ile
providing yourself with a metal die of the proper size, to cut the
rounds with.

[Illustration: FIG. 836. BALLS FOR TRIMMINGS. CIRCLE OF CARDBOARD.]

[Illustration: FIG. 837. BALLS FOR TRIMMINGS. OVERCASTING THE CIRCLE OF
CARDBOARD.]

[Illustration: FIG. 838. BALLS FOR TRIMMINGS. CUTTING THE STITCHES ROUND
THE EDGE.]

[Illustration: FIG. 839. BALLS FOR TRIMMINGS. PUTTING IN THE LOOP.]

[Illustration: FIG. 840. BALLS FOR TRIMMINGS. CUTTING OUT THE
CARDBOARD.]

[Illustration: FIG. 841. BALL COMPLETED WITH LOOP ATTACHED.]

Lay two of these rounds together and cover them closely with stitches,
fig. 837, using for this purpose Coton a tricoter D.M.C (knitting
cotton) or Coton a repriser D.M.C (darning cotton).[A]

When the round is entirely covered, put the scissors in between the two
circles of cardboard and cut open the stitches all round the outer edge,
fig. 838; then draw a piece of thread between the two circles and knot
it firmly round the stitches that meet in the centre hole, fig. 839;
leave sufficiently long ends of thread hanging to form a loop by which
the ball can afterwards be fastened to the heading of the fringe; when
the stitches are knotted together you cut and pull out the cardboard,
fig. 840, and snip the thread with your scissors until it becomes quite
fluffy and the ball is perfectly round, as shown in fig. 841.

TAMBOUR WORK (figs. 842, 843, 844, 845).--Since the introduction of
the sewing machine, by means of which this charming kind of embroidery
can be so quickly and easily executed, it has somewhat gone out of
favour. As however, the fine patterns with a good deal of shading in
them, can be far more accurately worked by hand than by machine,
tambouring, which is in point of fact merely a form of crochet, has
lately been revived. The piece of stuff on which the tambour work is to
be done must be mounted on a frame.

[Illustration: FIG. 842. THIMBLE FOR TAMBOURING.]

[Illustration: FIG. 843. TAMBOUR NEEDLE.]

The loops which are made with a small hook, called a tambour needle,
form a fine chain stitch and must be regular and even; to facilitate
this a sort of thimble, fig. 842, is worn on the forefinger of the right
hand, formed of a small plate of sheet brass, rolled up but not joined,
so as to fit any finger; it is open at the top like a tailor's thimble
and has a little notch on the side which is placed above the nail, and
in which you lay the tambour needle whilst you work. From