Fig. 190. A handkerchief in simple lace stitches
The mesh or net stitch is good for a filling stitch. A blunt pointed needle is the best for working lace as you are not so apt to stick yourself. Make a row of open buttonholing, not however through the background. The second row is worked slightly below the first row. Each stitch is taken into a loop of the upper row. If the spaces decrease in size drop one stitch from each end for as many rows as necessary. To finish the stitches overcast them to the braid. To many lace makers this stitch is known as single Brussels ([Figure 189]).
Double Brussels or the knot is worked like the single only that there is a second stitch taken in the same position as the first. The last must be short and drawn tightly ([Figure 191]).
Fig. 191. Double Brussels stitch
Another pretty filling-in stitch is the spider. It can be as large as desired allowing the space it is to be used in to determine the size. A thread is spanned across the space and the braid whipped for a short distance, say a quarter of an inch. The space is spanned again so that the threads cross. Pick up all the threads on the needle through the centre and make a little stitch to bind them. Now begin to weave over one leg or strand and under another, so on till a good-sized body is formed to the spider. In weaving be careful not to skip one of these little legs ([Figure 192]).
Another way to work a spider, to make it a little stronger is to whip each leg as it is spanned.