es
(one-fourth inch) from right to left and parallel to the edges that are
to be basted together. In starting, the thread is fastened with a knot;
when completed, it is fastened by taking two or three stitches one over
the other.

PRELIMINARY PLAN

The teacher should have the necessary materials on hand or should see
that they are supplied by the pupils. The articles needed will include
material for the towels, white thread for basting and hemming, and
gauges for measuring.

The teacher should also have a large square of unbleached cotton or
canvas, 18 by 18 inches, and a large darning-needle and coloured worsted
thread, to use for demonstration purposes. The canvas should be fastened
to the black-board, where the class can see it easily.

METHOD OF WORK

As soon as the class is called, the supplies are at hand, and the hands
are in a proper condition, the teacher should demonstrate the
basting-stitch, with a large needle and thread, on the square of canvas
that has been fastened on the wall. Materials for work should be passed.
Each pupil should straighten the ends of her towel by drawing a thread.
Then she should turn and baste a hem three eighths of an inch in depth.

At the close of the lesson, the pupils should fold their work carefully
and put it neatly in their boxes.

LESSON III: HEMMING TOWELS--Continued

_The overhanding stitch and the hemming stitch._

SUBJECT-MATTER

_Overhanding_ (also called overseaming or top sewing).--The edges to be
overhanded are held between the first finger and the thumb of the left
hand, with the edge parallel to the first finger. The needle is inserted
just below and perpendicular to the edge. The needle is pointed straight
toward the worker. The stitches proceed from right to left, each stitch
being taken a little to the left of the preceding stitch. The stitches
should all be straight on the right side, but they will slant a little
on the wrong side. They should not be deep. It may be desirable to use
this overhanding stitch at the ends of hems, to hold the edges of the
material together. The overhanding stitch is also used for seams, for
patching, and for sewing on lace.

[Illustration: _Fig._ 4.--Overhanding]

The overhanding of narrow hems is not always necessary, but the ends may
be made stronger thereby, and the stitch is a valuable one for the
pupils to know.

[Illustration: _Fig._ 5.--Hemming]

_Hemming._--The hemming-stitch is placed on the