g. Ball stitch
All the surfaces having been covered, the lace is further embellished by the confection of brodes, or firm outlining cords around the filled-in spaces, which produce a more or less striking effect of relief in needle laces. This brode (sketch i), is made of a strand of fine or heavier threads, appliquéd as was the original strand outlining the pattern spaces, and then beautifully covered by the buttonhole stitch. When the brode is well made, the buttonhole stitches follow closely, touching side by side.
h. Gauze mesh stitch
Many differing little details which help to give to needle lace its richness and brilliancy (balls, rings, etc.), are also varieties of brodes, and are made for the most part in the buttonhole stitch. The bars forming the base of Venise lace are made in this way.
The execution of the brodes is the final work in needle lace. After they are finished, the lace detail is detached from the underlying pattern by cutting the thread between the black paper and supporting cloth, the fine thread which in the beginning attached the outlining strand. There remains only to join the separate details of the pattern by a very fine stitch called the point invisible.
i. Brode, buttonhole stitch