Point de Venise (Fig. 62 a).—This can be worked on to baby garments, or to any article where a dainty finish is required. It looks even better if the heading is of some of the lace braids. The thread is secured at the edge and a looped stitch is taken as a foundation thread into which are worked four button-hole stitches—to form a scallop. This charming edging is much used in point de Venise. The same stitch also makes a beautiful filling pattern.
A Useful Bag.—Plate XIII. illustrates what may be done with such simple materials as canvas, braid and wool. The foundation of canvas has the design traced on to the material; it consists of a series of little circles and half-circles, which overlap here and there, and which are eventually turned into gay little conventional flowers by means of bright-coloured wools. These flowers are mostly worked in petal stitch (Fig. 3A), and French knots (Fig. 22A). The band is enclosed by two rows of braid, oversewn with green, blue and purple wool. The foot of the bag is made up of an oval of braid worked in rows from the centre outwards; the tassels, also of braid, are brightened by rings and tags of wool; little thin lines of tinsel threads are darned into the canvas—these serve to connect the embroidered band with the upper decoration. The embroidered rings which hold the draw strings are extremely pretty. This note of originality, and indeed, the whole bag, conveys to one’s mind the impression of the bright personality of the worker who thus gives outward expression of the joy it gives her to work with her needle.
CHAPTER XIII
DECORATIVE FLOWERS AND LEAVES—EDGING
AND INSERTION
“Take the gifts, too, to serve as monuments of my hand labour.”
These little flowers are a dainty trimming for hat bands (Plates IX. and XII.), collars, ribbon, ties and jumpers, for dress decoration, or as an addition to almost any article of daily wear: further, they are so simple to work that a very few directions will enable any one to make and apply them to whatever object may be chosen for decoration.
Crochet.—All crochet consists of a series of little loops made by a needle or hook, these being worked or drawn together in various ways to form patterns or designs suitable for edgings, insertions, motifs, etc., for domestic use, and innumerable articles of personal wear.
The foundation stitch is a chain, and all patterns commence with it—two or three or more, according to the article to be formed. Most crochet patterns are worked in rows, backwards and forwards, or all from one end; in the former case, the work must be turned at the end of the row, after making two or three stitches to allow for turning; therefore, the second, fourth, and sixth row, etc., will be worked on the opposite side from the first, third, and fifth, etc. When the rows are all started from the same end, the wool must be cut off at the end of each row, and commenced again at the beginning of the next. Crochet is worked, as in ordinary needlework, from right to left.
Fig. 63.