Paragraph 134. A loop to serve the same purpose as a steel eye may be formed of thread. It should be made in the exact place where you would sew on a steel eye to receive the hook. Tie a knot in the thread, insert the needle on the upper side of the cloth about 1/2" from the place where you are to form the loop. (When the loop is completed cut off the knot.) Bring the needle up through the cloth and take about four or five stitches over one another (the number of stitches may be varied according to the size of the thread), make them the same length that you desire the loop; this will depend on the size of the hook. As these loose threads would not make a very satisfactory loop to receive the hook, they must be securely bound together or "worked" as it is usually called.

To work the loop begin at the left-hand end of the loop of threads and fill them with blanket or loop stitches (Par. 128). As the point of the needle would be likely to catch in the cloth, you may use a blunt one, or turn it so the eye will pass under the loop first, as shown in Figure 38. To fasten the thread, bring the needle through to the wrong side of the cloth at the end of the loop, and take two or three stitches over one another.

The loop is used as a substitute for the steel eye on lace yokes, plackets or other openings in sheer cotton materials, also for silks or even woolen garments where the steel eye is likely to show. It should be made with thread to match the color of the material on which it is worked.

Figure 38.