1939-10-03 — Page 8

Tuesday,

HONGKONG TELEGRAPH

October 3, 1939.

JANET JAY SHORT CUTS

Finds ..

THERE must be few home-

makers who don't run up some of their own and the children's frocks, and things liko curtains and looso covers us well.

The trouble about dressmaking at home is that one's work is in clined to spread itnett all over the sitiing-room.

You have probably found that the dining table is firmest for the hand-sewing machine, you want the dressmaker's model handy for Atting, and the floor often offers the largest space for cutting out,

In my experience at any rate,

Evcu a large table won't always Cake the full width or length of the moteriai or paltern.

Another thing about dressinaking at home to you find that bits and pléces hide themselves about the house?

Hunt the Thimble

Patterns disappear mysteriously when wanted, and finding plús, thimble or plece bag may mean a hunt through cupboarda kud drawers.

Having met;ioned the snags., 1. thought it might be a good idea thus week to talk about ways to make home dressmaking easter.

It all started when I found a dress- making board for cutting out whicti you can put elther on the tablo or the floor. It struck me'ns such a sensible tdea that I started locking round for other dressinaking gadgets,

This board (which costs bo.. with dd. 1or post), enables you to open out anaterial full width for cutting, to fold it accurately lengthways or bias, and it cantist slip or slide about, a great help when

Intrica cutting aimsy

Ike georgette.

There is less chance of wasio in rut- ting when you can nee exactly how the pattern is going to work out.

Sewing Gadgers

Storing la casy, too, for folds up to be put away in a cupboard. Which reminds me that it la a gout plan to have one cupboard solely for Bewing gadgela.

Your hand machine can go on the floor, sleeve board, shears, work box on helves above. A box for pieces on

In The Kitchen

BEFORE beginning to cook, lower the plate-rack of your stove and cover it with a ten-towel, for then the bolling saucepans will not steam the windows and walls, as the cloth, 'will absorb the vapour as.lt risen.

A colander. Atted into a saucepan makes a good substitute for a steam- er, and vegetables cooked in this way retain their vitamins and nourishment, but remember · 12net| cooking by this method requires a Ittle longer time than by the or- dinary way,

If there is no time to put tomatoes. In hot water before skinning them, wrinkle the skin a litle by gentle squeezing, and they will then peel onsily. Cut them up with an egg- slicer and they are ready for the salad bowl.

Save used drinking straws and put them in a vase on the kitchen man- telpiece, for they make splendid tapers for the gus stove,

When two tumblers become fixed one inside the other and are diMcult to separate, pour cold water into the Inner one und land the outer one in fairly hot water. When the inner glass contracts and the outer one ex- pands, they can be easily laken apart,

G. G. T.

... for Home Dressmakers

First essential

is a sharp

pair of dress.

moking shoars.

the top shelf. Aud IXIRCA Jur buttons, inpes, hooks and eyes, make sure that these are always at nud when wanted. I have always thought that we should have soune

☆ ☆

method of filing paper patterns. I fald them carefully and put them back in their envelopes when finished with. and pick these envelopes on end side- ways in a shallow box.

This way is easy to run through then when you want to and any special frock or coat pattern,

One of the nicest kinds of sewing machine. the electric machine, com. plete with built-in Hight, fitted into a cabinet which makes a useful alde table when the machine is not being used. The electric motor leaves batlı

hands free to guide the work, and gives your sewing a more professional look.

But if you have a modern hand machine, you can have an electric motor fitted to it. It costs only 124 d. and is well worth it if you do much sewing at home.

Machining Tip

When using a hand machine, by the way, try putting a blanket folded inte several thicknesses under it. It Jensens the vibration, and saves a polished table from marka.

Next to the actual saving, I find that proper filing, pressing and finishing make all the difference between the home-made and the professional touch,

If you have to fit yourself, you will And a 'nodel which can be moulded exactly to your own measurements a great help. It can be altered in n moment to nt someone ciso

Hema are coaler to level if you use a gadget which is set to a certain number of inches from the ground. You move it round as you pln up the hem and 11 ensures un even hang. It costa 2a. Od, with 5d. postage.

An ironing table is essenïtat for good pressing, and I would add a sleeve boned for dressmaking purposes.

I found a large size board com. plete with a sleeve board. This slides into a compartment under- neath the table when not in wwe, There is an extra shilling for cur- ringe if you live outside London.

If you are working on a material which marks enally, try this way of pressing the long scams,

Get someone to hold one end of the

scam, wrong side upwards, while you hold the other, pull the material taut, then pass the iron along the seam. opening it out as you go. This won't

MIDGE:

He. Stars!

But the afar fish likes being

King of the Castle!

What Happens To The

Film Stars' Wardrobes

PRACTICAL

HINTS &

EQUIPMENT

Halten the pile of fab ries like, velvet,

Warm Iron and a damp cloth save put- Ung a sling on wool- lens. but I found n 'special roping pad which is useful

when prcasiņt cuits or costumes.

It has rustless wire gauze on the alde which goes next the material; the other side is flannel, and when using it you rub this side over with a web sponge before pressing with the hot fron.

I found that the gauze will reduce shine on worn kults, and silks can be pressed on the right side,

Burning or scorching can't happen with. n "controlled heat" eiecirle fron. This has a paint which is tarnet to the right heat for rayon, silk, wool, cotton or linen, and this is auto- matically maintained as long as you nre ironing,

No-Waste Iron

It saves current, Lon, because you ne never using more than you need' for the Job in hand.

Of course, you have a good tapo measure, sharp - cutting-out scissoIS and plenty of pins, but talior's chalk in useful for marking notches, and I keep a packet of small bairplas in my work- basket because the double prony of a hairpin slays put in lace or net.

Pins won't go astry if you slick them in a fal, old-Inshiloned pincushion as you discard them.

Pinking shears are still rather ex- pensive, but are worth it if you make your own clothes. They cost 298. Od. n pair, post id, and cut the materiał with a notched edge which never frays and caves the extra-work of binding ør- overcosting scanis,

Linen And China To Match

TABLE linen designed to match

your china-that's the newest Idea in the most exclusive furnish- ing shops, but you need not be a millionaire to adopt it in your din- Ingroom.

All you need is some of the new WHAT happens to good screen plain coat (incidentally, the sleeves that blessed modern Invention, blas pastel-tinted linen, a card or two of clothes when they are discarded of this coat ore cut on the bias--just binding, and quite ordinary skill with after the film is completed? "What for novelty); the other two are fluffy a needle. Or, if your favourite china beesmes of the slunning gowns evening KownB with picturesque has a floral design, copy it on the. Gloria Gorgeous wore in her latest skirts. Anne took a particular in- corners of the cloth, napisins or din- (and greatest) film? And what do terest in the blue marganza because ner mats in dull finith embroidery the sters do with their own "old" sho designed the neckince worn with silks. clothes?

ita scart made of pink velvet withi Hundreds of letters asking these dark brown hearts.

To copy a design on china is usual- ly quite easy. Nowadays, when "so many tée und dinner services are bands of hand- These, and other clothes from the decorated with

questions arrive each year, in the stars' mail-letters from the curious, Dress Distribution from ardent fans who want a frock

for a keepsake, from youngsters who stars' personal wardrobes, are often painted colour, all you have to do is frankly ask for the clothes, appar sent to relatives living in towns far repeat the bands in the same tones enlly operating on the principle that from Hollywood, or are given to of bins binding. Let them run round the stars have an unlimited supply.

The players cannot,

Bmbluous young girls struggling to the hem of the neutral tinted cloth, Of course, win fame (because most stura can re- and finish the corners with a slagic grant these requests for the simple member when similar ald pulled initial in the most Interesting-colour. reason that the studios furnish and them through a critical moment), or Blas binding, which can be had in a own all clothes worn in production

wonderful colour range in cotton,

by feminine members of the cast, lo maid stand-ina, or charitable or-nen, silk and artificial silk, Is very

(The men furnish their own-unless Canisations.

It's a costume picture). Purchased by Themselves

But what does become of these clothes? Well, Ginger Rogers, for

easy to work with, and if you can

Many production clothes not worn give your initini a modera squarish or purchased by the stars are taken look, so much the better. over by the publicity department, toi

be used in various ways to exploit a picture.

To copy a floral china design that

is not very simple, trace the out- one wears hers out if they are used out from the studios to travel all parent paper.

Each year dozens of costumes goļ lines from a plate to a plece of trans- Then with carbon In a dancing sequence. In fact, two frocks, exactly alike, are made for over the world, mute heralds of com- paper, repeat it on the linen to be

Sometimes each of Miss Rogers's dance numbers. return,

ing producliana.

they sewn, Irequently they remain

Both are cleaned nightly from dust abroad-as awards in contests.

collected on the studio floor, and

just about manage to last for the Rummage Sale production.

Don't overdo the repelliion of a design. If your teacups are wreath- ed with flowers, don't have the same

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Many of the clothes worn in pro- But the majority of these glamor-your tablecloth. Simply concentrate duction are purchased by the stars ous star wardrobes are retted, and on one grouping, enlarge it, for their, personal wardrobes. They remade, sometimes five or six times. transfor it the corners of the cloil can't go wrong: In such purchases, They are worn by stand-ins and and napkins.. Usa.. discretion In 'for the gowns were designed for them minor. players, appear in comedy building up a set; exact copying is and their personal foibles, nt per shorts, and costume "extras" work- so often inclined to be crowded and fectly, and are becoming. Carole ing in' mob ́scenes. Lombard recently

monotonous. purchased tho. Then about once a year, the ward- fashionable three-plece suit of belge roby stages a "rummaga salė," sells If the china is cream with a de wool which was designed for her dozens of dated gowns no longer use sign in yellow and green, avoid hav- rale In."In Name Only." Hollywood ful to them. Extras, players down ing a linen set in cream with the still recalls the time Lucille Ball on their luck, freshfaced, newcomers same design in the same colours. bought all the clothes she wore in living on a modest Income, buy, these That may be accurate, but it isn't This black jersey frook, with one of her films, down to the last frocks, dye and remake them once always smart. ·Instead have the padded raglan sleeves, has plents glove and shoc.

more, wear them for an all-important cloth in yellow or pale green with folded into the back of the skirt, *** Anne Shirley purchased three of appointment at a corting office... the decoration in the other two Burgostions of loworod waletlio 'In the ensembles designed for her latest And then, who knows? Perhaps, shades, especially if your chini is the worming, and slido closing down picture, "Career" one, a navy blue in Gloria Gorgeous's oldest gown not very interesting,

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