Show others what “tricks” you have learned by giving a demonstration at one of your club meetings, or ask your mother to invite your family friends to your home. It will be fun to use the placemats or show them your other projects. They will be interested in how they were made. Tell them what you did and what you learned about using your mother’s sewing machine and the sewing tools. Plan your project Your projects will be more interesting if you plan them with your mother and leader, because they can help you to understand and enjoy your new adventures in sewing. Take your mother with you to your first meeting to introduce her to your leader and your friends. This will also give her an opportunity to see the kind of projects you will be working on during this year. You will need your mother’s cooperation and advice in selecting both equipment and fabrics for the projects. She may be able to loan you some of her sewing tools too. Sharing with your mother as you work will help you learn to know each other better. Before shopping for your supplies, read your bulletin to see what supplies are needed. Plan ahead so you can do all your shopping for your articles at one time. It is not necessary for the colors of the fabrics used in these projects to match or even blend, because they are not going to be used together. But—since the articles may be exhibited together, they will look nicer if the colors look pretty when placed next to each other. Become acquainted with your sewing tools Measuring tools [Illustration: {Measuring gauges}] Measuring gauge (6 inches) Ruler (12 inches) Yardstick (36 inches or 1 yard) Measuring Tape (60 inches) Measuring tools are each marked with many short lines to help you measure fractions of an inch or inches. [Illustration: You will want to use the measuring gauge or the ruler for measuring short distances.] [Illustration: ruler] ⅛ inch ¼ inch ½ inch 1 inch If you want to measure anything longer than 12 inches, you will need to use either the measuring tape or the yardstick. [Illustration: A measuring tape will help you measure inches or feet.] 12 inches—1 foot 24 inches—2 feet 36 inches—3 feet 48 inches—4 feet 60 inches—5 feet [Illustration: The yardstick will measure inches, feet, or yards for you.] 1 yard 12 inches 24 inches 36 inches 1 foot 2 feet 3 feet [Illustration: Material is sold by the yard or fraction of yard.] Cutting tools [Illustration: Pair of Shears] [Illustration: Pair of Scissors] If your mother has several types of cutting tools in her sewing box, you have already learned that shears and scissors will cut both fabric and thread, but one is easier to use for cutting thread than the other.