Many ladies who embroider frequently complain that wash silk does not
work smoothly, that the silk snarls or ravels, making a bad-looking
piece of work, without saying anything about trying one's patience.
"Now, what makes my silk snarl?" is heard only too often. They
frequently assign the cause of the trouble to the silk, when, in
reality it is the fault of the needle they are using.
Some teachers recommend the use of an ordinary sewing needle with a
round eye, but I prefer the long eye or "Crewel" needle. If you want
to do fine work, shading closely, and are using double (two threads
of) Corticelli Filo Silk, use a No. 8 "Crewel" needle. For single
(one thread of) Corticelli Filo Silk use a No. 9 or a No. 10 needle,
depending on the material upon which you are working. Generally
speaking, use a No. 10 needle, especially for bolting cloth, Chinese
linen, or grass linen. Corticelli Persian Floss requires a No. 8
needle. In working Corticelli Etching Silk choose a No. 7 needle. For
Corticelli Roman Floss use a No. 6 needle. Use a No. 3 or a No. 6
needle for Corticelli Rope Silk.
Harper's Queen Crewel Needles are the best, and I advise all
needleworkers to insist upon having them.
By following the above instructions there will be no excuse for
unsatisfactory working of Corticelli Silk.
NOTE.--If you cannot buy the needles you want in your
city, send six cents to the Nonotuck Silk Company, Bridge Street,
Florence, Mass., and they will send you four Queen Crewel needles
each, of sizes 7, 9, and 10.
_Silk Required to Work a Piece of Given Size._
As a matter of fact no two needleworkers will use the same quantity of
silk to work the same centerpiece or doily. One will require nearly
or quite twice as much as another, perhaps, owing to the method of
treatment or the way the shading is done. It is therefore almost
impossible to advise customers just how much silk they will need.
In nearly all the instructions we have given the maximum quantity of
silk required to embroider a 22 inch centerpiece. You may not need as
much as the directions call for. Of course smaller sizes of linen will
take less silk to work them, and the necessary quantity can readily be
estimated.
If you are in doubt as to how much material you will want, you can
order from your dealer one skein of some shades, and two of others,
even if the instructions called for three or four skeins of a shade,
and then order again when you find you will require more. However,
it is always safer to buy at one time all the silk necessary for one
piece, and we cannot too strongly recommend this plan.
_Points for Beginners._
Embroidery is very fascinating work, but to attain perfection one
must study the subject. We have been fortunate in securing so well
known an authority on Art Needlework as Mrs. L. Barton Wilson to
furnish a chapter on Embroidery Stitches. This article, which even the
experienced worker will be glad to read, is especially valuable to
beginners, who will find no difficulty in making the different stitches
by following the directions and examining the illustrations.
Beginners should read "Hints upon the Selection of Material," and "The
Size of Needle to Use," as well as "To Wash Embroidered Linens." In
shading flowers in which many colors are required, have a separate
needle threaded with each shade; in fact, this is a good plan even if
you are using only a few shades.
Choose a simple design to begin with, such as a Violet, a Buttercup,
or a Daisy, and get a small size stamped linen, not over nine inches
square. At the end of the instructions for each design we have
printed the words (Easy), (Not Difficult), (Somewhat Difficult), or
(Difficult), which show the degree of skill necessary to embroider each
piece successfully.
No printed instructions can help a beginner as much as a lesson, or
better still a course of lessons, under a good teacher. However, we
have tried to make the instructions explicit, and we think further
details will be unnecessary; still, should you find trouble in working
any of the designs, or want to know where materials can be obtained, we
will gladly answer questions and give you any desired information. A
stamp should be enclosed for reply.
[Illustration: CORTICELLI BORDER NO. 606. COLORED
PLATE II.]
[Illustration: CORTICELLI BORDER NO. 607. COLORED
PLATE III.]
[Illustration: CORTICELLI BORDER NO. 609. COLORED
PLATE IV.]
[Illustration: CORTICELLI BORDER NO. 610. COLORED
PLATE V.]
[Illustration: CORTICELLI BORDER NO. 615. COLORED
PLATE VI.]