PLAIN NEEDLEWORK.
MISCELLANEOUS INSTRUCTIONS.
BINDING.--Various kinds of work have binding set on to them in
preference to hemming them, or working them in herring-bone stitch.
Flannel is generally bound; sometimes with a thin tape, made for that
purpose, and called "flannel binding." It is also common to bind flannel
with sarcenet ribbon. The binding is so put on, as to show but little
over the edge on the right side, where it is hemmed down neatly; on the
other side, it is run on with small stitches.
BRAIDING.--Silk braid looks pretty, and is used for a variety of
purposes. In putting it on, it is best to sew it with silk drawn out of
the braid, as it is a better match, and the stitches will be less
perceived.
MARKING.--It is of essential importance that cloths should be marked and
numbered. This is often done with ink, but as some persons like to mark
with silk, we shall describe the stitch. Two threads are to be taken
each way of the cloth, and the needle must be passed three ways, in
order that the stitch may be complete. The first is aslant from the
person, toward the right hand; the second is downward, toward you: and
the third is the reverse of the first, that is, aslant from you toward
the left hand. The needle is to be brought out at the corner of the
stitch, nearest to that you are about to make. The shapes of the letters
or figures can be learnt from an inspection of any common sampler.
PIPING.--This is much used in ornamenting children's and other dresses.
It is made by inclosing a cord, of the proper thickness, in a stripe of
silk, cut the cross-way, and must be put on as evenly as possible.
PLAITING.--The plaits must be as even as it is possible to place them,
one against another. In double plaiting they lie both ways, and meet in
the middle.
TUCKS.--These require to be made even. You should have the breadth of
the tuck, and also the space between each, notched on a card. They look
the best run on with small and regular stitches. You must be careful to
take a back-stitch constantly, as you proceed.
MAKING BUTTONS.--Cover the wire with a piece of calico, or other
material of the proper size; turn in the corners neatly, and work round
the wire in button-hole stitch; work the centre like a star.
Some may think that we have been too minute; but we were desirous to
omit nothing that could be generally useful; and we have had regard also
to those ladies who, having been under no necessity of practising plain
needlework in their earlier years, are desirous of preparing articles
for their humbler fellow creatures, or by the sale of which, they
procure more ample supplies for the funds of charity. We have good
reason to believe, that many well-disposed persons would be glad, in
this way, to aid the cause of humanity--and to devote a portion of their
leisure hours to the augmenting of the resources of benevolence--but
they are destitute of the practical experience necessary to enable them
to do so. To all such, we hope our little manual will be an acceptable
offering, and enable them, by a judicious employment of the means and
talents committed to their trust, to realize the truth of the saying of
the wise man, "There is that scattereth and yet increaseth."
DIAGRAM.
___________________________________________________
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----|
| 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
|----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----|
| 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
|----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----|
| 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 |
|----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----|
| 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 |
|----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----|
| 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 |
|----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----|
| 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 70 |
|----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----|
| 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 77 | 78 | 79 | 80 |
|----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----|
| 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89 | 90 |
|----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----|
| 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 |100 |
|----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----|
|101 |102 |103 |104 |105 |106 |107 |108 |109 |110 |
|----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----|
|111 |112 |113 |114 |115 |116 |117 |118 |119 |120 |
---------------------------------------------------
In order to render the elementary stitches of fancy needle-work as easy
of acquirement as possible, we subjoin the following diagram; any lady
will thus be able to form the various stitches, by simply taking a piece
of canvas, and counting the corresponding number of threads, necessary
to form a square like the diagram; she will perceive the lines
represent the threads of the canvas, the squares numbered being the
holes formed by the intersection of the threads; and following the
directions given in the accompanying chapter, she will soon be able to
work any patterns here exhibited, and such new ones as her inventive
genius may lead her to design.