A few weak spots on a tablecloth, can be renewed by adding a flower or basket, working with the holes rather than just mending them.
The picture on the right is what is also known as Richelieu Work and you will also see the term Madeira used to describe cut-work embroidery.
PUNCHED EYELETS may be made up to 1/4 " in diameter. Use an embroidery stiletto or a knitting needle to pierce the hole in the fabric, after marking the placing of each. Outline with running stitch to support the buttonhole stitches before punching the holes. Then whip edges with close overcasting, or buttonhole. If desired, shaded eyelets may be made with one side more narrowly edged than the other. The buttonhole loop may be at the outside of the petal if desired. See small oval shape thus formed.
CUTWORK EYELETS are made as diagramed with the center slashed and snipped to fit, after the outline has been reinforced with tiny running stiches. As the edge is buttonholed or whipped, the fabric is held back to the running stitch outline.
PICOTS may be used to decorate these ladders or the edge detail. To form such picots, loop several
strands of thread and buttonhole them, or make a French knot part way along the bar.
HEDEBO This form of cutwork embroidery is Danish in origin and has many variations. The open areas may be round, oval, or of various shapes. The edges are first finished with buttonhole stitch, then ladders of thread worked across the opening in various angles. These are then worked over and over with the twist, sometimes interlaced with a modified spiderweb design.
In earlier pieces, the linen was handspun and handwoven, so are marked by a slight lumpiness, since only short lengths could be spun at a time, resulting in many joins. In 1825, when mechanical spinning was possible, most of the bulk disappeared, but the threads were still relatively coarse. Two of the most popular cut-work lace derivatives are Broderie Anglaise and Madeira
