Petal or Loop Stitch (Fig. 3).—Another useful stitch is shown in Fig. 3. It is invaluable for the making of small flowers and borders, for picking out edges, and for emphasising lines (Plates IV., XIII.). The working of a small flower is shown in Figs. 3 and 3A.
Fig. 3. Fig. 3a. Fig. 3b.
Method:—Bring the needle out in the centre of the space; insert it again at the same point; bring it out near the tip of the petal, as in Fig. 3A, and tack it down with a small stitch.
Larger flowers can be quite artistically worked by beginning with a small stitch at the foot of the petal, and increasing by successive stitches until the outline is reached (Fig. 3B). The outer stitch can be worked in a different colour or tone with pleasing effect. One of the large conventional flowers in Plate XI. has an outline of these stitches, while another has the inner circle worked in the same way (Plate IV.).
Fig. 4.
Feather Stitch (Fig. 4).—One of the feather stitches, all of which are composed of button-hole stitches, is illustrated in Fig. 4. It is worked vertically, a stitch being made alternately from left to right. The width of the stitch may vary, but it must be regularly worked and uniform in size, to look well, when it presents a braid-like appearance which is most ornamental for underlinen and other purposes. The diagram explains the method of working.
Fish-bone Stitch (Fig. 5).—Fish-bone stitch is another of the feather or button-hole type. There are so many variations of those stitches, which are well known to most needle-women—having been used for the decoration of underlinen for the last generation or two—that only a few need be mentioned here.
