RABIC SUBJECT.]

Macrame.

Macrame is an Arabic word, signifying an ornamental fringe or trimming,
which has been adopted as the term for a certain kind of hand-work,
known also as "knotted fringe" or "Mexican lace" and produced by the
knotting, interweaving and tying together of threads.

We have given the preference to the Arabic name because of its less
definite meaning, seeing that not only fringe and lace, but trimmings of
all kinds, in the shape of bands and stripes and headings, can be worked
in macrame.

Until its revival about ten years ago, when it was regarded by many as a
new invention, the art of macrame making had for centuries become almost
extinct and save here and there in the convents, was quite unknown.

The multitude of uses to which it can be turned as a trimming, the
infinite variety it admits of and its great durability and strength,
make macrame well worth a study; the difficulties that repel many at
first sight are only on the surface and any one who carefully follows
the instructions given in the following pages, will soon overcome them
and be able without pains to copy the charming designs that accompany
them, which remind us of the wooden lattices in the windows of Eastern
houses, doubtless familiar to many of our readers, under the name of
_moucharabieh_.

MATERIALS.--These may be of almost any kind; silk, gold thread, cord,
wool or cotton, can all be employed with good effect. Almost any of the
D.M.C cottons can be used for macrame; but the ones especially to be
recommended are: Fil a dentelle D.M.C[A], Cordonnet 6 fils D.M.C[A]
and Coton a broder D.M.C[A] for the finer kinds of work, and for the
coarser, Fil a pointer D.M.C[A], Coton a tricoter D.M.C[A] and Ganse
turque D.M.C[A]. The twist in all these is so regular as to admit of a
high degree of perfection being attained with them: they are moreover
very agreeable to the touch, a great recommendation considering how much
they have to be handled by the worker.

[Illustration: FIG. 513. MACRAME CUSHION.]

MACRAME CUSHION AND OTHER ACCESSORIES (figs. 513 and 514).--The only
really important requisite for macrame work is the cushion, which should
be well stuffed, and weighted with lead (fig. 513). It is convenient to
have it made to screw on to a table like the Swiss tambour frames. There
are other kinds of macrame cushions but none, in our opinion, as
practical as these because any pattern can be worked upon them and
patte