The Lady's Alb.u.m of Fancy Work for 1850.

by Unknown.

EXPLANATION OF THE VARIOUS TERMS USED IN CROCHET.

CHAIN-St.i.tCH OPEN CROCHET.--This consists of five or any uneven number of loops attached by a plain st.i.tch to every third st.i.tch of the foundation, and in the succeeding rows to the centre loop of the chain of previous row.

THREE CHAIN CROCHET.--Work a chain of three loops as in chain-st.i.tch open crochet.

DOUBLE CROCHET.--Work as follows: having made a chain, pa.s.s the needle through the first loop on the chain, draw the cotton through the loop, there will now be two loops on the needle, through these draw the cotton.

SINGLE CROCHET.--Insert the needle in the loops, and draw the cotton through this loop and that on the needle.

RIBBED CROCHET.--This is worked in a similar manner to double crochet, only that the under loop of the previous row is taken, and it is done in rows to and fro.

LONG St.i.tCH.--Twist the cotton round the needle, pa.s.s it through the loop, draw the cotton through the first two loops on the needle, then catch the cotton again and draw it through the next two loops; there will be one loop left on the needle.

DOUBLE LONG St.i.tCH.--This resembles long st.i.tch, excepting that the cotton is twisted twice round the needle.

TREBLE LONG St.i.tCH.--Twist the cotton three times round the needle.

SINGLE OPEN CROCHET.--This is a succession of long st.i.tches, with a chain-st.i.tch between each, missing one st.i.tch of the foundation; in the succeeding rows the long st.i.tch is worked between the two long st.i.tches of the preceding rows.

DOUBLE OPEN CROCHET.--This consists of two long st.i.tches, then two chain-st.i.tches; or it may be varied by making one long st.i.tch, two chain-st.i.tches, missing the same number of st.i.tches in foundation as there are chain-st.i.tches.

TREBLE OPEN CROCHET.--Work three long st.i.tches, then three chain, missing three of the foundation.

VANd.y.k.e OPEN CROCHET.--Work three long st.i.tches into one of the foundation, make one chain-st.i.tch, miss three of the foundation; repeat.

In the next and following rows the long st.i.tches are worked in the chain-st.i.tch.

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR EMBROIDERY.

The various elegant designs for handkerchiefs, jupons, shirts, &c. are worked in raised satin st.i.tch. The material used is French working-cotton; numbers 100 or 120 will be found suitable for most purposes, but this must be regulated by the quality of the cambric.

Handkerchiefs embroidered in colours continue to be extremely fashionable; the patterns in the _Lady's Alb.u.m_ are of the most novel description, and quite suitable for this style of work. The names and initial letters are worked in satin-st.i.tch, sewing over the lines.

THE

LADY'S ALb.u.m

OF

FANCY NEEDLEWORK.

EMBROIDERY.

1. FRONT FOR LADY'S CABINET.

_Materials--Black satin; six shades of crimson, five shades of yellow, three shades of puce, two shades of scarlet, three shades of yellow-greens, three shades of blue-greens, and two shades of brown embroidery silk, or of chenille_.

Draw the design upon the satin, frame the work, and work in embroidery-st.i.tch. The rose-leaves with the yellow-greens, the leaves of thistles with the blue-greens, the stems with brown, the thistle and bud of thistle with the shades of puce, working the centre of the former with the shades of scarlet.

Work the rose on the right hand of thistle with the four darkest shades of crimson, and that on the left and the buds with the four lightest shades. Work the remaining rose with the yellow shades. Work the designs for corners in a similar manner, shading according to the taste of the worker.

The above design is adapted for the front or door of a small rosewood or an inlaid ebony cabinet, suitable for a lady's boudoir or dressing-room.

It looks well if worked upon white instead of black satin; and if the former is used, it is advisable to have plate-gla.s.s as a protection to the needlework.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 1. FRONT FOR LADY'S CABINET.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 2 COVER FOR CAKE-BASKET.]

NETTING.

2. COVER FOR CAKE-BASKET.

_Materials--Raworth's crochet-thread No. 40, darning-cotton No. 12, meshes Nos. 4 and 9, cornucopia gauge_.

With the crochet-thread make a foundation by netting 33 loops on the large mesh, join and net 6 rounds on mesh No. 9, then on mesh No. 4 net 4 loops in one, missing every alternate loop; net 7 rounds on mesh No.

9, then on the large mesh net 4 loops in one, missing, as before, every alternate loop; net 15 rounds on the small mesh, net 4 loops in every alternate loop on the large mesh, then net 24 rounds on mesh No.

9; (a) net 24 loops, then net back, leaving the last of the 24 loops: continue netting these loops to and fro, decreasing one loop at the end of each row by leaving the last loop, and net until but one loop remains; repeat from (a) all round. This forms the scalloped edge.

With the cotton embroider the pattern in darning-st.i.tch, as given in ill.u.s.tration.

CROCHET.