ground is the ordinary darning stitch; drawing the
thread, that is to say, in and out of the number of squares, prescribed
by the pattern, and backwards and forwards as many times as is necessary
to fill them up.

[Illustration: FIG. 637. ORDINARY DARNING STITCH.]

[Illustration: FIG. 638. LINEN STITCH. FIRST STITCHES.]

The number of stitches depends, to a certain extent, on the material
employed; with Coton a broder D.M.C for example, you will have to make
more stitches than with one of the coarser numbers of Coton a repriser
D.M.C.

This is the stitch generally used for reproducing a cross stitch pattern
on a netted ground and is especially to be recommended for covering
large surfaces, curtains, counterpanes and so forth, as it is quickly
done and shows up the pattern well.

[Illustration: FIG. 639. LINEN STITCH. SECOND STITCHES.]

[Illustration: FIG. 640. LINEN STITCH. FORMATION OF THE CORNERS.]

LINEN STITCH (figs. 638 and 639).--This is the stitch most often met
with in the old embroideries, it being the one the solid parts of the
leaves and flowers, and the borders are generally worked in.

Fasten on the thread to a knot of the netting and carry it twice to and
fro, over and under the threads of the netting, so that at the end of
the row, every second thread passes under and over the thread of the
netting, as it is carried upwards again.

This constitutes the first layer of threads, the second completes the
linen stitch and is made in the same way, only across the first,
alternately taking up and missing a thread as is done, in darning. The
thread may also be carried both ways over the threads of the squares. In
this case you must draw an uneven number of threads through the squares,
otherwise the crossing of the threads will be irregular in the last
square.

LINEN STITCH. FORMATION OF THE CORNERS (fig. 640).--When linen stitch
is used for the border of a pattern, and a corner has to be formed, you
begin by carrying the threads over a given number of squares. This first
layer, especially in the case of long stripes, must be kept very slack,
and to ensure the threads being all of the same length, lay a fine mesh
or a thick knitting needle at one end and stretch the threads over it.
After carrying the second layer across a few squares, take away the mesh
or needle. The threads of the first layer become gradually shorter, from
the passage of the cross threads in and out between them, and end by
being ju