Tips and tricks
Handicraft for handy girls
HANDICRAFT FOR HANDY GIRLS
Practical Plans for Work and Play
BY A. NEELY HALL AND DOROTHY PERKINS
BOSTON, LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO., 1916
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Handicraft for handy girls
INTRODUCTORY NOTES
Not long after the publication of "The Boy Craftsman," there came to the author the suggestion that girls ought to have a book just like it upon girls' handicraft; after "Handicraft for Handy Boys" was published, requests for such a book came regularly; after the third volume, 'The Handy Boy," made its appearance, requests came more frequently and were more insistent; some, in fact, were in the nature of demands. Accordingly, when work was begun upon the fourth volume, it was decided to let the girls have a share in it, and "Home-made Toys for Girls and Boys" was prepared with as many ideas for girls as for boys.
Now, of course, the author knew that girls are interested in handicraft other than toy-making, that their interests cover almost, if not quite as broad a field of endeavor as boys' do, so he was not surprised to find that "Home-made Toys for Girls and Boys" whetted the girls' appetites for a book of material of a more general nature, nor was he surprised to find that girls wanted a book all of their own, in which boys had no share whatsoever. If excuse is necessary, this then is the reason for presenting "Handicraft for Handy Girls."
In collaboration with an expert craftswoman, a worker with girls, a writer upon fine arts, the author of the boys' handicraft books has endeavored to produce in "Handicraft for Handy Girls" a volume which will be as broad in scope, as up to the minute in subject matter, and as practical in every detail, as any of his other books. In fact, it has been his aim to make "Handicraft for Handy Girls" a volume that will be such a source of enjoyment to every girl that it will become as constant a companion as her most devoted chum, a volume that she will refer to when she wants ideas for fixing up her room, ideas for holiday and birthday gift-making, ideas for parties and entertainments, instruction in fine arts, garden hints, money-earning plans, camping suggestions, or when she wants simply a good rainy-day or sunny-day pastime for a leisure hour or so.
It used to be the general belief that it was next to impossible for the average girl to drive a nail straight, carpentry for girls was not to be thought of. Now, it is being demonstrated every day that a girl can become as proficient in the use of a hammer as a boy can. In fact, many girls are studying manual-training at school. And why not? If a girl wants something pretty for her room, or wants a household convenience of some sort, why is it not perfectly feasible for her to put her ideas into tangible form? She can, once she secures confidence in herself, and the only way to gain confidence of course, is for her to go ahead and produce an article in wood, and through producing prove her ability.
The carpentry in "Handicraft for Handy Girls" is of the simplest possible order, and requires few tools. A saw, a hammer, a screw-driver, and a plane, will perform most of the operations, and a plane is not always necessary. Many of the articles, such, for example, as the Cretonne-Covered Carpentry in Chapter 7, can be built with simply a saw and a hammer, because with a neatly put on covering of cretonne, little does it matter whether the box boards or other boards used have rough surfaces or smooth, they will be concealed. If assistance is needed in building a work-bench, in putting up the stick framework of the Brush-Hut in Chapter 38, or in other work, a girl usually has enough influence with father or brother to get a helping hand when occasion arises.
Following the plan of the boys' handy books, "Handicraft for Handy Girls" has been prepared with the purpose uppermost in mind to encourage the utilization of materials to be found at home, especially those which are ordinarily classed as waste. Through making use of pick-up materials, a girl will learn to be thrifty and resourceful; she will discover that it is not always necessary to spend money to make things that are worth money; and with such lessons in economy practised, the training should be invaluable. And the book should bring relief to parents who have had the experience that the average pastime in which their daughters become interested causes a drain upon the home purse, without being of value aside from providing a means of entertainment.
A. N. H.
Now, of course, the author knew that girls are interested in handicraft other than toy-making, that their interests cover almost, if not quite as broad a field of endeavor as boys' do, so he was not surprised to find that "Home-made Toys for Girls and Boys" whetted the girls' appetites for a book of material of a more general nature, nor was he surprised to find that girls wanted a book all of their own, in which boys had no share whatsoever. If excuse is necessary, this then is the reason for presenting "Handicraft for Handy Girls."
In collaboration with an expert craftswoman, a worker with girls, a writer upon fine arts, the author of the boys' handicraft books has endeavored to produce in "Handicraft for Handy Girls" a volume which will be as broad in scope, as up to the minute in subject matter, and as practical in every detail, as any of his other books. In fact, it has been his aim to make "Handicraft for Handy Girls" a volume that will be such a source of enjoyment to every girl that it will become as constant a companion as her most devoted chum, a volume that she will refer to when she wants ideas for fixing up her room, ideas for holiday and birthday gift-making, ideas for parties and entertainments, instruction in fine arts, garden hints, money-earning plans, camping suggestions, or when she wants simply a good rainy-day or sunny-day pastime for a leisure hour or so.
It used to be the general belief that it was next to impossible for the average girl to drive a nail straight, carpentry for girls was not to be thought of. Now, it is being demonstrated every day that a girl can become as proficient in the use of a hammer as a boy can. In fact, many girls are studying manual-training at school. And why not? If a girl wants something pretty for her room, or wants a household convenience of some sort, why is it not perfectly feasible for her to put her ideas into tangible form? She can, once she secures confidence in herself, and the only way to gain confidence of course, is for her to go ahead and produce an article in wood, and through producing prove her ability.
The carpentry in "Handicraft for Handy Girls" is of the simplest possible order, and requires few tools. A saw, a hammer, a screw-driver, and a plane, will perform most of the operations, and a plane is not always necessary. Many of the articles, such, for example, as the Cretonne-Covered Carpentry in Chapter 7, can be built with simply a saw and a hammer, because with a neatly put on covering of cretonne, little does it matter whether the box boards or other boards used have rough surfaces or smooth, they will be concealed. If assistance is needed in building a work-bench, in putting up the stick framework of the Brush-Hut in Chapter 38, or in other work, a girl usually has enough influence with father or brother to get a helping hand when occasion arises.
Following the plan of the boys' handy books, "Handicraft for Handy Girls" has been prepared with the purpose uppermost in mind to encourage the utilization of materials to be found at home, especially those which are ordinarily classed as waste. Through making use of pick-up materials, a girl will learn to be thrifty and resourceful; she will discover that it is not always necessary to spend money to make things that are worth money; and with such lessons in economy practised, the training should be invaluable. And the book should bring relief to parents who have had the experience that the average pastime in which their daughters become interested causes a drain upon the home purse, without being of value aside from providing a means of entertainment.
A. N. H.
CONTENTS
AUTUMN AND WINTER HANDICRAFT
CHAPTER I
Carpentry That a Girl Can Do
Driving Nails - Use a Hammer that is not too Heavy - Pointers about Nailing - Sizes of Nails to Use - When Driving Nails into Thin Wood - Holes should be Started in Hard Wood - To Support Short Nails - When a Nail Bends - Withdrawing a Nail - Right and Wrong Nailing - Clinching Nails - Toe- Nailing - Blind-Nailing - Driving Screws - To Withdraw a Rusted Screw - Sawing - The Principal Tools that a Girl will Use - Cutting Large Holes - Cutting Slots - You must have a Work-Bench- A Table Work-Bench - An Improvised Vise - A Bench-Stop - A Packing-Box Work-Bench - The Bench- Vise - Ways to Improve the Work-Bench - A Bench with an Iron Vise - The Bench-Vise - Fastening the Bench to the Floor - An Excellent Tool-Cabinet - A Good Rack for Bits and Chisels - An Excellent Nail-Box - To Divide a Board into a Number of Equal Parts - Gauging with a Rule and Pencil - When Marking out Work.
CHAPTER II
Small Gifts Made of Wood
Materials - Methods of Finishing - A Thermometer-Board - A Key-Board - A Spool-Holder - A Spool-Rack - A Simpler Spool-Rack - A Paper-Spindle.
CHAPTER III
Household Gifts
A Tool-Rack - A Bottle-Rack - A Milk-Card Rack - A Handy Safety-Match Holder - A Scrub-Pail Platform - A Flat-iron Rest - A Winter Window Refrigerator - Finishing.
CHAPTER IV
Spool Gifts
Materials Required - A Candle-Stick - Finishing - A Desk Calendar - A Stationery-Rack - A Pen-Rack - A Desk Blotter - A Paper-Knife - A Paper-Spindle - A Toothpick Holder - A Ripper - A Hatpin-Holder - A Necktie-Rack.
CHAPTER V
Gifts Made of Paper and Cardboard
Inexpensive Materials - If you Want to Earn Pocket-Money - A Football Calendar - A Blotter-Pad - A Japanese Pin-Cushion - A Heart-Shaped Needle- Book - A Book-Marker - A Comer Book-Marker - A Pin-Case - A Black-Cat Match-Scratcher -
Candle-Sticks - A Simple Candle-Stick - Another Design for a Candle-Stick - A Candle-Stick with a Shade - A Candle Shade - Decorating the Cardboard - A Desk Calendar - A Perpetual Calendar - Another Form of Perpetual Calendar - A Recipe Cabinet - Indexed Guide-Cards.
CHAPTER VI
Cretonne Gifts
A Pair of Book-Ends - For the Covering - A Twine-Holder - A Hanging Work-Box - A Dainty Telephone-Book - A Music- Case - A Dresser Set - A Hatpin-Holder - A Pin-Cushion - A Hanging Pin-Cushion - A Glove-Box - A Brush-and-Comb Tray - A Dainty Trinket Chest - A Home Utility-Box - A Twine- Box.
CHAPTER VII
CRETONNE-COVERED CARPENTRY
A Fancywork Box - Covering - A Cloth Pocket and Elastic Tapes - A Spool- Rack - A Fancywork-Box with Legs - Putting on the Cretonne - A More Elaborate Fancywork-Box - Putting on the Cretonne - A Portable Writing- Desk - A Rack for Stationery - Pen and Pencil Racks - An Ink- Bottle Pocket - The Drop-Leaf - A Handle for Carrying - A Waste-Basket - The Outside Cretonne Covering - A Shirt-Waist Box - Covering the Box - Handles and Castors - A Shoe-Blacking Case - An Attractive Footstool - Covering the Case - A Set of Book-Shelves -
How the Spools are Strung - Covering with Cretonne - A Bolster-Roll - Covering the Framework.
CHAPTER VIII
Home-Made Frames for Small Pictures
A Frame Made from a Candy- Box Cover - A Frame Made from a Pill-Box - A Double Cardboard Frame - A Cretonne-Covered Frame - A Unique Glass Frame - Other Ideas for Home-made Frames.
CHAPTER IX
Basket Making
Prairie-Grass Baskets - To Prepare the Grass Rope - To Begin the Basket - Making the Handle - Other Forms of Grass Baskets - A Basket with a Forked Handle - A Raffia Basket - The Handles - Another Raffia Basket - A Hat-Braid and Reed Basket - Making Things of Paper Rope - Cardboard Boxes for Foundations - Strands of Paper Rope - To Prepare the Rope Strands - A Paper- Rope Serving-Tray - Putting on the Paper-Rope Covering - The Inside of the Tray Bottom - The Wire Handles - A Paper- Rope Jewel- Box - A Paper- Rope Basket - The Same Basket with a Different Handle - A Pretty Hanging- Basket - A Woven Paper- Rope Basket - Shellacking the Paper- Rope Baskets.
CHAPTER X
Corn-Starch Jewelry
Materials - To Color the Materials - Mixing the Corn-Starch with Water - Fancy Hatpins - A Bracelet - A Watch-fob - A Pendant - A Lavalliere.
CHAPTER XI
Home-Made Pottery
Modeling Clay - A Board to Work Upon - A Jar - A Candle Stick - A Cardboard "Templet" - A Candle-Stick with a Handle - The Handle - A Bowl - Three Other Shapes of Bowls - A Jug - Two Vases - A Table Lamp - Ornamenting Pottery -
Glazing and Firing - Waterproofing Pottery - Keeping Unfinished Pottery.
CHAPTER XII
Home China-Painting
China Painting Easy to Learn at Home - Conventional China Decoration - The Equipment Necessary for Painting - China Firing - A Beginner's Course in China- Painting - A Bud-Holder and its Decoration - Copying the Design - To Divide the Circumference - A Careful Tracing - Transfering the Design - The Outline Correctly Transferred - Trace the Design upon the Other Divisions - Rubbing the Lines with Emery- Paper - Out- lining - Ready for the First Firing - Mixing the Colors - Painting - A Plate - Using the Brass Gauge - Laying out the Design - Putting on Gold - Burnishing the Gold - Tinting - Patting the Tint - Wiping - Painting the Flowers and Leaves - A Vase - Colors to Use - A Small Bowl - A Bowl with Feet - A Cup and Saucer - Adapting Designs.
CHAPTER XIII
How TO Copy Pictures
A Glass Reflecting-Frame - To Make a Copy of a Picture - Enlarging and Reducing by Squares
CHAPTER XIV
Home-Made Rubber-Stamps
Flat Pieces of Rubber are Needed - Material Required in Addition to the Rubber - A "Letter" Rubber-Stamp - Carving out the Letter - Making a Proof of the Letter - To Complete the Rubber-Stamp - A "Word" Rubber-Stamp - Picture Rubber-Stamps - "Mule" Rubber-Stamps - Rubber-Stamp Holders - A "Little Girl" Rubber-Stamps - Other Sets of Rubber-Stamps.
CHAPTER XV
Scrap-Books, Book-Jackets and Other Ideas
Home- Made Scrap- Books - The Covers - The Scrap- Book Leaves - Preparing the Front Cover - The Back Cover - Punching the Leaves - Indexing the Pages - Lacing Together the Covers and Leaves - Finishing the Covers - A Scrap- Book Made Like a Letter-File - Book- Jackets - Paper Jackets - Cloth Jackets Lettering the Book Title - A Canvas Jacket - Cloth Pencil-Cases - Another Style of Case - A Pen- Wiper - A Drawing-Instrument Protector.
CHAPTER XVI
A Hat-Box Doll Apartment
The Hat-Box - How to Prepare the Box - Reinforcing the Comer - The Dining- Room - The Bedroom - The Living- Room - Locating and Marking out Doors and Windows - The Dining- Room Woodwork - A Wainscoting - A Buffet - The Bedroom
Walls - A Picture-Molding - Pictures - Curtains - The Living- Room Walls - Doll Furniture - Chairs - A Living- Room Table - A Dining-Room Table - A Bedroom Table - A Four-Poster Bed - Rugs.
CHAPTER XVII
Cardboard-Box Doll Furniture 1
A Doll- Bed - A Table - A Table of More Elaborate Design - An Arm-Chair - A Straight-Back Chair.
CHAPTER XVIII
A Dancing Doll
The Materials - Preparing the Parts of the Doll - Assembling the Parts - The Standard - Dressing the Doll - Making the Doll Dance - A Doll's Dancing Party.
CHAPTER XIX
Toy Whirligigs 1
A Paddle Whirligig - To Operate the Toy - A Speeding Auto- mobile - A Buzz-Saw Whirligig - A Magic Pinwheel Whirligig.
CHAPTER XX
A Postcard Colorscope
The Colorscope Case - The Holder for Postcards - The Color Screen - Mounting the Color Screen Disk - Operating the Color- scope.
CHAPTER XXI
A Home Moving-Picture Show
The Support for the Picture Screen - Picture-Rollers - Picture Strips - Selection of Pictures - To Complete the Picture Theater - Reeling the Pictures from One Roller onto the Other.
CHAPTER XXII
A Home-Made Telephone
Not the Kind of Telephone the Boys Make - The Telephone Instruments - Preparing them out of Tin Cans - The Telephone Wire - An Excellent Telephone Booth - Making it Like a Real Telephone Booth.
CHAPTER XXIII
Fun for Halloween
An Invitation - Jack Pumpkinhead - The Pumpkin Jack- O'Lantern Head - The Framework - Jack's Blouse - Buttons - A Pleated Collar - A Staff - A Ghost - The Head - The Body Framework - The Ghost's Gown - The Hood - A Witch - A
Witch to Tell Fortunes - A Witch's Wigwam - A Make-Believe- Fire - A Moonlight Effect - A Witch's Caldron - A Witch's Cavern - Stunts for the Evening's Entertainment - Fortune-Telling - Another Idea for Fortune-Telling - Other Ways of Telling Fortunes - The Twirling Pumpkin - Ghost-Story Telling - Pinning the Tail upon the Witch's Cat - The Tails - A Doughnut-Eating Contest - Choosing Partners for Supper - Invisible Ink - Table Favors.
CHAPTER XXIV
A Handicraft Booth for a Fair
A New Idea for a Class of Girls - How to Construct the Booth - The Counter Boards - The Canopy Framework - Covering the Framework - Cardboard Lanterns - Covering the Counter.
CHAPTER XXV
A Japanese Garden
The Bake-Pan Foundation - A Number of Arrangements - A Good Plan - A Pond - Planting the Japanese Grass-Seed - A Japanese House - A Japanese Bridge - Lamps - A Bird-House - Ducks - Other Garden Accessories.
CHAPTER XXVI
Holiday Table Decoration
A Pilgrim's Homestead - The Cabin - The Cabin Walls - Door and Window Openings - Laying up the Wall Logs - The Stick Chimney - The Roof - A Foundation for the Homestead - A Pond - Planting the Trees - A Rail Fence - Adding a Wintry Effect to the Scene - The Pilgrim Father - A Santa Claus Castle - The Mountain - The Lower Portion of the Castle - The Lower Tower - The Upper Tower - Windows - A Flag- Pole - The Mountain-side - A Snow Effect - A Trail - Making the Snow Sparkle - Trees - Santa Claus' Aeroplane - A Pattern for Santa Claus - An Orange Basket - A Water Lily - A Cinnamon Bear - A Hound - A Turtle - Candy Jim - Baskets for Candy Dainties - An Eight-Comer Basket - A Heart-Shaped Basket - A Basket with Pinched Comers.
CHAPTER XXVII
Home-Made Ornaments for the Christmas-Tree.
A Base for the Tree - Material Required - Pocket to Receive the End of the Tree - Another Pocket - Slanting the Sides - Covering the Base - A Spear Ornament - A Star Ornament - Ornamental Chains - Popcorn Strung on Thread - Strings of Bits of Colored Paper on Thread - Strings of Cranberries and Glass Beads - A Rubber-Ball Ornament - An Egg-Shell Ornament - A Home-Made Candle-Holder - Santa Claus Dolls - An Airship Ornament - Tarlatan Stockings - Cornicopias - Goblins.
PART II
SPRINO AND SUMMER HANDICRAFT
CHAPTER XXVIII
Home-made Bird-houses
Bird-House Building Campaigns - What you Can Do for the Birds - The American Bird-House League - Houses that Attract Tenants - The Right Dimensions to Use - A Chart of Correct Dimensions - Materials for Bird-House Building - A Bird
Temple - A Box Bird-House - Another Box Bird-House - A Bird Tower - A Tin-Can Bird Tower - A Bird Castle - A Bird Ark - A Wall Bracket Bird Ark - A House and Swing - A Hanging House - A Shelter - A Bird Bath - Miscellaneous Notes -
Where to Set Tin-Can Bird-Houses - Preventing Drafts - Ventilation - Water-tight Roofs - Finishing - Protection for Houses.
CHAPTER XXIX
Garden Handicraft
Miniature Greenhouses - A Greenhouse with a Lean-to Roof - A Greenhouse with a Gable Roof - A Cake-Tin to Catch Drippings - Painting - Filling - Planting Seeds - Garden Ideas - A Dibble - Protection of Transplantings - A Paper-Funnel Shield - A Flower-Pot [Shield - A Basket Shield - Garden Markers - A Small Sprinkler - An Umbrella Bower - A Barrel-hoop Bower - Putting up Strings for Vines - A Trellis - A More Elaborate Trellis - A Sweet Peas Trellis - A Weeding Stool - A Weed Receptacle – A Set of Garden Steps.
CHAPTER XXX
Hanging-Baskets and Flower-Boxes
A Tin-Funnel Basket - Painting the Tin - A Colander Basket - A Rustic Basket - An Egg-Basket Flower Basket - A Flower- Pot Basket - A Two-Pot Basket - A Box Basket - Another Box Basket - A Rustic Basket - A Window Flower- Box – A Window or Porch Balustrade Box - A Comer Box for a Porch Railing - A Plant-Box - Painting Flower-Boxes.
CHAPTER XXXI
May-Baskets
Distributing May- Baskets - A Cornucopia Basket - A Basket Made of a Writing-Paper Box - A Hooded Basket - A Cylindrical Holder - Filling May-Baskets.
CHAPTER XXXII
A Vacation Record-book
Vacation Notes - A Loose-Leaf Record-Book - The Loose Leaves - A Shoe-String Lacing - Making a Diary of the First Part! - Field Notes - Spatterwork Leaf Records - How to Make a Spatterwork Picture - Leaf Impressions - Making Impressions - Impressions of Flowers - Impressions in Color - Lettering the
Names - A Record of Bird-House Tenants - A Wild-Bird Record - A Bird Chart.
CHAPTER XXXIII
A Herbarium
Gathering Wild Flowers - A Letter-File for Specimens - A Press - Material for Placing Specimens between for Pressing - Transferring Specimens to the Herbarium Sheets - Filing Specimens - Index Tabs.
CHAPTER XXXIV
Camp Fire Girls Camp Craft
The Camp Fire Girls Organization - The Law of the Council Fire - The Watchword - To Become a Camp Fire Girl - Wood Gatherer - Fire Maker - The Seven Crafts of Camp Fire - Torch Bearer - Blue Birds - Guardian of the Fire - Hiking and
Camping - Light- Weight Clothing - Keeping the Feet in Good Condition - A Home-Made Knapsack - Material - Duffle Bags - Knife-Sheaths - Packing the Knapsack - Losing One's Way - Blazing a Trail - A Wrist- Watch as a Compass - The Stars as Guides - How to Fold a Paper Cup - Making an "A" Tent - The Ridge-Pole and Uprights - Tent-Stakes - Where to Pitch the Tent - A Tent Ground-Cloth - A Pine-Bough Mattress - A Sleeping- Bag - A Wall-Tent - An Open Fire - A Backwoods- man's Fireplace - Pot-Hooks - A Camp-fire Crane - A Sheet iron Camp Stove - A Camp Fireless-Cooker - A Wash-Shelf - A Camp Broom - A Camp Shovel - A Camp Candlestick - A Mosquito Head-Net.
CHAPTER XXXV
Knots and Hitches
The Importance of Knowing How to Tie Knots - The Three Parts of a Rope - The Overhand Knot - The Square Knot - The Granny Knot - The Figure Eight Knot - The Fisherman's Knot - The Bowline - The Sheet Bend - The Blackwall Hitch - The Catspaw - The Half-Hitch - The Timber Hitch - The Timber Hitch and Half-Hitch - The Clove Hitch - The Marling Hitch - The Sheepshank.
CHAPTER XXXVI
A Home-Made American Flag
The Pride One Takes in One's Home-made Flag - Standardized Proportions - Red, White and Blue Bunting - The Seams between the Stripes - Joining the Blue Field - Canvas Binding for the Staff Edge - Grommets - Cutting the Stars - A Pattern for the Five-Pointed Stars - Sewing the Stars in Place - The Flag-Pole
- Fastening the Pole to a Window-Sill - Stays.
CHAPTER XXXVII
Play Stores
Playing Store - An Attractive Lemonade-Stand - How to Build the Stand - The Umbrella Top - Decorating the Top - Covering the Counter - Neatness - A Play Store - A Board Counter - The Canopy - The Canopy Covering - Enclosing the Front and Ends - A Set of Scale-Balances - Weighing-Tray - Weights.
CHAPTER XXXVIII
Play-Houses
An Umbrella Play-Tent - Attaching the Umbrella-Handle to a Chair-Back - Twine Braces - The Cloth Covering - A Cup-board - Tepees for an Indian Encampment - The Tepee Frame-work - Paper Poles - A Kettle Tripod - A Kettle - The Make- Believe Camp Fire - Other Things which can be Built with Paper Tubes - A Brush-Hut - The Framework - To Begin the Frame-work - The Door-Frame - Window-Frames - The Framework Strings - Covering Material - The Weaving - The Roof Covering - Stuffing up Openings.
CHAPTER XXXIX
Berry-Box and Basket Toys
The Working Materials - A Cradle - A Table - A Chair - A Dresser - A Swinging Seat - A Sofa - Another Style of Chair - A Footstool - A Rocker - Another Style of Table - A Wagon - A Doll Carriage - A Swing - The Swing Seat.
CHAPTER XL
A Fly-trap
A Fly-Exterminating Campaign - An Excellent Trap - The Outer Cage - The Inner Conical Cage - How to Fit the Inner Cage Inside the Outer Cage - A Bait Tray - Baiting the Trap.
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