INTERLACINGS, SURFACE STITCHES, AND DIAPERS.
The samplers so far discussed bring us, with the exception of Darning, Satin-stitch, and some stitches presently to be mentioned, practically to the end of the stitches, deserving to be so called, generally in use.
By combining two or more stitches endless complications may be made; and there may be occasions when, for one purpose or another, it may be necessary, as well as amusing, to invent them. In this way stitches are also sometimes worked upon stitches, as shown on the sampler, Illustration [32]. You will see, on referring to the back of it ([33]), that only the white silk is worked into the stuff: the dark is surface work only. There is no end to such possible INTERLACINGS. Those on the sampler do not need much explanation; but it may be as well to say that A starts with crewel-stitching; B and C with back-stitching; D with chain-stitching; E with darning or running; F, G, and H with varieties of herring-bone-stitch; J with Oriental-stitch; and K with feather-stitch. The interlacing on the surface of these is shown in darker silk. C and G undergo a second course of interlacing.
The danger of splitting the first stitches in working the interlacing ones, is avoided by passing the needle eye-first through them.
Other surface work, sometimes called LACE-STITCH, is illustrated in the sampler, Illustration [34]. There is really no limit to patterns of this kind. Some are better worked in a frame, but that is very much a matter of personal practice.
the working of F on interlacing-stitch sampler.
to work H, [34].
In the Surface Darning at H ([34]) long threads are first carried from edge to edge of the square, there only piercing the stuff, and then darned across by other stitches, again only piercing it at the edges.