The stretcheth out her hand to the Poor. The by both well to the ways of her Houschild. Frov: 32 Ch 31 Fram spe.e to the Work Woman Guide Pub by Sumpkin, Marshall & C 331486 THE WORK WOMAN'S GUIDE, CONTAINING INSTRUCTIONS TO THE INEXPERIENCED IN CUTTING OUT AND COMPLETING THOSE ARTICLES OF WEARING APPAREL, &c., WHICH ARE USUALLY MADE AT HOME; ALSO, EXPLANATIONS ON UPHOLSTERY, STRAW-PLATTING, BONNET-MAKING, KNITTING, &c. BY A LADY. " METHOD SHORTENS LABOUR." SECOND EDITION, REVISED AND CORRECTED. LONDON: SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, AND CO., STATIONERS' HALL COURT: THOMAS EVANS, COLMORE ROW, BIRMINGHAM. 1840. PREFACE. "But to know That which before us lies in daily life; Is the prime wisdom." MILTON. THE Author of the following pages has been encouraged to hope, that, in placing them, after much deliberation, in the hands of a printer, she is tendering an important and acceptable, however humble, service to persons of her own sex, who, in any condition of life, are engaged, by duty or inclination, in cutting out wearing apparel in a family, or for their poorer neighbours. She trusts, in particular, that Clergymen's Wives, Young Married Women, School-mistresses, and Ladies' Maids may find, in the " Workwoman's Guide," a fast and serviceable friend. The patterns, which comprise all the necessary parts of clothing in great variety, to suit both rich and poor, have been some years in collecting, and are given as the most generally approved shape and sizes in present use. Economy and neatness of appearance have been equally consulted in choosing them, and all have been successfully tried. In selecting and arranging the Infant's wardrobe, the comfort of the little wearers and ease of dressing, have been accurately studied. Interested by the feelings of a Mother in this division of her book, the Author has worked at it with especial zeal and assiduity, and submits it with particular confidence. To assist the unpractised in understanding the written descriptions, almost every pattern is likewise drawn twice (see Plates), so as not only to represent its appearance when cut out, but also when made up. The difficulty of describing irregular and complicated shapes has been obviated by enclosing each in a square, marked with a scale of nails; by which means, even sleeves, collars, capes, and bonnets can be cut out with unfailing precision. In a charity school, for which the Author was much interested, and for the use of which, A |