rticle,
whether of leather, plush, or velvet, with monograms and ingenious
devices of all descriptions, the art of gold embroidery has revived and
is being taken up and practised with success, even by those to whom
needlework is nothing more than an agreeable recreation.

We trust that the following directions and illustrations will enable our
readers to dispense with the five years training, which even now,
experts in the art consider necessary.

IMPLEMENTS AND MATERIALS.--The first and needful requisites for gold
embroidery, are a strong frame, a spindle, two pressers, one flat and
the other convex, a curved knife, a pricker or stiletto, and a tray, to
contain the materials.

EMBROIDERY FRAME (fig. 236).--The frame, represented here, is only
suitable for small pieces of embroidery, for larger ones, which have to
be done piece by piece, round bars on which to roll up the stuff, are
desirable, as sharp wooden edges are so apt to mark the stuff.

[Illustration: FIG. 236. EMBROIDERY FRAME FOR GOLD EMBROIDERY.]

Every gold embroidery, on whatever material it may be executed, requires
a stout foundation, which has to be sewn into the frame, in doing which,
hold the webbing loosely, almost in folds, and stretch the stuff very
tightly. Sew on a stout cord to the edges of the foundation, which are
nearest the stretchers, setting the stitches, 3 or 4 c/m. apart. Then
put the frame together and stretch the material laterally to its fullest
extent, by passing a piece of twine, in and out through the cord at the
edge and over the stretchers. Draw up the bracing until the foundation
is strained evenly and tightly. Upon this firm foundation lay the stuff
which you are going to embroider, and hem or herring-bone it down,
taking care to keep it perfectly even with the thread of the foundation
and, if possible, more tightly stretched to prevent it from being
wrinkled or puckered when you come to take it off the backing. For
directions how to transfer the pattern to your stuff, and prepare the
paste with which the embroidery has to be stiffened before it is taken
out of the frame, see the concluding chapter in the book.

THE SPINDLE (fig. 237).--The spindle to wind the gold thread upon,
should be 20 c/m. long and made of hard wood. Cover the round stalk and
part of the prongs with a double thread of Coton a broder D.M.C No. 16,
or pale yellow Cordonnet D.M.C No. 25, and terminate this covering with
a loop, to which you fasten the