These are made in 3 sizes:—­Finest, No. 1; No. 2, useful medium size;
No. 3, the largest.

The Way to Hold the Hands.

Take the shuttle in the right hand, between the thumb and second finger, and allow the forefinger to remain at liberty, and rest the under part of the shuttle between the second and third and on the middle finger.  Place the thread round the three middle fingers of the left hand, so as to form a loop, keeping the second and third fingers a little apart, and bring the cotton again between the thumb and forefinger, letting the end fall within the palm of the hand, while the end of cotton which holds on to the shuttle passes over the thumb-nail.

To Make a Stitch.

Keep the hands in the position above described; pass the shuttle at the back, through the loop—­that is, between the second and third fingers.  Take the end of the shuttle which comes out from the loop between the forefinger and thumb of the right hand, and strain the cotton very tightly towards the right.  When the cotton is drawn through the loop, this cotton must not be impeded by the fourth finger; it should, on the contrary, slide over it, and be drawn tight.  It should divide the loop into two parts.  After this withdraw the second left-hand finger, which is above the cotton, and pass it again under that cotton, so as to draw up the loop.  A half-stitch is thus formed, and must be tightened by being drawn closely to the forefinger and thumb of the left hand.  For the remaining half of the stitch keep the hands in the same position, but, instead of letting the cotton fall over the thumb, pass this cotton over the back of the hand; then let the shuttle fall between the second and third fingers of the left hand, in front, and take it out again at the back, strain the cotton very tightly, withdraw the second finger from the loop, letting the cotton which is behind the hand sweep over the fingers.  When this is done, guide with the unoccupied fingers of the left hand this second half-stitch up to the other, thus completing one stitch.

The Way to Make a Loop in Tatting.

When a certain number of stitches are made, very tightly draw in the loop by straining the cotton until the first stitch touches the last, and thus a loop is formed.  During this process the stitches should be held tightly between the forefinger and thumb.

The Way to Make a Purl.

A purl is a small loop of cotton often used as an edging in tatting, as, for instance, round the outer edge of the ovals in tatted insertion No. 2.  The following is the easiest method of making a purl:—­The stitches are not made quite closely together at the place where a purl is to be made; about one-sixth of an inch is left between each.  This space is left free until the loop is made by uniting the stitches; then the small piece of cotton in the space bulges out between the stitches, and forms the purl.