e work of all the
classes, so that old principles may be recognized when presented in new
forms.

Courses of Work

I. Elementary Section. (1) Beginners' Class. First, a test is given each
girl when she enters which enables her instructor to judge of her
ability in sewing. It has been found necessary, in the majority of
cases, to teach all or the greater part of the following principles: the
use of sewing utensils, the making of the stitches, their application in
articles, and the running of the sewing machine. Hence the second step
has been a course of work covering the use of these needed principles,
each girl beginning at the point where she needs training. Third, the
final test. On the satisfactory completion of this very elementary
training a test is given to show a girl's ability to work, to think, and
to utilize ideas. If she is not yet fully prepared, further time is
spent in emphasizing the points she still requires.

The work in the Beginners' Class is done upon articles which have a
trade value and which are sold to customers or to the students for about
the cost of the materials. The school furnishes the materials for all
elementary work, but the students must provide their own tools and keep
them in good condition. These include a thimble, needles, scissors, a
tape measure, an emery, and a white apron.

Class instruction followed by individual criticism is the method of
teaching in the Elementary Section. Emphasis is placed upon the proper
use of the utensils, the position of the body, and the handling of the
work. Individual records are kept of the grade of work and of the time
taken to finish a problem. The course takes from two to three months to
complete, and the students are at work four and one-half hours per day.

OUTLINE OF WORK IN BEGINNERS' CLASS

1. Stitches and special forms of sewing: Basting, running,
overhanding, overcasting, hemming, blind stitching, sewing on
buttons (two hole, four hole), buttonholes, featherstitching.

2. Seams: Plain; selvage and raw edges; French; felled; straight and
bias edges; overhanded.

3. Machine stitching: Straight seams and rows; hems;
facings--points; use of tucker.

4. Principles: Measuring, seams, hems, tucks, cutting by a thread;
matching stripes; turning and basting hems; making casing for
drawstrings; putting on band--by hand, by machine--one and two
pieces; setting strings into bands; finishing