Now a row of long stitches, not double long.
Now work 3 d.c. into every space up both sides, then crochet both sides together on the right side, by working 1 d.c. stitch into every loop of both sides, first doubling it at the foundation chain, consequently the back will be a trifle higher than the front.
Now, up the side and along the top of the back, work thus: 1 l. in 1st loop, * 9 ch., 1 l. into 7th loop, repeat from * and at each corner make 2 l. into 1 loop, with 9 ch. between each l.
Cover 2 strips of narrow whalebone the exact length of the back of the case, with coloured ribbon, and run it into the 2 open rows; for the front, cut a length of whalebone two inches longer than the pieces for the back, and run in the front row, then add ribbon and bow as in engraving.
MATERIALS.--3 shades of scarlet, the lightest to be a very bright military scarlet, 1 skein of the darkest, 2 of each of the lighter shades; 4 skeins of bright maize colour; skein of shaded violet; 1 skein of shaded scarlet; 3 shades of green; 1 skein of each shade, the darkest to be very dark, and the lightest to be very light; 2 shades of sky-blue, 1 skein of each; 1 skein of white; all 4 thread Berlin wool; 24 curtain rings, the size of a fourpenny-piece, or a trifle larger; 4 yards of blind cord;
1-1/4 yards of scarlet satin ribbon, half an inch in width, or covered curtain rings will answer the same purpose. No. 2 Penelope hook.
With darkest scarlet work, 14 d.c. stitches over the cord, then turn the cord round in as small a circle as possible, unite and work 3 rows with this shade, increasing in the two rows after the 1st, 1 stitch in every loop; then 4th, 5th, and 6th rows, of next shade, increasing as may be required; 7th, 8th, and 9th rows of next shade, increasing the same.
10th row.--4 stitches Maize, 4 stitches Violet.
11th row.--All Violet; there should be 150 stitches in this row.
Cut off the cord, and fasten it nearly, also the wool.
The Mat should now measure 4-1/4 inches across.
Count 42 stitches from where the cord was cut of, counting towards the right hand, work on the cord, with shaded scarlet, beginning at the 42nd stitch, 21 d.c. stitches; then turn on reverse side, and turn back every row, working ridged crochet, and, at the end of each row, instead of working an extra stitch, as is usually done in a straight piece of ridged crochet, to prevent its decreasing, omit the stitch, and by so doing, each row will be decreased 1 stitch till it comes to a point; work 3 more of these points, then, with the same wool, sew these up from the bottom to the point, sewing them flat on the finger, not seaming them, and sewing all the points strongly together at the top that they may not give way; this forms the pocket. Now take some elastic, such as is worn for sandals for shoes, it would be better to procure it 4 rows of India rubber wide instead of 2; with the point of the scissors, push the end through to the wrong side, between the 2 last rows of cord, and close to the broad end of the point, sew this end firmly on to the cord on the wrong side with black cotton, but very neatly; now draw the long end straight across the front to the opposite side, not drawing it too tight, or allowing it to be too loose push the end through on this side the same as the other, and sew it at the back in the same manner. Now, with black thread sew the pocket to the elastic, so that neither this nor the stitches are seen.