From the tip of her nose to the end of her arm, Sir Bodkin said was the proper length. When Margaret had measured the basting-thread she cut it from the spool with her scissors. [Illustration: Threading needle] “Thread with the end that leaves the spool last,” the King told her, “then it will not snarl and knot so.” Margaret held the cut end between her left forefinger and thumb and twisted it into a point with her right forefinger and thumb. Then she took Baster in her right fingers and put the thread through his big eye. Pulling it through about one-third she made a knot in the other end by twisting it around her left thumb and forefinger. “Now he’s harnessed and ready to begin,” said Sir Bodkin. He told Margaret to put her silver thimble on the middle-finger of her right hand and push Baster, while her thumb and forefinger held him round the waist. Baster then hopped on the seam one-half inch from the edge. He took quick long steps singing: “Ha, ha, ho, ho, I’m gay and free, Basting is the sport for me. With skip and slide I hurry on, My work is short, just like my song.” [Illustration: Basting] Both seams of the simple dress were soon basted. “Now, Runner,” said Sir Bodkin, as Baster slid back to his place on the table. Margaret harnessed Runner, a medium-sized One-Eyed Fairy with a small eye, using number 60 thread, the proper length and the same color as the dress, but no knot this time. Runner took tiny running steps right in Baster’s tracks. But before she began to run she took three back steps, where the seam began, to fasten the thread. She sang: “I run along, neat and fast, And sew the seam so it will last. In and out the thread goes, too, The fastening holds it firm and true! Now take three back steps at the end So it will not rip out, my friend.” [Illustration: Running] First one seam then the other was stitched, after which Margaret snipped the thread and Runner danced back to her place on the table. All the One-Eyed Fairies stood in a stiff line. “You must be tired standing so long,” said Margaret. “We are,” said their King. “It would be pleasant if we had a pincushion to rest ourselves in.” [Illustration] “The very thing!” cried Margaret. “I’ll get the pretty tomato pincushion Mother gave me the other day for my work-basket.” She ran eagerly out of the room and soon returned with a pincushion in her hand that looked just like a red ripe tomato. “Now you can rest,” she said placing it on the table. In a jiffy all the tired little One-Eyed Fairy Stitchers had stuck their sharp little toes down deep into the tomato pincushion. Then they stood up very straight, harnessed, ready and waiting until their turns came to help.