Pongee silk is also used for charming little work-aprons. The bottom is turned up to form a pocket, and a ribbon in color is run through the hem at the top to fasten the apron around the waist. A spray of Virginia creeper and berries, or a branch of carnations, is embroidered in South Kensington stitch across the pocket, or a few long-stemmed violets are scattered over the apron. Bureau covers are of cream-white momie cloth. They are embroidered on the ends with vines and powdered through the centre with violets, pink rose petals or tiny blue love-in-the-nests, or scattered with rose-buds. The decoration and color are chosen in reference to the coloring of the room. Wall protectors, for the backs of washstands, are wrought in South Kensington stitch with crewels. A cream-white buff ecru or gray linen is selected with regard to the prevailing tint of the wall. An aquatic scene of water grasses and floating pond lilies may be chosen for embroidery, and in place of the suggestive motto, " Clean hands and a pure heart," a flight of birds is often substituted. Sub- marine scenes for the same use show swimming fishes, shells, sea anemones and floating sea-weed. Pillow protectors or " shams " are of white linen, and are usually bordered by a ruffle of sheer linen or a frill of lace. One corner of the sham is embroidered with sprays of poppies or lotos leaves, and the words " pleasant dreams " or " good night" are wrought in English or in the homelike German language, in whose rough gutturals there is always a rugged sound of hos- pitality. A merino or cashmere dress may be mended neatly by wetting a piece of court-plaster of exactly the same shade as the goods, and putting it on the wrong side, pressing down every frayed edge and every thread, and laying a weight on it until it is thoroughly dry. The stitch known as the " Kensington," or " South Kensing- ton," and used in what is called, in a phrase of the day, "artistic embroidery," is as nearly as possible no definite stitch at all, but much like drawing done on cloth with needle and thread, a single thread stroke, or " stitch," representing each pencil stroke, how- ever long or short, only that curves, of course, can only be done 256 THE hearthstone; or, life at home. by a succession of short strokes of the thread. The stitches are mostly made in the " back-stitch " manner, and are regulated by no rules whatever, either as to length or direction, but by the eye alone, the object being to produce the effect of the design in the quickest way. It is done with embroidered silks or worsteds on articles not intended ever to be washed ; can be made very effec- tive, and is not at all tedious. Any one able to use a needle and thread at all knows all the mechanical manipulation necessary ; but in order to produce the beautiful designs given in the fashion or ladies' magazines for borders, etc., worked in this stitch, you must be able to copy the pattern by your eye alone, as in drawing. The very useful and widely adaptable embroidery stitch now called " Kensington outline " is different from the above, being produced by a succession of stitches all exactly alike.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

Pongee silk is also used for charming little work-aprons. The bottom is turned up to form a pocket, and a ribbon in color is run through the hem at the top to fasten the apron around the waist. A spray of Virginia creeper and berries, or a branch of carnations, is embroidered in South Kensington stitch across the pocket, or a few long-stemmed violets are scattered over the apron. Bureau covers are of cream-white momie cloth. They are embroidered on the ends with vines and powdered through the centre with violets, pink rose petals or tiny blue love-in-a-mist, or scattered with rose-buds. The decoration and color are chosen in reference to the coloring of the room. Wall protectors, for the backs of washstands, are wrought in South Kensington stitch with crewels. A cream-white buff ecru or gray linen is selected with regard to the prevailing tint of the wall. An aquatic scene of water grasses and floating pond lilies may be chosen for embroidery, and In place of the suggestive motto, "Clean hands and a pure heart," a flight of birds is often substituted. Submarine scenes for the same use show swimming fishes, shells, sea anemones and floating sea-weed. Pillow protectors or " shams " are of white linen, and are usually bordered by a ruffle of sheer linen or a frill of lace. One corner of the sham is embroidered with sprays of poppies or lotus leaves, and the words " pleasant dreams " or " good night" are wrought in English or in the homelike German language, in whose rough gutturals there is always a rugged sound of hospitality. A merino or cashmere dress may be mended neatly by wetting a piece of court-plaster of exactly the same shade as the goods, and putting it on the wrong side, pressing down every frayed edge and every thread, and laying a weight on it until it is thoroughly dry. The stitch known as the " Kensington," or " South Kensington," and used in what is called, in a phrase of the day, "artistic embroidery," is as nearly as possible no definite stitch at all, but much like drawing done on cloth with needle and thread, a single thread stroke, or " stitch," representing each pencil stroke, however long or short, only that curves, of course, can only be done 256 THE hearthstone; or, life at home. by a succession of short strokes of the thread. The stitches are mostly made in the " back-stitch " manner, and are regulated by no rules whatever, either as to length or direction, but by the eye alone, the object being to produce the effect of the design in the quickest way. It is done with embroidered silks or worsteds on articles not intended ever to be washed ; can be made very effective, and is not at all tedious. Any one able to use a needle and thread at all knows all the mechanical manipulation necessary ; but in order to produce the beautiful designs given in the fashion or ladies' magazines for borders, etc., worked in this stitch, you must be able to copy the pattern by your eye alone, as in drawing. The very useful and widely adaptable embroidery stitch now called " Kensington outline " is different from the above, being produced by a succession of stitches all exactly alike.

The hearthstone; or, Life at home