Chapter 2

Work in double-stitch crochet, passing the hook through both the upper and under loop of the stitch of the preceding row. With black make a chain nine inches in length. Work 1 row; work 2 rows with each shade of green, commencing with the darkest; work 2 rows with black, then work 1 row with each shade of puce, commencing at the darkest. Work five stripes with each colour, and in working the last row but one of black work 3 chain, miss 3, fourteen stitches from each end. These form button-holes.

_For the Ends_.--With darkest green make a chain of 9 stitches; unite, and work two rounds, increasing in every stitch in the first and every alternate in the second round. Work two rounds with each of the other shades, increasing always in the same stitch. Work one round with black, one with the lightest puce, then one with black. Work a second end in the same manner.

_For the Handle_.--With black make a chain fourteen inches in length. Work one row with the second shade of green, one with the mid shade of puce, then one with the third shade of green, and one again with black. Crochet in the ends to the body of the bag. Line with leather. Sew on the handle, the tassels, and also two buttons on the side opposite to the button-holes. Sew gimp round the joining at the ends, or work 3 plain stitches, 9 chain, miss 4, with black wool.--

_2d row_. 1 stitch of double crochet in every stitch.

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EMBROIDERY

14. CIGAR-CASE.

_Materials--Dark crimson velvet, or cachmere and gold twist or embroidery silk; if the latter, three shades of green, three of rose, three of blue, three of yellow, three of violet, and two of brown will be requisite_.

Draw the pattern on the material with a white crayon, and work in embroidery-stitch with gold twist or the silks, as may be preferred; if the silks are used, work the leaves with the shades of green, the stems with brown, the pansy with the shades of violet and yellow, the buds of the rose with the greens and the rose-colours, and the forget-me-nots with blue, carefully blending the shades as may be suggested by the taste of the worker. Finish with a row of gold twist sewed round the edge of the case.

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EMBROIDERY

15. COLLAR AU FESTON.

_Materials--Cambric muslin and French working-cotton No. 80, or black silk and fine sewing-silk_.

Having drawn the pattern on the material, work the lines and the edge in button-hole stitch; then cut out the spaces between the lines, leaving only the parts which are worked.

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SCAGLIOLA WORK

16. CARD-CASE.

See directions in page 22.

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EMBROIDERY

19. CLARET-JUG MAT.

_Materials--White silk or cachmere; three shades of scarlet, three of blue, three of green, and two of yellow chenille; five shades of scarlet Berlin wool, two skeins of each shade; and two skeins of white wool_.

Draw the pattern on the material; work in embroidery-stitch the centre flower with the shades of scarlet, and the stamens of the flower with two shades of yellow. The buds are worked with scarlet, the small flowers with blue, and the leaves with green.

Work the fringe from the directions for fringe for liqueur-stand, and line with green silk.

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EMBROIDERY

20, 21. CORNER FOR HANDKERCHIEF.

_Materials--French cotton No_. 120.

Work in raised satin stitch.

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CROCHET.

22. COVER FOR EASY-CHAIR.

_Materials--Raworth's crochet-thread No. 21, and pink and drab crochet-thread of corresponding quality_.

With drab make a chain the length required.--

_1st and 2d rows_. Double crochet.--

_3d row_. 1 long, 2 chain, miss 2; repeat.--

_4th row_. 1 long, 5 chain, (a) 5 long, 5 chain, miss 5; repeat from (a).--

_5th row_. 1 long, 4 chain, (a) 5 long, worked on the last stitch of chain and above the first four long of last row; repeat from (a).--

_6th, 7th, and 8th rows_. As _5th row_, but that the number of edge-stitches must decrease in each row.--

_9th row_. 5 long, the first worked above the second long of last row, the remaining above the remaining long, and in the first stitch of chain; repeat.--

_10th, 11th, and 12th rows_. As _9th row_, increasing the number of edge-stitches.--

_13th row_. With white, double crochet.--

_14th row_. 1 long, 2 chain, miss 2; repeat.--

_15th row_. 7 stitches of double, _(a)_ make a chain of 15 loops, form a circle by working a plain stitch into the ninth loop; 7 chain, 1 plain, worked into the second loop; 7 chain, 1 plain, worked into the third loop; 7 chain, 1 plain, worked into the fifth loop; 7 chain, 1 plain, worked into the sixth loop; 7 chain, 1 plain, worked into the eighth loop; work a stitch of single crochet in each of the remaining chain stitches, then 15 stitches of double crochet in the fifteen following stitches of the 14th row; repeat from _(a)_ to the end of row.

With pink work rows of single open crochet between the flowers already worked with white, attaching the thread to the second stitch of foundation in the _1st row_, and finishing in the third chain in the opposite leaf. In the _2d row_, fasten the thread to the third chain of second leaf, and finish at the opposite leaf.--_3d row_. Fasten on at the fifth chain of second leaf, and finish at the opposite leaf.--_4th row_. Commence at third chain of third leaf, and finish at opposite leaf. Work thus between each of the flowers to the end of row, then work a row of single open crochet.

With white work 1 row in double crochet, and a row, 1 long, 2 chain, miss 2; repeat. Recommence again at 2d row, and repeat the stripes of drab five times, and of pink three times. Procure two tassels of the colours used in the cover for chair, and attach to the sides.

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CROCHET.

23. LADY'S RETICULE.

_Materials--Drab crochet-thread, two shades of narrow blue satin ribbon, cord and tassels to correspond with the ribbon; a piece of blue and a piece of white silk as a lining_.

Make a chain of 130 stitches.--

_1st row_. Double crochet.--

_2d row_. 3 chain, 3 long.--

_3d row_. 3 long worked in the 3 chain, 3 chain; repeat.--

_4th and two following rows_. 1 long, 3 chain.--

_7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th rows_. Like the _2d_ and _3d_; repeat from the 3d row twice, and finish with 3 rows, 3 long, 3 chain, miss 3. Crochet the sides together, work a row of double-long stitches around the top, in which to insert the cord, and finish with a row of double crochet. Pass the ribbon through the rows of 3 chain, 3 long, placing the lightest in the centre strip, as will be seen by referring to illustration. Make a double lining with the silk; place the white next the reticule, and the blue inside, and finish with cord and tassels.

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SCAGLIOLA WORK

24. SPECTACLE-CASE.

Procure a case made of sycamore wood of proper shape. Upon this draw the design with a pencil, trace over the pencil-marks with Indian ink and a fine crow-quill; then fill in the ground with Indian ink and a camel's-hair brush. After two or three days, varnish with the best picture-varnish.

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CROCHET.

25. TOILET-CUSHION.

_Material--Raworth's thread No. 90_.

Make a chain of 9 stitches, join and work 3 rounds in double crochet.--

_4th round_. 3 chain, 1 long in every alternate stitch.--

_5th round_. Double crochet.--

_6th round_. 3 chain crochet.--

_7th round_. Two 3 chain crochet-stitches, 3 chain, 7 long in the centre loop of 5th, 3 chain crochet-stitch.--

_8th round_. Three 3 chain crochet-stitches, 7 chain over the 7 long.--

_9th round_. Double crochet.--

_10th round_. 3 chain, 1 long in every alternate stitch.--

_11th round_. Double crochet.--

_12th round_. Two 3 chain crochet-stitches, 6 long in 9th stitch.--

_13th round_. Four 3 chain crochet-stitches, 6 long over the 6 long.--

_14th round_. Three 3 chain crochet-stitches, 8 long.--

_15th round_. Two 3 chain crochet, 10 long.--

_16th round_. 3 chain, 12 long.--

_17th round_. Four 3 chain crochet-stitches over the 12 long, 7 long in the centre loop of 3 chain.--

_13th round_. Five 3 chain crochet-stitches, 9 long over the 7 long.--

_14th round_. Three 3 chain crochet, 11 long.--

_15th round_. Two 3 chain crochet, 13 long.--

_16th round_. 3 chain, 15 long.--

_17th round_. Double crochet.--

_18th round_. 3 chain, 2 long, missing two stitches.--

_19th round_. Double crochet.--

_20th round_. 7 chain, 7 long in centre of 7th stitch.--

_21st round_. 7 chain, 7 long over the 7 long.--

_22d round_. 7 chain, 7 long.--

_23d round_. 9 chain, 5 long.--

_24th round_. 11 chain, 3 long.--

_25th round_. Double crochet.

_Lace_.--_1st round_. 8 chain, 6 long, missing 6 stitches.--

_2d round_. 5 chain, 1 long in centre of 8 chain, 5 chain, 4 long over the 6 long.--

_3d round_. 5 chain crochet to the centre of 5 chain, 5 chain crochet to the centre of 5 chain, 5 chain, 3 long.--

_4th round_. 5 chain. Work this lace round the top of the row of leaves which is to form the side of cushion, commencing at the 17th round.

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KNITTING

26. BONNET-PRESERVER.

_Materials--Raworths thread No. 34, or fine knitting-cotton; pins No 16_.

Cast on _92_ stitches.--

_1st row_. Plain.--

_2d row_. Knit 1, (a) thread forward, knit 2 together; repeat from (a).--

_3d row_. Pearl.--

_4th row_. Cast off 13 stitches at the beginning and end of the row, knit the remaining stitches.--

_5th row_. Pearl.--

_6th row_. Knit 3, (a) thread forward, knit 5, thread forward, knit 3 together; repeat from (a), and finish with knit 3.--

_7th row_. Pearl.--

_8th row_. Knit 1, knit 2 together, (a) thread forward, knit 2 together, knit 3, knit 2 together, thread forward, knit 1; repeat from (a), and finish with knit 2 together, knit 1.--

_9th row_. Pearl.--

_10th row_. Knit 2, (a) thread forward, knit 3, thread forward, knit 2 together, knit 1, knit 2 together; repeat from (a), and finish with knit 2.--

_11th row_. Pearl.

Commence again at 6th row, beginning each row with knit 2, and knit until five diamonds are worked; knit two plain rows, then thread forward, knit 2 together, after which a pearl row, and cast off loosely in knitting the two last diamonds, and the remaining rows increase by making a stitch at the beginning and end of each row; join the piece behind, and pass a narrow ribbon through the open loops and down the front, leaving sufficient for strings.

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EMBROIDERY

27. SMALL OTTOMAN.

_Materials--Black satin; four shades of scarlet, four ditto of crimson, four ditto of amber, four ditto of peach, three ditto of stone-colours, three ditto of blue, three ditto of blue greens, three ditto of yellow greens, and one skein of white embroidery silk or of Berlin wools_.

Draw the pattern upon the satin, and work in embroidery stitch. Commence the first dahlia with shades of amber; the second with the shades of stone-colour, using white for the lightest; the third with scarlet shades; the fourth with peach shades; the roses with the crimsons; the lilies with the stone-colours, using white for the lightest shade; and the forget-me-nots with the shades of blue. Work the rose-leaves with the yellow greens, and the dahlia-leaves with the blue greens; work the stems with brown. The stamens of the yellow dahlia must be worked with green, but in all the others with yellow.

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CROCHET.

28. CARD-BASKET.

_Materials--Shaded green, shaded amber, shaded geranium-colour, Berlin wool; two skeins of blue, two of green, Berlin wool, and two yards of wire, will also be required_.

With shaded green make a chain of nine stitches; unite and work ten rounds in close double crochet, increasing in every stitch in the first round, in every alternate in the second, and in the same stitch in each of the succeeding rounds.--

_11th round_. Work along stitch in each stitch, missing every ninth stitch.--

_12th round_. 3 long, 3 chain, miss 2.--

_13th round (with amber)_. 3 long worked in the 3 chain of last round, 4 chain; repeat.--

_14th round_. Close double crochet.--

_15th round (with shaded green)_. 3 long worked in one stitch, 1 chain, miss 3; repeat.--

_16th round_. Close double crochet.--

_17th round (with amber)_. 3 long worked above the one chain of 15th round, 2 chain; repeat.--

_18th and_ _19th rounds_. Close double crochet. The last of these rounds is worked over a wire, and a round in close double crochet, with amber, is also worked over a wire in the 10th round, to form the bottom of basket. Wrap four pieces of wire, the height of the basket, with green wool, and attach to the inside at regular distances. Prepare a piece of wire, in like manner, for the handle. Work the handle as follows:

With shaded green make a chain the length required.--

_2d row (with amber)_. Close double crochet.--

_3d row (with green)_. Close double crochet; sew this to the wire, which must be placed in the under side.

Prepare the flowers and leaves which ornament the edge of the basket in the following manner:

_Geranium_.--With geranium-coloured wool make a chain of five stitches, unite, and work a round in double crochet, increasing in every stitch; work a round without increasing, then work 1 single crochet, 2 chain, 3 long, 2 chain, 1 single crochet, in one stitch, miss 1, and repeat in every alternate stitch.

_For the Cup of the Flower_.--With green make a chain of five stitches, unite, and work 1 single, 2 long, 1 single in every stitch. Make the stamens with amber wool, and sew the stamens and flower to the cup.

_For Geranium-bud_.--With geranium-colour make a chain of three stitches, unite, increase in the second round by working two in each alternate stitch; work 2 rounds without increasing; then work two rounds decreasing in every stitch. With green make a chain of four stitches, unite, and work 1 single, 3 long, 1 single; repeat three times, and draw the bud through this, leaving a piece for the stem, which must be wrapped with green wool. _Forget-me-not_.--With blue make a chain of five, unite, and into this ring work 1 single, 2 long, 1 single; repeat four times.

_For the Cup of the Flower_.--With green make a chain of four stitches, work 1 single, 1 long in every loop; make stamens with pieces of amber wool; place the flower within the cup, draw the stamens through, and sew at the end, leaving a piece of wool for the stem, which is wrapped with green.

_For the Leaves_.--With green make a chain of 18 stitches; work down one side of these for 11 stitches in single crochet; turn to the other side, work 1 single, 2 long, in the first two stitches; (_a_) 1 single, 1 long, in third stitch; 2 double long in the fourth; 1 long, 2 chain, in the fifth stitch; repeat from (_a_) once, and work 1 long, 2 double long, in the ninth and tenth stitches, and in the last stitch work two treble long. Work the other side of leaf to correspond. Work down the chain to the fifteenth stitch; from this work a chain of 11 stitches, and work a leaf from the directions already given. Work a third leaf on the reverse side of stem. Seven geraniums and three buds will be required, and fifteen forget-me-nots and seven sprays of leaves will also be needed.

Arrange the flowers and leaves on the basket as seen in illustration, and sew on the handle.

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CROCHET

29. RAISED CROCHET COLLAR.

_Materials--Raworth's crochet-thread No. 70, and a middle-sized tambour-needle_.

Cut out in paper the shape of the collar you wish to make, but half an inch larger all round.

_Edging for the Collar_.--Make a chain about one-third longer than the outside of your paper pattern, turn and work the first row along the chain in long crochet, making a chain stitch after each long one, and missing the corresponding loop of the chain.--

_2d row_. Turn again, keeping the work on the right side; make 3 chain stitches, and along the opposite edge of the long stitches, (_a_), work 10 plain stitches, and in the tenth a chain of 9 stitches; turn, and along the vein just made work 8 stitches in double crochet, and 1 plain stitch in the loop from which the chain springs; repeat from (_a_) throughout the row. Break off your cotton, and begin the next row and all the following at the other end.--

_3d row. (b_) Work 9 plain stitches, then work round the vein in long stitches, making an additional stitch at the top; repeat from (_b_).--

_4th row. (c_) Work 8 plain stitches, then round the leaf in long stitches, making 2 additional stitches in the top loop; repeat from (_c_).--

_5th row. (d_) Work 7 plain stitches, then, in double crochet, making round the leaf an additional stitch in the top loop; repeat from _(d)_.--

_6th row. (e)_ Work 6 plain stitches, and round the leaf in double crochet, without making a stitch at the top; repeat from _(e)_.

To complete your edging, work a row of double crochet on the other edge of the row of long stitches.

_Flowers for the Collar_.--

Make a chain of 6 stitches; close it by taking a plain stitch in the first of the chain; work in every loop of this small ring 2 long stitches, with a chain-stitch between each of the long ones. In finishing the round, make a stitch to complete the number of twenty-five loops; then _(a)_ work 5 plain stitches, and in the fifth make a chain of 7 stitches; turn, work 6 stitches in double crochet along the chain, and 1 plain in the loop from which the chain springs; repeat from _(a)_ four times. You have then three veins; work round them as directed for the leaves of the edging; after the second row of double crochet break off your cotton. According to the size of the collar, five or six flowers will be sufficient, if you make also the trifoliums.

_Trifoliums_.--Make a chain of 18 stitches; turn, and work along the chain 3 plain stitches, a vein of 7 stitches; 6 plain, a vein of 8 stitches; 6 more plain stitches, another vein of 7; 3 plain stitches, and break off the cotton. Begin at the first end, and work the two rows of long stitches exactly as directed for the leaves of the edging; at the end of the two following rows, which are in double crochet, round the leaves, instead of breaking off the cotton, work in double crochet from the third leaflet to the first; thus connecting the work in one single leaf with three divisions. Having prepared the required number of flowers and leaves, baste your edging on the paper pattern, so that the whole of the leaves rest on the paper; then work a chain rather loose, to connect the two ends of the collar on the neck side; turn, and work along that chain a row of double crochet. Baste this narrow band carefully half an inch from the edge of the paper; then begin a row of double crochet inside the collar, throwing, at even distances, a slanting chain from the edging to the neckband, working back each time along that chain in long or double crochet; repeat the same operation from the neckband to the edging, so as to divide the whole middle of the collar in a certain number of diamonds; baste the diamonds to the paper, place alternately in each a flower or a trifolium, and, with a sewing-needle and fine French embroidery cotton, connect the flowers and leaves to the inside edges of the diamonds in long twisted stitches, rows of button-hole stitches, or any kind of lace-work. After being washed and starched, the collar ought to be pressed on the wrong side with the head of a round nail warmed in the fire.

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Page-22.

SCAGLIOLA WORK

30. A CHESS-BOARD.

This description of drawing is called Scagliola work, or a Mischia (mixed workmanship); it was first invented by Guido Tassi, and the art was afterwards improved and perfected by Henry Hugford, a monk, of Vallambrosa. It was first used to counterfeit marbles; and the altar of St. Antonio, in the church of St. Nicolo, at Carpi, is still preserved as a monument of extraordinary skill and beauty. It consists of two columns, representing porphyry, and adorned with a pallium, embroidered as it were with lace; while it is ornamented in the margin with medals bearing beautiful figures.

The dicromi, or yellow figures on a black ground, in imitation of the Etruscan vases, are now most admired in scagliola work; and as the art is one easy of attainment, we shall describe it. Having procured a piece of sycamore of the desired size and shape, you draw upon it with a pencil, first the centre piece, and afterwards the border; you then trace over the pencil marks with Indian-ink and a fine crow-quill, and next fill in the ground with Indian-ink and a camel's-hair brush. After two or three days, varnish with the best picture-varnish. If sycamore cannot be procured, deal will answer the purpose, covered with good cream-coloured drawing-paper.

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CROCHET.

31. GARNITURE FOR TOILET-BASKET.

_Materials--Raworth's crochet-thread No. 40; Penelope crochet No. 3_.

Make a chain of 60 stitches; work round this, at each side and the ends, 1 long, 2 chain, miss 2, increasing by missing but 1 stitch at the ends. Work 10 rounds thus; then make a round of double crochet. For the sides, work 13 rounds in the same manner, but increasing in every alternate round by making 3 chain-stitches between the long; finish with the following lace:

_Pattern for Lace_.--

_1st round_. 3 long, 3 chain, miss 2, 1 long, 3 chain, miss 2, 1 long, 3 chain, miss 2, 1 long, 3 chain, miss 2; repeat.--

_2d round_. 5 long, the first worked over the last stitch of chain; the others in succeeding stitches, 4 chain, 1 long, 4 chain, 1 long, 4 chain; repeat.--

_3d round_. 3 long worked over the 3 centre long stitches, 5 chain, 1 long, 4 chain, 1 long, 5 chain; repeat.--

_4th and 5th rounds_. 1 long, 5 chain, the long worked in the centre stitch of chain; repeat.--

_6th round_. 5 long worked in the centre stitch of chain, 3 chain, miss 8; repeat.--

_7th round_. 3 long, the first in the last chain stitch, the succeeding above the first, 2 long, 2 chain, miss 1, 3 long, 3 chain; repeat.--

_8th, 9th, and 10th rounds_. 1 plain, worked in the centre stitch of 3 chain of last round, 3 chain, 1 long, miss 3, 1 long, 3 chain, miss 3, 1 long, 3 chain, miss 3, 3 chain; repeat.

Line the basket with rose-coloured satin before sewing in the crochet lining; wrap the handle with ribbon of shade to correspond with the satin, and place small rosettes at each side.

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EMBROIDERY

32. GREEK CAP.

_Materials required will be a quarter of a yard of common bed-ticken, but of a good broad stripe; some fine gold thread, also some silver thread, and various coloured silks_.