Cotton fabrics are beautiful and there are many types of fabrics made from cotton. Learn to recognize at least five: Percale, broadcloth, sail cloth, cotton satin, and terry cloth. There are many interesting novelty fabrics on the market. They have different weaves and finishes. When you visit the store see if you can find at least three novelty fabrics—embossed cotton, woven stripes, and a pattern weave. [Illustration: I KNOW THESE FABRICS—DO YOU?] New finishes New finishes make cottons more crease resistant and easier to wash and iron. But finishes sometimes make fabrics harder to sew and press. You will find a finished cotton will make a crisper looking dress and will be worth the extra work it takes to press the seams while you are making it. Labels Read the information on the label on the end of the bolt. It will tell you if the fabric is color fast, shrink resistant, crease resistant, and either hand-or-machine washable. A good cotton fabric has all these features. Examine the fabric Examine a torn end of the fabric. If the ends and designs are uneven, look for another piece of fabric. An uneven fabric with a finish cannot be straightened and you will not be able to cut your dress on the straight of the grain. Crush the fabric in your hand. Select one that is soft and difficult to wrinkle. Tours Plan a shopping tour with your club. Take your mother with you so she can help you select fabrics for your projects. Select all the fabrics you need for your project at one time. Choose colors and fabrics that look good together. Remember that you will be wearing your blouse with your skirt so they must look well together. The bag or scarf you make must also harmonize with your skirt and blouse or your other clothes. Also think about the time you will finish your dress and select a style and color that will be pretty then. Shopping is fun Before you go shopping, make a list of all the things you will need to buy for your project—equipment, fabrics, thread. If you did not have a tracing wheel and paper last year, you may need them this year. Make it a habit to buy everything you need in one trip to the store. _Fabrics for_— _Check what you need_