ctions of Guipure d'Art is the speed
with which it is worked, and the ease with which fresh patterns are
designed by skilful workers.

GUIPURE D'ART is an imitation of the celebrated ancient Guipure Lace,
and is worked in raised and intersected patterns upon a square network
of linen thread, Mecklenburg thread of various sizes being used for this
purpose. The needles employed are blunt, and have large eyes, to admit
the linen thread.

Materials required: One frame of wire covered with silk ribbon; one
square of Mecklenburg thread net (_fillet_), either coarse or fine;
Mecklenburg thread; netting-needles and meshes of various sizes.

The netted foundation, or "_fillet_," upon which this elegant work is
embroidered, can be made by ladies very easily, and at much less cost
than when bought ready made.

The square is worked by netting with coarse No. 2 or fine No.10 thread
over a mesh measuring three-quarters of an inch or more, in rows
backwards and forwards. Begin with 2 stitches, and increase 1 at the end
of every row till you have one more stitch than is required for the
number of holes. Thus, if a square of 26 holes is required, continue to
increase up to 27 stitches, then decrease 1 at the end of every row till
2 stitches only remain. The last 2 stitches are knotted together without
forming a fresh stitch.

The completed foundation is laced upon the frame, taking the lacing
cotton through the double edge formed by the increased and decreased
stitches. If the four corners of the netting are tied at each corner of
the frame before beginning the lacing, that operation is greatly
facilitated. The netting should be laced as tightly as possible, it
being far easier to darn on than when loose.

[Illustration: 503.--Frame for Guipure d'Art.]

Ladies who wish to excel in working guipure d'art should practise each
of the stitches until they attain perfect regularity and quickness in
their execution. Two or three hours devoted to this in the first
instance will not be time wasted, as the most elaborate pattern will be
worked with ease as soon as the stitches are mastered.

The Mecklenburg thread of Messrs. Walter Evans and Co., of Derby, will
be found a better colour than any other, as it closely resembles the
shade of the ancient guipure lace.

It is sold only in spools of 200 yards each, and the numbers run as
follow; No. 2, 4, 6, 8, lo, 12, 16, 20; No. 2 being the coarsest, and
No. 20 the finest.

The principal s