Mrs Bowden’s top tip – remembering the old ways

The first tip is to have a straightened edge the  on the weft line (this runs from one selvedge to the other).  This will help you avoid a garment that is twisted as it has been cut ‘off-grain’.

You can straighten the grain by tearing off a small strip – but only certain types of fabric can do this without causing additional stress and fraying.  Snip through the selved first before tearing.

You can also draw a thread from heavier fabrics by pickig up a prominent thread and pulling it out of the fabric – again a WEFT thread.  This will give you a straight line to lay the pattern pieces again or you can use it as a guide to cut the edge so you have a completly clean end to work from .

It reads “Many exercises can be incorported into the normal housework routine, thus avoiding the often spasmodic daily exercises, and helping to make the noramlly dull routine more enjoyable and stimulating.  When dusting or bedmaking stretch your arms and back muscles into gracelines lines..  When cleaning low down or lifting something, don’t bend your back in a half circle rather bend your kees gracefully.  Sweeping can be used to control your waistline by incorporating a waist rolling and stretching movement, and hanging out the washing is possibly the best exercise for arms and shoulders’.

Now you know!