ous types, such as flowers, foliage, figures,
animals, geometrical forms, interlacing strapwork, quatrefoils, &c.,
&c.; perhaps several of these _motifs_ may be combined together in the
same design.

[Illustration: Fig. 10.]

One of the simplest plans upon which a pattern can be arranged is that
of some form recurring at regular intervals over the surface. The
principle involved is repetition; an example of it is shown at fig. 10.
The form that is used here is a sprig of flower, but the repeating
element admits of infinite variation, it may be anything from a dot to
an angel.

[Illustration: Fig. 11.]

Copes and chasubles, bedspreads and curtains, are often to be seen
decorated with some repeating form. Fig. 11 shows in outline a
conventional sprig that is repeated in this fashion over the surface of
a famous cope in Ely Cathedral. Fig. 12 is an example of a sprig of
flower taken from a XVIIth century embroidered curtain; similar bunches,
but composed of different flowers, recur at intervals over this hanging.

It may interest the practical worker to know what are the different
stitches used upon this figure. The petals of the top flower are in
chain stitch in gradated colouring, the centre is an open crossing of
chain surrounded by stamens in stem stitch in varied colour, the
outermost leaves are outlined in stem stitch with an open filling of
little crossed stitches. The petals of the lower flower are worked
similarly, and the centre is carried out in chain stitch and French
knots. The leaves are filled in with ingenious variations of these
stitches.

[Illustration: Fig. 12.]

The repeating element is perhaps a symbolical figure, a heraldic shield,
or it may be some geometrical form that supplies the motive. Fig. 13 is
a conventional sprig of hawthorn that ornaments in this way an altar
frontal at Zanthen. It is by no means necessary that the element which
repeats should be always identical; so long as it is similar in size,
form, and general character it will probably be the more interesting if
variety is introduced.

The principle of repetition is again found in fig. 14, but with an
additional feature; a sprig of flower is used, with the further
introduction of diagonal lines, expressed by leaf sprays, which are
arranged so as to surround each flower and divide it from the adjoining
ones.

[Illustration: Fig. 13.]

It is advisable to space out the required surface in some way before
commencing to draw