Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-20
\ NEW FLAT STITCH
OF HARDANGE
EMBROIDERY.
Peasant and Princess Do the Work in
Sweden-A National
Industry.

Hardanger embroidery, called also Swed-
ish fiat stitch, has quite supplanted cross
stitch in the affections of up date women,
who, however, will wear much cross-stitch
embroidery upon their summer frocks.
Denmark. Sweden and Norway send this
embroidery in which peasant and princess
are alike proficient. Even the children in
Scandinavia do beautiful embroidery in this
stitch.
limitations of hardanger cloth, upon which
the Scandinavians work this embroidery,
are seen in all the spring fabrics, from the
embroidered founces for underwear to the
colored and figured linen suitings. The
shops are also showing collar, cuff and
belt sets of scrim or hardanger cloth, or an
imitation of it, worked in all the delicate
colors. as well as in the red and blue COM
binations known as Russian embroidery.
Frocks-or rather bands for trimming
frocks and blouses-display this embroidery,
and it fairly revels upon table covers,
scarfs, rugs, cushion covers, handbags,
fancy bags of all classes. curtain borders,
lounge covers, bedspreads and on every
conceivable thing that may be trimmed In
this modish manner.
The stitch resembles fiat stitch in en-
broidery but it is done, as cross stitch Is,
by counting threads. and the cross stitch
and Swedish fat stitch are combined In
any number of articles. particularly where
colors are used and rich effect desired.
On large covers for tables-and on small
ones as weil-and upon covers for cushions,
the work Is done with large stitches and
bright coIors are employed. In Swedish en-
broidery good deal of yellow Is in vogue
There are a number of shades OF dinerent
colors beautifully worked together, ana
wool is used for the groundwork. where
Swallowed effects are desired, and rope silk
or embroidery silk for the high lights. A
heavy, coarse weave of linen Is employed
l. Of nv-lr nr16t a m
meshed weayes and basket weaveS and fam
cy mercerized weaves, in which the threads
or stripes may be counted, as in cross
stitch.
A Worked Background.
Sometimes the embroidery is done upon
the material without a background-indeed,
this is usually the case-but many people
are willing to spend the time and money
necessary to fill in the entire background
with shadows and figures of indestructible
workmanship and beauty and richness. This
work resembles tapestry, in a measure,
where the background is all filled in, and
both cross stitch and hardanger embroidery
| partake of tapestry work, and are done
along the same lines and with the same
materials.
Swedish fiat stitch makes superb libra
ry dining room decoration, where cur
| tains, cushions, scarfs and covers for ta-
bles, when not in use, are all made of these
rich colors worked in floral and scroll pat
| terms in one of the oldest and most beauti-
| full embroidery stitches known to mankind
Together with the passion for Scandina-
| Wan embroidery and fancy work comes a.
| fad for decorating with Norwegian pot
! terry, which has broad color schemes in the
| decorative patterns and good deal of yell
| low in the plan. The lines are graceful
| but instead of round curves to the pottery
| there is a fancy for fiat, sharp-edged sides
| and peculiar shapes.
| Basketware in Norwegian colors and
shapes is brightly painted in broad sweeps
of color. and the weave has a mesh whose
| bands are over an inch broad. Trays, waste
| baskets. wall pockets and all manner of ar
| ticles that can be made in basketware are
/ seen in this work.