Continuing in our series from the 1913 textbook A SEWING COURSE FOR TEACHERS COMPRISING Directions for Making the Various Stitches AND Instruction in Methods of Teaching BY MARY SCHENCK WOOLMAN, B. S., today’s lesson takes it up a notch from sewing through cardboard to actually sewing with “canvas.” Now, the “canvas” Ms. Woolman uses is not the same thing as that plastic stuff that is sold at JoAnn’s or other craft stores. Ms. Woolman’s definition is basically a loosely woven fabric such as “Burlap, Java, or some other canvas.”

What the heck is Java? According to the Cross Stitch Glossary of Terms at Salt and Pepper, Java is another name for Aida cloth. Ah! Aida cloth is used by counted cross stitchers.

The instructions also call for “colored zephyr” or wool. According to Infoplease.com’s dictionary,

zeph’yr yarn”

any of various soft, lightweight yarns, often of silk, rayon, or a combination of natural and synthetic fibers, for woven and knit goods.

Further perusing on the internet indicated that knitters like using zephyr yarn for lacy projects.

Without further ado, here is Lesson 2:

APPLICATION. Mats, rugs, bookcovers, bags or needle-books.
Soft, coarse canvas is an excellent medium on which to teach young children
how to use the needle, as it does not require too careful work for them.
The form of the stitch can be studied, decorative effects can be easily secured,
and very attractive, useful articles can be made from it.

SUGGESTION. In the first grade burlap canvas may be used as the first
textile. Numerous articles may be made out of it. Stitches may be used to
decorate it attractively; if it is to be fringed, the form of the overcastingstitch
is good ; it may be worked on the burlap and the edge fringed afterward.
The blanket-stitch may be used where the edge is to be kept from raveling.
Several rows of running-stitches and cross-stitches make an attractive border,
or other stitches may be used for this purpose. The stitches should always
be coarse. In canvas where the holes, though distinct, are near together a
number of holes should be skipped. Soft canvas is better than tightly twisted
stiff canvas. Java canvas, in some soft color, may be used late in the first
year or in the second year; needlebooks, penwipers, portieres, tablecovers or
postal-card cases, may all call forth ideas worth carrying out. Suitability of
color, decoration and material to the object in hand should be a prominent
feature in the lessons.
Class teaching is an advantage, for all may thus have a feeling of common
purpose and be aided by the free expression of opinion; even though the
general class exercise is the same, individuality may be constantly appealed
to in carrying out designs or in the selection of the kind of article which will
be made of the canvas.