the form to be filled. It does not much matter what the
filling is as long as it is dispersed pretty regularly over the space,
giving the effect at a little distance of a light pervading tone, and
when examined closely exhibiting an interesting small pattern. The open
filling method can be used entirely throughout a design with very pretty
effect; an example of this may be seen on an embroidered coverlet and
pillow case in the Victoria and Albert Museum.[7] The pattern, composed
of vine leaves and grapes, is carried out in dark brown silk on a linen
ground, the leaves being all outlined with satin stitch. There is
wonderful variety in the patterns, no two alike, which form the open
fillings of the leaves; this makes them most interesting to examine, and
is evidence of enthusiasm in their designing. Fig. 108, a leaf taken
from this specimen, shows one method of filling a form with open
work.[8] Fig. 109 shows a collection of patterns taken from the same
piece of embroidery. It will be observed that small stitches of the same
length compose the pattern, which can be designed upon squared paper and
easily copied on to the linen ground by always picking up the same
number of threads. To look well these little forms must be accurately
worked, and they or similar kinds can be used upon flowers, leaves,
beasts, draperies, or anything else quite indiscriminately. Fig. 110,
from a cap in the Victoria and Albert Museum, is a drawing showing the
same kind of open filling in use upon a bird.[9]

[Illustration: Fig. 109.]

[Illustration: Fig. 110.]

A quicker way of carrying out these geometrical fillings is by using
such forms as a lattice and throwing the lines from side to side
across the shape to be filled, fixing them down, where they cross each
other, with couching stitches; the interstices left between the threads
can be filled in with little stars, crosses, or dots (see fig. 111).
Buttonhole stitch, if made use of as an open filling, would be taken in
lines straight across a form, the stitches being worked possibly two or
three closely together and then a space, and so on.

[Illustration: Fig. 111.]

Fig. 112 suggests another method of lightly filling a leaf with a
conventional veining and dotting. There is no limit to the variety which
can be obtained in this method of working.

[Illustration: Fig. 112.]

Open fillings are effective for use upon any work that is intended to be
seen with a light at the back; they ma