After the cloth is cut, transfer the marks onto the fabric before removing the pattern. Use a tracing wheel whenever possible. Use tailor’s tacks on white or pastel colors. Stay-stitch around all the bias and curved edges as soon as you remove the pattern. Remember to press as you sew. Press each seam as it is made. Pressing makes sewing easier and improves the looks of your dress. Hem your dress on the sewing machine if it has a full gathered skirt or by hand on flared or straight skirts or on plain colored fabric. Use a matching thread. How does your costume look to you? Once again, score your own and other club members’ work. Record your judging on your own work in your record book. These are the points to use in judging. _Your score_ 1. Fabric or trimming used 25 _____ Is it suitable for school or play? Will it launder? Will it wear well? 2. Workmanship 35 _____ Are they well made? Are seams, hems, finishes good choices? 3. Design and color 20 _____ Are design and color attractive? Are they right for you? 4. Condition of article 10 _____ Is it clean? Is it well pressed? 5. Value of garment 10 _____ Is there good value for the time and money spent? Total 100 _____ Tips for easier sewing Trace guide lines on fabric [Illustration: Tracing guide lines] CLOTH TRACING PAPER PATTERN It takes very little time to trace the markings for darts, seams, and buttonholes from the pattern on the fabric if dressmakers’ carbon and a tracing wheel are used. Trace the markings while the pattern is still pinned to the fabric. Place the carbon waxed side to wrong side of fabric. Both sides may be marked at the same time. Use white or light-colored paper wherever possible. Dark colors have a tendency to work through to the right side. Trace all pattern markings that are essential to making the dress—darts, notches, pleats, openings, and buttonholes. Use a ruler to trace straight lines. Make a bar at ends of darts and tucks. Use tailor’s tacks for white or pastel fabrics. Tailor’s tacks [Illustration: Using tailor’s tacks] SEAM LINE CLIP THROUGH LOOP SHORTEN ENDS Use double thread of darning cotton to make tailor’s tacks. Before taking your first stitch make a hole in the pattern with the point of your needle. Take one stitch through pattern and double thickness of fabric, then go over with another stitch, leaving loop and long end. After all marked stitches have been made, remove pattern, separate fabric carefully, and clip threads between the two layers of fabric. Stay-stitch the bias edges