A Victorian Maiden

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 68, 13 December 1938, Page 5

A Victorian Maiden

Use Her As A Mo til tor Christmas Gifts

Handicratrs, No. 205, by Violet r M. Williams

'{'HIS dainty Victorian maiden is carried out in cross-

stitch, and is a delightful little motif which can be adapted for use on all manner of Christmas gifts. Framed in passe-partout, it makes a decorative sampler picture.

Jf£ERE it box is shown, with the lid covered with canvas, which has first been worked in cross-stitch to the semblance of our Victorian Miss. The work is simple to carry out. and the box may be used in the bedroom for handkerchiefs, gloves, beads or posies. Also, such a box would be very useful in the lounge for playing-cards, bridgeblocks, or any of the hundred and one small things for which places must oe found. A chocolate-box may be utilized for the foundation. It may lie lined with suitable material or decorative paper, and the outside treated similarly. Ordinary cross-stitch eanvas may be used for the ground of our pretty figure.' Canvas giving six crosses to the inch was used for the original, an'd the com-

pleted motif thus worked out to a size of 6-jin. x lOjin. Choose a deep cream material, so that the white wool which is suggested for portions of this design shows up well against the ground. A dainty and very attractive colour scheme is suggested here, but this may be varied as you wish, of course. The diagram gives every stitch of the motif. Each square represents a square of canvas, and each sign pietured within it demonstrates the colour to be used for it. So that you will know what colour each different sign represents, a chart is given explaining them. All that you have to do is to work in pink, every square with a cross in it, and so on. The first “pinks” given in the chart are to be vivid cerise shades. Take a piece of eanvas about 7in. x Ilin, and allow half-inch all round for turnings. If you have an empty choco-late-box ready for use. measure this

and cut your canvas accordingly. Next find rile centre square of the piece of eanvas by counting the squares down and across. Then find the centre square in the diagram an'd start your work from here.

The little lady is suggested as having brown hair, a pink Donner, blue sleeves with pink and white decorations, and a pink and blue skirt. Her posy is in other shades of pink and green, and her long Victorian knickers are white, of course.

A second pleasing scheme is primrose yellow and apple green. Substitute the yellow for the pale pink, the green for the blue, and let orange take the place of the darker pink, and chocolate brown that of the deep blue. With thi~ seheme the lady’s curl's may be black or a warm auburn.

Whip the edges of your material before commencing the embroidery, or they will fray considerably and spoil the size of your canvas. Work in each stitch as it is suggested in the diagram in the colour of wool demonstrated in the chart until the design is completed. Press your embroidery on the wrong side under several thicknesses of blanket; folding under the edges for tinextra half-inches allowed and pressing these down also.

Next cover the box by glueing material or paper all over it. Finish oil the outside first, and complete the inside last. The edges of material must

be turned in before being glued down, but paper requires no neatening, of course.

When all save the lid is completed, cover this. .Stick a piece of bright paper to match the lining over the inside of the lid. right up to the edges, thus covering the turned-over portion of the outer material. Finally attach the embroidery to the lid by the use of drawing pins or tiny tacks. These, may be coloured with enamel afterwards, if you wish. A wad of cottonwool may be inserted between the canvas an dthe lid to give a padded effect. Attach the lid to the box with the aid of two short, lengths of ribbon.