Bread-cloth
Stocking Stuffers are usually placed by the chimney and usually have
goodies inside of them. They are used during Christmas as decoration
purposes and are most loved by children. Children will usually leave
something in there for Santa or wait to have something in their from
Santa on Christmas day.
BREAD CLOTH.
BREAD CLOTH.
MATERIALS..—Three reels of Brooks' No. 24, and two of No. 16, Great Exhibition Prize Goat's-head Crochet Cotton. A hook suitable for the fine number.
The octagon shape is one extremely well adapted for bread baskets, as well as for papier-maché trays of the usual forms; but it requires a little nicety to produce even edges at the sloping sides. The way it is done is this. The whole pattern, it will be perceived, is done in square crochet, and in the increasing sides a close square is added at each end. This is done by making one chain extra at the beginning and end of the first row of d.c. 2nd row: 1 ch., 2 d.c. on the chain, and 2 on the first d.c. at the commencement, thus increasing three stitches, besides the one chain which is merely a foundation for the next increase; then at the other extremity of the row, 2 d.c. on the last stitch, 2 d.c. on the chain, and make one chain. Do this for every row which is increased, working in all the ends.
For the decreasing rows begin with 1 slip, 1 s.c., 1 short double crochet, 1 d.c.—this last coming on the first stitch in the second square of last row, keeps the squares evenly over each other. At the other end of the row reverse the process, by doing 1 d.c., 1 short d.c., 1 s.c., 1 slip, which completes it.
The short double-crochet stitch, being new to our readers, may be briefly described. It is, as its name implies, a medium stitch between a s.c. and a d.c. stitch. Begin as for a d.c. stitch, with the thread round the hook, but after the latter is inserted in the stitch, and the thread drawn through, so that there are three loops on the needle, the thread must be drawn through all three at once.
Short treble crochet (contracted to s.t.c.), is done in a similar manner. The thread being passed twice round the needle, there are four loops on the latter, after the one is drawn through the stitch of the preceding row. The thread is now drawn through three loops together, and afterwards through two.
When the bread cloth is worked, do open square crochet all round it, taking the d.c. stitches sufficiently close at the corners to lie smoothly. Knot a fringe 2-1/2 inches deep in every square. It is to be made of the coarse cotton.
To increase the size of this d'oyley, for a tray, or other article, use coarser cotton and hook.
