CHAPTER XXVI

A FUR-LINED CAPE FOR PARTIES

“I CAN’T wait! I simply cawn’t!” Mary Frances paused at the door. It was Scissors Shears again.

“Pray, why ‛cawn’t’ you?” mimicked Tommy Pin Cushion.

“Ah, don’t you know? To-day’s lesson is so ‛el-e-gan-tis-si-mus!’”

“What do we make―I mean what do we help make?” asked Tommy Pin Cushion.

“Our livings, of course,” clicked Scissors Shears.

“Oh, you simple, silly old sharp-tongued―!”

“There, there, that will do!” said Scissors Shears; “ask Sewing Bird.”

“What do we make, Sewing Bird, please?” asked Tommy Pin Cushion. “I didn’t hear.”

“A pretty thing Of funny shape― A dainty, party Fur-lined cape,”

sang Sewing Bird.

“Oh, ho! Hee-hee!” laughed Scissors Shears. “I bet we’ll have to use Jubey.”

“What for?” asked Tommy Pin Cushion.

“For the fur,” said Scissors Shears.

“I guess not, I guess not,” said Mary Frances stepping into the room. “Use Jubey! I’d rather Mary Marie would never have a fur-lined cape, Magic and Mystery!”

“Of course,” said Fairy Lady. “Oh, of course! By the way,―where is that cat?”

“She’s down-stairs,” said Mary Frances, “hunting mice in the cellar. Grandma asked me to let her be there.”

“That’s all right,” said Fairy Lady, “I feel a little more comfortable to know she is more interested in mice than in birds, at present. You see, she seems to birds very much as lions do to people.”

“I’ll take good care that she doesn’t come ups-tairs again, dear Fairy Lady,” said Mary Frances. “But do I really need fur for to-day’s lesson?”

“Have you any fur in Mary Marie’s trunk?” asked Fairy Lady.

“No,” said Mary Frances. “That is one thing that isn’t here.”

“What is that?” asked Fairy Lady, peering into the trunk. “Is it very thick white outing flannel?”

“Yes,” said Mary Frances, holding up the soft, fleecy material.

“Good!” laughed Fairy Lady. “Good! Now, fetch a bottle of ink and a big toothpick.”

“What in the world?” thought the little girl.

“I will show you how to make ‛near-ermine’ fur,” said Fairy Lady, dipping the broad end of the large toothpick into the ink, and making black tail-like marks on the flannelette.

“Oh, how sweet!” exclaimed Mary Frances.

“Isn’t it pretty?” said Fairy Lady. “This is for the lining. What will the outside of the cape be?”

“Here is some heavy blue silk,” said Mary Frances.

“Lovely!” exclaimed Fairy Lady. “You can cut out the cape, then pin it to the flannelette, and cut out the lining. Then unpin it, and mark the lining like this, to imitate ermine;―and here is another parcel from the Thimble King.”

Mary Frances opened the package and read aloud:

PATTERN 17.―DOLL’S FUR-LINED CAPE

See Insert V

To cut out―

1. Pin pattern with the Straight Edge of FRONT on a lengthwise edge of material. Cut out, carefully making all notches.

2. Cut another piece exactly like this.

3. Cut lining in exactly the same way.

4. Cut collar with the two ring (oo) edge of pattern on a lengthwise fold of material.

5. Cut collar lining in same way.

To make―

NOTE.―Make the outside of the cape first. The lining is made in exactly the same way.

1. TO MAKE CAPE.―Pin the two pieces together with the right sides facing each other.

2. Baste the long seam (having three single notches).

Open the cape.

3. Baste the shoulder seams, matching the notches carefully.

4. Try on doll. Alter cape, if necessary. Stitch seams.

5. Make the lining in the same way.

Press open all seams.

6. Turn in outside edges of cape and lining one-quarter inch, except at the neck. Baste. Press.

7. Pin lining in cape, wrong sides facing, carefully fitting seam to seam. Overhand or stitch outside turned-in edges.

8. Baste collar and collar-lining together. Stitch an eighth-of-an-inch seam along all edges except the neck-edge.

Turn inside-out. Baste along edges. Press.

9. Sew the collar to the cape, in same way as an apron band, first pinning the double notches in the outside of the collar to the double notches in the outside of the cape.

10. Fasten cape with a hook and eye.

“My, I do hope such finery won’t make Mary Marie vain!” said Fairy Lady.

“No,” said Mary Frances, “I think it won’t. I’ve explained to her that she must divide with all her sisters-in-law, and step-sisters, her whole outfit. It seems almost like a trousseau.”

“That’s true and sew!” exclaimed Scissors Shears.