the most important is what is generally called outline or stem stitch. It is extremely simple, being merely a kind of back-stitch, which can easily be understood from the designs in this stitch—as in Figs. 1 and 2. Very fine lines are sometimes worked in what is called split stitch, in which the needle is brought out so as to split the thread instead of coming to one side. The main beauty
Fig. 2.
of outline work consists in the design, which should be well studied and drawn, and in the perfect neatness of the execution. Although a diversity of colors are sometimes employed, as a rule, one or two shades of a single color will give the most satisfactory results. It is very important in outline work to keep the stitches as far as possible of the same length, and to follow the outline ex-
