or
the purpose. For coarse stuffs, coarse cotton should be used, such as
knitting cotton, Coton a tricoter D.M.C Nos. 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14,[A]
which will be found a very good substitute for wool; or six-cord crochet
cotton (Cordonnet 6 fils D.M.C) Nos. 3, 4, 5, 10 and 15,[A] which gives
quite as full and brilliant a stitch, as silk-twist. Finer cottons
should be used for the finer stuffs, such as embroidery cotton (Coton a
broder D.M.C) Nos. 6 to 200,[A] and lace thread (Fil a dentelle D.M.C)
Nos. 30 to 150.[A] In many cases, even darning cotton (Coton a repriser
D.M.C) can be used, as like Algerian silk, it can be split or taken
double, to suit the stuff.

PLAIN CROSS STITCH ON AUXILIARY CANVAS (fig. 292).--Plain cross
stitch, commonly called marking stitch, has already been described in
fig. 253. But it may be well to observe, that when an auxiliary material
is used, it should be most carefully tacked upon the stuff following the
thread of the same, and a sufficient margin left to allow of the drawing
out of the canvas threads, when the work is finished.

[Illustration: FIG. 292. PLAIN CROSS STITCH ON AUXILIARY CANVAS.]

TWO-SIDED CROSS STITCH, WORKED IN FOUR ROWS OF STITCHES (figs. 293,
294, 295).--Straight lines of cross stitch, alike on both sides, can be
worked in two journeys to and fro. Working from left to right, begin by
fastening in your thread, never with a knot, but by two or three little
running stitches, which are hidden afterwards by your first cross
stitch. Directing your needle to the right, pass it diagonally over a
double cross of the warp and woof of the canvas, and so on to the end of
the line.

Having reached the last stitch, draw out your thread in the middle of
it, make an auxiliary diagonal stitch downwards to the right, bring the
needle up in the middle of the last stitch, take it thence, upwards to
the left, across two threads, and begin the return journey, from right
to left, crossing and thus completing the first row of stitches. In the
auxiliary stitch with which you begin the backward journey, the thread
lies double on both sides. Fig. 295 shows how to pass down to the next
row.

[Illustration: FIG. 293. FIRST HALF OF THE FIRST JOURNEY AND AUXILIARY
STITCH FOR RETURNING.]

[Illustration: FIG. 294. ONE JOURNEY AND FIRST HALF OF THE SECOND
FINISHED, AND AUXILIARY STITCH LEADING TO THE SECOND RETURN.]

[Illustration: FIG. 295. THE TWO JOURNEYS TO AND FRO, COMPLETING ONE ROW
OF CROSS