Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 May 1884 — How to Make Ball Trimming. [ARTICLE]

How to Make Ball Trimming.

Balls, for finishing tidies, lambrequins, and many other pieces of fancy work are much prettier than tassels; yet are so hard to make, when wound through a ring of carboard, that one is often tempted to substitute the latter. Very pretty balls can, however, be crocheted, and make a good substitute, especially if one lacks time or worsted. Begin with a ring of three stitches, and make a deep cup-shaped piece the size desired for the ball; then narrow by skipping stitches; and when nearly closed, fill with a little “wad” of cotton woo’l. To keep the ball from looking pointed, it is necessary to narrow more rapidly than the widening on the other end. Do not try to crochet a little stem to the ball without breaking the thread, as it will give it a one-sided look. Break off the thread, fasten with a needle, and join on the stem in the same manner. In making balls by winding, pretty effects are often given by covering the ring first with one color and finishing with another, or making all of a solid color save a few threads at last. The first gives a ring around the ball, the other a dot on either end; this, with care, can be imitated very nicely in crocheted balls. —Country Gentleman.