They learn most of all, I’ve always thought, responsibility, respect and so much more.

Now little Mary is “sewing up a storm.” Her mom said she’s learning darts and would like to share with us just how to press them, that you must press the skirt darts toward the center and the bust darts down toward the waistline.

Also to press the darts, you lower the iron down onto the dart, press and lift, don’t press over pins, or you will leave a mark — even basting threads will sometimes leave a mark.

From Aunt Norie: Mary if you use silk thread for any basting you need to do you can press over silk thread and it will leave no mark. It sounds like you really enjoy sewing you are on the way to always having a beautiful wardrobe. When you go off to college the other girls will be envious of the way your clothes always look so just right and fit so great. Thanks so much for sharing. We will be checking out your blue ribbons later.

This e-mail from M. P. :”Gee whiz…. There is an old sewing machine over in the old trailer that I forgot I even had when my son gets home. … I’ll send him right over. … Wow … what an idea.”

Later: “It worked.”

That WD-40 is a real winner in so many ways.

Hats off to all of our busy 4-H’ers. We’re all so proud of you.

— Aunt Norie, P.O. Box 265, Tonganoxie 66086; auntnorie@bdc.net.