Dear Susan,

I hope you had a nice Christmas and congratulations on a wonderful Christmas Annual.

It you want a really stiff apron you need a cotton material.  Forget the spray starch. Starch will not harm plastic aprons, but it won't
work either.

Starch can still be purchased, but you may have to look for it a bit. Good supermarkets, or an old fashioned hardware shop. The best is a rice starch, but this is usually used for collars and ordinary maize starch will do.  It comes as a powder which you can either pre-mix with hot water or put into the washing machine with the aprons in the last rinse.  Most washing machines allow you to rinse and spin, but you only want one rinse.  If you cant manage this then the starching will have to be done by hand.  You do need to agitate the material in the starch water quite a lot as cotton is a hollow fibre, and the starch has to be worked into the centre of the tiny curly tubes which you can see if you look at it under the microscope.

Then there is the question of the amount of powder. This is usually measured by using a twaddle (seriously).  This is an
instrument to measure the specific gravity of the mixture.  Specific gravity of 1 to 2 is divided into 200 degrees of twaddle, and you use a tube closed at one end with a brass float which has a calibrated rod on the top. Pure water has a specific gravity of 1 and a correct mixture for starch is about 6 or 7 degrees of twaddle for starch stiff collars.  Nobody will have such an instrument, so it will be a matter of trial and error.

Get a bucket and put about three mugs of starch in it, and then pour hot water over the starch. Fill the bucket with cold water, making sure the water is cool enough, then mix it up.  Put some hot water in the bath sufficient to cover the aprons and pour the starch mixture in. Put the aprons in, and pummel them around to make sure the starch goes in evenly. You can leave them to soak, but cover them over with a towel to make sure they stay under the mixture.

Take out and spin, then hang to dry. When nearly, but not completely dry, iron with a hot iron.  If the apron is still limp, not enough
starch: if it starts to go brown, too much starch, or the apron may still be too wet. On the other hand, if the creases don't iron out you have let it get too dry. As I say, trial and error. I have to confess that as a professional launderer for forty years I have never done this, as I have always had proper washing machines, ironing machines, and a twaddle, however you can but try.
Maid Angela

And from Michael...

Dear Miss Susan,

In the days of twenty years ago I would starch my mistress's aprons with "Robin" hot water starch. I would have the water nearly at boiling, and immerse the aprons for about two minutes.The aprons would then drip dry for an hour. They would then be ironed with the iron on a cotton temperature.I could achieve lovely crisp folds, and the aprons felt so smooth to the touch, they also smelt nice and were lovely to be smothered in.
 
I hope this helps your readers.
Yours sincerely,
Michael K.

More suggestions from Miss Pinafore:

 Dear Susan,

First I would like to thank you and the others for putting in all the time and effort into the Christmas issue. It is wonderful!

There is a letter asking about starching pinafores under 'Advice from Nanny Susan'. I'm not sure if you ever heard of such a thing before, but my mother used sugar on my petticoats. As I was only six I can't remember all the details, but after washing my petticoats she would put sugar in a large bowl and add hot water. After gathering up the bottom of the petticoats she would immerse the bottom of them in the hot sugar water, then she would spread the bottom in a circle on a porcelain top kitchen table to dry.

I hated to wear a just washed petticoat, because when it was first put on it stood out like a tutu until the weight of the dress and moving around caused it to "settle down" some. Although I can't remember who it was, I can remember my mother telling someone that sugar gave a full, fresh, crisp look without the hardness and stiffness of starch.

After reading a comment about boys in Easter dresses I was going to write about how my bad manners one Easter started my
being petticoated, and started my mother's all out war against my poor behavior, but without some background and explanations none of it would make much sense, it would all just sound too crazy to have actually happened.
If it happened to any six old boy it probably happened to me.
Best wishes,
Miss Pinafore

I am sure that you felt very subdued and vulnerable in those freshly sugared petticoats sticking out at all angles. Please write again and tell readers about your boyhood petticoating, and I would like to thank these three readers for their suggestions regarding starching pinafores. 

I hope you can offer some advice please. Can you suggest any ways I could meet a strong woman who would feminize me? I long to have a woman in my life who understands properly her position as my superior, and who is kind enough to help me become as feminine as possible. I am very suited for maid training and would love to fufill her every whim.
Pink Panty Guy

Dear Miss MacDonald,

I wish you would print a page telling "How to Find a Nanny" - or Auntie - I am a very submissive and obedient male. I did have a mistress, but family problems disrupted our arrangments. She now has a disabled mother and a young teenage daughter to tend to. I am submissive and obedient by nature, and I am in dire need of a dominant female to serve and obey.
Please give advice.
Lonely, lowly male

I really don't know how to specifically find such a woman, I know a lot of my readers are painfully lonely, but I still think the best approach is not to look for such a woman specifically. Try to meet a woman who you like, and if you are a good person she may well be sympathetic to your submissive feelings when you discuss the subject. 

I love to wear any and all ballet gear I can get my hands on. I have a girlfriend who doesn't mind me wearing my lovely ballet shoes and on occasion she lets me wear a tutu. I want to start ballet lessons, but I don't know how to explain this to her. I would love to  wear pointe shoes and a tutu, but I am willing to settle for a dance class where I can wear tights and those lovely soft pumps which I think make anyone attractive.

Do you have any advice for me? How can I explain my sissy tendencies to my beautiful girfriend? I really hope you reply to a desperate ballet-sissy...I would love the direction of an all-powerful web-mistress/nanny. Please mail me back detailed instructions on how I might improve myself.

I love your site, and hope for the day that men can dress as they like without drawing comment.
Lots of love,
Sissy Slippers

From your letter I would say that your girlfriend probably does understand your sissy tendencies. You would not be able to wear a tutu at a ballet class, and remember that ballet takes a very high degree of physical fitness and flexibility. An adult ballet class would probably be ok for wearing tights. I have not got time for 'detailed instructions', even if I knew what they were. I have enough trouble just editing the site. 

Dear Miss MacDonald,

I am writing to you with a question from my wife.  She is frustrated that her public petticoat training does not appear to bring the proper amount of humiliation for me.  She has me wear a sleeveless blouse so that my bra straps are easily seen sticking out at the shoulders, and my lacy bra cup can be seen  from the side in the underarm area.  In addition I must wear white shorts that plainly show the outline of the French cut panties I am wearing.  She has even made me wear very thick diapers under plastic panties with rows and rows of pink rhumba lace, again very easily seen through the white shorts.  The bulge of the diapers and the crinkle
sound can surely not be missed.  I also have my toenails polished white, and these are not hidden by the sandals I wear.

My wife gets upset that if any one notices, they say nothing.  What should she do to achieve the humilation for me that she says I so deserve?  She feels a skirt may cause problems with the law.  Any suggestions?  Thank you for your assistance.  My wife says you should refer to me as as Peggy Elizabeth, or Peggy.
'Peggy'

I don't think that petticoat discipline should generally be taken out of doors, except perhaps in the case of a boy wearing a wig, who could be taken as a girl. I don't believe that your wife is doing the right thing. 

Dear Susan,

I'm interested in knowing what difference, if any, there is between petticoat discipline and feminization. I ask this for a particular reason. I've written to you in the past regarding petticoating my husband, William.He has long since learned to accept my
authority concerning what he wears, and when he wears it, in the way of female attire as a disciplinary measure. He is always in panties, even under his male clothes.

It recently developed that my mother moved permanently in our home. Mother had been aware of the control I maintained over my
husband, but had never witnessed his being spanked up until a number of weeks ago. William had given cause for punishment and I
decided it was time for him to experience the humiliation with my mother in attendance.

He resisted momentarily but yielded on hearing a harsh warning.His embarrassment was evident when required to undress and
reveal his underclothing and manifested on receiving the hairbrush spanking. Once this occasion passed I found, in discussion with
my mother, that she felt William needed to be more completely domesticated. She  suggested taking a role herself toward intensifying his feminization. I agreed with some reservation being uncertain of William's response.

Mother was quick to take to her new position in the home. William was directly informed of his situation by Mother, with me standing by. She first made reference to the unacceptable recalcitrance he exhibited when spanked the past night. Mother is what best can be described as a full sized woman, and her speech commands attention. William was immediately introduced to a new set of
conditions that he would be "made" to live with. He would henceforth use the toilet only while sitting. His panties "will" include a
menstrual control article for no less than seven days each month. His fingernails "must" be maintained at a prescribed length and
clear polished at all times. Mother concluded by marching him to the bathroom tub to shave "every semblance of hair from his legs",
and saying that he could soon expect to hear of more  behavioral changes.

They came without delay. He was scheduled, and given, a waxing to eradicate the hair.He was fitted in high heel shoes with
Mother alongside in the shop.He now undergoes a daily thirty minute deprtment training session in full female dress. Emphasis is given to maintaining a certain posture in his walk.I'm told Mother plans to introduce make-up training on to the agenda next.

Frankly I'm delighted to see how William has adapted, and now responds to the authority of two females. He exhibits a heightened air of obedience and expressiveness in voicing his acknowledgments of 'Yes Dear', and now 'Yes Mother', when directed to do housework. My mother made no secret as to how she has achieved his increased subservience. He is regularly given a good nursery spanking over her ample lap.

Back to my question. Have we departed from the norm in rendering petticoat discipline ?.
Toni S.

No, you sound like you are making excellent progress. I do think that your sweet husband should have to wear your Mum's undies after she has no further use for them. From letters I receive from other readers, I understand that having to wear one's mother-in-law's discarded tights and bloomers is one of the most effective forms of petticoat discipline there is. 

This is really meant for Katie, so perhaps you can pass it on. I think Katie had no other choice but to hand out a bare bottom spanking to Eric for being so cheeky to a lady teacher. As a parent myself, I fully approve. That cannot be tolerated. Expulsion from the school must be avoided at all costs, so how about having a quiet word with the head of the school, and sending him to school as a girl for a month? Alternatively he could be withdrawn from the school, and enrolled in a girls' school. Katie can be sure that after a few months he will be as quiet and well-mannered as she could wish!  When he is in bed his male clothes could be removed and replaced with a set of his sister's clothes, starting that day. He could be told that after a term, if his behaviour improves, he could be allowed his male clothes at weekends, but only if there is a marked improvement, otherwise he stays as a girl permanently. Some senior girls could be detailed to look after him while at school.
Terry

I am sure Katie will find your advice very helpful. 

He never washes up, or does the washing, or helps with any of the housework. What I would love to do is to have him help me round
the house like a proper little girl.

The problem I am having is that no matter how hard I try, I can't make him do anything, I can't trick him into wearing a pair of my knickers, or put make-up on him (and believe me I've tried! ) So I would please like some advice on how to get him into nappies and frilly dresses to correct his behaviour. If you could advise on this, or anyone that can help, I would be most appreciative.
Yours faithfully,
Alexandra C.

Well, quite frankly I'd drop him. There are plenty of fish in the sea. And there are plenty of boys who do have great respect for the female sex, and who would love to pinned into nappies and cuddled by a sympathetic woman. 

I will try and make this brief. My fiance wants very badly to have me as her well disciplined baby girl with no holds barred. These feelings are very strong in both of us, and we each take to this in a manner that is natural to us. It really seems to be a natural part of our make-up.

She is Christian as am I, but she is fighting an inner turmoil that this is somehow sinful. I, on the other hand, do not fight it as I realise it is a very important part of who and what I am. She knows that she is the one to control this, as should certainly be the case. She is also fearful that this will make me something less than the strong man that I am.

Anything you can say, and any advice would be so appreciated.
Most sincerely,
John B.

I have already written that being submissive in the domestic environment is not a sign of weakness. Rather it is a sign of civilised and loving feelings. I believe I wrote something of the sort about Dwight Eisenhower on the cover of the February 2001 issue.

What could be sinful about serving one's beloved? In the view of the Catholic Church at least, even its most traditional wing, nothing is sinful if it is an expression of love between two married people. Of course they have more prohibitive views regarding adultery or homosexuality, but these are not issues in your case. 

After that in the same article was a very interesting suggestion, that perhaps it could be used as sort of treatment for boys who suffer from violent and wild behaviour. It was recommended that the tighter,  and more soft and girly looking the clothes were, then the change would be more obvious.

I came to a crazy idea... to make my boyfriend wear girly clothes and see how it worked. So I bought a few pairs of  totally girly-looking and irresistable pantyhose and stockings. You can probably guess his surprise and shock when I told him about everything. Of course he wouldn't even talk about it for days, although I used every effort to persuade him (the idea became very attractive to me I must admit). In the end, I made him make a choice: either he submits to it or I'm out of his life. He loves me of course, and I knew he won't let me go, so it was decided. He took the first pair of pantyhose and put them on, his face blushing, and I laughed because I knew how much he disliked just the thought of being petticoated.

But let's cut the story short: after few weeks of wearing different kinds of pantyhose and even stay-up stockings under his trousers the miracle happened... he was clearly under less tension, became a very easy person to handle, and he was obviously much happier than before, not to mention the fact that he became an expert on hosiery :) Once he told me, when I asked him how it felt, 'It's very strange, the tights feel so soft and easy, they feel very comfortable, and yet they are so restraining, when I forget
I'm wearing them I make a movement and I feel them covering my legs, reminding me, and when I walk I feel them gently rubbing my legs and it's great...but the funny part is when I look down and see that sheer material covering my toes I become totally fragile and submissive... I feel like I want to become a female'.

Hmmm...  Although he became a different person wearing pantyhose and stockings, and is almost as obedient as a real sissy, now I'm getting ideas that I shouldn't stop at that point...maybe I can turn him into girl completely (if we don't consider sex change, I wouldn't want that). It would be a success, watching a powerful male becoming a cute little obedient girlfriend of mine. What do you think?
Yours sincerely,
Maria D.

I am sure that he would love to wear lots of pretty soft undies and dresses, as well as fluffy pink wool cardigans in this cold weather especially. And don't forget a feminine full pinafore and perhaps a maid's frilly cap which he can wear whilst doing any housework at your place. Of course you have touched on one of the most important aspects of petticoating, the effect of such lovely feminine clothes on a person's whole mood and outlook. He will be much happier and more relaxed, as you have discovered. 

As you know Daniel, my son has been petticoated for two years now in fact he has no male clothes now to wear. But as he grows older in the role of a girl he is getting greater and greater pressure to have a bosom. He is all in favor of it, and has asked many
times if he could have one. I would love to see him have a deep pretty cleavage. However, since I don’t petticoat him for punishment
I would not have him stand out as a petticoated boy, which he will as he gets older. Still the question remains, and I would like your
help in deciding.

First should I, at the child’s age of 14 with two years of living as a girl, alter his body to give him breasts like his girl friends? And if so how should it be done? By hormones, which will alter his whole body and make him even more passive. Or should we give him implants, which could be enlarged as he grows older and can also be removed in the odd chance he would at the age of 18 or so decide to be a man with only female training and experience? I am favoring implants but I would certainly welcome your input and your readers' comments.
Katherine of NJ

It would be quite wrong to either. I have made myself clear regarding any physical interference with a person's body. If Danii wants to have something to show above the waist in order to feel more girlish, then a good bra with something to fill it, perhaps a few pairs of tights, would surely work. Teenage girls have, for decades past, used something or other (often tissue paper) to improve their bust, as you, Katherine, would surely remember.