Page:Embroidery and Fancy Work.djvu/19

Rh. An irregular, waving line has as disagreeable an effect as a weak line in drawing. Judgment also must be exercised in turning corners, working foliage, etc. The distance must be measured with the eye, and the stitches so adjusted as to avoid a sudden shortening or lengthening of the stitch. Care must be taken, too, to have the outline lie perfectly flat. Too loose a stitch will give a slovenly appearance; too tight a one will draw up the material. Always work with a short thread, as otherwise the silk or crewel will inevitably become rough. Avoid making knots in the back; a little practice will enable one to begin and end a line so as to look neatly in the back. Never work with too small a needle, as it will drag the material, and produce an unpleasant effect. A Kensington needle is the proper one to use.

One great advantage which outline work possesses is its adaptability to so many articles of every-day use, and the good results which are attainable with a comparatively slight expenditure of time and money. For outline work the less expensive materials should be selected for foundations.

A good piece of work to begin with is a set of d'oyliesdoilies [sic], for which designs like Fig. 1 are well adapted. They may be worked in linen sheeting — that a yard and a half in width cuts to the best advantage. For a dozen d'oyliesdoilies [sic] you will need half a yard and one inch. It is far better always to shrink washing material before working it. This is best done by washing it in hot suds, rinsing it through two waters, and then boiling it for ten or fifteen minutes. Rinse again in cold water, dry, and iron until it is perfectly smooth. Cut by a thread into small squares, a quarter of a yard each way. They should be fringed all around about seven-eighths of an inch deep, but it is best to do this fringing when the rest of the work is completed. The edges of the d'oyliesdoilies [sic] should be hemstitched, so as to hold the fringe in place. A