How to Make Drawers

Irish National School Manual of Needlework, 1887

This pattern for drawers will require two and three eighths yards of calico thirty-four inches wide.

(a.) To cut the Drawers.

1. Cut off one-eighth for waist-band.

2. Take the half of the remaining length, and fold it over from the centre of the width, so that the two selvages shall be even, one exactly over the other.

3. At the bottom mark a point twelve inches from the centre crease.

4. Mark on the selvage twenty-one inches from the bottom.

5. At the top mark on the crease a point two and a half inches from the waist.

6. Mark also on the selvage at two and a half inches from the waist.

7. Underneath this point mark at five and a half inches from the selvage.

8. On the waist mark a -point three inches from the selvage:

9. Cut from point twelve inches at the bottom curving as per diagram, to the twenty-one inches. Turn back the upper-fold and cut the single material from point 21 to the point three inches at the waist ; cut along the under-fold from this point 3 on the waist to the point on the crease marked two and a half inches, and from this point along the upper-fold to the point marked five and a half inches on it. Cut from point five and a half inches to the point twenty one inches.

This forms one half of the drawers which when extended will serve as pattern for the other half.

(b.) To make the Drawers.

Join each leg from the bottom to the point twenty-one inches by run-and-fell seam.

Turn up a hem at the bottom one and a half inches in depth. Make a tuck one inch in depth.

Hem the sides from point twenty-one inches to the waist. Gather at the waist evenly round.

If the drawers are to fasten in the back, overlap the two front sides for about two inches.

Sew on the waist-band firmly.

Finish by working the button-hole and sewing on the button. If you prefer, you can use tapes for fastening.