The ladies' complete guide to crochet, fancy knitting, and needlework

by Ann S. Stephens

The use of the edgings is sufficiently obvious: they form narrow borderings to the braid or other material which is the foundation of the lace.

The lace stitches are used to fill up open parts in the design, such as the leaves, flowers, or fruit, the mere outlines of which are made in the braid.

Finally, the connecting stitches unite the several parts into one perfect mass of work.

EDGES.—Brussels Edging (No. 1).—This is merely the common button-hole stitch, or (as it is sometimes called) glove stitch. It is worked nearly at the edge of the braid, and differs only from the ordinary button-hole because the stitches are taken at the distance of the fourteenth part of an inch apart, and, as the thread is not drawn tightly, each stitch forms a small loop. It is worked from left to right.

Venetian Edging (No. 2).—The first stitch is taken as in Brussels edging, and in the loop thus formed, four tight button-hole stitches are worked.

Sorrentine Edging (No. 3).—Make a stitch as in Brussels edging, but the eighth of an inch long; work one button-hole stitch in the loop; repeat at the distance of the sixteenth of an inch; two stitches are thus formed, one of which is half the length of the other. Repeat.

LACES.—Brussels Lace (No. 4) is worked by doing a line of Brussels edging in the space to be filled up, and then another line, from right to left, putting the needle, at every stitch, through one of the loops of the first row. These lines are to be repeated, backwards and forwards, until the part is completed. In working the last row, run the needle through the braid after every stitch.

Venetian Lace (No. 5).—The beautiful closely-dotted appearance, characteristic of this lace, is obtained by working consecutive rows of Venetian edging, not backward and forwards, but always from left to right, fastening off after completing each line; or, if the space be very small, running the needle in the braid back to the place where the next line is to be begun.

English Lace (No. 6) is used principally to fill up large open spaces. Make a series of diagonal bars across the space to be filled up, securing the tightness of each thread by working a button-hole stitch on the braid, before slipping the needle to the next place; cross these bars by others, in the contrary direction, and at the same distance (one-eighth of an inch) apart. Wherever the bars cross each other, work a small spot, by passing the needle alternately under and over the threads, five or six times round. Twist the threads twice round each other in bringing the needle to the next cross, and repeat until a spot is made at every one. Observe, that in crossing the first bars you slip the needle alternately under and over them.

Open English Lace (No. 7) is commenced like the preceding, but when the two lines of diagonal bars are made, a line of perpendicular and one of horizontal threads must be added. The spot will thus be worked on eight threads instead of four. The lines to be at the rate of five to an inch.