The Osceola times., 1888-09-29
USEFUL FANCY WORK.

c..veptlonsl Embroi6ssy ruttesns esp'
planted BY Ancisst Dssisns.
OF course different women ''take %
different kinds Of work, acccrnng 70
the motive power that impeIs them;
but it is observed that the majority
devote time to ornamental articies ior
the home rather than 70 those FOR per-
sonal adornmeut. Linen still holds
the popularity which it attained some
wears ago as a ground work Tor eiaoo,
rate embroidery. and with very sooa
reason, for nothing lasts so WE'LL anu
will therefore so well reward tne
worker. Drawn work is losing noth-
ing in favor, Notwithstanding the hue
and cry that has been raised as 10 i's
injury to the eyes. With very nne
work this objection will doubtless
hold good but it is certain
that the majority OF the work
done is no more trying than any other
kind of needle-work, and that the best
effects are not gained by the finest
work. Indeed. quite coarse linen witn'
deftly-executed simple patteru' Is
preferred for nearly all household uses
toilet and table covers, nspery ana
the like. Drawn work strips, alternat-
ed with strips of India silks, make
pretty chair and sofa backs, sash cur
tains, etc.
Another kind Of work very much
liked for napery, as we'll as ornamental
articles, is the Queen Anne darned
work, which possesses the added AZ
traction Of being very quickly execut'
ed. This embroidery Is done by TAX
ing the stitches irregularly or by leav'
ing an equal number Of threads with
those on the needle in the alternate
rows. The stitches are also sometimes
taken diagonally or In hexagonal
form, either of which will produce
good results sometimes the design
is merely outlined and the entire
background filled with darning stitches.
or the design may be darned and the
background left plain. The latter, how
ever, only looks well when the pattern
covers the greater part Of the Material
When the pattern is darned In II is fre-
quently outlined with contrasting
shade Darned work is very durable
| II wash silks or the elegant new fiax
threads are used in its execution, but
to work with non washable silk upon
linen is a pure waste OF time.
The old scandinavian, Russian ana
German designs are closely crowding
the conventional patterns that have 80
long held the ground. The taste OF
these early European embroiderers rar
most to the delineation Of stays, boars,
cocks and the like, introduced into
bold scroll patterns. The brute or the
bird is left In relief in the natural tint
of the linen, the ground being filed
Withdrawing stitches. A simple pattern,
and one which is very effective, is o
border of conventionalized oak leaves.
outlined with green upon unblcached
linen, the ground being darned in with
russet silks. Another pretty design is
of orange leaves and blossoms where
the outlines are done in chain stitch,
and the fruit, leaves and blossoms
filed in with a coarsely.wrought nee
work. This is appropriate only 70.
articles that are seldom washed. Some
jealous workers have undertaken to
copy the ancient Nuremberg embroid-
cries which closely resemble pen and
ink drawing; but it is serious tax
upon the eyesight. and it is not desir'
able to carry II to any extent on that
account. The same effect can be 90
tanned with pen and indelible ink on
linen, and at one-tenth the labor
| phjIadeInbi1 Rec0rd