This section is from the book "Arts & Crafts Magazine Vol1-2", by Hutchinson & Company.
(See opposite page and Supplement B.)
The design is especially suited to the fair white linens intended to be, used for the altar and communion-table. As shown in the complete design herewith, it would be a beautiful decoration for the silk veil. It might this be worked in solid embroidery. Use three shades of purple for the grapes, three of green for the leaves, and two shades of a contrasting tone of green for the tendrils and stems. This must be very fine work, as the veil is too light to allow much weight to the embroidery. When using this design on a silk, it will be very satisfactory to work it in a double thread of Japanese gold. Couch the gold to the outline with very fine stitches, using great care in fastening the ends. A little silk stitch work may be introduced with the couched strands. A partial indicating embroidery will be an easier method of treating so complicated a drawing, and perhaps the most effective. The truth of this will be fully appreciated as it relates to the grapes themselves. The opportunity of leaving their high lights to be indicated by the white or light ground material is a very valuable one. The most simple method is usually the most effective. Commence the bunches of grapes at the top. Work the two grapes which are in full view with perpendicular stitches, starting from the end or point. Let these stitches slant in just a little at the sides, becoming straight again as they reach the top. Work the other grapes up from the lower end in the same way, always finishing first that part which laps over another form. Border the leaves with long and short stitch, and keep the outline sharp. Work in the veins very line. The bands which border the vine should be raised and worked over in gold or covered with a gold-coloured silk and crossed diagonally with a thread four double and tightly twisted.
If the design is to be carried out in white work, use French embroidery cotton on the fair white linens. One very pretty treatment in this style would be to outline the whole with fine outline stitch and then work in portions with seed stitch and French knots. Distribute these stitches in a pretty conventional way on opposite sides of the leaves. Another effective way to apply the French embroidery would be to raise the outline the width of a few threads or wider - a quarter of an inch if the linen is heavy - and work the laid stitches over it. When the outline of the leaves is laid as heavy as this, the grapes should be worked solid. Raise them by a horizontal filling and cover them completely with simple overlay stitches placed perpendicularly. The bordering bands should also be raised and worked with the overlay at right with their direction. These bands form a very pretty setting to conventional designs. When this design is used on a chalice veil, a monogram or cross should be placed in the centre of the circle.
The design enlarged twice again its present size on the straight and used in combination with one of wheat would be a very rich decoration tor a fair linen altar frontal. Parts of it are also applicable lor domestic work, though it is too conventional for very general use.
 
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