The very useful and widely adaptable embroidery stitch now called
" Kensington outline," is different from the above, being produced by
a succession of stitches all exactly alike. It is the best of all stitches
for the pretty outline designs, resembling etchings, now so fashionable
for working with colored marking-cotton on handkerchiefs, table nap-
kins, and many other articles destined to form an intimate acquaintance
with the washtub. These designs have no filling in, all that is worked
being the outlines together with such lines as, in a pen and ink draw-
ing, would be put in to mark the folds of drapery and so forth. And
one can copy a little outline picture on the white goods where it is to be
worked, by placing the goods over the picture (holding against the
window-pane, if necessary) and marking the lines with a lead pencil ;
then all you have to do is to follow the pencil marks with your Ken-
SILK EMBROIDER Y. 53
sington outline. A line of this stitching looks on the right side like a
small, twisted cord, and on the wrong side appears as a row of ordi-
nary, plain hand-stitching. By this description, many ladies will recog-
nize Kensington outline stitch as only a new name for their old friend
"stem" or "cord" stitch.
MORESQUE APPLIQUE.
This is a beautiful style of fancy work. It is very rich and striking,
yet has a delicacy that renders it only proper for dressy, light articles,
such as fans, cravat ends and similar objects. To make it, take a foun-
dation on any plain shade of silk, upon which trace a design. Gold
thread is then laid over the design, which usually resembles a lace pat-
tern. Work over the gold thread in rather far apart button-hole stitch,
with different colored embroidery silks. After the work is accom-
plished, the superfluous silk is cut away between the design with sharp
scissors, as it used to be done in the lattice-work embroidered collars,
once such fashionable fancy work. Care must be taken to have loops
or lattice of gold thread connecting the leaves, etc., of the design so as
not to lose any portion when trimming out. Also leave loops of gold
thread around the outer edge to form a pearl. This work, which looks
like " applique," is made in shapes to fit the outside sticks of a fan and
glued on, or an edge is applied to the silk or satin tops, or, in any way
the fancy may suggest as being appropriate for this really elegant
work.
SILK EMBROIDERY.
Embroidery after nature, or " painting in wools," consists in working
flowers in their natural forms and colors, and can only be done by per-
sons who have a knowledge of painting. First, the flower must be
drawn boldly on the piece of coarse, unbleached linen. The margin of
the petal is worked in lorg, close stitches, making a firm, thick edge
half an inch deep, the threads lying in the direction of the veins of the
petals. Other shades are then worked in to fill up the petal, in long,
unequal stitches, care being taken to bring the needle up in the middle
of the threads forming the margin, so as to blend the work and make
all smooth. Both in leaves and flowers it is necessary to place the
stitches in the direction of the veining. When the flower is worked,
veins in a darker shade can be added, if the nature of the bloom
requires them, or spots of any size or shade.
Page 47
Presented as published in 1886. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
The very useful and widely adaptable embroidery stitch now called " Kensington outline," is different from the above, being produced by a succession of stitches all exactly alike. It is the best of all stitches for the pretty outline designs, resembling etchings, now so fashionable for working with colored marking-cotton on handkerchiefs, table napkins, and many other articles destined to form an intimate acquaintance with the washtub. These designs have no filling in, all that is worked being the outlines together with such lines as, in a pen and ink drawing, would be put in to mark the folds of drapery and so forth. And one can copy a little outline picture on the white goods where it is to be worked, by placing the goods over the picture (holding against the window-pane, if necessary) and marking the lines with a lead pencil ; then all you have to do is to follow the pencil marks with your Ken-
SILK EMBROIDER Y. 53
sington outline. A line of this stitching looks on the right side like a small, twisted cord, and on the wrong side appears as a row of ordinary, plain hand-stitching. By this description, many ladies will recognize Kensington outline stitch as only a new name for their old friend "stem" or "cord" stitch.
MORESQUE APPLIQUE.
This is a beautiful style of fancy work. It is very rich and striking, yet has a delicacy that renders it only proper for dressy, light articles, such as fans, cravat ends and similar objects. To make it, take a foundation on any plain shade of silk, upon which trace a design. Gold thread is then laid over the design, which usually resembles a lace pattern. Work over the gold thread in rather far apart button-hole stitch, with different colored embroidery silks. After the work is accomplished, the superfluous silk is cut away between the design with sharp scissors, as it used to be done in the lattice-work embroidered collars, once such fashionable fancy work. Care must be taken to have loops or lattice of gold thread connecting the leaves, etc., of the design so as not to lose any portion when trimming out. Also leave loops of gold thread around the outer edge to form a pearl. This work, which looks like " applique," is made in shapes to fit the outside sticks of a fan and glued on, or an edge is applied to the silk or satin tops, or, in any way the fancy may suggest as being appropriate for this really elegant work.
SILK EMBROIDERY.
Embroidery after nature, or " painting in wools," consists in working flowers in their natural forms and colors, and can only be done by persons who have a knowledge of painting. First, the flower must be drawn boldly on the piece of coarse, unbleached linen. The margin of the petal is worked in lorg, close stitches, making a firm, thick edge half an inch deep, the threads lying in the direction of the veins of the petals. Other shades are then worked in to fill up the petal, in long, unequal stitches, care being taken to bring the needle up in the middle of the threads forming the margin, so as to blend the work and make all smooth. Both in leaves and flowers it is necessary to place the stitches in the direction of the veining. When the flower is worked, veins in a darker shade can be added, if the nature of the bloom requires them, or spots of any size or shade.