BREAD CLOTH.
BREAD CLOTH.
MATERIALS..—Three reels of Brooks' No. 24, and two of No. 16, Great
Exhibition Prize Goat's-head Crochet Cotton. A hook suitable for the
fine number.
The octagon shape is one extremely well adapted for bread baskets, as
well as for papier-maché trays of the usual forms; but it requires a
little nicety to produce even edges at the sloping sides. The way it
is done is this. The whole pattern, it will be perceived, is done in
square crochet, and in the increasing sides a close square is added at each end. This is done by making one
chain extra at the beginning and end of the first row of d.c. 2nd row:
1 ch., 2 d.c. on the chain, and 2 on the first d.c. at the
commencement, thus increasing three stitches, besides the one chain
which is merely a foundation for the next increase; then at the other
extremity of the row, 2 d.c. on the last stitch, 2 d.c. on the chain,
and make one chain. Do this for every row which is increased, working
in all the ends.
For the decreasing rows begin with 1 slip, 1 s.c., 1 short double
crochet, 1 d.c.—this last coming on the first stitch in the second
square of last row, keeps the squares evenly over each other. At the
other end of the row reverse the process, by doing 1 d.c., 1 short
d.c., 1 s.c., 1 slip, which completes it.
The short double-crochet stitch, being new to our readers, may be
briefly described. It is, as its name implies, a medium stitch between
a s.c. and a d.c. stitch. Begin as for a d.c. stitch, with the thread
round the hook, but after the latter is inserted in the stitch, and
the thread drawn through, so that there are three loops on the needle,
the thread must be drawn through all three at once.
Short treble crochet (contracted to s.t.c.), is done in a similar
manner. The thread being passed twice round the needle, there are four
loops on the latter, after the one is drawn through the stitch of the
preceding row. The thread is now drawn through three loops together,
and afterwards through two.
When the bread cloth is worked, do open square crochet all round it,
taking the d.c. stitches sufficiently close at the corners to lie
smoothly. Knot a fringe 2-1/2 inches deep in every square. It is to be
made of the coarse cotton.
To increase the size of this d'oyley, for a tray, or other article,
use coarser cotton and hook.
