The Ladies' Work-Table Book Part 2

The following are the princ.i.p.al st.i.tches used in plain needlework.

SEWING AND FELLING.--If you have selvages, join them together and sew them firmly. If you have raw edges, turn down one of the edges once, and the other double the breadth, and then turn half of it back again. This is for the fell. The two pieces are pinned face to face, and seamed together; the st.i.tches being in a slanting direction, and just deep enough to hold the separate pieces firmly together. Then flatten the seam with the thumb, turn the work over and fell it the same as hemming.

The thread is fastened by being worked between the pieces and sewn over.

HEMMINGS.--Turn down the raw edge as evenly as possible. Flatten, and be careful, especially in turning down the corners. Hem from right to left; bring the point of the needle from the chest toward the right hand.

Fasten the thread without a knot, and when you finish, sew several st.i.tches close together, and cut off the thread.

GERMAN HEMMING.--Turn down both the raw edges once, taking care so to do it, as that both turns may be toward your person; you then lay one below the other, so as that the smooth edge of the nearest does not touch the other, but lies just beneath it. The lower one is then to be hemmed or felled to the piece against which you have laid it, still holding it before you. You are next to open your sleeve, or whatever else you have been employed upon; and laying the upper fold over the lower, fell it down, and the work is done.

MANTUAMAKER'S HEM.--You lay the raw edge of one of your pieces a little below the other; the upper edge is then turned over the other twice, and felled down as strong as possible.

RUNNING.--Take three threads, leave three, and in order that the work may be kept as firm as possible, back-st.i.tch occasionally. If you sew selvages, they must be joined evenly together; but if raw edges, one must be turned down once, and the other laid upon it, but a few threads from the top. It is, in this case, to be felled afterwards.

St.i.tCHING.--The work must be even as possible. Turn down a piece to st.i.tch to, draw a thread to st.i.tch upon, twelve or fourteen threads from the edge. Being thus prepared, you take two threads back, and so bring, the needle out, from under two before. Proceed in this manner, to the end of the row; and in joining a fresh piece of thread, take care to pa.s.s the needle between the edges and bring it out where the last st.i.tch was finished.

GATHERING.--You begin by taking the article to be gathered, and dividing it into halves, and then into quarters, putting on pins, to make the divisions. The piece, to which you are intending to gather it, must be gathered about twelve threads from the top, taking three threads on the needle, and leaving four; and so preceding, alternately, until one quarter is gathered. Fasten the thread, by twisting it round a pin; stroke the gathers, so that they lie evenly and neatly, with a strong needle or pin. You then proceed as before, until all the gathers are gathered. Then take out the pins, and regulate the gathers of each quarter, so as to correspond with those of the piece to which it is to be sewed. The gathers are then to be fastened on, one at a time; and the st.i.tches must be in a slanting direction. The part to be gathered must be cut quite even before commencing, or else it will be impossible to make the gathering look well.

DOUBLE GATHERING, OR PUFFING.--This is sometimes employed in setting on frills; and when executed properly has a pretty effect. You first gather the top, in the usual way; then, having stroked down the gathers, you gather again under the first gathering, and of such a depth as you wish the puffing to be. You then sew on the first gathering to the gown, frock, &c. you design to trim, at a distance, corresponding with the width of the puffing: and the second gathering sewed to the edge, so as to form a full hem. You may make a double hem, if you please, by gathering three times instead of only twice; and one of the hems may be straight, while the other is drawn to one side a little. This requires much exactness, in the execution; but if properly done, it gives a pleasing variety to the work.

WHIPPING.--You cut the edge smooth, and divide into halves and quarters, as for gathering. You then roll the muslin or other material very lightly upon the finger, making use of the left thumb for that purpose.

The needle must go in on the outside, and be brought through, on the inside. The whipping-cotton should be as strong and even as possible. In order that the st.i.tches may draw with ease, they must be taken with great care. The roll of the whip should be about ten threads.

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b.u.t.tON-HOLE St.i.tCH.--These should be cut by a thread, and their length should be that of the diameter of the b.u.t.ton. In working, the b.u.t.ton-hole must lie lengthways upon the forefinger; and you begin at the side which is opposite to the thumb, and the furthest from the point of the finger on which it is laid. The needle must go in on the wrong side, and be brought out on the right, five threads down. To make the st.i.tch, the needle is pa.s.sed through the loop before it is drawn close.

In turning the corners, be careful not to do it too near; and in order that a proper thickness may be obtained, it is necessary that the needle should go in between every two threads. Making b.u.t.ton-holes, requires great care and attention.

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FANCY b.u.t.tON-HOLE St.i.tCH.--This resembles a very wide b.u.t.ton-hole st.i.tch, and is very neat for the fronts of bodies, where it has a very pretty appearance; likewise for the bands and the shoulder bits, and above the broad hems and tucks of frocks.

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CHAIN St.i.tCH.--In making this st.i.tch, you are to employ union cord, bobbin, or braid, whichever you think most suitable. Make a knot at the end, and draw it through to the right side. While you put in the needle, let the end hang loose, and bring it out below, so as to incline a little towards the left hand. Pa.s.s your needle over the cord, as you draw it out, and this will form a loop. In drawing out the mesh, you must be careful not to draw the st.i.tch too tight, as that would destroy the effect. You proceed in the same manner to form the next, and each succeeding loop; taking care to put the needle in a little higher, and rather more to the right than in the preceding st.i.tch, so that each loop begins within the lower part of the one going before it, and you thus produce the resemblance of a chain.

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FANCY CHAIN St.i.tCH.--The only difference between this and the common chain st.i.tch, is that very little of the cord is taken up on the needle at a time, and the st.i.tches are far from each other. Its appearance will be varied, according as you put in the needle, to slant little or much.

If you should work it perfectly horizontal, it is the same as b.u.t.ton-hole st.i.tch.

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HERRING-BONING.--This is generally employed in articles composed of flannel, or other thick material. The edge is to be cut even, and turned down once. You work from left to right, thus: Put your needle into the material, and take a st.i.tch of two or three threads, as close as possible, under the raw edge, and bring the needle half way up that part which is turned down, and four or five threads toward the right hand; make another st.i.tch, and bring down the needle; thus proceed until the work is finished. This st.i.tch is something like the back-bone of a fish, and is sometimes used as an ornament for children's robes, and at the top of hems. It looks both neat and elegant, when carefully executed.

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FANCY HERRING-BONING.--This is the same as common herring-bone, only it is done in a perpendicular manner, instead of being worked horizontally from left to right; and the thread is brought round behind the needle, so as to finish the work in a more elegant manner. It has an exceeding neat and pleasing look, when it is well executed, and is considered as highly ornamental, in appropriate situations.

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ANGULAR St.i.tCH.--This st.i.tch resembles b.u.t.ton-hole st.i.tch, only it is carried from right to left to form the pattern. It is a neat ornament for cuffs, skirts and capes, and children's pelisses. As much of its beauty depends on its regularity, care should be taken to make the patterns very even and straight, and of an equal width; without due attention to this, the work will be spoiled.

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DOUBLE HERRING-BONING.--This pattern is a kind of double herring-bone, on each side; it is too intricate to describe minutely. The engraving will give a better idea of this st.i.tch than any description we could give. Great care being required to keep the pattern even, it is advisable to run a tacking thread down the middle of it, to serve as a guide.

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HORSE-SHOE St.i.tCH.--This is done with thick, loosely-twisted cotton, or bobbin, and is worked from left to right, as shown in the accompanying engraving. It has a very neat and pretty appearance, when worked near the edge of hems, robings, &c.

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FANCY BOBBIN EDGING.--This is formed by a succession of loops made in the following manner: Make a knot at the end, and put the needle through to the right side, just below the hem. Bring the bobbin over the hem, and, putting the needle in at the wrong side, bring it through to the right. Draw the loop to the size you desire, pa.s.s the bobbin through it, and commence the next st.i.tch, proceeding as before.

CHAIN St.i.tCH, ON GATHERS.--This looks well, if worked in colored worsted, or in cord. Two gathers are taken up for each st.i.tch, taking care always to take one of the previous st.i.tches and one new gather on the needle at the same time.

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CORAL PATTERN.--This requires great accuracy in the working, and it is advisable for the inexperienced to run lines, in long st.i.tches, to fix the middle and outsides of the pattern. It may be best understood by the engraving, merely observing that the st.i.tch is begun on the left hand, and continued alternately from left to right, always pointing the needle toward the centre. It is very suitable for the waist-bands of children's frocks, the tops of broad hems, &c.

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SERPENTINE St.i.tCH.--This is exceedingly pretty, and is much employed for children's dresses. It is worked with the hand, being sewn on to the material when made. Take the cord, knot it so as to form a loop at the end; then pa.s.s the other end through the loop, toward the front, to form another loop to the right hand; continue pa.s.sing the bobbin through the loop on one side, then through the loop on the other, directing the cord so as to pa.s.s from the side of the work invariably towards the inner, or that part next the work.

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BIa.s.sING.--In this operation, the first part of the st.i.tch is the same as gathering. You then st.i.tch down; and upon the right side of the gather, you lay a thread a good deal thicker than the one you used for gathering thread. Over this thread you sew, taking care to take hold also of the gathering thread. The needle is always to be pointed toward your chest. You may work two or three rows in this way, on the sleeves and shoulders of dresses, &c., which has a handsome effect. You must take great care to bring the needle out between each one of the gathers.

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HONEY COMBING.--The material may be velvet, silk, &c.; and the mode of working is as follows: The piece you intend honey-combing, must be creased in regular folds, taking care that they are as even as possible.

Then make the folds lie closely together, by tacking them with a strong thread, and in long st.i.tches. You then take silk of the right color; st.i.tch together at equal and proper distances the two first folds, and proceed, with each succeeding two, in the same manner, only taking the st.i.tches in the intermediate s.p.a.ces. Thus the st.i.tches of each alternate row will correspond together. Draw out the thread, when the work is finished, and on pulling it open, it will form diamonds on the right side. This work is proper for the inside of work-boxes, and is sometimes employed to ornament the tops of beds. It looks well, if carefully executed.

A perfect acquaintance with these various st.i.tches, will enable the practical needlewoman to pursue her occupation with ease and pleasure.

CHAPTER III.

PLAIN NEEDLEWORK.

INSTRUCTIONS IN THE PREPARATION OF BODY LINEN.

In order to secure economy of time, labor, and expense, and also to do everything neatly and in order, the lady who is intending to engage in the domestic employment of preparing linen necessary for personal and family use, should be careful to have all her materials ready, and disposed in the most systematic manner possible, before commencing work.

The materials employed in the construction of articles, which come under the denomination of plain needlework, are so various, that a mere list of them would occupy more than half our s.p.a.ce; and they are so well known, that no necessity exists for naming them in detail. We shall therefore proceed, at once, to give plain directions, by which any lady may soon become expert in this necessary department of household uses, merely observing, that a neat work-box, well supplied with all the implements required--including knife, scissors (of at least three sizes,) needles and pins in sufficient variety, bodkins, thimbles, thread and cotton, bobbins, marking silks, black lead pencils, india rubber, &c., should be provided, and be furnished with a lock and key, to prevent the contents being thrown into confusion by children, servants, or unauthorized intruders.

The lady being thus provided, and having her materials, implements, &c., placed in order upon her work-table, (to the edge of which it is an advantage to have a pincus.h.i.+on affixed, by means of a screw,) may commence her work, and proceed with pleasure to herself, and without annoyance to any visitor, who may favor her with a call. We would recommend, wherever practicable, that the work-table should be made of cedar, and that the windows of the working parlor should open into a garden, well supplied with odoriferous flowers and plants, the perfume of which will materially cheer the spirits of those especially whose circ.u.mstances compel them to devote the greatest portion of their time to sedentary occupations. If these advantages cannot be obtained, at least the room should be well ventilated, and furnished with a few cheerful plants, and a well filled scent-jar. The beneficent Creator intended all His children, in whatever station of life they might be placed, to share in the common bounties of His providence; and when she, who not for pleasure, but to obtain the means of subsistence, is compelled to seclude herself, for days or weeks together, from the cheering influence of exercise in the open air, it becomes both her duty, and that of those for whom she labors, to secure as much of these advantages, or of the best subst.i.tutes for them, as the circ.u.mstances of the case will admit.