LACE (fig. 773).--This lace, more troublesome than the preceding
ones to make, is also much more valuable and effective. The ground is
composed entirely of bars, like the ones described in fig. 761, the
branches, true to the character of the work are worked in the close
stitch represented in fig. 755, and the flowers in double net stitch,
fig. 721.

In working the above fillings, the thread must not, as in lace made with
braid, be carried on from one point to the other by overcasting stitches
along the braid edges, but should be drawn out horizontally through the
cord and back again the same way, giving the needle in so doing a
slightly slanting direction.

FOOTNOTES:

[A] See at the end of the concluding chapter, the table of numbers and
sizes and the list of colours of the D.M.C threads and cottons.

[Illustration: VENETIAN LACE OF THE XVI CENTURY.]

Laces of different kinds.

In general, to the uninitiated, the word "lace" signifies exclusively
the delicate and elaborate fabrics that owe their origin to Venice and
the Netherlands and were thence imported into other countries. But
besides Venetian, French, English, Chantilly, Brussels, Sedan point,
names familiar to every one, there are all kinds of other laces,
likewise of great antiquity, and named as the above are, after the
country they belong to.

As it would be impossible in these pages to give a comprehensive account
of them all, we have restricted ourselves to such as seem more
especially suited to the amateur, to whom needlework is a mere
recreation and pastime.

Worked like the above-named entirely with the needle, but much less
elaborate and minute in character and workmanship, they are quicker and
easier to make and we are sure that by the help of the directions that
accompany the illustrations, any careful worker will be able to imitate
them without difficulty.

MATERIALS.--It will be observed that we do not bind ourselves in the
following directions to one size of cotton, that as in point of fact,
one and the same piece of work can be executed in either fine or coarse
cotton, we have only indicated the most suitable kind of material to
use: as for instance for Armenian lace, Fil a pointer D.M.C[A] or
Cordonnet 6 fils D.M.C[A], for Smyrna or knotted lace, Fil a pointer
D.M.C, Cordonnet 6 fils D.M.C and Fil a dentelle D.M.C[A], for Reticella
and Venetian lace, Fil d'Alsace D.M.C[A], for Brussels lace, the finest
numbers of Fil