Simple Tassels.—Fig. 41 gives a small tassel.
Fig. 41. Fig. 41a. Fig. 41b.
Method:—Take a piece of cardboard, rather wider than the length of the finished tassel, and wind some wool rather slackly round it, twelve to twenty times, according to the size and thickness of the tassel to be made. Take a long large-eyed needle with a doubled thread; slip it through the wool close to the cardboard; pass the ends through the loop and pull firmly to tighten. Cut the wool at the opposite edge of the cardboard. Pass the thread through the centre of the bunch of wool and knot it two or three times to form a padding for the head. Sometimes a wooden bead helps to fill out the head, the needle being passed through it to keep it in place; after which the thread is knotted. Figs. 41 and 41B give the making of the neck of the tassel. Take a needle with a double thread and wind it round the neck two or three times; pass the needle through the loop, then up the centre of the head and out at the top—here another bead adds to the appearance of the finished tassel—the ends serving to attach it to the embroidery. A much more elaborate finish may be made by button-holing the head of the tassel, beginning at the neck and working in rows towards the top. If the tassel is large enough to admit of it, a crochet-covered top, beginning with a chain and working upwards, is very quickly made; long chains ending with beads may finish the lower part effectively. Plate VIII. shows simple tassels made in this way—those on Plate I. are rather more elaborate.
Fig. 42.
Needle-made Picots (Fig. 42).—This edging requires a good stout thread, linen, twisted silk, wool, or fine string, according to the purpose for which it is required. It may be worked on a braid, a cord, or the edge of the material. There is no great difficulty in the working of these picots, but absolute regularity of the loops and knots is essential—in order to secure this, a mesh, or if that is not to hand, a pencil may be used to keep the loops uniform in size. After some practice, the worker will probably dispense with a mesh and use a pin to keep the loops in place while making the knot.
Fig. 42 shows the method of working. Fasten the thread securely and take the first stitch, which is of the button-hole type, with the thread under the needle; then slip the thread round the mesh, passing it behind and bringing it out over the front of it; put the needle behind the loop (see [Fig. 42]) and twist the thread round the needle, over and under it; pull through and tighten the knot. If a pin is used, pass the needle behind the first little loop, then put the pin into position—a quarter or half an inch below the edge; pass the thread round the head of it; make a loop round the point of the needle and tighten.
Fig. 43.