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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 13, Issue 6 (September 1, 1938)

Old Washing Frocks. — To Discard or —?

Old Washing Frocks.
To Discard or —?

Hopefully you turn out, from the back of a wardrobe or the bottom of a box, those prints and linens and voiles which were so fresh and dainty last summer, or the summer before, or even the summer before that. Perhaps two or three of the more recent will pass your critical inspection and face the new season, crisply pretending to belong to 1938.

But the rest? Ginghams, linens, piqué voiles, won't wear out. If only one could manage to tear them or spill ink on them at the end of a season, and thus have an excuse for discarding them! Sighing, you'll probably use them for house-frocks, coveting meanwhile the dainty new styles in house-coats, tub frocks and play suits.

About the House.

With the cost of cottons so low (by the yard or made up) don't be a martyr to old frocks. Salve your conscience by turning them into aprons. Buy a paper pattern which will include several styles in one packet, get out the sewing machine and enjoy your self. The light fabrics, edged with frills of self-material or of lace, will make dainty aprons you will be proud to use when guests are present. Prints and ginghams are for morning wear, but by the time you have added bands and pipings of a plain colour, or organdie frilling bought by the yard, or rows of rickrack braid, you will want to wear them all day.

In the Garden.

Now the linens—the old green dress and the brown suit. How about turning them into gardening overalls with large, handy pockets? Trim them with each other, with several bright colours of bias binding, or with rickrack. If any pieces are left over, use them for bands for trimming print aprons. Use several bands, e.g., green (2 inches), brown (3 inches), green (4 inches).

A friend of mine turned a printed linen dress into curtains for a small landing window, and a red dress into garden cushion covers!

Hanging Out the Clothes.

You've always refused to wear “dust caps” in the house, but on washing days you wear an old hat as you deal with pegs and clothes props in the sunny garden. Wear a head-kerchief instead—just a hemmed square cut from a discarded print or linen. It will protect your wave against steam and the caprices of the wind, and, incidentally, will look attractive when a friend pops in, or your husband arrives home for lunch.

You'll probably overcome your prejudice against dust-caps, and wear your head-kerchief during household cleaning operations.

page 58

Kitchen and Kitchenmaid.

The things that set the tone of the kitchen are the curtains and the cook. A delightful new idea is to have your kitchen smock made of the same material as the curtaining. Think of it when you're planning new curtains, and buy a few extra yards for yourself.

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