The Ladies' Work-Book.

by Unknown.

KNITTING.

There is not one art practised by ladies which is more deservedly popular than Knitting. It is so easy, requires so little eyesight, and is susceptible of so much ornament, that it merits the attention of every lady; and in giving instructions for acquiring it, we add, also, such admirable diagrams of the various processes, we are sure that no difficulty will be felt in executing any pattern.

[Ill.u.s.tration: CASTING ON WITH ONE NEEDLE.]

The first process in knitting is known by the term CASTING ON. There are two ways of doing this: with one needle, and with two. Our first diagram represents the former process. Take the thread between the second and third fingers of the left hand, leaving an end of about a yard for every hundred st.i.tches; pa.s.s it round the thumb of that hand, giving it a twist, so as to form a loop. Take a knitting-needle in the right hand, insert the point in the loop, and pa.s.s the thread from the ball round the needle; then bend the point of the needle through the loop, which tighten, and one st.i.tch will be complete.

Continue to make loops over the thumb, with the end of thread, and knit them with that from the ball until the proper number is cast on.

TO CAST ON WITH TWO NEEDLES (generally called the Spanish method), begin by making a loop on the end of the thread, into which slip the point of one needle, holding it in the left hand. Take the other needle in the right hand, and slip its point into the same loop, bring the thread round the point of this needle, and bend the needle towards you, so that the thread forms a loop on it. Slip that also on the left needle, without withdrawing it from the right. Put the thread round the right again, and repeat the process.

[Ill.u.s.tration: TO CAST ON WITH TWO NEEDLES.]

PLAIN KNITTING.--After all the st.i.tches are cast on, hold the needle containing them in the left hand. Pa.s.s the thread round the little finger of the right hand, _under_ the second and third, and above the point of the first. Then take the other needle in the right hand, slip the point in the first st.i.tch, and put the thread round it; bring forward the point of the right-hand needle, so that the thread forms a loop on it. Slip the end of the left-hand needle out of the st.i.tch, and a new st.i.tch is knitted.

GERMAN MANNER.--The thread, instead of being held by the fingers of the right hand, is pa.s.sed over and under those of the left. The process otherwise is exactly the same.

PURLING.--Begin by bringing the thread in front of the right-hand needle, which slip into a st.i.tch pointing towards you; that is in the reverse of the usual mode (see diagram). Put the thread round the point of the needle, still bringing it towards you, bend the needle backwards to form a loop, and withdraw the st.i.tch from the point of the left-hand needle.

[Ill.u.s.tration: PLAIN KNITTING.]

When knitted and purled st.i.tches occur in the same row, the thread must be brought forward before a purled st.i.tch, and taken back before a knitted one.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE GERMAN MANNER.]

TO MAKE A St.i.tCH. Bring the thread in front, as if for a purled st.i.tch, so that when you knit one the thread will pa.s.s over the needle, and will make a hole in the following row. This diagram shows the manner of making three st.i.tches, and any other number could be made, by putting the thread round a proportionate number of times. In the engraving it will be seen that the thread is put twice entirely round the needle; and then brought forward, so that the next knitted st.i.tch will take it over a third time. In doing the next row, knit one, purl one, knit one of these st.i.tches; however many are made, they must be alternately knitted and purled in the next row. When the st.i.tch allowing the made st.i.tches is to be purled, the thread must be entirely pa.s.sed round the needle, once for every st.i.tch to be made, and brought forward also.

[Ill.u.s.tration: PURLING.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: TO MAKE A St.i.tCH.]

SLIP St.i.tCH.--Pa.s.s a st.i.tch from the left needle to the right, without knitting it. There are two ways of decreasing: first, by knitting two, three, or more st.i.tches as one, marked in knitting, as k 2 t, k 3 t, etc. Secondly, in the following way: slip one st.i.tch, knit-one, pa.s.s the slip st.i.tch over: this decreases one st.i.tch. To decrease two; slip one, knit two together, pa.s.s the slip st.i.tch over.

[Ill.u.s.tration: TO TAKE UP St.i.tCHES.]

A reverse st.i.tch is taken off the left-hand needle, in the reverse way to knitting and purling. In both these, the right-hand needle is inserted in the middle of the st.i.tch, and the point brought out towards you or otherwise. But to make a reverse st.i.tch, you insert the point of the needle in the st.i.tch _at the back of the work_, and bring it forward through the opening in which it generally is inserted. The thread is to be placed round it, as for a purled st.i.tch.

[Ill.u.s.tration: TO KNIT TWO PIECES TOGETHER.]

To reverse two, three, or more st.i.tches together, insert the needle in them all at once, _from the last to the first_.

TO TAKE UP St.i.tCHES.--Insert the needle in the loop, pa.s.s the thread round, and knit it in the usual manner. Do not draw out any loop more than can be avoided, while knitting it.

TO KNIT TWO PIECES TOGETHER.--To do this there must be an equal number of st.i.tches on both.

[Ill.u.s.tration: TO FORM A ROUND.]

Hold the needles together in the right hand, and knit as usual, inserting the left-hand needle in a loop of each at the same time, and treating the two as one.

[Ill.u.s.tration: TO CAST OFF.]

TO FORM A ROUND:--This diagram represents the French manner of performing this process by casting the whole number of st.i.tches on one needle, and then distributing them on three, or perhaps four.

But the English mode is to divide the number of st.i.tches, and cast so many on each needle, not withdrawing the last st.i.tch of each needle from the point of the next needle. When all are cast on, the round is made by knitting the _two first_ st.i.tches on to the last needle. Four needles are employed for stockings, five for doyleys and other round articles.

To cast off:--knit two st.i.tches, insert the point of the left hand needle in the first st.i.tch, and draw it on the other. Knit another st.i.tch, and treat these two in the same way.

INFANT'S SHOE, IN KNITTING.

MATERIALS.--1 ounce of white Berlin wool. 1 skein of white, and 1 of embroidery wool, 4 knitting needles, No. 21, and 2, No. 19.

With the fine needles cast 30 st.i.tches on one, and 20 on each of two others. Join into a round, and purl one round.

[Ill.u.s.tration: INFANT'S SHOE, IN KNITTING]

1st pattern round: X slip 2, taking them off the needle in the same way as if you were going to purl them, but with the wool at the back; knit 3. X repeat all round.

2nd, 3rd, and 4th rounds: the same.

5th and 6th: purl every st.i.tch.

7th to 10th inclusive: X knit 3, slip 2 as before, X repeat all round, 11th and 12th purled.

13th to 16th inclusive: X knit 2, slip 2 as before, knit 1, X repeat all round.

17th and 18th purled. Repeat these 18 rounds again.

Then do the same twice more; but, instead of knitting three st.i.tches, always decrease by knitting two together (once) on the needle that has the thirty st.i.tches in every row which is not plainly purled, until only twelve st.i.tches are left on it.

When 72 rounds are done, the boot will be sufficiently long. Purl two rounds, divide the whole number of st.i.tches on two needles, taking care that the 12 st.i.tches shall be exactly in the centre of one; then join up the toe by casting off, knitting one st.i.tch from each needle together.

Now take up the twenty centre st.i.tches of the 70 originally cast on--that is, the twenty middle ones of the thirty that were on one needle, and which were decreased to twelve. Knit them backwards and forwards 40 rows. With another needle take up on each edge of this plain knitting 20 more st.i.tches, so that there are 60 altogether.

These st.i.tches must be knitted backwards and forwards thus:--

1st row: X knit 3, slip 2 as before, X repeat with the last st.i.tch, take up one of the 70 next to the 20.

2nd: Slip 2, but as if you were going to knit plain, purl 3. Repeat; join on to the 70 at the other end.

3rd: Like first.