By Elizabeth Moore Hallowell.
Materials—22 inch Centerpiece: Corticelli Filo Silk, 4 skeins 785; 3 skeins 784; 2 skeins each 725, 726, 727, 728, 729, 783; 1 skein each 621, 622, 779.5, 780, 781, 782. Corticelli Persian Floss, 8 skeins 615. Smaller pieces take less silk. Dealers can furnish stamped linen of this design in 22 and 27 inch sizes. They can also furnish stamped linen, 9 inch square, of the set of four doily designs (Nos. 56A, B, C, D), to match this centerpiece. See page 92.
Purple Clematis Centerpiece Design No. 56.
One can always do better embroidery, as is the case in all branches of art, if thoroughly familiar with one's subject; then the mind, which is really the source of intelligent work, can act through the pencil, the pen, or the needle, and give to the result the added touch of knowledge at first hand. Therefore, if possible, before working this design secure a spray of the real clematis, choosing the variety known as Clematis Jackmanni, which is probably one of the best known.
The Purple Clematis blossoms in June, July, or August, according to the climate, but it can be secured from florists during other months. Notice that the flowers often have four petals, and nearly as often five. This is a marked peculiarity of the plant. Observe also the buds and sprays of leaves, starting from the axils of the branches; the curling tendency of the stems, by which tendril-like quality the plant climbs. Sometimes the leaves will drop off from these stems, leaving occasionally what looks like a real tendril, but what is in reality the leaf-stem.
This centerpiece may be worked in heavy outline, which produces a very decorative effect with less labor, but this is not recommended, the design being of a large and handsome flower, which calls for stronger and more lasting treatment, and the instructions given therefore are for solid embroidery, in long and short stitch. (See article on Stitches—"Feather Stitch.") While purple is the usual color of the flower, it is sometimes very pale lavender, but for a decorative design merely, the flowers might be worked in white with greenish shadings.
Clematis Doily No. 56 A.
Flowers.—Begin the edge of petals with Purple, 729, shading gradually lighter toward the base of the petal, using 728, 727, 726, 725. The lightest shades should come into a vein in the center of the petal. For the under side, or turned over parts, of the petals use 725 and 726. The contrast between the color of upper and under sides is very marked. Work the pistil solid, using 781 for the upper and 782 for the lower half. See Colored Plate XXII.