SCRAP-BOOK COVERS

may be made as attractive as the contents, according to the style of the illustrations. Russia duck is a very good foundation; and if the contents are of a comic nature, a Chinese or Japanese figure, or dragon, or either uncanny beast or bird, may be outlined and made very rich and showy with embroidery in the proper colors mixed with gold thread or braid.

Pongee, too, may be nicely embroidered; and is very pretty for thin books tied with a ribbon at the back. In this way, the contents can be changed at pleasure.

ALBUM COVERS

should be more delicate, and worked on velvet, or silk. Figure 44 makes a very pretty corner for this purpose; and Figure 45 is very effective on a small book. The stars might be done in gold thread, the centre in point-russe with black silk—the diamonds in satin-stitch of a lighter or darker shade of the same color as the foundation.

Fig. 44.—Corner of Border in Satin Stitch Embroidery for Album Covers, Portfolios, etc.

Portfolios may be embroidered in the same way; and whether for writing materials or for engravings, they can be made very ornamental.

LETTER-CASE.

A very rich and handsome letter-case is represented in Figures 46 and 47: Figure 46 showing it when completed, and Figure 47 displaying the principal part of the embroidery.

Fig. 45.

The most suitable ground for the rich gold embroidery is velvet-brown crimson, or blue; but it may be made very handsomely in kid or morocco. The larger part of the case is eleven inches long, and eight inches wide; on the upper part of this book, there is a pattern in gold soutache, and the word Letters or Lettres embroidered in gold bullion; beneath this, there is a pattern worked with white satin beads, edged round with fine white chenille—the scroll pattern is embroidered in gold.

Fig. 46.

The second part is placed over the lower part of the first, and forms the pocket which holds the letters. The central flower is formed with eleven oval beads, edged with white chenille; another white bead is placed in the centre, and edged with gold. The other flowers are also composed of white satin beads edged with gold.

GOLD AND SILK EMBROIDERY.

This rich pattern is intended for a cushion, or chair-cover. It is particularly handsome on a ground of blue velvet, or satin; and the large flowers, leaves, and stems, are all outlined with gold thread sewed on with fine yellow silk. The stamens are worked in satinstitch with yellow silk, and the veins in point-russe with blue silk.

Fig. 47.

Fig. 48.

Fig. 49.

The forget-me-nots are done in satin-stitch with blue silk, and the centres in knotted-stitch with gold thread. The veins and stems are done in stalk-stitch, and the sprays and vines in point-russe with blue silk.

The work is finished on the outer edge with a thick cord of blue silk and gold thread.

Figure 49 is intended for a cigar-case; but if widened, it would make a very pretty book or portfolio cover.

The material should be light-brown Russia leather; the wheat-sheaf is embroidered in satin-stitch with dark-brown silk—-the stem and light outlines in stalk-stitch with gold thread. The bordering is of gold cord, with a network of dark-brown silk, and stitched with black at all the crossings and centres.

Fig. 50.

Monogram in Gold Thread.

This very pretty monogram is worked with gold thread; the leaves and flowers may be done with silk if preferred.