. This will be best understood by printing the letters on tracing paper and turning it round into the position required. In case of a motto or coat of arms wanted for a large cloth with two centres in it, one centre to be correct from one end of the cloth, and the other from the opposite end, as shown by the girdles at A and B, Fig. 87, the painting would be as in this figure if the upper side of the cloth is to be the right side, but if the under side is to be the right side, the first centre would require to be painted as shown in [Fig. 88], and the second one would be as this turned round, the top where the bottom is, not turned over. It might be thought that the same painting would do for both; either that cutting the cards from top to bottom, or backwards, or lacing them backwards, or working them backwards on the loom, would do for the second centre; but it would not unless the cards were turned over as well—that is, to have the outsides of the cards turned inwards, and the right-hand end to the left. This would suit if it could be done, but could only be done when the jacquards are made with an equal number of needles to each side of the machine, as 25 rows, or 200 needles, to each half of the card for a 400 machine, instead of 26 rows to one side and 25 to the other, making 408 needles, as is usually the case.
Fig. 87
In hand-loom districts, where old makes of machines are used, it is common to have 400, 500, or 600 needles to the machine, and the cards can be turned on the cylinders if required, and are also wrought backwards or forwards to suit. By cutting the cards from the painting in the reverse order—that is, beginning at the end of the painting and reading and fingering backwards—cards from a painting of a first centre could be cut to suit for a second centre, as it has exactly the same effect as turning over the card; but all the rows of needles must be used except any left at the first, and these and any selvage must be brought to the end of the painting when cutting the second set of cards, so as to get them to the first end of the card. The cutting begins, as is usual, at the numbered end of the card. Repainting the centre to suit is the safest way to avoid mistakes.
Fig. 88
When a name is running up the side of the cloth, lacing or working the cards backwards will reverse the reading of the letters from one side to the other, but not when they are running across the cloth. If the loom is mounted with the cards hanging to the front instead of to the back, the letters would also be turned from one side of the cloth to the other, and to be correct they would have to be painted or cut the reverse, unless the machine or mounting was built to suit.