It is only by means of such counter attractions in stimulating leisure crafts, which pay their way as well as give pleasure to the workers, that we can contend with the spirit of restless excitement and craving for mere pleasure-giving that is so marked a sign of the early days of peace, and reconstruction can only come by countering this mischievous tendency in young people by giving them something that gives stimulus to their longing for brightness and yet does not unduly tax those whose days may be occupied in strenuous employment.
How desirable it is that such gatherings of women and girls as church sewing meetings, guilds and clubs, should take up such new ideas in needlework and apply for a competent instructor. How almost more desirable is it that men might realise the pleasure a needle can give if applied to bold construction and original work.
It is by no means universal over the world that needlework is a women’s craft; in many countries it is done quite as much, if not more, by the men, and it is probable that if our men took up this craft, it would show a very marked tendency to individual and original expression.
The power of invention is so great and serious a factor, that it is almost too big a thing to touch upon here. We do not exaggerate its importance when we say that this faculty in human beings is what we can justly call the Holy Ghost, for it is that in us which comes, not of ourselves, but from direct inspiration, and the first principle of education ought to be to open our minds to it, in howsoever small and humble a fashion it comes, and to make clear the way for its development and growth towards greater things.
Ann Macbeth.
Glasgow School of Art.
CONTENTS
| CHAPTER | PAGE | |
| [I.] | INTRODUCTORY | 1 |
| [II.] | THE ART AND CRAFT OF EMBROIDERY—THE SIX POINTS | 5 |
| [III.] | CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN | 18 |
| [IV.] | DARNING STITCHES—BACKGROUNDS AND FILLINGS | 29 |
| [V.] | NEEDLE-WEAVING—RUSSIAN OPEN-WORK—LINKED STITCHES | 40 |
| [VI.] | BUTTON-HOLE AND BORDER STITCHES—HEMSTITCHING AND OPEN FILLINGS | 55 |
| [VII.] | LAID WORK—BASKET AND LINE STITCHES | 67 |
| [VIII.] | COUCHING—FRENCH KNOTS AND BULLION STITCH | 79 |
| [IX.] | BRAIDS AND DESIGN—FAGGOTING—VEINING —ANTIQUE SEAMS—KNOT INSERTION AND EDGING | 89 |
| [X.] | INSERTIONS IN NEEDLE-WEAVING—POINT DE RÉPRISE—INTERLACING AND OPENWORK BACKGROUND | 101 |
| [XI.] | FRINGES AND TASSELS—HAND-MADE BRAIDS —KNOTS AND PICOTS | 114 |
| [XII.] | DRAWN-THREAD AND WHITE WORK—RHODIAN, RICHELIEU AND HEDEBO | 134 |
| [XIII.] | DECORATIVE FLOWERS AND LEAVES—EDGING AND INSERTION | 155 |
| [INDEX] | 179 |
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
| PLATE | FACING PAGE | |
| [I.] | *A TABLE MAT | Frontispiece |
| [II.] | SOME USEFUL STITCHES | 17 |
| [III.] | A RUNNER IN CRASH | 32 |
| [IV.] | *A PORTIÈRE | 49 |
| [V.] | *A BUREAU SCARF | 64 |
| [VI.] | A SIDEBOARD CLOTH | 69 |
| [VII.] | A TABLE CENTRE IN WHITE AND BLUE | 76 |
| [VIII.] | *A LUNCHEON MAT | 81 |
| [IX.] | *THREE COLLARS | 96 |
| [X.] | A TEA-COSY COVER | 101 |
| [XI.] | A NIGHTDRESS CASE | 108 |
| [XII.] | *THREE HAT BANDS | 113 |
| [XIII.] | *A BAG IN CANVAS AND WOOL | 128 |
| [XIV.] | CORNER OF COT COVERLET, UNFINISHED | 149 |
| [XV.] | TWO SIMPLE BASKETS | 156 |
| [XVI.] | *A CUSHION COVER | 168 |
| *These illustrations are in colour. | ||