Measure from the selvage to this line, making sure the distance is equal at all points. Pin at each end of mark as measurements are made. Now pin around the edge of your pattern. Place the pins at right angles to the edge. Have your leader check the pattern on your cloth before you cut. Use long sharp shears. Take long strokes to give an even edge. Cut close to the pattern. [Illustration: Cutting pattern] Cut notches out, not into your seam allowance. Before you remove the pattern, mark all darts, tucks, seams, buttons, and buttonholes. Ask your leader to show you how to make tailor’s tacks or how to use dressmakers’ tracing paper. Use the lightest-colored paper that will show on your cloth. Page 13 tells you more about guide lines. Check your machine Before you start to sew, check the machine stitch. Your seams will not hold if the stitch is not perfect. Try your machine stitch on a double piece of cloth. Stitch on the bias and the straight. Does the stitch look the same on both sides? If not, have your leader adjust the tension while you watch to see how she does it. For a review of what you learned about the sewing machine in your other projects, practice sewing on a sample of your fabric until you get the feel of the machine. When you can run the machine smoothly, make one of the following articles for practice—scarf, draw-string bag, apron, or swimming robe. Cloth guide A cloth guide on your machine will aid in making the stitching straight. Place a strip of colored scotch tape on the machine ⅝ inch, or the width desired, from the needle if a gauge is not available. Keep the edge of the cloth along the inside of the tape or guide as you sew. Watch the edge of the tape not the machine needle. The pressure foot is a good gauge for edge stitching. It is easy to stitch close to the edge of a hem if you let the edge of the cloth follow the inside of the presser foot. A ⅛ inch seam can be made by letting the edge follow the outside of the presser foot. Practice on an easy-to-make article Draw-string bag [Illustration: Draw-string bag] You may make a draw-string bag to review what you learned last year. This may be any size. It can be used for your sewing, swimming suit, as a hand bag, or for many other purposes. Materials needed _Fabric_: Percale, sail cloth, denim, terry cloth, or towel. If you use a towel, select one approximately 14 x 23 or 18 x 28. _Lining_: Plastic bag. _Cording_: Cotton or nylon cording. Make your bag First decide how long and how wide you would like to have your bag. Make it just large enough for the purpose you plan to use it for. Don’t make it too large. Follow these suggestions 1. Pull threads to straighten material and cut on these lines.