John F. Adams

The sewing-table here described will be found a convenient receptacle for the numerous odds and ends required for the household repairing and dressmaking. It is of light construction permitting of being easily carried about the house, and yet has abundant room in its several compartments for the separate storage of buttons, thread, yarns, etc., in the upper part, and the work in the lower one. Gum-wood is recommended with which to construct it, being of fine, even grain, sufficiently dark not to soil easily and presenting an attractive appearance with a natural finish. The required stock is as follows :

All the stock, except the corner posts, is 3/8 in. thick. The wide pieces for the top, and the bottom boards of the trays will have to be glued up.

The illustration shows pretty clearly the method of construction, but gives the appearance of a larger table than it really is. The side pieces are mortised into the posts, full size, to a depth of 1/4 in., the space between the upper and lower trays being 7 in. These pieces are also set in 1/4 in., as shown. The upper tray is divided into four sections with cross-pieces, and two of these sections are again divided, making six pockets, but any other arrangement can be adopted that the maker chooses. These divisions are made with the strips 3 5/8 in. wide, thus allowing § in. on the under side for the bottom board, measuring 28f in. which is nailed through from the sides and ends and also into the division pieces. The bottom of the lower tray is nailed in places in the same way.

The top is strengthened with cleats at each end placed so as to fit snugly inside the end pieces thus holding it in position when on, and yet allowing it to be lifted with work upon it, without being obliged to remove the latter, as would be necessary with hinges.