ny of the pounce getting
accidentally rubbed on to the embroidery. The next process is the
perforation of the pattern. Lay the tracing upon some substance of the
nature of thick felt, then with a pricker or a needle, held in an
upright position, pierce tiny holes all round the outline of the
pattern, very close together. This completed, attach the perforated
tracing securely to the material, the smooth side of the perforations
towards the stuff. Both material and tracing paper may be fixed to a
board with drawing pins. Next, rub the pounce, which consists of finely
powdered charcoal or of white chalk, lightly over the perforated parts
with a soft pad, keeping the rubbing always in the same direction; once
or twice at the most over the surface is quite sufficient, often too
much is rubbed through, which afterwards is only in the way. The pad,
first dipped into the pounce, is rubbed preparatorily upon some paper to
remove the superfluous powder, and then upon the actual work. Carefully
remove the tracing-paper; there should now be visible upon the surface
of the material, in charcoal dust, a perfectly clear reproduction of the
pattern. Should, however, the impression be blurred, it is quite easy to
flick everything away with a duster and repeat the process. The causes
of failure would most probably be that the perforations were too large
or too far apart, or that there was some movement of either paper or
material during the process. It is necessary for the pattern to be
permanently fixed upon the ground material; blow lightly to remove any
superfluous powder, then, with a brush dipped in light red oil-paint
moistened with turpentine, trace a fine clear line over the powdered
pattern. When this is dry, what is left of the charcoal can be lightly
dusted away. Red is in most cases a good colour to use for tracing
purposes, for if by chance any tracing should show or come off on the
thread it will be a clean-looking colour, and one comparatively easily
removed in any after cleaning.

Red or blue carbonised paper is used for tracing patterns; it is not a
good medium though it may be an expeditious one. If it is used, an after
painting over the outline will make the marking permanent.

When pouncing or painting is difficult, a method of indicating the
pattern upon the stuff is to trace the design on tissue paper, and tack
it to the ground material with cotton, the stitching of which should
follow the outline of the design, an