—
AUTISTIC EMBROIDERY.
To
A cluster of apple-blossoms is very pretty in this kind of work; and n\ay be done on a ground of pale-blue, gray, or olive. Satin or velvet would make a very handsome foundation. So delicate a piece of work should be done with great care; and besides the edging in button-hole and the long stitches in embroidery-silk, delicate shading is done with filling silk. The main stems and tendrils are worked in stalk-stitch with green and brown embroidery-silk; where the stems join flower or bud, and The centres of for other little finishing touches, satin-stitch is used. embroideryblossoms in knotstitch and common the are of yellow silk stitch.
Silk is sometimes applied on lace with good effect; and the finest specimen known of this work is the beautiful shawl made for the Empress Eugenie, and for some time past on exhibition at Stewart's.
Fig. 60.
Border
in^
Applique.
Seen through its glass-case, it is a marvel of coloring and truth to nature; the roses almost perfume the air, and the graceful droop of the wistaria in the centre is perfect. This piece of art-needlework fully deserves its name, and is valued at 8100,000; but it is a question if all that weary labor with those minute pieces of silk (so joined on the under side that the points of meeting can be seen only through a magnify ing-glass), to say nothing of the cobweb-lace foundation (also hand-made), could possibly be remunerated with money.
CRETONNE-WORK. The subject of applique could not be exhausted without some reference to this popular branch of it which, when new, was considered the most bewitching fancy-work ever invented. The most desirable flowers and figures for cretonne-work are to be
—