es of
lace stitches, often met with in old Venetian lace, and which can
therefore with perfect right be called, Venetian stitches.

Owing to the manner and order in which the rows of stitches are
connected and placed above one another, they form less transparent
grounds than those we have hitherto described.

In these grounds you begin by making the row of loops, then you throw a
thread across on the same level and in coming back, pass the needle
through the row of loops under the thread stretched across, and under
the stitch of the previous row.

[Illustration: FIG. 738. NINETEENTH LACE STITCH.]

NINETEENTH LACE STITCH (fig. 738).--The close stitch here represented
is more common in Venetian lace than the loose stitch given in fig.
737.

[Illustration: FIG. 739. TWENTIETH LACE STITCH.]

TWENTIETH LACE STITCH (fig. 739).--By missing some loops of the close
ground in one row and replacing them by the same number in the next,
small gaps are formed, and by a regular and systematic missing and
taking up of stitches, in this way, extremely pretty grounds can be
produced.

[Illustration: FIG. 740. TWENTY-FIRST LACE STITCH.]

TWENTY-FIRST LACE STITCH (fig. 740).--These close lace stitches, can
be varied in all sorts of other ways by embroidering the needle-made
grounds.

In fig. 740, you have little tufts in darning stitch, and in a less
twisted material than the close stitches of the ground, worked upon the
ground.

If you use Fil a dentelle D.M.C (lace thread) for the ground, you should
take either Coton a repriser D.M.C (darning cotton), or better still,
Coton surfin D.M.C[A] for the tufts. The ground can also be ornamented
with little rings of buttonholing, stars or flowerets in bullion or some
other fancy stitch.

[Illustration: FIG. 741. TWENTY-SECOND LACE STITCH.]

TWENTY-SECOND LACE STITCH (fig. 741).--For the above three stitches
and the three that follow, the work has to be held, so that the
finished rows are turned to the worker and the needle points to the
outside of the hand. In the first row, from left to right, take hold of
the thread near the end that is in the braid, lay it from left to right
under the point of the needle, and bring it back again to the right,
over the same. Whilst twisting the thread in this way round the needle
with the right hand, you must hold the eye of the needle under the left
thumb.

When you have laid the thread round draw the needle through the loops;
the bars must