“This is the rule for the length of a ruffle or a lace edging,” said Sir Bodkin and sang: “When making a ruffle Or sewing on lace, Measure once and a half ’Round the sewing on space.” [Illustration] “How shall I finish these ends?” Margaret asked when she had measured and cut a piece of lace for the collar. “Tiny Stitcher will hem them for you before you begin to gather,” said Sir Bodkin. It was no sooner said than done. “The lace for each sleeve is sewed together at the ends with a French seam,” said the King. “Oh, yes, I remember. Sew the ends together first on the right side, turn the seam, and then sew it on the wrong side so no raw edges will show, just like we did on the marble-bag,” Margaret cried. “Yes, that’s right. This makes a very neat seam,” Sir Bodkin told her. [Illustration: Gathering lace Sewing on lace] “Mark with pins, the half and quarters of each of the three lace frills. Then mark the half and quarters of the collar and sleeve edges,” Sir Bodkin said and sang this song: “Mark the half and quarters of edge and of frill, And the gathers will then the space evenly fill.” “Now fasten your gathering-thread securely on the right side at one end of the top (or straight edge) of the collar lace,” said the King. “You don’t have to gather all kinds of lace, My Lady,” he went on to say; “in some you just pull the cord in the top. Stitcher, step evenly along the top and gather the frill. Let the needle hang loose at the other end. Pin the frill half and quarters to those of the collar, right sides together.” When Margaret had done this and was ready to sew the tiny frill to the collar, Sir Bodkin finished the song: “Hold the gathers next to you When frill is sewed on, Then the ruffle will set well, And never look drawn.” “Draw up the gathering-thread to fit and wind it around a pin at the end in a figure eight. You are now ready for tiny Stitcher to overcast the lace on for you,” said the King. [Illustration: “’Tis done at last”] Tiny Stitcher fastened the thread at the right end of the collar frill top. Then over the edge he stepped and came back through dress and lace towards Margaret. She pulled the thread through and he stepped over the edge away from her and through again, always going from her right towards her left. Margaret guided him with her right hand and held the dress in her left. When the frill was sewed on all around the collar, the thread was fastened securely at the end and snipped off. The gathering-thread was also fastened and snipped. [Illustration] “Now take a gathering-thread the proper length for each sleeve frill and fasten it at the seam. Then gather each lace frill in turn and pin the half and quarters of each to those of each sleeve edge and overcast just as you did before,” said Sir Bodkin.