This section is from the book "A Manual Of Home-Making", by Martha Van Rensselaer. Also available from Amazon: A Manual of Home-Making.
Good equipment is necessary if the home worker is to turn out good work with the least drain on her own strength. In addition to the customary pieces of equipment, a floor cloth, a dress form, a sleeve form, and pressing boards are almost necessary conveniences.
A floor cloth is a large square of cloth or a sheet which may be placed on the floor under the machine to catch ravelings and cuttings. This cloth may then be folded around the base of the machine at night and opened when work is resumed, or it may be shaken.
A dress-form is almost indispensable, when good work and time are considered. This may be obtained at* a department store, or ordered directly from a manufacturer. A dress-form is bought by size, the number corresponding to ready-made garments. A form one or two sizes too small should be selected and padded out to the correct size. Only in this way is one able to make a form showing individual measurements. A tight-fitting lining must be made of some very heavy material, such as unbleached muslin or drilling, and fitted on the person. The normal armhole, neck, bust, waist and hip-line should be marked. The lining should be made to extend about 10 inches below the waist-line or to fit well down over the fullest part of the body. This lining should then be placed on the form and padded out with tissue paper, hair, or excelsior. The lining should be overhanded firmly together in the back, from the top of the collar to the bottom of the peplum. It is also desirable to make a skirt for the figure which will fit tightly around the hips.
A sleeve board and a skirt board, well padded, are very useful. It is also convenient to have a padded broom handle over which seams may be pressed without marking the remainder of the garment.
 
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