d be kept as much as possible upon
the front. The thin paper is then torn away, and there will be some
suggestion of pattern left upon the material.

Transparent ground stuffs need only be laid upon the pattern; then the
tracing can be taken directly on the stuff.

Paste is sometimes in request for embroidery purposes; the following is
a good recipe--Pour rather less than half a pint of cold water into a
saucepan, add to this a piece of carpenter's glue about the size of a
small filbert and place it on the fire to heat. Put three teaspoonfuls
of flour into a basin, and with cold water mix to a smooth paste; when
the water in the saucepan boils add it to the paste, stirring well all
the time; then place the mixture in the saucepan and boil for about two
minutes. When cold it is ready for use. It may be required as a
preservative; for instance, canvas work when finished can have a thin
coating of paste rubbed over the back in order to preserve the stitches
from giving or running; when the work is to be used for such things as
furniture coverings this may be a good thing to do. Applied work is
sometimes pasted on to its new ground, and a backing may be fixed to the
surface material by paste. The more all this can be avoided the better,
for its tendency is to give a stiff mechanical look to work;
professional people, however, are rather fond of the paste pot. Paste,
if used, must be of the right kind, or it will do more harm than good.
It should be very fresh, and have no acid in its ingredients, of which
gum arabic must not be one if any after stitching has to take place
through the stuff, for gum makes it hard and less penetrable. The paste
must be applied and allowed to dry thoroughly before the work is removed
from the frame. A finger makes a good brush for the purpose. The paste
should be put on as thinly and evenly as possible, care being taken not
to rub on the cross of the material, since this might stretch it
unevenly.

Shoemakers' paste is easily procured, and can be used for embroidery
purposes. This is made from rye flour, and is very strong. It is
harmless if perfectly fresh.

A good many things go to the keeping of work fresh and orderly, which is
a very important matter. The work must be kept carefully covered up when
not in use; finished parts can sometimes be covered whilst the work is
going on, for the covering is easily raised when comparison with the
part in progress is necessary. The work should hav