Deep point-lace edging

MATERIALS..—Brooks' Great Exhibition Prize Goat's-head Mecklenburgh Threads, No. 1, 7, 100, and 120.

Draw the pattern from the engraving, a section of it being given the full size. The paper must then be lined with alpaca. Should a short piece only be required, the pattern should at once be made of the full length; if not, several may be drawn. From the closeness of the work it is impossible to work twice over the same paper.

The border of each pattern is formed of seven small scallops. It is worked in braiding-stitch, that is, four threads are laid on, parellel with each other, and formed into a braid by darning them backwards, and forwards, putting the needle always under two together. As it is not desirable to have any break in the outline, it will be advisable to take, for each of the four outline threads a needleful sufficiently long to answer for the whole piece of lace.

DEEP POINT LACE EDGING.

When the whole length of the paper is done, the ends may be twisted round a card, and wrapped in paper to keep them clean while that section of the work is in progress.

Each pattern contains one spray of flowers and small leaves, the stem of which is braided like the edge only that it is generally wider at the end.

All the outlines are made in No. 1, and the braiding done in No. 7. The flowers consist of six petals three of which are worked in foundation stitch, that is close button-hole stitch over a thread, and the others in spots formed by making two close button-hole stitches, and then allowing the space of two before working the next. In the succeeding row, the two close stitches come on the bar of thread formed between one spot and the next. The centre of the flower is an open circle, covered with close button-hole stitch, with Raleigh dots.

The leaves, which are very small, are entirely in foundation stitch. In each section of the large scallop is a wheel formed by working a circular Raleigh bar, on a foundation of three threads. The ground is in Raleigh bars worked very irregularly.

The straight edge of the lace is a line of button-hole stitch on two thread.

Three rows of Sorrento edge, worked one upon another, complete the lace. This edge and the flowers are done in Mecklenburgh 120. The remaining parts in No. 100.