Did you know that sometimes darning is used for decoration instead of just on the stocking? Let us make a gift using it.

The darning stitch is nothing but fine running stitches placed alternately under one another so as to fill a space. Miss James has asked the girls to make linen covers for their cooking notebooks. They decide to put their two initials on the cover and to work them in outline stitch. The sketch (Fig. 92) shows how they will make them within an oblong which is also to be outlined. Thedarning stitch will be used as a background to make the initials stand out. It is a fine running stitch. Any design can be made to stand out by arranging the darning back of the outlined design. The notebooks will be covered so that the covers may slip off. This is done by over-handing the edges and slipping the cover of the book into the pocket formed by the overhand-ing. The cover is all in one : a straight piece folded back inside the cover of book and overhanded at the folds, to hold the book. The picture (Fig. 93) of baby's bib also shows the use of the darning stitch to make a design stand out. This is a bib used by little Alice Allen. Marjorie made it for her, when she was two years old and had a birthday party.

Fig. 92. - The darning stitches make the initials stand out.

Exercises And Problems

1. Make a design for your notebook cover.

2. Calculate size of piece of material needed, if both covers are 9 X 6. Allow 1/2 inch turnings all around.

3. Try to plan a design with a background of darning stitches. Perhaps you can use it on a Christmas gift for brother.

Fig. 93. - The darning stitch makes the design of the rabbits stand out.

Review Problems

I. Plan a gift for father's Christmas on which the darning or cross-stitch is used.

II. Look up the story of the history of silk culture and write a story to be read in school. Perhaps it may be as good as the one Barbara Oakes wrote. Her story was printed in the "Pleasant Valley News."