Crochet Work.
Crochet work, so called from the hook, French croche or croc, with which it is done, is not only one of the easiest but in comparison with the cost and labour, one of the most effective kinds of fancy-work. It is also one of the most useful, as it can be applied [...]

Filed under : Sewing and Needlework

Insertion—Plain stitches and overs

Knitting.
Knitting is one of the earliest forms of needlework, and one, which has been carried to the highest perfection. It would be difficult to invent new stitches or patterns and, we shall therefore confine ourselves to describing the stitches in general use, and reproducing those of the old patterns [...]

Filed under : Sewing and Needlework

Insertion in cross stitch, alike on both sides, the pattern left blank.

Tapestry and Linen Embroidery.
Tapestry is one of the oldest kinds of needlework and one which has always been popular every where.
There are two distinct sorts of canvas in use for tapestry, called respectively, 'plain (single thread) canvas', and 'Penelope (double thread) canvas'. [...]

Filed under : Sewing and Needlework

Flat stitch and Gold embroidery.
The terms, flat stitch and gold embroidery, suggest as a rule, needle-work upon rich materials, such as velvet, brocade, plush and the like.
Nevertheless, a great deal of beautiful embroidery is to be met with, in silk and gold thread upon quite common stuffs; Persian and Moorish embroidery for instance, [...]

Filed under : Sewing and Needlework

Stripe in flat and raised satin stitch, and madeira embroidery.
White Embroidery.
We have retained the familiar term, white embroidery, for this kind of needlework, for convenience sake, in spite of its inaccuracy, now that coloured materials are quite as much used for it as white.
It is executed, either on a backing of oil-cloth, [...]

Filed under : Sewing and Needlework

Net and damask stitches.
Many net embroidery patterns and damask stitches consist of a combination of ordinary running and darning, others of chain, stem and cross stitch.
Net embroidery.—All these kinds of stitches can be worked on the coarse Greek net, as it is called, as well as on the finest quality of real Brussels net. [...]

Filed under : Sewing and Needlework

The above heading comprises every sort of needle-work, to which the drawing out of threads is a preliminary. By sewing over the single threads that remain, and drawing them together in different ways, an infinite variety of patterns can be produced. Many pretty combinations also, can be made of open-work, cross-stitch, and other kinds of [...]

Filed under : Sewing and Needlework

Mending.
The mending of wearing-apparel and house-linen, though often an ungrateful task, is yet a very necessary one, to which every female hand ought to be carefully trained. How best to disguise and repair the wear and tear of use or accident is quite as valuable an art, as that of making new things.
Under [...]

Filed under : Sewing and Needlework

Position of the body and hands.—Before describing different kinds of stitches, a word should be said as to the position of the body and hands when at work. Long experience has convinced me that no kind of needlework necessitates a stooping or cramped attitude. To obviate which, see that your chair and table suit each [...]

Filed under : Sewing and Needlework