Among the most popular home occupa-
tions for present-day ladies may be named
embroidery. The loom and the spinning-
wheel, in one form or another, are as old as
civilization, and our devotion to the em-
broidery frame is but a return to the occu-
pation in which mediaeval ladies found
delight. Few of them could read or write,
and the needle was their only form of ex-
pression. This is no longer the case ; we
are not so narrowed in our range, and yet
embroidery continues to be pleasant work
for a group of merry girls or thoughtful
women.
The most expensive materials for this
work are silk, velvet, tissue, gold and silver
cloth, velveteen, and plush. Among cheaper
materials are linens of various degrees of
fineness, crash, sateen, sheeting, serge, and
Canton flannel.
Every lady who gives her mind to it,
even if her skill is not great, can improve
an unattractive room by a few judicious al-
terations, and every young girl may learn to
embroider at odd moments, and by the work
of her hands transform her abode from ugli-
ness to beauty.
Crewels are used for working on linen,
serge and flannel. Tapestry wool, a thicker
substance, is useful on coarse fabrics. Em-
broidery silk is preferred for silk, satin, or
fine materials. In working with crewels,
THE MODEL COOK BOOK
85
the threads should be cut into short lengths,
it being difficult to use a long thread with-
out puckering the work.
Silk plush, the most elegant and effec-
tive material for banners, draperies, and
covers, is ver\^ costly. Woolen plush is a
little less costly, but is also expensive.
Canton flannel, in all the rich and desirable
colors, is a much cheaper material. As re-
gards the cost of these and the other mate-
rials named, our lady readers are probably
well informed.
Stitches. — Stem-stitch is not difficult.
It is simply a long stitch forward, a short
one backward, and then another long stitch
a little in advance of the first. In working
outlines, care must be taken to exactl}^ fol-
low the line of the pattern, and to keep
the thread to the left of the needle. Some
knowledge of drawing is necessary for good
embroider}^ Leaves and flowers or con-
ventional designs should be nicely drawn or
stamped before beginning to work. A lady
is sometimes so deft with her needle that
she can compose her pattern as she goes on ,
but this is not apt to be widely the case.
The stem-stitch may be longer or shorter
according to fancy, but it must be even.
Split-stitch is a variety of stem-stitch,
but in bringing the needle up through the
material it must be passed through the em-
broidery silk or crewel.
Satin-stitch is the same on both sides.
The needle must be taken back each time
to the point from which it started. Rope-
stitch is a twisted chain-stitch ; blanket-
stitch is the ordinary buttonhole stitch less
closely worked, and feather-stitch is a broken
stitch, worked in a light airy way, to suit
the convenience of the seamstress.
Drawn-work consists in drawing out
threads from linen, and working designs in
the drawn space or filling in with needle-
work. This is pretty for tidies and for the
bordering of pillow-shams, spreads, and
curtains.
The embroiderer needs a smooth thim-
ble, as a sharp one is likely to catch in her
silk, a sharp and pointed pair of scissors,
and a set of needles of different sizes.
Page 105
Presented as published in 1901. 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
Among the most popular home occupations for present-day ladies may be named embroidery. The loom and the spinningwheel, in one form or another, are as old as civilization, and our devotion to the embroidery frame is but a return to the occupation in which mediaeval ladies found delight. Few of them could read or write, and the needle was their only form of expression. This is no longer the case ; we are not so narrowed in our range, and yet embroidery continues to be pleasant work for a group of merry girls or thoughtful women.
The most expensive materials for this work are silk, velvet, tissue, gold and silver cloth, velveteen, and plush. Among cheaper materials are linens of various degrees of fineness, crash, sateen, sheeting, serge, and Canton flannel.
Every lady who gives her mind to it, even if her skill is not great, can improve an unattractive room by a few judicious alterations, and every young girl may learn to embroider at odd moments, and by the work of her hands transform her abode from ugliness to beauty.
Crewels are used for working on linen, serge and flannel. Tapestry wool, a thicker substance, is useful on coarse fabrics. Embroidery silk is preferred for silk, satin, or fine materials. In working with crewels,
the threads should be cut into short lengths, it being difficult to use a long thread without puckering the work.
Silk plush, the most elegant and effective material for banners, draperies, and covers, is very costly. Woolen plush is a little less costly, but is also expensive. Canton flannel, in all the rich and desirable colors, is a much cheaper material. As regards the cost of these and the other materials named, our lady readers are probably well informed.
Stitches. — Stem-stitch is not difficult. It is simply a long stitch forward, a short one backward, and then another long stitch a little in advance of the first. In working outlines, care must be taken to exactly follow the line of the pattern, and to keep the thread to the left of the needle. Some knowledge of drawing is necessary for good embroidery Leaves and flowers or conventional designs should be nicely drawn or stamped before beginning to work. A lady is sometimes so deft with her needle that she can compose her pattern as she goes on , but this is not apt to be widely the case. The stem-stitch may be longer or shorter according to fancy, but it must be even.
Split-stitch is a variety of stem-stitch, but in bringing the needle up through the material it must be passed through the embroidery silk or crewel.
Satin-stitch is the same on both sides. The needle must be taken back each time to the point from which it started. Ropestitch is a twisted chain-stitch ; blanketstitch is the ordinary buttonhole stitch less closely worked, and feather-stitch is a broken stitch, worked in a light airy way, to suit the convenience of the seamstress.
Drawn-work consists in drawing out threads from linen, and working designs in the drawn space or filling in with needlework. This is pretty for tidies and for the bordering of pillow-shams, spreads, and curtains.
The embroiderer needs a smooth thimble, as a sharp one is likely to catch in her silk, a sharp and pointed pair of scissors, and a set of needles of different sizes.