White Backgrounds.—White backgrounds, when embroidered in white or with only a little colour, may have much greater variation in stitchery; it is a relief to the worker and an improvement to the work—indeed, should the embroideress feel so disposed, she has here the opportunity of displaying her knowledge of stitchery to a considerable extent, always keeping, of course, within the limits of good taste.
She should endeavour to suit the stitchery to the work, to produce the desired effect without too much labour—not that work should ever be done in a hasty or untidy manner—but, as said before, she should adapt it to its purpose. It is well to remember that large pieces of embroidery, generally seen from a distance, demand bold, effective treatment; detail is lost, so can be omitted; smaller pieces, seen at closer range, should bear inspection, therefore more delicate treatment may be applied; detail and finer stitches can be seen to advantage. (See [Chapter XII]. for stitches and the method of working.)
The Sixth Point: The Finishings.
The aim of the embroideress is to make her work beautiful, as well as suitable for her purpose. If she has the gift of originality she will also make it distinctive, possibly unconsciously, by adding here and there those little touches of individuality which will mark the work as characteristic of herself.
It is in the finishings that she has most scope for these dainty devices; for by their means she may add interest and artistic detail to the simple garment or article of domestic use and render them charming things to look at. She may attain this end, not by obtaining expensive fitments, rich cords and silk tassels, such as are sometimes applied, most unsuitably, to embroidered cushions, table squares, and other objects that require frequent washing, but by the use of braids (Plate VI.), and bindings (Plate VIII.), and bands (Plate IV.), hand-made cords and tassels, linings, edges, fringes, beads and buttons, raffia and plaited straw.
Thus, the amateur will find it well worth while giving some thought to the making-up and finishing off of her embroidery. She will soon realise, too, the possibilities of making many of these ingenious devices herself wherewith to adorn her work, and she will feel well repaid in the end when she has contrived some simple embellishment at little extra cost.
Hand-made cords and tassels (Figs. 38A and 41), fringes and edgings (Figs. 34 and 42), may soon be made by skilful fingers; bright-coloured skirt braids and carpet bindings and hand-made cords of dyed string or wool give a decorative effect to hems and borders—a wide hem looks well with a heading of brush braid or a piping of coloured galoon or narrow Russian braid oversewn with wool, or a narrow band of needle-weaving. Material and edges may be joined, chair backs and runners may be brightened, dress fitments may be completed simply, artistically and economically, by means of these braids, connected with dainty joining stitches (Figs. 26 and 29).
Wools of various qualities may be brought into service to make fringes and cords for cushions, etc.; seams may be decorated and joined with insertion stitches, worked by hand (Fig. 25), or by the crochet needle (Fig. 63); fastenings may be secured by latchets of wool, thread, or silk, or cord, all of which are easy of manipulation and much prettier than machine-made articles.
By referring to Plate XIII., it may be seen that much may be achieved by means of braid in the decoration of a useful bag; for description, [see page 153].
Charming hand-made braids which may be used for many purposes, such as waist cords, latchets, ties, belts, hat bands (Fig. 40), may be made by means of an embroidery frame, a lace cushion or a small hand loom.