Sub-subseries

Composed of technical and how-to guides, this sub-subseries documents techniques associated with sewing clothes and home decorating.

It contains the user's guide to the New Williams sewing machine, which was manufactured in the 1890s by the Williams Manufacturing Co. of Montreal. This booklet explains how to adjust the machine (oiling, setting the needle, threading, regulating the tension, etc.) and describes various sewing techniques. The document includes multiple illustrations, including one of the company's Montreal factory on the back cover.

In addition, the sub-subseries contains two guides published in the early 1940s by the Singer Sewing Machine Company. The first, entitled Décoration du foyer enseignée par Singer (Singer Home Decoration Guide, in English) focusses on making draperies and slip covers. A large section of the book is devoted to window dressings. For example, it describes how to take measurements and adjust proportions, making draperies, curtains, lambrequins and tiebacks, selecting fabric, and even the various types of rods, rings and brackets. The guide then looks at making slip covers for armchairs and sofas, following similar steps to take measurements, make a muslin pattern, arrange the elements of the print, etc. Other projects covered in the guide are dressing table skirts, bedspreads and car seat covers. Several pages are devoted to decorating closets with the help of hat boxes, garment bags and shoe bags. One page offers a series of tips for maintaining fabric furnishings. The second guide is entitled Singer Make-Over Guide - Ideas and Instructions for Renewing, Altering and Restyling Clothing and Fabric Furnishings. The author of this brochure published during the war takes a patriotic approach, promising a sense of pride and satisfaction: "Making over the old and discarded into new and useful articles is a stimulating, profitable and patriotic experience, growing in interest with each achievement." This guide covers topics like using the sewing machine to darn socks, mend tears, restore a sweater, patch a hole, restyle a blouse by changing the sleeves, refit an outmoded dress, lengthen children's clothes, and reuse fabric from an old shirt or discarded suit.

Three booklets from the Creative Handicrafts series edited by Ivan H. Crowell, Director of Handicrafts, McGill University, Macdonald College, complete the sub-subseries. One of them, entitled Canadian Handicraft Guild Loom and written by Alice Winslow-Spragge provides practical instructions illustrated with plans, drawings and photographs for constructing a loom and using it to create weaving projects. It covers various topics like choice of yarn, warping, threading and tying on, and includes patterns for wool scarves and place mats. The guide promotes handicrafts programs by noting that they can help people discover their natural talents, strengthen their family and community ties, and supplement their income. The other two booklets look at making and weaving with an inkle loom, and finger weaving, respectively.