back of the material and there made secure and
flat; for this reason the design should be so planned as to have as few
breaks as possible. Interlacing strap work designs, of which a simple
example is given in fig. 90, are very suitable for braid work. The
thread that couches down the braid may be quite invisible, or, on the
other hand, it may be made use of to further decorate the braid by being
placed visibly across it, perhaps forming a chequering or other simple
pattern, as shown in fig. 91. Ravellings of the braid may be used as
invisible couching threads for stitching it down. Curves and sharp
corners need special attention by way of extra stitches. The completed
work is much improved by several hours' pressure under a weight.

[Illustration: Fig. 90.]

LAID WORK

[Illustration: Fig. 91.]

Laid work might be described as couching on a more extended scale--a
given space is covered with threads taken from side to side in parallel
lines close together, fixed at either extremity by entering the
material. Further security is usually given by small couching stitches
dotted down at intervals over the laid threads, or by throwing single
lines of thread across in a contrary direction and tying these down at
intervals with couching stitches. Yet another way is, to work a split or
stem stitch over the laid threads, and thus fix them down. Fig. 92 shows
a flower carried out in laid work. The tying-down threads can often be
made use of in one way or another to further decorate, or to explain
form, by means of contrasting colour, change in direction, and so on.
The laid stitches in this flower are taken from the centre outwards and
fixed in place by couched circular lines of thread. The centre of the
flower has a geometrical filling, composed of a couched lattice pattern
with French knots between. Conventional centres of this and like kinds
are very pretty for embroidery flowers; such patterns as those shown in
fig. 93 can often be seen in use, and they need only a trial to be
frequently adopted.

[Illustration: Fig. 92.]

[Illustration: Fig. 93.]

Laid work shows off the gloss and texture of silk to great advantage,
which is due to the thread being laid upon the material without being
cut up into small stitches. Floss silk is much used for the work; it
must not be at all twisted in the laying down, since this mars the
effect. The work is carried out in a frame; it is quickly executed and
economical, the thread being