to taste.  Cut a pattern in cardboard, and fasten the drab cloth on it.  The edge must be bordered with red satin, and the satin lining must be sewed in.  The ends of the bag are likewise cut out of cardboard; the inside is wadded and lined with red satin; the outside worked in applique embroidery like the rest of the bag.  All the seams are covered with red silk cord.  The straps are fastened with a few stitches, as seen in the illustration.

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201 to 203.—­Pattern for Braces.

Materials:  Java canvas; black silk; red wool; calico.

[Illustration:  201.—­Pattern for Braces (full size).]

These braces are made of Java canvas lined with calico ornamented with embroidery in black silk and red wool, and edged on either side with loose button-hole stitch and crochet vandykes in red wool.  Illustration 201 shows part of the embroidered braces, full size.  Work first the embroidery of the braces, then line them with calico; work loose button-hole stitch and crochet vandykes on all the edges of the cross bands as well as at the top and bottom of these strips, and sew on the tabs for the braces between the lining and the canvas.  The latter are then edged with button-hole stitch and crochet-vandykes.  The vandykes are worked as follow—­in one row:  1 double in 1 button-hole stitch, * 1 purl (3 chain, 1 double in the 1st), missing the next button-hole stitch under it; 1 double in the following button-hole stitch, repeat from *.  The tabs are made of tape worked round with red button-hole stitch, with button-holes worked with red cotton.  No. 203 shows another

[Illustration:  102.—­Embroidered Braces.]

way of working these braces on fine ribbed pique.  Work any Berlin wool work pattern in the common cross stitch over the ribs of the pique.  For the vandyke border work in every other button-hole stitch, 2 double divided by 3 chain stitches.

[Illustration:  203.—­Pattern for Braces (Full size).]

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204.—­Embroidery Border for a Reading-Desk.

Materials:  White silk rep; black velvet, rep, or cloth; gold and silver brocade; gold and silver braid; silk cord and thread.

This pattern is embroidered on white silk rep with silver and gold thread, and sewn on over a black velvet, rep, or cloth centre.  The dark patterns are worked in applique with black velvet, the two other shades in gold and silver brocade.  The embroidery is worked in satin stitch with gold and silver braid, silk and cord of the same material.  The border can also be worked upon the material for the centre if it is not intended to contrast with it.  The pattern can also be worked entirely in silk with satin stitch.  The size of the border may, of course, be increased if desired, but the third pattern in the darkest shade must, in any case, form the centre of it.

[Illustration:  204.—­Embroidery Border for a Reading Desk.]