Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1882-11-01
Gossip About Needle-Work.

novel use of outline stitch is in fashion
The ordinary Nottingham lace tidy is trans
formed by its aid into piece of decorative
needlework. Upon the centre, which is usually
plain, figures are worked in filoselle or crew.
els, while the bordering, which is generally
of geometrical or fancy design, is outlined
in the same materials, In all colors, the CEN
ire of a circle or square being often worked
in beads.
The fashionable arrasene, which figures so
conspicuously in embroidery this fall, is now
used to decorate the plush frames for beveled
mirrors. Designs are worked either in the
corners or across the top and bottom, and are
exceedingly effective. 1r =
A new stitch is in use which is sort of
combination of feather and cross stitch, and
is very effective upon canvas. This consists
in working stitches of varying length into
and between each other, in every alternate
one the thread being passed under the needle
in such a way as to produce a chain stitch.
are very usual. For instance, an exceeding
ly pretty lamp shade is made by painting
different designs upon squares of colored
silk and then uniting the squares by sewing
insertions of French lace round them, to
which deep lace edging is afterward joined.
still handsomer effect is given by the intro
duction of pretty tatting pattern between
the squares and the addition of a border
of tatted medallions.
Ribbon forms quite an important feature
in needlework to day. Raised effects are
produced by gathering ribbon about an inch
wide at intervals and then forming it into the
shape Of bud or flower and laying it with q
few invisible stitches in the center of q round
of plush or velvet. Very pretty scarps for
the piano are made in ordinary muslin, vii h
such raised work in ribbon carried out at the
ends.
The French knot, which is used for the
centres of flowers or for stamens, pistils,
&C., in art embroidery, is very easily made
and needs only little care to be very effect
i've. In making it the thread is brought
through to the front of the work and held in
the left hand four or FIVE inches from the
work, while the needle is kept in the right
hand. The thread thus held in the left hand
must be twisted two or three times round the
needle as close to the work as possible, then
| the point ia turned down into the material
| yearly, but not exactly, where the thread
| came up, the needle is pulled through to the
other side, and the thread carefully drawn
| till the knot is firm. A little practice will
result in perfect French knot.
Darning stitch is very much in use now.
| Designs are worked upon Java canvas in ar.
rasene, and the background is simply darned
| over quite evenly in any neutral-tinted crew.
entirely superseded the old fashioned cross
stitch.
| The imitation of tapestries and tapestried
l effects is more fashionable than ever. A great
ieal of this is obtained by what is known as
inlaid applique, which consists in tracing the
| same pattern on two materials and then care
| fully cutting both out, and in laying one on to
| the other by sewing the upper portion on tC
| the under with thread I'D covering the
stitches with fine cord or WI. Sngs of floss
| silk Sometimes narrow ribbon or braid ii
stitched over the edges to keep them fiat.
Oriental embroidery on thin muslin is
readily initiated at home by the use of pear
and irridescent beads and velvet and plush
| leaves. The raised appearance of the flowers
| whether they are in beads or in embroidery
| is gained by padding. Cotton wool is frs
| sewn very firmly upon the outlined design
bers necessary and laid carefully over tn,
padding, always being placed in one direc
ton. Generally, in reproducing flower il
beads, the center will be pearl or cluster
of smaller beads to represent the raised cen
| ire of the natural flower.
Drawn work is rapidly becoming more anG
more fashionable. 1t is trying to the eyes
but so fascinating that ambitious worker
are always celebrating designs in it. It con
sists of drawing out the threads of fine linel
and filling in the spaces thus obtained b.
stitches of every variety.
Recently, decoration for towels and nap
kins has taken this form: The threads ar
drawn out at regular intervals, and then a de
| sign is worked in the interstices in colore
threads either in herring. bone, button. hole
or chain stitch, or by simply overcasting.
The most fascinating baby blankets ar,
made now in fine Saxony flannel embroider
ed in raised designs of flowers and birds
The angels heads which we're so fashionabl
last year are scarcely seen; they are replace
| by double bordering of delicately tinte
blossoms one end being folded over an
worked in such a way that it can be place
outside the coverlet The latest style of a
adds monogram in the centre.
Gold embroidery can seldom be satisfat
torily carried out upon the material to b
decorated. The best and safest way is
work the design upon linen or crash an
then cut it out and applique it on the surfac
upon which it is required.
The Hon. John S. Dobson, of Vernon. We
/ stricken with apoplexy while attending
special town meeting in Rockville Hall o
, Saturday. He was taken to room in Il