Beeton's Book of Needlework Part 50

This monogram is worked partly in applique, partly in satin st.i.tch. For the middle part of the medallion sew on the pattern in applique of cambric with b.u.t.ton-hole st.i.tch; the remaining part of the embroidery is worked in satin st.i.tch and point russe.

412.--_Monogram for Pocket Handkerchiefs_.

Materials: Messrs. Walter Evans and Co.'s Embroidery Cotton No. 20, and Linen Thread No. 20.

This monogram is also worked in applique and satin st.i.tch. The circle all round the medallion is worked in applique; in the middle work lace st.i.tches from ill.u.s.tration. The edge of the medallion is worked round with b.u.t.ton-hole st.i.tch.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 412.--Monogram for Marking Handkerchiefs.]

413.--_Rosa_.

Material: Messrs. Walter Evans and Co.'s Embroidery Cotton No. 20.

Here the name is inclosed in a medallion of overcast and back st.i.tching, the lower part having a graceful wreath of leaves worked in satin st.i.tch. The letters which form the name are worked in raised and scalloped satin st.i.tch and point de pois.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 413. Rosa.]

414.--_Rosina_.

Material: Messrs. Walter Evans and Co.'s Embroidery Cotton No. 20.

The stars round this graceful initial letter are worked in raised satin st.i.tch round an eyelet-hole, the leaves in graduated satin st.i.tch, the stems overcast, the wreaths of flowers worked in satin st.i.tch and open eyelet-holes, the stems and veinings in overcast, and the stars on the stems to correspond with those worked in the letter: the rest of the letters in simple satin st.i.tch rather thickly raised.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 414.--Rosina.]

415.--_R.S._

Materials: Black china silk; Messrs. Walter Evans and Co.'s Embroidery Cotton No. 16.

These letters are worked in raised satin st.i.tch with a design of point russe worked in black silk.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 415.--R.S.]

416.--_S.E.B._

Material: Messrs. Walter Evans and Co.'s Embroidery Cotton No. 16.

These letters are worked in graduated satin st.i.tch, the centre star is worked in raised satin st.i.tch, and the four surrounding it as eyelet-holes.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 416.--S.E.B.]

417.--_L.E.P._

Material: Messrs. Walter Evans and Co.'s Embroidery Cotton No. 18.

These initials are worked in plain satin st.i.tch, and the elegant stars are worked in point russe worked round an eyelet-hole.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 417.--L.E.P.]

418.--_Victoria_.

Material: Messrs. Walter Evans and Co.'s Embroidery Cotton No. 20.

This name is most elaborately worked in satin st.i.tch, over-casting and eyelet-holes. The initial letter is worked in satin st.i.tch, and the stars in fine overcast round an eyelet-hole.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 418.--Victoria.]

POINT LACE WORK.

Lace is of two kinds--pillow lace, which is made upon a cus.h.i.+on or pillow, and point lace, which is made of st.i.tches or _points_ worked in patterns by hand, which are joined by various st.i.tches forming a groundwork, also the result of the needle above.

Pillow lace is entirely worked on the pillow or cus.h.i.+on, the pattern and ground being produced at the same time. Pillow lace is sometimes correctly called bone or bobbin lace, but it appears that the distinction has never been very nicely observed either by lace-workers or lace-traders, many sorts which are really pillow lace being called point, on account of some peculiarity in the st.i.tch or pattern.

The requisites for producing lace in perfection are the dexterity and taste of the workers, and the goodness of the material. To produce many beautiful fabrics a mechanical dexterity alone suffices, but in lace-making the worker must have some artistic talent, even when supplied with designs, for any one can perceive that deviations from the design are easily made, and that the slightest alteration by a worker wanting in taste will spoil the whole piece of workmans.h.i.+p.

The following ill.u.s.trations are specimens of ancient and modern laces from Mrs. Bury Palliser's collection:--

[Ill.u.s.tration: 419.--Dalecarlian Lace.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: 420.--Old Mechlin.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: 421.--Mechlin Lace (Queen Charlotte's).]

No. 419 shows Dalecarlian lace, made by the women of Dalecarlia. This is a coa.r.s.e kind of lace, and is sewn on caps, &c., and, although highly starched, is never washed, for fear of destroying its coffee-coloured tint, which, it appears, is as much prized now by the Swedish rustics as it was by English ladies in the last century.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 422.--Buckingham Point Trolly, 1851 (Black Lace).]

Both these specimens of Mechlin belonged to Queen Charlotte, who much admired this elegant lace.

No. 423.--The Bedford plaited lace is an improvement on the old Maltese.

Honiton guipure lace is distinguished by the groundwork being of various st.i.tches, in place of being sewn upon a net ground. The application of Honiton sprigs upon bobbin net has been of late years almost superseded by this modern guipure. The sprigs, when made, are sewn upon a piece of blue paper and united on the pillow with "cutworks" or "purlings," or else joined with the needle by various st.i.tches--lacet, point, reseau, cutwork, b.u.t.ton-hole, and purling.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 423.--Bedford Plaited Lace (1851).]