A Short Purse.

No. 24.

Commence with a chain of one hundred and eighty stitches in fine white netting silk.

Second row—gold.

Third row—white.

Crochet eleven rows with bright violet silk, with the above pattern in gold.

Fifteenth row—white.

Sixteenth row—gold.

Seventeenth row—white.

Work three rows of treble open crochet with gold. The above, worked four times, will complete the purse. It is advisable to omitone of the circular figures, in the centre of each stripe; and also, to reverse the direction of the pattern at the opposite end of the purse.

Ponceau, blue, or green, may be substituted for the violet silk.

This pattern may also be effectively worked in any two decided colours, either with zephyr, or six-thread fleecy, for sofa pillows, tidies, etc.

Commence at the bottom with a chain of fourteen stitches; unite both ends, and work round and round, increasing by means of dividing lines, until a flat circle of about two inches in diameter be formed. On this, work plain rows until the purse be about three inches in length. It must then be exactly divided, and each side worked backwards and forwards, for about eight rows, or whatever is sufficient for the depth of the snap.

The annexed pine pattern, and the usualvandyke, are suitable for short purses. About one hundred and twenty stitches will form a good-sized purse.

No. 25.

Commence with one row of open crochet, in gold-coloured silk; work a row of plain crochet, every two stitches alternately blue and gold colour; then, one row of plain blue.

The next, orfourth row—is formed alternately, of two stitches of scarlet, and five of blue.

Fifth row—four blue, five white, alternately.

Sixth row—four blue; four stone colour.

Seventh row—five stitches blue; two pink.

Repeat the row of plain blue; then, one row, alternately two stitches of blue and two of gold colour, and commence again with the open crochet.

Commence with one row of open crochet, the length of the purse, in fine white netting silk. Then, one row of plain crochet, in alternate stitches, of white and full blue, or white and ponceau.

No. 26.

Work the above pattern in gold, on the blue, or ponceau, ground. Then, three rows of open crochet in white; and repeat the pattern and open crochet alternately.

When the purse is finished, it will be foundthat there are only two rows of open crochet where it is joined, but this cannot be avoided.

The same pattern may also be worked in gold or steel beads, but it will then be advisable to omit the pattern in the centre of the purse. An additional colour may be introduced, with very good effect, on the ground between the beads. In a moderate-sized purse, the pattern will be repeated seven times in the length. A few plain stitches at the top and bottom of the purse will be desirable.

Commence with a chain of one hundred stitches, in dark green netting silk, and work one plain row; then, crochet five rows with steel beads, to form the first stripe of the pattern.

Work one plain row of white. Then, on the white ground, crochet the second stripe of the pattern, with gold beads. Work one plain row of white.

The third stripe is green,—the lower division of the pattern is in steel beads, the upper, in gold beads.

No. 27.

The fourth stripe is white, the pattern in steel beads, with one plain row of white at top and bottom.

Commence again with the green, and having worked the five rows of the pattern with gold beads, finish with twenty plain rows of green.

Make a star bottom with steel beads (as directedpage 65), and fine netting silk of a dark emerald green. Work three rows of open crochet in a light green—then, either of the annexed patterns, in steel beads, on a ponceau ground.

No. 28.

No. 29.

Work two more rows of open crochet in light green. Repeat the pattern with steelbeads, and work two more rows of open crochet. This completes one end of the purse.

The centre is to be in plain crochet.

No. 30.

Make a chain of one hundred and seventy stitches, in reel silk. To the commencement of this chain, crochet another short chain (as in plain stitch open crochet), of three stitches, the third stitch of which pass through the fourth stitch ofthe chain, and work three plain stitches. Crochet another chain of three stitches, and pass the last stitch, as before, through the fourth stitch ofthe chain. This is to be repeated to the end of the row.

All the succeeding rows are the same, exceptthat the plain stitches of the next row are always one stitch in advance of the preceding.

Spiral crochet may be varied by working five, or seven stitches, instead of three, as above directed. Most elegant purses and bags may thus be made, by the introduction of gold, and using the silk in shades.

No. 31.

Commence with one row of open crochet, in fine netting silk, of a dead gold colour. Work one row of plain crochet in black, and five rows in blue; on the latter, the above sprig pattern may be worked in gold, or steel beads. One plain row of black completes the stripe.

Work two rows of open crochet in the gold colour. Then,—

Seven rows of black, with the Grecian border in ponceau, on the same, to form a second stripe.

Repeat the two rows of open crochet in gold colour, and commence again, with the blue stripe, as before.

The purse should be about nine inches in length. It will take three skeins of blue silk, two of gold colour, one of black, and one of ponceau. The silk should be fine.

No. 32.

Work one row the length of the purse, intreble open crochet, with fine white netting silk. Then—two rows of plain crochet, in ponceau.

Crochet thirteen rows in white, with the above pattern in gold passing.

Repeat the two rows of ponceau;—then three rows of treble open crochet,—the first in white; the second in ponceau; the third in white.

Repeat the pattern, etc., and when the purse is of a sufficient width, finish with one row of treble open crochet in white.

Crochet up the two sides, with ponceau, to the opening. Then, work one plain row in ponceau, round the opening, to strengthen the purse, and give it uniformity.

If intended for ordinary use, the colours may be changed to blue and claret.

Commence with a chain of six stitches, in black eight-thread fleecy. Unite both ends.Crochet all round, increasing on every stitch, for thefirst row.

The pattern may be formed in three shades of scarlet, on a blue ground of three shades; the darkest shade of the scarlet being on the lightest shade of the blue.

Second row—one stitch of dark scarlet, and two stitches of light blue, alternately;—forming the commencement of a star of six points.

Third row—three stitches of the dark scarlet, and two of the blue.

Fourth row—five stitches of a lighter shade of scarlet, and two of the blue.

Fifth row—five stitches of the lighter scarlet, and three of the second shade of blue.

Sixth row—three stitches of the lightest scarlet, and six of the second blue.

Seventh row—one stitch of the lightest scarlet, and eight of the darkest blue.

Eighth row—one plain row of the darkest blue.

Three plain rows of black, will finish the D’Oyley.

In every row, increasing stitches are to be made in the blue; and also, in the plain rows of black.

Illustration of a chancelière

Four-thread fleecy with a steel needle.

It is impossible to give the exact number of stitches for the commencement of a chancelière, as each row varies; it is advisable, therefore, to cut the shape in stiff paper, as a pattern,—first of the top, and then of the border. In those parts where it is requisite to increasethe width of the work, it should be done by making an extra stitch on each side. The stitches of the border are to be worked in a contrary direction to those of the top, as shown in the preceding engraving.—The following pattern will be found suitable for a chancelière.

No. 33.

Commence at the toe, by working two plainrows of ground in scarlet, and crochet the centre stripe of the annexed pattern in rich green, on the same coloured ground.

The ground of the next stripe is black, on which the pattern is to be worked in three shades of gold colour.

Work a plain row of middle blue, which also forms the ground of the small chain pattern, with the exception of the centre row, which is claret. The chain is in white.

Work a plain row of claret, and then repeat the second stripe as before, with the colours reversed.

The above colours, if well chosen, are exceedingly pretty, but they may be varied according to fancy.

The slipper pattern No. 23, and also the Turkish pattern No. 12, are equally adapted for a chancelière.

The chancelière should be made up on a very firm foundation, and stuffed between thelining and the work with wool: the inside should be made separate, and knitted in thebriochestitch, with six or eight thread fleecy. The ermine ruff, or trimming, of worsted, may easily be procured, but if it cannot readily be so, a thick knitted fringe, three or four times doubled, will be a good substitute. The bottom is formed of leather or cloth.

The annexed pattern is adapted for any square requiring a border, such as a table cover, mat, quilt, sofa cushion, couvre-pied, etc. To render it easy, the centre may be worked in the same colours as the border, introducing any spot, sprig, or other small pattern,—the same colours being carried through the whole, or slipped at the back. If, however, the plan of introducing the colour only in the pattern be understood, it may here be employed with advantage.

No. 34.

The ground of the pattern might be in a self colour,—say white, with the pattern in scarlet; or, the ground might be in five shadesof scarlet, the pattern being crocheted in emerald green, blue, white, or black, according to taste, or the purpose for which the work was designed. The whole of the pattern might also be worked in chiné or shaded wool.

The kind of wool to be used must be adapted to the purpose for which the work is required; thus,—for a quilt or couvre-pied, six-thread fleecy—for a mat, eight thread common fleecy;—for a table mat, German wool; for a baby’s quilt, or a sofa pillow, eight thread zephyr fleecy.

No. 35.

For the centre of the design, either the preceding sprig pattern, or the patterns Nos. 20 or 39, may be taken. If the ground be worked in shades, five shades of any colour, neither too distinct, nor too dark, should be selected.

This border is well adapted for ribbed or raised crochet, as described atpage 57.

No. 36.

Commence with a chain and one row ofblack. Crochet four plain rows,—one white, one light green, one white, one black. The latter forms the ground of the border,—the pattern on which is in three shades of scarlet—two rows of each, beginning with the darkest. One plain row of black finishes the border.

Work six plain rows:—the first, green; the second, white; the third, green; the fourth, black; the fifth, white; the sixth, scarlet.

The ground of the centre may be gold colour, commencing with one plain row,—the colours of the pine pattern on which are as follow:—

First row—middle blue.

Second row—light blue.

Third row—dark scarlet.

Fourth row—light scarlet.

Fifth row—four stitches middle green; three white; four middle green.

Sixth row—four stitches light green; three white; four light green.

Seventh row—three stitches lilac; two black; three lilac.

Eighth row—four stitches light lilac; two black; four light lilac.

Ninth row—middle green.

Tenth row—light green.

Eleventh row—dark scarlet.

Twelfth row—light scarlet.

No. 37.

The chain andfirst row—black.

Second row—scarlet.

Third row—white.

Fourth row—bright blue, which continuesthrough the next three rows, forming the outer ground of the border. The pattern of the border is in shades of scarlet.

Fifth and sixth rows—blue, and dark scarlet.

Seventh row—blue, bright scarlet, and drab—the latter forming the inner ground of the border.

Eighth row—bright scarlet and drab. The single stitch at the top of the blue ground being white.

Ninth and tenth rows—light scarlet, and drab.

Eleventh row—drab, which also forms the ground of the centre.

The colours for the small pine pattern in the centre, are,—black, two shades of blue, and white.

In the next, or reversed row of the pattern, the colours may be varied as follow:—black, two shades of scarlet, and white.

Commence with chain andfirst row,—bright green.

Second row—scarlet.

Third row—green.

Fourth, fifth, and sixth rows—treble open crochet, with gold.

No. 38.

Seventh, eighth, and ninth rows—repeat the first, second, and third rows. Then,—crochet a stripe, consisting of eleven rows, with the above pattern, in dead gold colour, on a violet ground. As these stripes range perpendicularly, the position of the scrolls in the pattern should be reversed at the bottom ofthe bag, in order that they may appear the same on either side.

This bag may be worked in various combinations of colour; it is very pretty if the pattern be worked in shaded, or chiné, silk, and the stripes alternately in two different colours.

It may be as well to observe, that the plain line on either side of the scroll, as shown in this, as in many other patterns, may be advantageously omitted. It has therefore not been noticed in the preceding directions.

No. 39.

The above sprig pattern will be found usefulfor bags, and a variety of other purposes. It may be worked in two shades of green, and three of pink, as follows:—

First row—first stitch dark green; second, light green.

Second row—one stitch light green: two dark green;—two light green; one dark green;—three dark green.

Third row—two stitches light green; three dark green;—two light green; two dark green.

Fourth row—three stitches light green; two dark green;—two dark green.

Fifth row—four stitches light green; one dark green;—one dark green;—two dark green.

Sixth row—dark green.

Seventh row—three stitches dark pink; one dark green;—one dark green; two dark green.

Eighth row—three stitches dark pink; one dark green; one middle pink;—one light green.

Ninth row—three stitches dark pink; three middle pink;—one light green.

Tenth row—one stitch dark green;—three middle pink;—two light green.

Eleventh row—three stitches light pink; three middle pink;—three light green.

Twelfth row—three stitches light pink;—two light green.

Thirteenth and fourteenth rows—light pink.

No. 40.

The above pattern may be worked in German wool, or crochet silk. If an useful and durable bag be desired, the following colours will be found to work well on a black ground.—Commencewith a chain and two rows of black. Crochet the border pattern as follows:—

First row—one stitch scarlet; four black; two middle green; three black; one scarlet.—Repeat.

Second row—three stitches scarlet; two black; two light green; one black; two lilac; one black.—Repeat.

Third row—one stitch black; three scarlet; four black; two white; one black.—Repeat.

Fourth row—one stitch black; three scarlet; two black; two lilac; three black.—Repeat.

Fifth row—two stitches black; three scarlet; one black; two white; one black; two middle green.—Repeat.

Sixth row—four stitches black; two scarlet; three black; two light green.—Repeat.

Crochet one plain row of black. Work the sprig pattern in the same colours as the border,—arranging them in the following order:first row,—scarlet;second,—middle green;third,—light green;fourth,—lilac;fifth,—white.

If German wool be used, the white may be worked with floss silk.

No. 41.

Commence with a chain and one plain row of black. Work two plain rows of scarlet, and in the next row, commence the pattern of the first border in black. The outer ground of theborder is scarlet,—the inner ground of the border is white. Three wools are worked at the same time.

Work one plain row of white between the two border patterns.

The second border pattern is in two shades of blue—the first two rows being on the former white ground, the three last on the black ground, which composes the centre. Commence the centre with,—

Two plain rows of black. Then on the black ground, commence the palm pattern as follows:—

First row—middle green.

Second row—bright green.

Third row—bright scarlet.

Fourth row—scarlet, the centre stitch white.

Fifth row—three stitches blue; two white; two blue.

Sixth row—blue.

Seventh row—gold colour.

Eighth row—yellow.

This pattern requires three different coloured wools in many of the rows. It is very handsome. The side border may be crocheted on.

Six-thread fleecy, and a steel needle, should be used.

Illustration of a brioche

A Brioche (so called from its resemblance in shape to the well known French cake of that name), may be as easily worked in crochet as in knitting. It may also be divided into stripes or compartments, gradually decreasing in breadth towards the top or centre of thecushion, in the same manner as in the knitted brioche. Various patterns may be introduced in these stripes, but, when a very soft cushion is desired, this is not advisable, as the extra wool, then required to be carried through the work, would render it of too firm a texture.

The following directions for working a brioche in crochet will be found very simple, and, at the same time, serve as a guide for those of a more complicated nature.

Commence with a chain of seventy stitches in eight-thread zephyr fleecy—black.

First row—black.

Second row—gold colour.

Third row—black.

The above three rows are all of an equal length. Then, crochet fifteen rows in any pretty colour, omitting four stitches at the end of the first, and of each successive row, so that in the last of these fifteen rows there will be only ten stitches.

Repeat the row of black, taking in each of the four stitches omitted at the ends of the last fifteen rows, as also the four stitches at the top of the last row of black. Crochet one row of gold colour, and one row of black, as at the commencement, when one compartment of the brioche will be completed, forming a conical stripe.

Repeat the fifteen rows, omitting the four stitches at the end of each row, as before directed; and continue as above until sixteen similar compartments are worked; this will be found sufficient for an ordinary-sized brioche.

The colours of the stripes may be varied, thus,—blue, brown, scarlet, and stone colour, in their order of succession, repeated four times, will form a very pretty contrast,—the dividing stripe between each being formed of two rows of black, with a row of gold between them. Either chiné or ombré wool may also be employed.

When finished, the brioche may be made up either entirely soft, or with a stiff bottom of mill-board, about six or eight inches in diameter, covered with cloth or velvet. The top should be drawn together, and fastened in the centre, either with a tuft of soft wool, or with a cord and tassels, as represented in the preceding engraving. It should be stuffed with down or fine combed wool.

No. 42.

The above pattern will be found very easy to work, in perpendicular stripes, for a bag, the stripes being divided by two rows of treble open crochet in gold. Each side of the bag isformed of four stripes of the above pattern, and five stripes of the treble open crochet; but, as the latter should form the outer edge at the side of the bag, and cannot be worked without a foundation, it will be necessary to begin with the figured stripe in silk, and afterwards to open the treble open crochet in gold on either side of it.—Therefore,

Commence with a chain in dark green netting silk.—The number of stitches must depend on the size of the silk employed, but a chain of about twelve inches in length will be found sufficient for a bag of this description. The bag should be worked in one length.

First row—dark green.

Second row—two stitches of ponceau, and two of dark green, alternately.

Third row—ponceau.

In the fourth row the pattern commences with two colours, the wave portion of thepattern being in dark green; with the bell in a lighter shade of green; the ground, ponceau: or, the pattern may be worked in chiné greens.

Eight rows complete the pattern, when a plain row of ponceau, a row of two alternate stitches of ponceau and green, and a plain row of green, finish the stripe.

Crochet two rows of treble open crochet in gold; and commence again with the pattern in silk.

This bag when completed is about six inches square; it should be hemmed at the top, and lined, and finished with strings and tassels.

The pattern No. 24, is also equally adapted for a bag of this description; but in the centre of the work the pattern should be reversed, in order that when the two sides of the bag are folded together the pattern may run in the same direction, as in the manner described for the bag atpage 113.

A very easy but extremely elegant bag in perpendicular stripes may be made by commencing with—

Chain andfirst row—scarlet.

Second row—gold.

Crochet eleven plain rows in scarlet.

Fourteenth row—gold.

Fifteenth row—scarlet.

On each side of the band thus made, crochet two rows of treble open crochet in gold.

Four plain scarlet stripes, and five of the open crochet, arranged as in the preceding example, complete the bag.

Commence with a chain of eight stitches: having united the ends, make every other stitch a treble increased stitch,—by crocheting three stitches in one loop. Continue to increase in a similar manner, until twenty-eightrows be worked, taking care that the increasing stitches be kept exactly over each other; when a point in the centre, and a point at the termination of each line of dividing stitches, will be formed. The remaining part of the bag is to be worked in rounds, until it be of sufficient height.

The prettiest way of working this description of bag, is with steel or gold beads.

The following pine pattern may be taken for the centre of each division of points.

No. 43.

The upper part of the bag may be semé, with a pattern composed of beads, such as the following.

No. 44.

The top may be finished with three plain rows of crochet; or with any small border pattern in beads, similar to those figured beneath: but for this purpose there are severalothers, in various parts of the book, equally appropriate, and that may be selected according to the taste of the worker.

No. 45.

No. 46.

This bag should be worked in one long piece, and afterwards folded together, so that the rows range perpendicularly; in the same manner as that described atpage 123.

Commence with a chain in ponceau.

treble open crochet.

Repeat from the first row, until the bag be of a sufficient breadth.

Open crochet, as also double and treble open crochet, have already been fully described (seepage 16). The two following patterns are, amongst numerous others of a like description, merely variations of a similar kind of work:

No. 47.

It is therefore unnecessary to enter into a detailed description of these, as it would occupy too great a space, and the engravings sufficiently explain themselves. These patterns are useful for a variety of purposes, particularlyfor working with cotton, for tidies, D’Oyleys, etc.

No. 48.

The two circular ends should be worked first. Commence with a chain of six stitches, in black four-thread fleecy: unite both ends, and crochet all round, increasing on every stitch for thefirst row.

The pattern is then to be worked in three shades of scarlet, on a ground composed of three shades of green; the darkest shade of the scarlet being on the lightest shade of the green.

Second row—one stitch dark scarlet; twolight green.—Repeat.—This forms the commencement of a star of six points.

Third row—three stitches dark scarlet; two light green.—Repeat.

Fourth row—five stitches middle scarlet; two light green.—Repeat.

Fifth row—five stitches middle scarlet; three middle green.—Repeat.

Sixth row—three stitches light scarlet; six middle green.—Repeat.

Seventh row—one stitch light scarlet; eight dark green.—Repeat.

Eighth row—dark green.

Two plain rows of black finish the end.

N. B. In every row, increasing stitches are to be made in the green, as also on the plain rows of black.

Having finished the two ends, make a chain of about sixteen inches in length, in black; and work the other part of the bolster as follows:—

First row—black.

Second row—dark green.

Third row—middle green.

Fourth row—light green.

Fifth row—white.

Repeat the first four rows—reversed.

Tenth and Eleventh rows—scarlet.

Twelfth row—commence a pattern, by working alternately six stitches of scarlet and four of black.

Thirteenth row—seven stitches scarlet (a); four yellow; six scarlet.—Repeat from (a).

Fourteenth row—six stitches scarlet; four black.—Repeat.

Fifteenth row—seven stitches scarlet; (b) four light green; six scarlet.—Repeat from (b).

Sixteenth and Seventeenth rows—scarlet.

Commence again as at first row; and repeat, until a piece be worked sufficiently long to go easily round the ends.

The bolster should be made up by stuffingit with down or soft wool. A long crochet band, worked similar to the green shaded stripe, should be attached to either end, with a small worsted tuft in the centre, by way of ornament.

Bags, worked in a similar manner to the above, are frequently made; these, however, are not required to be so long. They are fastened at the opening with strings or buttons. They may be made with eight-thread zephyr fleecy.

Raised, or ribbed crochet has already been described atpage 57. To work a slipper, commence with a chain of seven stitches, and crochet forty-six rows backwards and forwards, observing to make three stitches in one loop in the centre stitch of each row. This will make a sufficient increase in each succeeding row to form the front of the slipper, and atthe same time cause the ribbed rows to run in an uniform diagonal direction on either side.

Having thus completed the front of the shoe, crochet, on the right-hand side, a row of twenty-six stitches, and work a sufficient number of rows (about ninety) to form the back. The end of this band is then to be sewn to the other side of the front.

The sole of the slipper may be made either of leather, or of crochet in coarse wool; the latter is most readily made by cutting the shape in stiff paper, and then working it to the exact size. The top of the slipper may be finished with an ermine trimming of worsted.

Commence with a chain of nine hundred stitches in black eight-thread zephyr fleecy.

First row—black.

Second and Third rows—white.

Crochet eleven rows, alternately with black, and any pretty chiné wool.

Fourteenth and Fifteenth rows—white.

Sixteenth and Seventeenth rows—green.

Crochet eleven rows, alternately with scarlet, and any bright chiné wool.

Twenty-ninth and Thirtieth rows—green.

Thirty-first and Thirty-second rows—black.

Crochet eleven rows, alternately with white, and a chiné wool.

Forty-fourth and Forty-fifth rows—black.

Forty-sixth and Forty-seventh rows—red.

Crochet eleven rows, alternately with green, and a chiné wool.

Fifty-ninth and Sixtieth rows—scarlet.

Repeat from second row.

By omitting a stitch in the centre of each row, the shawl will assume, whilst working, a pointed form, similar to that of a half square, at the same time that the rows of crochet will run in a diagonal direction from either side ofthe centre. It may be trimmed with a black fringe of about four inches deep sewn on the two sides.

To form the striped pattern as above directed, four chiné wools, of different colours, should be employed.

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