When John and Katie MacKrell brought home their fourth child, they also necessarily acquired an entire new wardrobe for their first baby boy. Their three growing girls had shared and handed down dresses and tights for years; but little Jack introduced the need for different clothes, more clothes. The MacKrell household was suddenly responsible for the laundry of six people, the four youngest of whom changed clothes many, many times a day. Piles stacked up, were folded and knocked down and refolded, articles of clothing were strewn all over.