y to enable the worker to set down her ideas upon paper. For
much simple and pretty work, however, a slight acquaintance with drawing
and design is sufficient, and any one who can master the requisite
stitches can also acquire some knowledge of these two subjects.

The word design frightens some who do not know quite what it means or
entails. Perhaps they do not realise that the design has already been
begun when the object to be worked has been settled, and the material,
thread, and stitches have been decided upon--the rest comes in much the
same way, partly by a system of choice; as it is necessary to know what
materials there are which can be used, so must the chief varieties of
pattern be known from which choice can be made. All patterns are built
up on some fundamental plan, of which the number is comparatively small.
The ability to choose, plan, and arrange is in a greater or less degree
inherent in every one, so there should be, after all, no great
difficulty in the design. The necessary underlying qualities are--a nice
taste, freedom from affectation, an eye for colour and form, and, it
might be added, a fair share of common sense.

A pattern maker requires some stock-in-trade, and it is wise to collect
together a store of some well-classified design material of ascertained
value, ready to be drawn upon when required. A good knowledge of plants
and flowers is very necessary. This is best acquired by making careful
drawings from nature. In choosing flowers for embroidery purposes, the
best-known ones, such as the daisy, rose, or carnation, give more
pleasure to the observer than rare unrecognisable varieties. Figures,
birds, beasts, and such things as inscriptions, monograms, shields of
arms and emblems, all demand study and drawing, both from miscellaneous
examples and from embroideries.

The treatment of all these should be studied in old work, in order that
the curious conventions and all kinds of amusing and interesting ideas
that have gradually grown up in the past may still be made use of and
added to, instead of being cast aside in a wild endeavour after
something original. The student who collects a supply of the foregoing
materials will find she has considerably widened her knowledge during
the process, and is better prepared to make designs.

In making a pattern the first thing to be decided upon is some main
idea, the detail that is to carry it out must then be considered. This
latter may be of vari