CHAPTER XI

A ROSE SCARF

“WHAT color would you like to use for Mary Marie’s scarf, little Miss?” asked the Yarn Baby.

“I think this is pretty,” answered Mary Frances, lifting a ball of rose-colored Germantown zephyr.

“Mary Marie arose, arose, ‘A rose,’ she cried, ‘A rose Scarf, I propose,’”

said Crow Shay.

“Will you keep still!” screamed the Yarn Baby, her hair standing out in all directions. At least she tried to scream, but her voice sounded like a zephyr wind. “You are so full of mischief, I don’t see how you will do any work to-day,” she added.

“I love to work, I never shirk, Nor do I jerk my work When I do work,”

sang Crow Shay.

“You generally do work pretty well,” admitted the Yarn Baby, “but you are pretty slow sometimes.”

_To Make Fringe_

(See picture on page 70)

1. Cut 2 strands of gray wool, making each 3 inches long. Lay them together, side by side.

2. Put hook through the first stitch on one end of the scarf. Catch the 2 strands of gray yarn in the middle. Pull part way through the stitch.

3. Throw the 4 ends of wool over the hook and pull them all the way through the loop on the needle.

4. Take hold of the 4 ends of gray wool with the finger and thumb of your right hand, holding scarf between first finger and thumb of left hand with thumb close to the loop of the fringe. Pull gray yarn until the loop is tight.

Always pull the fringe through from the same side of the work.

5. Continue making fringe all across the two ends of the scarf.

Mary Frances worked hard, and Crow Shay helped with all his might, but the little girl’s fingers seemed very awkward.

“Little Miss, you are doing nicely, but you pull the yarn too tight,” said the Yarn Baby, who was watching her work most carefully.

Mary Frances noticed how smooth her hair looked. She knew the Yarn Baby was not displeased.

“I know I hold my work tight,” she said. “My fingers just won’t let go of the yarn.”

“If you are inclined to make your stitches too tight, use a larger crochet hook,” said the Yarn Baby.

Crow Shay looked so frightened that Mary Frances wanted to laugh; but she was afraid that if she did it would hurt his feelings, so she only said, “I think that I can manage better soon.”

“If your work curls up when you have finished,” said the Yarn Baby, “lay it under a damp cloth or a damp towel over night. When it is dry it will be quite smooth.”

“Dampness always takes the curl out of my hair,” laughed Mary Frances, working away.

The Crochet People helped whenever she made a mistake, and the Yarn Baby repeated the directions when she asked about them. She had not quite finished the scarf when Katie called her to lunch.