[Illustration: Bolt of fabric] WASH & WEAR LITTLE or NO IRONING MACHINE WASH—DRIP DRY CREASE RESISTANT Cotton/Arnell coordinates 55% Cotton 45% Arnell Tri-Acetate WIDTH 44/5″ COLOR______ YDS._______ Good percale has the same number of threads in the warp as in the filling. The warp threads are those that run the long way of the fabric. The filling threads go back and forth across the warp threads. The filling threads are softer than the warp threads but not as strong. Examine the edge of the fabric. The edge is called selvage. It is stronger than the rest of the cloth because it has more threads in it. This may also cause it to shrink more during washing. [Illustration: Selvedge] Percales should be torn, not cut, from the bolt. This leaves a straight line or shows one thread for the entire width of the cloth. Before you buy any fabric, lay the folded cloth on the counter and examine the torn end. Are both sides even or is one side an inch or so shorter than the other? Select a piece which is reasonably even. Do not select fabric if one side is more than ½-inch shorter. Border prints make interesting skirts. Study the design on the cloth and buy enough cloth so you can match the design on the side seam. Make sure the fabric is straight. Crooked fabric will give you a curved side seam. [Illustration: I KNOW THESE FABRICS—DO YOU?] Percale may be used for all the articles you will make in this year’s project. Other fabrics that may be used are chambray, broadcloth, poplin, and novelty fabrics. Plan a shopping tour with your club before buying your fabric. After studying the different cotton fabrics, have your leader and mother help you select the fabric for your scarf, apron, or skirt. If you plan to make a double scarf, buy ½ yard additional fabric like your skirt and the same amount of a contrasting color. You will need two washcloths if you plan to make the TV slippers. Select medium weight washcloths either with or without border trim. Learn to use the sewing machine Many of you learned to use the sewing machine in Phase 1 of _It’s Fun to Sew_. You will find this section of your bulletin to be a good review. For those of you who are starting with this phase, this section will help you become acquainted with the parts of the machine and will tell you how to use it. _The needle_—Notice that it has an eye near the point instead of at the top like the one you use for hand sewing. _The presser foot_—See the two toes between which the needle passes? This is the presser foot. Find the small metal arm which raises the presser foot up and down. The metal arm is on the back of the machine. _The bobbin_—This carries the thread for the underside of the sewing. Bobbins are different shapes and sizes for different machines. Learn to place the bobbin in the machine and to remove it. Learn to wind the bobbin.