A Simple but Novel Work - A Home-made Embroidery Frame - Suitable Canvases for Braid

Work - Sunflowers and Daisies in Braid

At first sight it may not appear possible to do decorative work with odds and ends of braid, or even skirt-braid bought by the yard. There is, however, plenty of scope for using woollen braids in many forms of decoration on many materials from coarse sacking to fine canvas.

The accessories required are few and simple - viz., a penny packet of bodkins, several yards of different coloured braids, and as much canvas as required. This canvas of fine or coarse mesh is quite inexpensive, and is sold by the yard.

Conventional designs may be carried out in braid to the individual taste of the worker. Children would find the above patterns quite simple to work

For working, the canvas should be stretched taut in a frame. A very useful substitute for an embroidery frame is a piece of cardboard with the centre cut out.

Tack the material smoothly and tightly over the card, then cut away the centre of the card, leaving a border all round from an inch to two inches in width. This simple device will be found quite effective in keeping the work firm and even.

Next draw your designs on the canvas. Round flowers are perhaps best for the purpose of braid work; therefore, either with compasses or an inverted cup or saucer, trace the desired circle. Thread a bodkin with the braid, and the work may be commenced.

For the sunflower illustrated, two circles, one inside the other, should be indicated, the larger forming the outer edge of the flower and the smaller the size of the centre. For the centre cut a round of cardboard to the size required, cover it with brown canvas or silk, slightly padding it to give a natural rounded look. Work this over with a few French knots in wool or silk.

The petals of the flower are worked in yellow braid, drawing it from the outside circle to the inner one, backwards and forwards till a full appearance is obtained.

When the petals are finished, tack the brown centre in position, adding more

French knots if desired.

The border of this design is worked in two shades of green braid, in big ordinary running stitches.

This sunflower design is very suitable for the decoration of a lounge or garden cushion, or for the cushions in a boat.

The second example shows a good border for a curtain. Follow the same method as in the sunflower, but work the smaller centre entirely in French knots. These look well if carried out in soft brown double Berlin wool.

Indicate the leaves and stalks with a pencil line, and cover with braid.

Sunflower worked in yellow braid, with padded centre of rich brown covered with French knots in wool or silk. A twist of yellow and brown braids forms stem and border

A suggestion for a border design in two coloured braids. The centres to be worked in French knots

If too wide, the braid may be doubled over to obtain the right thickness for a stalk, or a thinner braid can be substituted. If doubled, sew the braid down firmly at one side with small stitches. Sewing silk in the same shade is best for this purpose.

Conventional designs look excellent worked on coarse canvas such as that used for cross-stitch.

If fine braids are used, they can be manipulated with an ordinary wool or canvas needle.

A daisy design can be worked on fine brown canvas with suitably fine braids. Yellow baby ribbon may be used for the centre.

When finished, carefully press with a warm iron on the wrong side, and finally pull the petals into good shape.

Cord, frills, or coarse lace can each be utilised for finishing off the work, according to the article made.

All the above ideas can be very quickly carried out, and, when completed, have the additional merit of being really durable as well as pretty.

Braid work on canvas is particularly suitable and effective applied to decorations for houseboats, caravans, or summer-houses, where silks and fragile ribbons would be out of place.

Children will be found to delight in this form of embroidery, as little fingers can more readily manipulate a bodkin than a fine needle. The braid, too, gives a quick result, so that too much patience is not called for in seeing how it looks.

Even little boys might be persuaded to try their hand at this work as an alternative to the ordinary cross-stitching on canvas.

Fancy and variegated braids can be pressed into service. It is well to purchase a small stock at sales. The braids are often done up into little bundles at merely nominal prices, and are generally, if slightly grotesque, gay in colour, and quite ideal for the purpose intended.

A good black-and-white scheme of decoration can be carried out with black and white, or even plain black braids, on a coarse white surface ; and lest the effect should prove slightly funereal, gold and silver narrow braids can be introduced into the pattern with great advantage. Big beads may be used for berries, and large smoked pearl buttons make fine flower centres.

Certain narrow braids are sold at many drapers' shops containing a draw-thread, which when pulled makes the pliable braid take the form of fascinating curves and tendrils. Such braids would prove invaluable in evolving the working out of such plant forms as that of the sweet-pea. It is quite possible to represent very creditable imitations of that popular flower in pink and violet braids, and a khaki-coloured background would form a striking contrast.

There is no kind of fancywork which is more capable of developing original ideas and personal taste, at the expenditure of comparatively little money and time.

A daisy design, worked in suitable braids upon fine brown canvas