Page:Embroidery and Fancy Work.djvu/202

198 make two rows of diamonds with a Solomon's knot in the centre of each. For the next row take the top leader of the second diamond, which will be the fifth thread, counting from the left. Use this for new leader, holding it in your left hand, and knot the four right hand threads of the first diamond on to it; then take the top thread on at the left side, hold it in the right hand and knot the three threads from the left side of the second diamond on to it. Finish this diamond as you did those in the last row. Repeat until you have five diamonds; make four under these in the same way; three under the four, and so on till you have but one oval. Cut the fringe even.

If fringe is not wanted, the scollop can be finished off with a thick edge in the following manner: Bend each working thread to the right and knot the succeeding threads over them; cut two ends off after every second buttonhole stitch so as gradually to absorb the whole.

When working insertion, it is necessary that the lower edge should resemble the upper. This is managed in the following way:

Keep the last leader pinned on at both ends; take two threads, draw the second up under the line in a loop, pass the end of both threads through this loop, draw them up tight, to form a knot, the same as the one at the top line. The threads will now be in front, between the two last lines. Pass these threads to the back, one at each side of the knot, tie them firmly together at the back, sew the ends neatly to the work, on the wrong side with a needle and thread.

The beauty of Macramé lace, depends chiefly on taking care, first to keep the leaders perfectly straight; secondly, to work each knot of the same tightness,