al
with fine thread, like a cord or braid, and made to follow out some
prearranged pattern. In white linen work it was used for carrying out
ornamental borderings on infants' robes and other dainty articles.

[Illustration: Fig. 57.]

French knots can be worked in the hand or in a frame. They are easier to
manage in the latter, and to look well they must be neatly and firmly
made. Completed they should resemble beads lying end upwards on the
material. To work the French knot (fig. 57)--Bring the thread through
the material at the required point, take hold of it with the left finger
and thumb near the starting-point (A on plan), then let the point of the
needle encircle the held thread twice, twist the needle round and insert
it at point B on plan, draw the thread through to the back, not letting
go the held thread until necessary. Fig. 58 shows some French knots
decorating a leaf spray, and various other examples of their use can be
found in the book.

[Illustration: Fig. 58.]

Bullion knots resemble tight curls of thread laid on the material. They
can be used as a variation from French knots, and even for the
representation of petals and small leaves. To be satisfactory they must
be firm, stout, and tightly coiled; some knack is required to make them
properly. To work the bullion knot (fig. 59)--Bring the thread through
at the required place, insert the needle one-eighth of an inch from this
point and bring it through again exactly at it. Take hold of the thread
about two inches from where it came through and twist it several times
round the point of the needle, the number of times being dependent on
the required length of the knot. Place the left thumb upon the tight
coil on the needle, in order to keep it in place, and draw the needle
and thread through it, then pass the thread through to the back at the
point where the needle was last inserted (point A on plan). The thumb
must not be removed until it is in the way. Fig. 60 represents a flower,
of which the centre is formed of bullion together with French knots.

[Illustration: Fig. 59.]

[Illustration: Fig. 60.]

[Illustration: Fig. 61.]

Fig. 61 shows a knotted stitch that is similar in result to the knotted
threads discussed earlier in the chapter. In this case the knotting of
the thread and the fixing to the material is done at the same time. It
is a useful stitch when a jagged line is wanted, and can be seen used,
for instance, for the branching veins