_ARTICLES IN SILK EMBROIDERY._
There is scarcely an article for which ornament of this kind is used
that may not be decorated with silk embroidery, and it is suitable for
all materials. Curtains, portières, and table-covers are very handsome
done in outline with silk of the same color, but a lighter shade
than the ground; and whole sets of furniture have been undertaken by
ambitious workers.
A SCREEN OF PEACOCK FEATHERS.
This was embroidered on a foundation of pale peach-blossom silk with
split floss, and made up with a plain ebony frame, ornamented here and
there with a little dead gold.
It was an exquisite piece of work, both in design and execution; and so
wonderfully did the brilliant silks reflect the changeful hues of the
bronze-greens and browns, that it was difficult to convince visitors
that real feathers were not fastened on. The only pattern used by the
embroiderer was one tail-feather dropped by a majestic fowl almost at
her feet; and while walking with the trophy in her hand, the design of
the screen came to her and was forthwith executed.
It was a good-sized fire-place screen; and as the room was furnished in
dark-blue, it showed to great advantage.
A PRETTY BANNER-SCREEN.
This was fastened to the end of the mantel; and the crimson satin
foundation was covered with a small diaper pattern in maroon silk.
Thick clusters of small daisies without leaves were worked as a
bordering in embroidery-stitch; the centres in knot-stitch. In
the middle of the screen was a beautifully-designed monogram in
gold-colored silk.
ANOTHER BANNER-SCREEN
was attached to a gilt stand. This stood on a table and was intended
to shade the eyes from a lamp or candle. The ground was of pale green
silk, and it was beautifully embroidered with ivy-leaves of darker
shades. In the centre, there was an antique lamp done in gold thread;
and the banner was finished with a chenille fringe of green and white.
It was lined with white silk.
EMBROIDERED TABLE-TOP.
Figure 41 may be used for a variety of purposes. It makes a very pretty
top for a small table; and is worked in stalk-stitch, chain-stitch,
point russe, and knotted stitch, with the flowers in pink,
claret-color, and yellow, on a pale-blue ground. The sprays and leaves
are in shades of olive-green.
The table, which looks best with a pedestal of ebony, or ebonized wood,
has a border-fringe of Macramé lace.
[Illustration: Fig. 41.]
WINDOW-CURTAIN BORDER.
A very handsome bordering for window-curtains was lately worked
by an artistic needlewoman; figures of dragons in gold-colored
embroidery-silk on a ground of maroon rep. The bordering was intended
for a soft gray material; and the straight cornice-band was embroidered
in the same device.
EMBROIDERED DRESSES.
Silk embroidery is very ornamental for dresses--although for this
purpose usually done only in one color. Ordinarily, it would be a
formidable piece of work to do it in the style of smaller articles; but
ingenuity and rapid execution sometimes go hand in hand. The heroine
of a story is represented as threading her needle with one length of
crimson silk, and with this scanty material, bringing out a crimson
rose on a silk handkerchief almost as quickly as a magician could do
it. A few deft stitches--and there it was. It was taken to pieces quite
as easily, and no trace of it remained.
But embroidery does not usually go on in this fashion; it is careful
work; and she who takes the greatest pains, as a general thing meets
with the best success.
Embroidered robes for full dress are decidedly the fashion now; and one
of black silk, or lace, embroidered with carnations, is beautiful for
a brunette--while the delicate blonde may wreathe herself with blue
convolvulus, or deeply-pink wild roses, on a white or cream-colored
ground. Every one has her favorite flower; and to wear it embroidered
on an evening dress is a graceful way of proclaiming it.
PANELS.
Painted panels and tiles have become almost a mania; but the needle of
the embroideress can produce quite as charming results. Painting is
more quickly done; but every one cannot paint, while many who cannot do
this can embroider exquisitely.
To keep the embroidered panel or tile fresh and bright, it should
be protected by glass; and properly treated, it will be quite as
satisfactory as painting.
The two panels for the doors of a small hanging-cabinet are very
pretty with a ground of cloth-of-gold, gold-colored satin, or silk--a
spray of wistaria worked on one--wild roses on the other. Violets and
anemones are pretty together; and on anything with four panels may be
represented the flowers or birds of the four seasons.
Silhouettes in black silk may be worked on all colored grounds for
tiles; and ingenuity can accomplish wonders in this way. The whole
procession of flowers, from the first snow-drop, or hepatica, of early
spring, to the holly and berries of Christmas, may be followed up
on tiles; the fans and umbrellas of all nations; and various other
suggestions, both practical and amusing.
SMALL CURTAILS OR HANGINGS
For cabinets and book-shelves may be made of various materials,
and ornamented with silk embroidery. The patterns should be more
delicate and finished, and the materials of finer quality than for
large hangings. Arabesques of chain-stitch in gold-colored silk on a
dark-blue ground of velveteen, with a pretty border pattern at top
and bottom; or a bright-colored bird on a branch, with a butterfly in
one corner, for a background; buttercups and daisies on a ground of
golden-brown, would all be effective.
A WREATHED PICTURE.
Something new in the way of embroidery is to border a picture in this
manner. The frames with painted corners may be imitated with the
needle, and the daisies, violets, and other flowers will be found quite
as ornamental in embroidery.
But the wreathed picture was a fine engraving of the Mater Dolorosa,
small enough to make the process practicable. It was unmounted, and
the back carefully pasted on the foundation of light-blue satin. Not a
wrinkle was visible after it was thoroughly smoothed with a soft piece
of old cambric; and after sewing a piece of narrow, gold-colored silk
braid around the edge, a wreath of Annunciation lilies was traced and
embroidered on the satin. It was so beautifully done as to look like
painting; and with a glass over the whole the illusion was complete. It
was put in a gilded Florentine frame.
AN EMBROIDERED ROOM.
It was very pretty to read about in a story, and not impossible
to carry out practically. The prevailing colors of the room were
pale-blue and carnation; and the curtain-lambrequins of pale-blue
were embroidered with sprays of woodbine in its autumn dress of vivid
scarlet and crimson. The mantel-hanging was in blocks like tiles, done
in the same colors; and the panels of a home-made cabinet were likewise
embroidered.
These things, with other accessions, made it a charming room; and if
one could walk bodily into just such an apartment, the effect would
doubtless be all that it was represented.
A FAN TABLE-COVER.
Outlined palm leaves are very pretty, and fans are no less so. The
groundwork of cloth, flannel, or satin (if a small table), has three or
five parallel strips of velvet ribbon sewn down on each side with point
russe stitches of gold-colored silk, and put far enough apart for fans
of all colors to be embroidered between them.
These are worked in long embroidery-stitch; and although less work if
merely outlined, they are so very much richer and brighter looking when
filled in as to be quite worth the trouble. The ground may be of any
color that harmonizes with the rest of the room.
A CHAIR-COVER.
Long embroidered strips that will cover both back and seat of the kind
of lounging-chair now so much in use are very pretty worked like the
table-cover--the groundwork of the middle strip being of gray satin or
velveteen, with the rows of fans separated by garnet-colored velvet
ribbon, and a strip of the same colored velveteen on either side of the
gray. A fringe where the covering ends at top and bottom gives it the
look of being carelessly thrown there.
FIRE-SCREENS.
We have just been shown two exquisite pieces of embroidery intended
for fire-screens. One represented flame-colored gladioli on a black
satin ground, and was rich beyond expression; the other was worked with
cat-tails, reeds, and some unpretending little yellow flowers on a
blue ground. The material looked like a Chinese groundwork.
The coloring of both of these needle-paintings was perfect; and as to
the stitches, it was difficult to believe that there were any--the
shades were blended as if with a brush.
A CHILD’S AFGHAN.
It was made of strips of pink and white cashmere; the pink
ones embroidered with daisies, the white ones with pansies, in
embroidery-silk--and it was one of the prettiest things of the kind
ever seen. It was lined with thin pink silk slightly wadded and
quilted, and bordered with a ruching of pink ribbon. The seams were
concealed by lines of feather-stitch in garnet-colored silk.
The resources of silk embroidery are inexhaustible; and all sorts of
small articles, pin-cushions, brackets, watch-stands, glove-boxes,
sachets, etc., will suggest themselves. Fans, too, are beautifully
embroidered, and divide admiration with fine painting. Ornamental
velvets for neck, wrists, and belt, are a fashionable device--and these
are embroidered with single flowers: daisies, violets, etc.