PASSION FLOWER IN CHENILLE[Fig. 2.]
Materials.—One piece of green chenille, of a medium tint; one of a very delicate green; one of violet ditto; and a small quantity of rather stout liteaux. This last is a kind of fine wire, used in making up flowers, &c. The chenille is the fine kind termedchenille a broder. Crochet hook, No. 14.
Cut a piece of liteaux, about a quarter of a yard long; make a loop at one end of it, occupying an eighth of the whole length, and twist the wire, to keep the round perfect; on this loop work 16 dc. stitches with the lightest green or white chenille, and on these another round of dc. stitches. Repeat this seven times more; so that on the length of liteaux eight of these petals are formed. When all are done, twist together the ends of every two, and fasten them thus on a piece of liteaux, as close together as possible. Then prepare the stamens and pistil. Twist some short pieces of liteaux, into a form as nearly as possible resembling that of the natural pistil, which, it will be remembered, has three branching arms. Cover this with pale green chenille. The stamens are short pieces of liteaux, some covered with violet, and some with green chenille: they are to be made of different lengths, and the ends to be twisted round that of the pistil, so that they may surround it. Then make a small ring of liteaux, put it round the stamens and pistil, and cover it with violet chenille, when the centre of the flower is completed. Put round it the liteaux with the eight petals attached, so that the ring of violet covers the joins. Work on a small wire ring two rounds of dark green chenille for the calyx, in which place the flower.
Twist the ends all together, to form a stem, and cover it with chenille of the same color.
For the Bud.—Work 20 tc. stitches with the light green chenille on a bit of liteaux, laying in another piece of wire at the edge. Draw the stitches rather together, so as to form a cup, in which put a morsel of cotton wool. Work on another bit of liteaux 16 dc. stitches with dark green chenille; twist the ends together, drawing the wire into the form of a leaf. Four of these make the calyx which is to surround the bud. Twist the ends together, and cover the stem so formed with chenille.
The Leaves.—Twist a piece of liteaux large enough to form the centre of a leaf, and work round it in dc. with the darkest green chenille, taking care to make your stitches very close together. Work round this another row of the same chenille, with a bit ofvery fine wirein the edge. Do all in dc. except the first and last stitches, which must be in sc. Twist the ends of the wires for a stem, and cover with the same shade of chenille. If these artificial flowers are to be used for a head dress, four of them must be made, and a sufficient number of leaves to form a drooping branch on each side of the hair. For a bonnet, they may be formed into a group.
To make a wreath of the present style, unite the two sprays by either a coronet of leaves, or a plait of lilac chenille.
For dark hair, make flowers of scarlet chenille instead of lilac.