The braids are joined together where they meet with a few overcasting stitches, as shown in the illustration.
Here, we find one of the lace stitches used instead of picots; the first row of fig. [736] always makes a nice border for Irish lace.
Irish lace (fig. [771]).—This pattern, which is more complicated and takes more time and stitches than the preceding one, can also be executed with one or other of the braids mentioned at the beginning of the chapter; but it looks best made with a close braid.
Fig. 771. Irish lace.
Materials: Lacet surfin D.M.C No. 5, white or écru and Fil d’Alsace D.M.C Nos. 40 to 150, or Fil à dentelle D.M.C Nos. 50 to 150.
The bars, which in the illustration are simply button-holed may also be ornamented with picots of one kind or another; the interior spaces of the figure on the left can be filled, instead of with corded bars, with one of the lace stitches we have described, either fig. [720], [721], or [732], any one of which is suitable for filling in small spaces like these.
In the figure on the right, the ring of braid may be replaced by close button-hole stitches, made over several foundation threads or over one thick thread, such as Fil à pointer D.M.C No. 10 or 20[A] to make them full and round.
You begin the ring on the inside and increase the number of stitches as the circumference increases.
Any of the stitches, from fig. [720] to fig. [743], can be introduced here.