have the towels to be used in the
cooking classes hemmed, and the pupils should be interested in doing
this work. If some of them wish to hem towels for use in their own
homes, it may be desirable to allow them to do so. Flour or meal sacks
will answer. It may be well to have each pupil hem a towel for home use,
as well as for school use, in order to impress upon her the desirability
of having hemmed dish-towels for daily use. The towels may be planned
during this lesson, and the pupils may arrange to bring the material
from home, if they are to provide it; but it will be well for the
teacher to have on hand material for one or two towels. Plain paper will
answer for the practice folding of the hem in the first lesson.

METHOD OF WORK

The teacher should devote a few minutes to a talk on cleanliness,
emphasizing its importance, and the necessity for exercising care in
handling the sewing materials. This should be followed by a discussion
regarding the care of the hands and the condition in which they should
be for the sewing lesson. Each pupil should inspect her own hands and
show them to the teacher.

[Illustration: _Fig._ 2.--Gauge]

When all the pupils have their hands in a proper condition for sewing,
the teacher should look over their supplies with them, give them
suggestions as to how they are to keep these, and let them arrange their
boxes.

Next, she should tell them what their first work is to be, show them the
material for the towels, and discuss with them the best method of
finishing the ends. (See Lesson II.)

Before turning the hem, the pupils should make a gauge from heavy paper,
notched to indicate the depth of the hem. A few minutes should be
devoted to practice in measuring and turning a hem of the desired depth
on a sheet of paper. This should give practice in the double turning
necessary--first, the narrow turn to dispose of the cut edge; second,
the fold to finish the edge.

When the lesson is finished, the boxes should be put away in systematic
order, and all scraps should be carefully picked up from the desks and
the floor.

LESSON II: HEMMING TOWELS

_Turning and basting hems. Hemming towels of crash, sacking, or other
material, for use in washing and drying dishes at home or in school._

[Illustration: _Fig._ 3.--Even basting]

SUBJECT-MATTER

Basting is used to hold two pieces of material together until a
permanent stitch can be put in. It is done by taking long stitch