Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-10-25

Crewel work. the occupation and Rmuse-
ment Of our great grandmothcrs, has lately
been revived, and again brought into fashion
through the teachings Of an English art school
II is quite often, though very innppropriately,
called South Kcnsington Needle Work "
That name signifies nothing, as the South
Kensington School teaches all kinds of en-
broidcry still, TO that school is due the cred
it of the revival of crewel work MS an art.
Crewels are n species of yarn, not unlike
carpet thrums, woven loosely Of soft wool,
aud colored in the best aud sufttst dyes. Our
market Is now flooded with a very poor imi-
tation of the English crewcls Of both German
and home manufacture, but even the most
skilled embroiderers cannot accomplish really
good work with such material. There seems
no possible reason why some of our largo
wooden manufacturers should not try to sup
ply the demand for really good article, in
stead of oblging embroiderers to import
woolens from England, Mt heavy cost of
freight and duties
All kinds of material are suitable TO crewel
work silk satin and velvet must always be
worked in frames Chair backs, antina-
CAESARS, tea-tray napkins, table borders and
corners bureau and chair GOV rs. and similar
articles are both useful and suitable subjects
to be worked ON coarse gray linen or fine
crash. The design must always be drawn on
lnt uluttIlul llhtlI, WHICH IL one surety luNl
this work can never become very common.
The needlewoman who is enough Of an artist
to draw has great advantage over others, as
she will have original designs for her en-
broidery. Flowers should always be more or
less conventionalized, and but little shading is
used fiat effect is considered desirable in
this work
A little silk of the same shade, or nearly so,
as the crewels, can often be introduced with
very good results and most of the filoseles
of the best quality will bear washing.
In starting a piece of crewel embroidery,
begin at the lower part of a flower or leaf,
hold the work firmly between the fingers, and
work with fine darning-needle. The needle
must point towards the worker, but she al
ways works from herself The first stitch is
put in, rs for back stitch, but the needle is
brought out to the left of the stitch, and a lit.
| tie below its upper end the thread must al
ways be to the right of the stitches, and the
needle always to the left the leaf is worked
| in this way to the top, then the material is &c
be turned round and the pattern worked dowr
in the same way. Great care must be takor
that the material does not show through.
Extra stitches may always be added after
wards. An inexperienced workwoman will
| try TO give her stitches a regular and well-de
fined look. This is quite wrong, because il
|
| gether with moss-lke effect. Veining is don,
after leaf is quite finished, in the sam,
stitch, with a lighter crewel than the one il
| which the leaf is worked. Stems are worked
| in the same way, with a shorter and NOR
| even stitch, which has the effect of cord
The outline of a design should scarcely eve
be worked first, but should grow up from thu
gradual filling in Of the design. The actua
crewel-work stitch is very quickly learnt, anC
would perhaps lead pupil to suppose tina
crewel-work was very easy to accomplish
but the stitch is n small part of the work, ant
only by care pat ence and practice can reall!
excellent crewel embroidery be accomplished
| The worker has no model for coloring o
shading, and must trust to her own eye, no
always a reliable guide, but experience an,
practice will smooth away all difficulties, Tn
design must be clearly drawn on the materif
without blot or slur and the veinings light
traced. 1t may be first drawn with har
pencil, and then traced over with very fin
camers hair brush and India ink Great car
should be taken with the wrong side. as art
cles in crewel work are not lined, and ther
need never be either knots or short ends I
be seen on the reverse side. When the wor
is finished, it should be placed face down "
on a thick flannel, n damp cloth put on TIA
wrong side and dry one on that, and the
very heavily pressed with large iron. Crew
work can always be washed in blood-warn
strained bran water-no soap to be used
and ironed before dry on flannel Society I
Decorative Art.