For other purposes, coarser or finer materials may be used. A pretty edging should be worked all round it. One of the most suitable is that termed the Ivy-leaf Edging, in the “Home Circle,” No. 101, Vol. IV., or Fig. 8, on the frontispiece of this number, will do as well. I may here give a hint for which, doubtless, many of my readers will thank me. All the designs given for D’oyleys and Anti-Macassars in square crochet may be equally well worked in square netting, the pattern being darned in afterwards. The material used for Anti-Macassars should be good and strong knitting cotton, Evans’s Nos. 8 or 12; but D’oyleys look best done in Evans’s Mechlenburgh thread, Nos. 7 or 8, the design being darned in Mecklenburgh, No. 12.
Square Netting is done in the following manner:
Begin with one stitch only, and net backwards and forwards, increasing one stitch at the end of every row until as many squares are made as may be required, reckoning from the point up one side. Then decrease, in the same manner, until only one stitch is left. When stretched out, this forms a perfect square, every stitch being true. Should an oblong piece be required, (as for a Bread-basket D’oyley,) work to the widest part as already directed, then continue to increase at one side, leaving a stitch at the other, until as much more is done as may be necessary for the entire length. Finish as in the perfect square. Crests and coats of arms are particularly suitable for working in square netting.
CROCHET EDGING.
[WORKED THE LONG WAY.]
[Fig. 7.]
Materials.—For Anti-Macassars, use cotton No. 8; crochet hook, No. 16. For trimming petticoats, cotton, No. 30; crochet hook, No. 19 or 20. Make a chain of the length required; or, to trim an Anti-Macassar, work a row of sc. all round.
1st. row.—Dc.
2nd.—1 dc., 1 ch., miss 1. Repeat.
3rd.—+ 7 sc., 5 ch., miss 1, 1 dc., 6 ch., miss 1, 1 dc., 7 ch., miss 1, 1 dc., 6 ch., miss 1, 1 dc. 5 ch., miss 1, +. Repeat. (In working an Anti-Macassar, do not miss any at the corners in this row, and take care that the 7 chain comes exactly at the corner. This will allow a sufficient fulness for the shell to lie flat.)
4th.—+ 5 sc. (beginning on the second of 5,) 5 ch., sc. under the first loop; * 6 ch., sc., 7 (7 sc. in last row,) 5 ch., sc. under first loop, * 6 ch., sc. under next loop, * 4 times, 5 ch., +. Repeat.