Twentieth lace stitch (fig. [739]).—By missing some loops of the close ground in one row and replacing them by the same number in the next, small gaps are formed, and by a regular and systematic missing and taking up of stitches, in this way, extremely pretty grounds can be produced.
Twenty-first lace stitch (fig. [740]).—These close lace stitches, can be varied in all sorts of other ways by embroidering the needle-made grounds.
In fig. [740], you have little tufts in darning stitch, and in a less twisted material than the close stitches of the ground, worked upon the ground.
If you use Fil à dentelle D.M.C (lace thread) for the ground, you should take either Coton à repriser D.M.C (darning cotton), or better still, Coton surfin D.M.C[A] for the tufts. The ground can also be ornamented with little rings of button-holing, stars or flowerets in bullion or some other fancy stitch.
Fig. 740. Twenty-first lace stitch.
Fig. 741. Twenty-second lace stitch.
Twenty-second lace stitch (fig. [741]).—For the above three stitches and the three that follow, the work has to be held, so that the finished rows are turned to the worker and the needle points to the outside of the hand. In the first row, from left to right, take hold of the thread near the end that is in the braid, lay it from left to right under the point of the needle, and bring it back again to the right, over the same. Whilst twisting the thread in this way round the needle with the right hand, you must hold the eye of the needle under the left thumb.