"Since it appears this is being done by hand, and dowels are insisted on, make this
jig. Cut and joint a piece of hardwood the thickness of the end panel and about 1-1/2-inch wide and as long or longer than the end panel.
The heart of the book is the presentation of the nine
jigs. For each one, in addition to an easily readable, carefully edited, modern English script, there are sections entitled "Synopsis," "Provenance," "Sources of the script," and "Commentary on the tunes." For a third of the
jigs, there is an additional section, "Continental variants." Beyond the historical introduction and
jig editions, Singing Simpkin contains many excellent explanatory elements, such as Table 1, which lists the performance elements of each of the nine
jigs: names, type (maid, sailor, etc.), props, location, and the presence of fighting or dancing.