The Priscilla Battenberg and point lace book; a collection of lace ...

Plain Russian Stitch.
aHE plain Russian
stitch, Fig. 24, is
the simplest of the
insertions, and, like
all insertions, is suitable for
long, narrow spaces in the
design of the pattern. This
is accomplished by a series
of buttonhole stitches, alternat-
ing from one side of the space
, , , ., Fig. 24. Plaix Rusto
the other.
.^^^ s^^^^^
The thread is securely fastened in the upper, or
farther, left-hand corner. It is then brought forward
over the space and held against the pattern
by the left thumb. The needle is then thrust
through the braid on the right side of the space,
with the needle pointing directly across toward
the braid at the left side. The thread is carried
through the braid and again secured by the left
thumb. The work is then repeated from the left
side of the space, with the needle pointing toward
the right side. Holding the thread down with the
thumb makes it impossible to make a wrong twist,
as the needle never passes under the thread held
in this way.
This stitch may be varied by tying each cross-
ing thread in the middle with a buttbnhole knot.
Twisted Russian Stitch.
The twisted Eussian stitch, Fig. 25, is a trifle
more complicated. As in the former, the stitches
alternate from right to left, but the method of hold-
ing the thread down with the left thumb differs.
The thread is fastened at
the upper left-hand corner and
carried forward over the space
to be filled. The thumb is
then placed upon it as near
the point of fastening as is
practical, and the thread is
brought to the right and again,
slipped under the thumb, form-
ing an open loop, upon both
sides of which the thumb rests.
The needle is then thrust
FIG. 26. TWISTED RussiAN
Stitch. through the edge of the braid
at the right, with the point directed to the op-
Insertions.
12
posite left. It is then passed over the righT>-hand
thread of the loop, under the left-hand thread, and
drawn up. It is well to leave the thumb on the loop
tni the stitch is nearly completed, as it avoids
tangling the thread and causes a more even
twist. ,•!
Again the thumb holds down the thread, which
is then brought up on the left side and slipped'
The needle is 'thrust
under the thumb as before. ^
through the braid at the left over the loose side of
the loop and under the other or right side. This;
i
is repeated until the space is filled.
The same effect may be produced by using the^
plain Russian stitch, and with an overcasting stitch
producing the extra twist; but this takes morei
time and is not as even in results.
Column Stitch.
Column stitch, shown in Fig. 26, is a combinar
tion of plain and twisted Russian stitch. Each
stitch on one side of the space to be filled is a'
plain Russian stitch, while all those on the other
side are twisted Russian stitches, with the work-
ing thread passed three or more times around the
already twisted thread. This stitch makes a very
Fig. 26. Column Stitch.
pretty insertion for either
straight or curved spaces.
In the latter, the twisted'
side of the stitch may be
at the outer curve of the
place to be filled, and the
twisted threads will radiate
evenly outwards. The op-
posite effect may be obtained
by reversing the order of
the stitches, when the coils
of the twisted side will con-
verge, and, if the curve is
pronounced, will almost meet, and have the ap-
pearance of' the spokes of a wheel.
Insertion of Single Buttonhole Stitch.
Along both sides of the long, narrow space to be
filled, a row of Brussels net (single buttonhole)
stitches is worked very evenly and quite loosely.
If the space is a curve the stitches along the inner
or smaller side of the space must be made closer
together, in order that the stitches of the two rows