Fig. 43 shows the same edging with an additional row worked over a narrow braid—several threads could be substituted for the braid.
Button-holed Rings.—Button-holed rings are useful. They are generally made over a foundation of soft threads, which serves the double purpose of padding and strengthening them.
Fig. 44.
Laces, Edgings, Central Fillings.—Danish needle-workers use these rings a great deal as foundations for making both laces, and edgings, also central fillings. The former they apply to their beautifully worked embroideries as insertions or finishings; the latter have some arrangement of grouped stitches worked round a button-holed ring, then sewn on to the parts prepared for them. They use a ring stick, which is graduated in such a way as to enable them to make rings in several sizes, also to make any number in the one particular size desired. Rings are quite simply made. The thread is wound round the stick six to ten times, according to the size of the ring, and a stitch or two of button-holing is worked before removing it; then work round the threads until it is complete and finish by passing the needle through the head of the first stitch and slipping it inside—and along the line of strengthening threads; cut off neatly. Rings may have pyramids worked round them, in which case a definite number of button-hole stitches should be made. If a ring is covered with twenty-eight button-hole stitches, four pyramids of six stitches each could be made, with one stitch between each pyramid; with thirty stitches, six smaller pyramids, with one stitch between each, could be worked in.
Rings could be made over a metal or bone foundation when they are used to support any weight, as for the draw strings of a bag, or to attach a splasher to a wall; for lacing or connecting the front or shoulders of a jumper or child’s frock they can be either made on threads or metal rings.
Note the interesting method of applying rings in Plate XIII.; see also [Fig. 23 b], which shows method of working rings with picots of bullion stitch.
Very useful indestructible buttons can be made of very thickly padded small rings in which the stitches practically fill up the centre; twisted bars, crossed, should be worked at the back for the purpose of attaching these buttons to the garments which they are to adorn.
Ornamental Knot (Fig. 45).—Knot work, like embroidery and lace, seems to have originated in the East.
All of the following knots may be worked more simply from the diagram than from the description.