for the lower edge, with fine
stitches, working as shown from left to right. Take another piece of
braid, or the other end of the same piece, and begin to lay the braid by
"running" stitches in its centre, keeping it as smooth and even as
possible. The outer edge presents no difficulty, but the inner edge will
not lie evenly without being drawn in by a needle and thread, as
follows:--Thread a No. 9 needle with No. 12 Mecklenburg thread about 20
inches long, fasten the thread to one point, and insert the needle in
and out of the edge of the braid, as if for fine gathering; this thread
when drawn up will keep the braid in its place. Two or three fastening
off stitches should be worked when each circle, half circle, or rounded
curve of a pattern is finished, as the drawing or gathering thread
remains in the work, and forms an important, though unseen, part of its
structure.

As much of the beauty of point lace depends upon the manner of placing
the braid, ladies cannot bestow too much pains upon this part of the
work, which is a little troublesome to beginners. Many fancy shops now
undertake this braid-placing for ladies, who can have their own pattern
braided and commenced or braided alone at trifling expense. Among these
may be mentioned the following houses:--Goubaud, 30, Henrietta-street,
Covent-garden. Boutillier, Oxford-street, W.

The stitches used in point lace may be divided into--

STITCHES PROPER, or _points_.

CONNECTING BARS.

FINISHING EDGINGS.

WHEELS, ROSETTES.

The term point lace, or lace stitches (_points_), has of late been
applied to every stitch executed with Mecklenburg thread, and many
stitches are erroneously named by modern writers. As there are more than
one hundred stitches employed in this beautiful art, much study and
opportunity of seeing specimens of old point lace is required to give a
novice any idea of the various kinds of point lace; but by attention to
the following stitches the rudiments of the art may be easily acquired
and very beautiful lace produced.

The first stitch is POINT DE BRUXELLES, or Brussels lace stitch. This
stitch, as may be clearly seen in illustration No. 433, is a simple
button-hole stitch worked loosely and with great regularity. The whole
beauty of Brussels lace depends upon the evenness of the stitches. This
stitch is sometimes employed as an edging, but is more often worked in
rows backwards and forwards, either as a groundwork or to fill spaces,
as i