the ends together1 hem the top and make a casing for the ribbon drawstring1 as described in the directions for the beaded silk bag in chapter ,v4 ,the lower edge is gathered to fit the inside of the top of the heart and pasted into it on a straight line1 running just below the openings1 around both sides of the heart4 ,if the paste is not very sticky you may need to take a tiny stitch here and there with scarlet sewing silk1 tacking the silk top more securely to the heart4 ,it will then be ready to line with a lace paper doily or some waxed paper1 and fill with bonbons4 ,a ,frog ,jumping ,jack ,materials ,required3 ,a small sheet of #d-ply bristol board1 ,a box of watercolour paints1 ,a ball of fine white string1 ,pen and ink1 ,a pair of sharp scissors1 ,a large1 sharp-pointed worsted needle4 ,there is a funny frog jumping jack that you can make if you like some cheerless1 rainy day4 ,he brings smiles wherever he goes4 ,take a sheet of heavy four-ply bristol board and draw upon it the pieces shown in ,figs4 #ie1 #if1 #ig and #ih--the frog's head and body1 legs and one arm4 ,make them as large as you can4 ,the head and body together should measure eight inches high by seven wide1 from the right side to the end of the mandolin on the left4 ,the legs should be about six and a half inches long and the right arm should of course be the size of the left1 which is drawn on the same piece as the body4 ,colour the body1 throat and legs pale yellow with watercolour paint2 the upper part of the head1 the arms and the outer edges of the body and legs are first painted light green and then marked with irregular spots and dashes of medium and dark bluish green4 ,a red ribbon with a ,maltese cross of the same colour is painted around his neck1 and the mandolin he holds is white above and black underneath4 ,the eyes should be dark green with very large whites1 and the smiling mouth red1 of course4 ,the strings of the mandolin are drawn with pen and ink1 as are the outlines of the whites of the eyes1 the hands and feet4 ,now ,mr4 ,frog must be put together4 ,tie a knot in a piece of fine white string and thread the other end through a large worsted needle4 ,run the needle through the frog's body at the lower right side 7where you see the dot on ,fig4 #ie71 leaving the knot in front1 pass it through the right leg about half an inch from the top and fasten it with a knot at the back4 ,the other leg is attached in the same way1 and the right arm is placed in position and fastened to the body as the legs were4 ,a knot is then made in a piece of white cord and the end is brought through the right arm 7leaving the knot in front7 about three-quarters of an inch below where it is fastened to the body1 and near the outer edge of the arm4 ,the end of the string is brought down at the back of the frog1 quite loosely1 to the upper part of the right leg1 where it passes through and is tied to the part of the string that comes from the arm 7see ,fig4 #ii74 ,it is then brought across to the top of the left leg1 where it is tied4 ,a separate string fifteen inches long is attached to the centre of the piece1 which passes from one leg to the other 7this is the one that is pulled to make him jump71 and a short loop of string is fastened at the top of his head by which to hold him4 ,when the long string is pulled ,mr4 ,frog will dance and play the mandolin4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ie ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #if ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ig ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ih ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ii ,paper ,flowers ,have you ever made paper flowers8 ,if not1 you have probably seen them made by the cardboard patterns which dealers in tissue paper sell4 ,how about making the patterns yourself--for the poppies1 daisies and tulips and all the other flowers4 ,it will be an interesting thing to do and not difficult4 ,catch one of the poppy petals as it floats off from the flower1 blown by a summer breeze4 ,notice that there are only four petals 7if it is a single poppy71 the two smaller ones setting across the larger pair below4 ,poppies are charming and much simpler than other flowers to copy in paper4 ,you may have noticed that the petals of the real ones look almost exactly like silky1 crinkled paper4 ,draw an outline of the petal a little larger than life on heavy brown paper4 ,fold the paper back at the base of the petal and cut it out in the two thicknesses so that it will look like ,fig4 #ajj4 ,the two lower petals will be cut in the same way but larger4 ,you now have a pattern for as many poppies as you choose4 ,they can be made in various colours--white1 red1 pink1 pink and white and yellow4 ,you can buy poppy centres ready to use1 or if you prefer you can make them yourself in this way3 ,for a poppy four and a half inches across1 cut a circle of yellow paper an inch and a quarter in diameter4 ,fringe the edge about half an inch4 ,next take a wire stem1 bend the end into a small circle1 cover it with a tiny ball of cotton batting and over this a piece of olive-green tissue paper1 forming it to look as much as possible like the real poppy centre 7see ,fig4 #aja74 ,wind the edges of the paper close around the wire stem4 ,now run the other end of the stem down through the yellow circle1 brushing it with paste to attach it to the green part of the centre4 ,slip the smaller pair of petals on the stem1 then the larger pair 7with a little paste between71 so that the smaller pair will set directly across the larger4 ,this completes the poppy4 ,the stem is wound with strips of olive-green tissue paper1 and the leaves are cut from the same paper by a pattern which you can easily make by laying a poppy leaf on a sheet of cardboard and drawing around it with a sharp-pointed pencil4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ajj ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #aja ,ox-,eyed ,daisies ,materials ,required3 #a or more sheets of deep-yellow tissue paper1 ,a sheet of olive-green tissue paper1 ,a ball of dark-brown worsted1 ,several wire stems1 ,a tube of paste1 ,scissors4 ,ox-eyed daisies are easily fashioned and look so like the real ones that they are as satisfactory as any paper flowers you can make4 ,take four thicknesses of deep-yellow tissue paper4 ,bend the corner over diagonally and cut a square four by four inches4 ,next fold the paper in the same way as for the petals described in the ,daisy ,game in this chapter4 ,mark on the top of the last fold a petal1 as shown in ,fig4 #hc1 and cut it out through all the thicknesses4 ,after it is unfolded you may have to cut some of the petals up nearer to the centre4 ,wind some brown worsted around your thumb about twenty times1 take it off and run through it the end of a wire stem which has been bent into a tiny crook4 ,tie the worsted centre just above the wire with a short piece of worsted1 or bind it with fine wire1 and cut the loops at the top4 ,now run the other end of the stem down through the centre of the petals4 ,make a green calyx like the one for the white daisy but much smaller1 not over an inch across4 ,wind the stem with strips of olive-green tissue paper1 laying in every now and then a daisy leaf cut from the same dark-green paper4 ,other single flowers can be as easily made as this1 and you will find that the patterns will not be difficult to make if you take the natural flowers for your models4 ,a ,curled ,chrysanthemum ,materials ,required3 ,several sheets of pink or yellow tissue paper in a light and medium shade1 ,several sheets of olive-green tissue paper1 ,a small piece of cardboard1 ,some wire stems1 ,a tube of paste1 ,scissors4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ajb ,chrysanthemums are among the most natural of paper flowers1 and fascinating to make4 ,white ones are pretty1 and those that are made of shades of pink or yellow are even more attractive4 ,cut the pattern shown in ,fig4 #ajb from cardboard and lay it on three thicknesses of medium yellow tissue paper1 seven and a half inches square1 which have been folded diagonally three times4 ,hold the pattern firmly upon it and cut it out carefully4 ,then in the same way cut two thicknesses of light-yellow paper into petals4 ,a piece of olive-green tissue paper is folded into a smaller square and cut in the same way1 to make a calyx4 ,to curl the petals1 put a small sofa cushion on your knee1 lay a petal upon it1 and1 taking a common hatpin with a smooth1 round head1 press it upon the end of each petal up to the centre4 ,this will curl it as if by magic4 ,do another and another till the whole piece is finished4 ,then curl a second piece and a third in the same way4 ,when they are all done bend a long wire stem at one end and run the other end through the centre of the petal-edged pieces1 which should be laid one above the other1 the darker ones on top4 ,put a touch of paste between them1 slip on the green calyx1 wind the stem with strips of green tissue paper1 laying in a chrysanthemum leaf from time to time1 and the flower is complete4 ,illustration3 ,making a chrysanthemum ,games for ,two or ,three to ,play ,,chapter ,x ,,games ,,for ,,two ,,or ,,three ,,to ,,play ,on stormy days the children of a family are likely to be alone--unless they are so fortunate as to have a little visitor in the house1 or a friend who lives near wraps up and comes to play with them4 ,a child who is alone can read1 or find in the other chapters of this book some absorbing occupation2 for a party of children there are always plenty of games1 but it is sometimes difficult to think of a game that two or three will enjoy4 ,the following are a few suggestions for such an emergency3 ,picture ,puzzles ,materials ,required3 ,as many pieces of cardboard about #f by #h inches as there are children1 ,as many pairs of scissors as there are children1 ,one or more tubes of paste1 ,several old magazines4 ,there is such a fascination about cutting and pasting that a game like this is one of the best you can choose for a dull day4 ,each child has an old magazine1 a piece of cardboard and a pair of scissors1 while tubes of paste lie conveniently near4 ,when the children are seated around a table the game begins4 ,it is played in this way3 ,each player cuts from his magazine a picture 7which must be smaller than his card71 pastes it upon his piece of cardboard1 and when it is dry and firm cuts it in pieces with six straight cuts of the scissors1 so as to make a puzzle4 ,he then mixes the pieces and passes them to his neighbour on the right4 ,at a given signal each child tries to put the puzzle which he has received together as quickly as possible4 ,the one who finishes first calls out that he is through1 and he is of course the winner4 ,as a sequel the children will enjoy colouring the puzzles4 ,if they are pretty and neatly made they may be given to a child's hospital1 to amuse some other little children in the long days of convalescence4 ,how to ,play the ,daisy ,game ,this is a good guessing game for two or more children to play1 and if you will follow the directions given in chapter ,,ix4 you will find that it can be made quite easily4 ,none of the players should have seen the key1 or answers to the conundrum1 but if you find that they have seen it1 you can write on the slips of paper1 instead of the conundrums1 the names of flowers with the letters mixed for example1 sapyn1 for pansy4 ,each child in turn pulls a petal from the daisy and tries to guess the name of the flower1 which is the answer to the conundrum written on the under side of the petal4 ,five minutes is the time allowed1 and if the player has not guessed the flower in that time he must pass the petal to the child on his left1 who also has five minutes in which to guess it4 ,if he guesses correctly the petal belongs to him1 and at the end of the game the player having the most petals has won4 ,horses in the ,stable ,materials ,required3 ,a pasteboard shoe box1 ,some marbles1 ,pen and ink1 ,scissors4 ,although this game is played with marbles1 girls as well as boys will enjoy it1 and it is so easily prepared that it can be played at short notice4 ,take a long pasteboard box--a shoe box is about the right size4 ,remove the cover and turn it upside down4 ,now1 starting at the lower edge1 draw five doorways1 like those shown in ,fig4 #ajc4 ,the one in the centre should be an inch across and an inch and a half high1 the two on each side of it an inch and a half wide and two inches high1 and the outer ones each two inches wide and two and a half inches high4 ,cut out these doorways with a sharp1 strong pair of scissors and mark over the middle one in pen and ink the number #be4 ,the two on either side of it have marked above them #aj1 and the other two each have #e4 ,stand the box1 or stable1 thus prepared1 against the wall and place a mark four feet from it4 ,each player has three marbles1 and in turn tries to roll or shoot them from the mark through the little doors into the box4 ,if he succeeds in putting one through the smallest door he makes twenty-five2 if through either of the other doors his score is increased by the number marked above it4 ,there should be a time limit for the game--half an hour1 for example4 ,the score of each player1 which is kept on a sheet of paper1 is added at the end of that time and the one having the most points has won the game4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ajc ,plants and ,flowers ,materials ,required3 ,as many pencils and sheets of paper as players1 ,a large sheet of cardboard1 ,some seed catalogues1 ,pen and ink1 ,a tube of paste1 ,scissors4 ,although a number of children can play this game1 two or three will enjoy it quite as well4 ,any boy or girl can make it4 ,you will need first of all a number of seed catalogues4 ,cut from these eighteen or twenty pictures of flowers and plants1 taking care not to leave the names on them4 ,write in pencil1 on the back of each1 a number 7any one from #a to #ah7 and the name--this is for your own guidance later on4 ,now make a list of the flowers and plants1 each with its number before it4 ,this is the key1 to be put away till after the game is played4 ,take a large sheet of cardboard1 about twenty by twenty-four inches1 and paste upon it the flowers and plants in the order of their numbers1 marking the number of each clearly in pen and ink underneath it4 ,if you like you can colour the pictures--this will make the game more attractive1 of course1 and as you can use it many times it is worth while4 ,a loop of string1 by which to hang it1 should be run through the top of the card at the centre4 ,when you are ready to play the game hang the cardboard sheet where all can see it2 give each player a pencil and a piece of paper1 on the left side of which numbers from #a to #ah have been marked4 ,each child tries in the time allowed--about twenty minutes--to guess the names of the flowers and plants on the sheet or cardboard1 and write each opposite its number on his piece of paper4 ,the correct names are then read from the key and the players check off their guesses4 ,the one who has guessed the greatest number correctly is of course the winner4 ,a ,ball-and-,fan ,race ,materials ,required3 #b ,japanese paper balls1 #b palmleaf fans4 ,illustration3 ,a ball and fan race ,two children will find this race an interesting one for a rainy day4 ,the best place in which to play it is a large room with very little furniture in it--a playroom for example4 ,each player stands at a corner of the room diagonally opposite the other1 three feet out from the corner1 and each has a ,japanese paper ball in front of him and a large fan in his hand4 ,they must face different ways and both count together ,one1 two1 three1 and away6 ,as they finish counting1 the children begin to fan their balls around the room1 close to the wall4 ,there will be some lively skirmishing when they meet1 as they are likely to do when half way around the room4 ,then each tries to send his opponent's ball back and his own forward4 ,when each finally gets his ball back to the corner where he started1 he must try to send it as quickly as possible to the middle of the room1 where a chair is placed4 ,the ball must be fanned through the legs of this chair and to the goal of his opponent4 ,the player who first accomplishes this is the winner4 ,fun with ,popcorn ,materials ,required3 ,an open fire1 ,a corn popper1 ,several ears of popcorn1 ,a prize1 if desired4 ,if the open fire burns brightly in your playroom1 no matter how gray and bleak the day may be outside1 you and your brothers and sisters can keep warm and cheerful over this delightful game4 ,you may provide a prize for the winner1 if you like1 but the only things that are absolutely necessary are the fire1 some popcorn and a popper4 ,when the players are seated in a semicircle around the fire they may all help in shelling the corn4 ,after this is done1 divide the popcorn evenly between them1 so that each shall have a small quantity4 ,the player on the left side of the fireplace now takes the corn popper and pops his corn4 ,when it is done1 the kernels that are fully popped are counted1 also the unpopped ones1 and a record is made of each4 ,the next player pops his corn and counts the result1 and so on until all have finished4 ,the child having the largest number of fully popped kernels is the winner1 and may receive a prize4 ,afterward the winner and the defeated players will equally enjoy eating the fluffy popcorn1 or if the cook is particularly amiable they may be allowed to flock to the kitchen and make popcorn balls4 ,express ,materials ,required3 #ab or #ae articles1 large and small1 light and heavy4 ,this is a lively game that needs little preparation4 ,all you will have to provide is a number of articles1 toys1 pieces of china 7not valuable ones71 a glass of water1 some very small things and one or more large ones1 something heavy like a dumb-bell or flatiron and something light--a palmleaf fan1 for example4 ,when you have them all collected1 on a table or stand on one side of the room where the game is to be played1 place another table or stand across the room4 ,then you must have a clock or a watch1 and that is all--except the players4 ,each child in turn takes one thing at a time1 from the stand where the various articles are piled1 and carries it to the table at the opposite side of the room4 ,it is done as quickly as possible1 for the object is to move everything from one place to the other in the least possible time4 ,each player is timed and his record kept on a piece of paper4 ,if a player drops anything he must carry it back to the starting point and make another trip with it4 ,the next player begins at the table to which the first one took the baggage and carries it1 in the same way1 back to the first table4 ,so it goes on until everyone has played expressman4 ,the player who succeeds in transferring the baggage in the shortest time is1 of course1 the winner4 ,a ,hurdle ,race ,materials ,required3 ,a box of tiddledywinks1 ,a sheet of white cardboard1 ,a box of watercolour paints1 ,a pencil1 ,scissors1 ,a ball of white string1 ,some pins4 ,the next time you are kept indoors by the weather1 you and a brother or sister may enjoy a hurdle race4 ,it is played with tiddledywink chips and pasteboard hurdles on a large table or on the floor4 ,you can make the hurdles yourself4 ,they should be cut from cardboard1 eight inches wide and four inches high4 ,paint some of them with wooden bars and others green--like high hedges4 ,in making the hurdles1 cut the cardboard so that a strip two inches deep by an inch across will extend below each lower corner 7see ,fig4 #ajd74 ,one of these is bent sharply forward at the place marked by the dotted lines1 the other is turned back1 forming stands to keep the hurdles upright4 ,the racecourse will have to be laid out on a covered table or carpeted floor1 as the tiddledywinks can only be used on a soft1 cushiony surface4 ,you can make the boundaries with white string1 held in place here and there with pins4 ,an oval course1 though more difficult to mark is rather more exciting than a straight one1 but either will do4 ,have the course eight inches wide and as long as you please4 ,the hurdles may be placed where-ever you choose1 but be sure to have plenty of them4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ajd ,when you are ready to begin1 each player takes a large tiddledywink chip and a small one of the same colour--but different from his opponent's--and at a signal given by a third person1 who acts as umpire1 the race begins4 ,snap the tiddledywink chip just as you do in playing the game1 only taking great care not to send it out of the course1 for if it goes outside the lines you must set it back three inches4 ,the umpire follows the race1 of course1 and settles all disputed questions4 ,pictures from ,fairy ,tales ,materials ,required3 ,a number of old magazines1 ,twice as many sheets of cardboard or heavy brown paper1 #aj by #ab inches1 as there are children1 ,as many pairs of scissors as there are children1 ,a tube of paste for each child4 ,two or three children who know and love the old fairy tales can spend a delightful hour playing this game4 ,each one should have several old magazines and a sheet of cardboard1 as well as scissors and a tube of paste4 ,the leader1 who may be one of the children or an older person1 explains the game as follows3 ,each child is expected to make a picture on his sheet of cardboard to illustrate some fairy tale4 ,it is not necessary to draw it2 he can cut from the magazines people and properties and scenery and paste them upon the card4 ,he must be sure not to tell anyone the story he has chosen4 ,at the end of half an hour the pictures should be finished4 ,a bell is rung for everyone to stop work and the pictures are placed where all can see them4 ,the leader now holds one up before the children and asks them what story they suppose it illustrates1 and what particular part of the story4 ,the child who answers first wins the picture4 ,the other pictures are held up1 one at a time1 and the children try to see who can guess them first4 ,if they are ready for another round of the game after this one is finished1 they may find it amusing to vary it by making pictures from ,mother ,goose4 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------- ,transcriber's notes3 ,p4#agg4 'aesily' perhaps a typo for 'easily'1 changed4 ,obvious punctuation errors repaired4 ---------------------------------------- ----------------------