Page:Every Woman's Encyclopedia Volume 1.djvu/791

 out in natural colours, very restrained and beautiful results are sometimes obtained b' using only neutral tints. This ribbon work in white, mist grey, and shadow colours looked lovely on a panel for a white soft satin ball gown ; while a pole screen, worked with roses and foliage in pastel shades, brimming over a basket in gold thread, was hard to beat in delicate effect. Description of Coloured Frontispiece Theatre Bag, measuring seven inches by nine, on ivory velvet. Louis XV. bow in pale hehotrope ribbon, caught down with French knots in silk of a darker shade. The same silk is crocheted tightly and forms the cord. The bag is lined with heliotrope silk. The garland is worked in green silk, the leaves in rat- tail chenille in natural colours, the roses in three shades of rose ribbon. Tea Cosy of white satin worked with picotee design in giant ribbon work ; the leaves are in ombre ribbon and are stitched down with green silk, which also forms the stalks and calix. The ribbon for the flowers is of an unusual kind, with a dark edging most suitable for this special flower. It is drawn through the satin, then run at the edge and arranged so as to shape the petals ; numerous 763 NEEDLEWORK tacking stitches keep them in place. A fine green silk cord finishes the edge of the cosy. The Do yley is worked on rose petal satin, with an edging of machine-made Valen- ciennes lace and a feather-stitch border of white silk ; the rose garland is in shaded miniature ribbon, the stalks in green stem stitch, and the leaves in ribbon. The charm ol this simple pattern lies in its dainty colouring. The Tray is set in an old inlaid frame, which has once been a screen mounted on a pole. The brass handles are modern. With regard to the needlework covered with glass for protection, the outer forget-me-not border is wrought entirely with ribbon, a French knot being set in the centre of each flower. The larger leaves of the central wreath are in silk, the stems of the flowers and the buds ; the rest of the blossoms are of ribbon. Very characteristic of the rococo work of the period when ribbon work was so much in vogue is the diaper pattern in the middle formed by fine gold thread sewn down and web-like ornaments in finest filoselle. The whole is worked on a rare old buff-coloured silk background, which harmonises well with the warm tones of the inlaid frame and the apricot tone of the Richardson roses, ^eloved of all rose growers. lODEM-BEAD EMBR.OIBEM.Y Used as Placiues for Waist Ornament — For Holding Skirt Drapery in Position — Colour of Beads should Harmonise with the Gown T^he colours ol the wooden beads being shown in the shops are so beautiful and alluring that it is no wonder people are inspired to do embroideries of which they form the motif. As the beads are .of a fair size, a very good effect can be gained with little trouble. They are also not at all expensive, the smallest size being obtainable for 6|d. the row, and larger ones, in an ellipti- cal shape, for 8|d, A 'row of each would be more than sufficient for any gown, as the embroidery is too striking to e m- ploy much on the one dress. If, however, it is desired to intro- duce a third colour, a further strmg of beads would be necessary. The best way to employ the embroidery is in plaques used to form ornaments at the waist, and to catch in any drapery at the sides of the skirt, and perhaps a small one in the centre of the bodice, and on each sleeve. The example shown in our illustration An example of wooden bead embroidery. An ornament to go at the waist of an evening gown is a waist ornament for an evening gown. It is made of platinum tissue mounted over tailor's canvas. First draw your shape in paper, folding it in the centre and tracing the second half through, so as to be sure to get it quite even. The measurements for this particular ornament are 6 inches deep and 9 inches across. Cut this in tailor's canvas, and cover it with the tissue. If you want to give the tissue the appearance of be- ing embroidered by hand with platinum thread, without having the trouble of doing this, get some metalhc lace, cut away the net ground, and apply the design, sew- ing it neatly down around the edges. The border of the ornament must be outlined with a narrow, gold metallic cord. There is a new kind, which is very supple, similar to the satin rat's tail trimming. The colours of the beads must be chosen to harmonise with the gown, turquoise blue and rose colour being efiective with grey.