12th.—Dc. on all the rest of the line, working every loop thus—1 sc., 4 dc., 1 sc.
15th.—Dc. in first dc. of last row, + 3 ch., miss 2, dc. in 3rd +. Repeat, but without missing any on the loops.
16th.—Sc. on first chain of the foundation, and up the side work 4 ch., miss 2, 8 sc., sc. on every stitch of the last row, and dc. the other end of the collar like the first.
17th.—Sc. under first loop, 5 ch., sc. under 2nd, repeat to the sc. stitches, then + 5 ch. miss 2, sc. on 3rd, + to the end, which work like the beginning.
MAT WITH BORDER OF MOSS, CHERRIES, AND LEAVES.
[Fig. 2.]
Materials.—Half-an-ounce of bright cherry-coloured Berlin wool; two shades of green ditto, or of chenille a broder, two skeins of the best green fleecy of different shades, or shaded Shetland will do as well.
For the Moss.—If fleecy wool be used, it must be split, and a thread of each shade taken, by using Pyrenees wool this trouble is obviated. Take a pair of very fine knitting needles; cast on 16 to 20 stitches: knit a piece as tightly as possible, four times the length required: wet, and bake or dry it before the fire. When it is quite dry, cut off one edge throughout the whole length, and unravel all the stitches but two at the other edge. (Take care to begin to unravel at the end you left off knitting, or the wool will get entangled.) Fold it in four, and sew the edges together. This will make a very full moss fringe.
For the Cherries.—Cut a number of rounds in card, each the diameter of a good-sized cherry. Cut a small hole in the middle of each take a needleful of Berlin wool, three times the length of your arm; thread it with a rug needle; pass the needle in the hole of the card, holding the end of the wool with the left hand; pass the wool; lay it on the edge of the card, as if you were going to wind it; pass the needle through the hole again; repeat this until the whole needleful of wool is used. Then make a little tuft of wool on the end of a rather fine wire; twist the wire tight and pass the ends into the hole of the card; take a pair of sharp-pointed scissors, cut the wool all round the card; with a bit of waxed thread, tie as tightly as possible the little bunch of wool in the hole of the card, tear the card off, and pare the wool as smooth as velvet; cover the ends of wire with green wool or silk, and each cherry is completed.
Leaves.—Make a cherry of 13 loops in green wool, and on them, miss 4, dc. in 5th, ✕2 ch., miss 2, dc. in 3rd, twice 1 ch., miss 1, slip on first of 13. Take a ✕piece of very fine wire and hold it in, while working round this open hem, leaving a short piece for a stem. Work all round in tc., except the 2 first and 2 last stitches which are to be 1 sc., 1 dc., and 1 dc., 1 sc., twist the two ends of wire together, cover them with wool. When sufficient leaves are done, form them into a wreath with the cherries, joining them by means of the ends of wire; insert them in the moss, and sew the border thus made round a mat of velvet, or work, lined with card-board, and with silk at the other side.
This border may be used for any crochet or knitted mat; the moss may be made more or less thick according to taste. A very full border would require six lengths.