Materials

Brown gingham (Chap. I, Par. 19) or

Brown Chambray (Chap. I, Par. 9) or

Linen crash (Chap. I, Par. 44).

Cretonne (Chap. I, Par. 12).

1 piece linen, gingham or chambray, 12" wide x 28" long.

1 piece cretonne 3" wide x 12" long.

1 piece cardboard 9 1/2" x 11 1/2".

2 brass rings about 3/4" in diameter.

Thread No. 70.

Needle No. 8.

Introductory Statement

As a successful business man has a systematic method of filing letters and keeping valuable papers in a definite place in order to increase the efficiency of his office work, so the home keeper will find that her work may be lightened by having definite places in which to keep the many little things which are so easily mislaid. A filing pocket provides one means of caring for different articles, for instance bulletins in the kitchen, patterns in the sewing room, or unanswered letters near the writing table.

The material used in a filing pocket will depend somewhat on the use to which it is to be put. If it is to contain heavy bulletins, it should be made of strong material, like denim, or heavy cretonne. If it is to hold light papers it may be made of percale, chambray, gingham or light weight cretonne.

References:

The Cotton Plant, U. S. Bulletin 601. Cotton Improvement, U. S. Bulletin 501.

Suggestions For Optional Modification

Filing Pocket

No. 1. This is a large filing pocket made of strong cloth; the edges are bound, a stick run through the wide hem holds the top straight. It is very serviceable for sewing patterns.

Bulletin File

No. 2. This file is very similar to No. 1. It will be found convenient in caring for club bulletins or other small pamphlets.

Wall Pocket

No. 3. This project shows a modification in which the pockets are enlarged considerably so as to serve many purposes.

Slipper Case

No. 4. The large loose pockets held with elastic at the top provide a convenient slipper case.

Working Directions For Filing Pocket

Preparing Material

If necessary, straighten two adjoining edges of the material by drawing a thread and cutting on the line (Chap. II, Par. 102). If there is a selvage, trim it off. On the short edge measure out 12" or the width of the filing pocket before making. Tear the material lengthwise, or draw a thread and cut on the line. On the longer edge of the material measure down 28", twice the length of the back and pocket. Tear crosswise, or draw a thread and cut on the line. If you tear the material, pull the cloth straight (Chap. II, Par. 101) and trim off the ravelings.

Preparing For The Pocket

This filing pocket is made of a double thickness of cloth. With the right side in, fold one short edge even with the opposite one, making the fold at the bottom. Crease this with the thumb nail. Baste the two long edges together with short uneven basting (Chap. II, Par. 104). About 1/4" from the edge stitch just inside of the bastings with the sewing machine (Chap. II, Par. 164), or sew with the combination stitch (Chap. II, Par. 108). Turn the material right side out, being careful to push the corners out with the point of the shears and to make the edges perfectly straight (if you have stitched the seams carefully you should be able to crease these outside edges even with a thread). The upper edges, which are now open are to be overhanded together (Chap. II, Par. 110) after the cardboard is put in. The raw edges must be turned in before overhanding, so you may turn them in one-fourth of an inch, even with a thread, and baste them in place with uneven basting.

To Make The Pocket

The edge of this pocket as shown in the illustration is trimmed with a band of cretonne. This should be sewed on before the pocket is turned up. Straighten the edges of the cretonne (Chap. II, Par. 102), making it 2 1/2"x 11 1/2 ", or the exact width of the finished filing case, plus 1/2". Turn the raw edges even with a thread one-fourth of an inch toward the wrong side all the way around and baste them with uneven basting (Chap. II, Par. 104). Care should be taken to keep this piece a perfect rectangle. Baste it carefully on all four edges to the folded end of the filing pocket. The ends will be stitched when the pocket is sewed in place. Stitch the top and bottom edges in place with very even machine stitching, or finish them by hand with catch stitching (Chap. II, Par. 120) or featherstitching (Chap. II, Par. 121, 122, 123). Fold up this end of the filing pocket onto the material the depth desired for the pocket, or about four and one-half inches (with the strip of cretonne turned out). Baste the doubled edges together with uneven basting, overhand (Chap. II, Par. 110) the edges together, sewing through the cretonne, or stitch on the machine.

Preparing And Putting In The Cardboard

A piece of cardboard should be cut to fit the inside of the back of the filing pocket. This should be 9 1/2"x 11 1/2", but will probably vary somewhat in size, as a very slight variation in the width of the seams or the depth of the pocket will make a change in the size of the back of the filing pocket. Measure the back carefully and cut the cardboard to fit it. Slip the cardboard between the two thicknesses that form the back of the filing pocket and overhand the open edges together.

Sewing On The Rings

To sew on each ring, knot the thread and insert the needle about one-half inch from the top edge of the filing pocket bringing it up on the edge about one-half inch from the corner. Holding a portion of the ring next to the edge where the needle came out, sew over and over it six or eight times. Fasten the thread by running the needle through the two thicknesses of cloth about one-half inch.