1815. Long St.i.tch, or L.

With the loop of last st.i.tch on the hook, twist the cotton over the hook, place the latter through a st.i.tch, draw the cotton through, then put the cotton over the hook, draw the cotton through two loops, and again through two loops.

1816. Double and Treble Long.

With the hook in a loop, twist the cotton twice or three times over the hook, and draw the hook successively through either two or three loops.

1817. Square Crochet.

Square crochet is also sometimes used. The squares are either open or close. An open square consists of one L, two Ch, missing two on the line beneath, before making the next st.i.tch. A close square has three successive L's. Thus, any given number of close squares, followed by an open, will have so many times three L's; consequently any foundation for square crochet must have a number that can be divided by three.

1818. To Contract an Edge.

This may be done in Dc, or long st.i.tch. Twist the thread round the hook as often as required, insert it in the work, and half do a st.i.tch. Instead of finishing it, twist the thread round again, until the same number of loops are on, and work a st.i.tch entirely; so that, for two st.i.tches, there is only one head.

1819. To Join on a Thread.

Joins should be avoided as much as possible in open work. In joining, finish the st.i.tch by drawing the new thread through, leaving two inches for both ends, which must be held in.

1820. To Use several Colours.

This is done in single crochet. Hold the threads not in use on the edge of the work, and work them in. Change the colour by beginning the st.i.tch in the old colour, and finishing it with the new, continuing the work with the latter holding in the old. If only one st.i.tch is wanted in the new colour, finish one st.i.tch, and begin the next with it; then change.

1821. To Join Leaves, &c.

When one part of a leaf or flower is required to be joined to another, drop the loop from the hook, which insert in the place to be joined; draw the loop through and continue.

1822. To Work over Cord.

Hold the cord in the left hand with the work, and work round it, as you would over an end of thread, working closely. When beads are used they must be first threaded on silk or thread, and then dropped, according to the pattern, on the _wrong_ side of the work. This side looks more even than the other: therefore, when bead purses are worked from an engraving, they are worked the reverse of the usual way, viz., from right to left.

1823. Oriental Crochet erroneously termed Tricotee.

This is worked by just making a chain the length required. Then put the hook through a loop of the chain, pull the wool through without twisting it, and so continue to the end, keeping all the st.i.tches on the hook. _In returning_, twist the wool over the hook, pull it through the first loop, twist the wool again over the hook, pull it through the next, and so continue to the end. There will now be a row of flat loops, but not on the edge. Work exactly as at the first row which was worked with the chain row, but in this there is no chain row.

1824. Instructions in Netting.

1825. Regularity in Netting.

The beauty of netting consists in its firmness and regularity. All joins in the thread must be made in a very strong knot; and, if possible, at an edge, so that it may not be perceived.

1826. Implements used in Netting.

These are a netting needle and mesh. In filling a netting needle with the material, be careful not to make it so full that there will be a difficulty in pa.s.sing it through the st.i.tches. The size of the needle must depend on the material to be employed, and the fineness of the work. Steel needles are employed for every kind of netting except the very coa.r.s.est. They are marked from 12 to 24, the latter being extremely fine. The fine meshes are usually also of steel; but, as this material is heavy, it is better to employ bone or wooden meshes when large ones are required. Many meshes are flat; and in using them the _width_ is given.

1827. Diamond Netting.

The first st.i.tch in this work is termed _diamond_ netting, the holes being in the form of diamonds. To do the first row, a stout thread, knotted to form a round, is fastened to the knee with a pin, or pa.s.sed over the foot, or on the hook sometimes attached to a work cushion for the purpose. The end of the thread on the needle is knotted to this, the mesh being held in the left hand on a line with it. Take the needle in the right hand; let the thread come over the mesh and the third finger, bring it back under the mesh, and hold it between the thumb and first finger. Slip the needle through the loop over the third finger, under the mesh and the foundation thread. In doing this a loop will be formed, which must be pa.s.sed over the fourth finger.

Withdraw the third finger from the loop, and draw up the loop over the fourth, gradually, until it is quite tight on the mesh. The thumb should be kept firmly over the mesh while the st.i.tch is being completed. When the necessary number of st.i.tches is made on this foundation, the future rows are to be worked backwards and forwards.

To form a _round_, the first st.i.tch is to be worked into immediately after the last, which closes the netting into a circle.

1828. Round Netting.

Round Netting is very nearly the same st.i.tch. The difference is merely in the way of putting the needle through the loop and foundation, or other st.i.tch. After pa.s.sing the needle through the loop, it must be brought out, and put _downwards_ through the st.i.tch. This st.i.tch is particularly suitable for purses.

1829. Square Netting.

Square Netting is exactly the same st.i.tch as diamond netting, only it is begun at a corner, on one st.i.tch, and increased (by doing two in one) in the last st.i.tch of every row, until the greatest width required is attained. Then, by netting two st.i.tches together at the end of every row, the piece is decreased to a point again. When stretched out, all the holes in this netting are squares.

[ONE KIND WORD MAY TURN ASIDE A TORRENT OF ANGER.]

1830. Darning on Netting.

Square and diamond netting are the most frequently used, and are ornamented with patterns darned on them, in simple darning or in various point st.i.tches. In the latter case it forms a variety of the sort of work termed _guipure d'Art_.

1831. Grecian Netting.

i. Do one plain row. First pattern row. Insert the needle in the first st.i.tch, and, without working it, draw through it the second st.i.tch, through the loop of which draw the first, and work it in the ordinary way. This forms a twisted st.i.tch, and the next is a very small loop formed of a part of the second st.i.tch. Repeat this throughout the row.

ii. The second row is done plain.

iii. The third like the first; but the first and last st.i.tches are to be done in the usual manner, but begin the twisting with the second and third loops.

iv. The fourth is plain. Repeat these four rows as often as required.

v. Use No. 20 mesh for the fancy rows, and No. 14 for the plain.

1832. Counting St.i.tches.

St.i.tches in Netting are always counted by knots.