While you can buy the book online, you can also view The Mary Frances Sewing Book free, except for the patterns, at Archive.org. If you choose to read online or download the PDF, the book that opens in both looks just like our copy. So nice!
As for the patterns, if you chose to read online or the copy you buy doesn't have them, you might want to request a copy from your local library and take a peek. Or if you're handy, draft your own.
Depending on how things progress, I will probably be drafting my own patterns for 18" American Girl sized dolls. The patterns provided with the book are for 16" dolls. Miss Ariana doesn't have any that size. Either way, the good news is that we won't need them for awhile.
Down the road, we hope to hostess a weekly link up. It should be fun to see where everyone is with their sewing! Miss Ariana and I can't wait!
In the meantime, spread the word! : ) Please, tell your friends. We're on Facebook and Twitter, so that should make it easier. Until the next lesson...
xoxo,
Ariana's Mama
pssst! While I was looking, I also found digital copies of the Mary Frances Cook Book (which is actually first in the series, sewing is #2), Mary Frances Housekeeper (#3) and the Mary Frances Garden Book.
When reading the MF Cook Book, I finally found out, exactly, what milk toast is (and how to make it!) And slicing the skin on a jacket boiled potato? Who knew! Apparently Mary Frances has a few things she can teach this mama...
Oh bliss! Oh glee! I simply cannot tell you how very thrilled I am to see that those other Mary Frances books are online. Here is my brilliant brainwave... I am thinking of centering Millen's schoolwork this next year around the Mary Frances books. She is at the stage where her education needs to take a marked shift to the practical and away from the academic. I have been looking for a "spine" to structure her work for the next year and the Mary Frances books just might be it.
ReplyDeleteRidiculously excited here:-D
Diane, I think that is a fabulous idea!! I really wish I had had something like this back when I made the shift from academics to the practical in high school. They really are comprehensive.
ReplyDeleteI've pretty much read through the cookbook and the house keeping book. I learned things. I'm so pleased this will help!! : )