Of course, there was too much surplus fancy work done -- particularly in the youth of a generation now middle aged, but this book really has some good factual material, hard to get at, of how things are made. Certain basic stitches (I was surprised that some of them are still used), weaving, leather work, bead work, linoleum stamping, drawing in perspective and enlarging diagrams, use of water colors, raffia work, metal work, candy making, dyeing, cleaning, laundering, Some of the material duplicates some of the Hamilton books, with less detail -- but the actual practical suggestions include less in the way of dust catchers than most books of the kind. Good for hospital activity use, for school crafts teachers -- and for girls and their parents.