Chapter XI: Knitting (3)

Narrow at each end, till reduced to thirty stitches, when put half the loops on one pin and half on another; continue knitting each end separately until three nails long, when fasten off and the one brace is completed. These two last ends should be knit with a button-hole in each, which is easily done by again halving the stitches on two pins, and knitting them separately a few rows (say eight or twelve), and afterwards joining them together on one pin again.

THE SPIRAL BOA, OR RUFF.

Set on any quantity of stitches to form an even number of threes, say thirty-six or forty-eight, and knit a plain row in one coloured wool.

Fasten on the other colour, and knit three stitches alternately with each colour.

Next row, turn-stitch back again, knitting each colour over
its own shade.
Continue knitting one row plain, and turn-stitch back again,
observing each plain row to alter the arrangement of the
colours one stitch, which gives the shades a spiral direction.

For a clearer explanation, observe as follows:—

1st Row. Knit plain three grey and three scarlet stitches,
alternately to the end of the row.

2nd Row. Turn-stitch back, keeping the colours over their
own shades.

3rd Row. Knit two grey stitches, then three scarlet and
three grey, alternately, to the end of the row, leaving
one grey at the end.

4th Row. Knit the colours over their shade in the last row
in turn-stitch.

5th Row. Knit one grey stitch, then three scarlet and three
grey, alternately, ending with two grey at the end.

6th Row. Turn-stitch back again.

7th Row. Knit three scarlet and three grey, alternately to
the end.

8th Row. Turn-stitch back again.

9th Row. Knit two scarlet, and three grey, and three scarlet
alternately, leaving one scarlet at the end.

10th Row. Turn-stitch back again.

11th Row. Knit one scarlet, and three grey, and three
scarlet alternately, leaving two scarlet at the end.

12th Row. Knit three grey and three scarlet, alternately
and so on. Observe that you keep your wool (which is
constantly passed across) always at the wrong side of
the knitting, or that side which does not resemble the
stitch of a knit stocking. Take care not to pull the
wool tight when passing it across.

When a sufficient length is knit, fasten off and sew up, and fill with wadding or wool, which is pushed down with a stick or long knitting pin, and then sewn up.

Three or more colours may be used, but it is rather troublesome to prevent the wools from entangling, on account of their crossing each other so frequently.

SWISS CAP.

This is a kind of woollen tie or frill, to keep the head and ears warm when in an open carriage, and is put on over the border of the bonnet cap, and ties under the chin.

Its length is about six nails and a half, and the depth when double, one nail and a half.

The colours generally chosen are white, blue, and scarlet.

Choose two very thick wooden pins, also some very fine lamb’s wool, and some thick sewing silk of the same colour.

Set on about sixty stitches or more (according to the length desired) on one pin with silk, and knit a plain row, then knit another plain row with wool, putting it three times round the needle every stitch instead of once.

Next row, knit exactly the same.

Next row, knit plain, passing the wool but once round the pin as usual.

Repeat the three rows twice more, and then finish off by knitting a plain row of silk.

Double the piece of knitting in half its depth, so as to form a kind of frill, and run in a ribbon along the third row of long stitches in and out through both the folds or frills, to keep them in place, which also serves as strings to keep the cap on the head by tying under the chin.

A LIGHT SCARF.

Set on 100 stitches, and knit either in one or two colours, seven nails of raised French stitch, or honeycomb-stitch, after which, knit a row plain, putting the wool six times round the pin at every stitch.

Next row, knit plain, taking care to keep the long stitches even.
Knit one row of honeycomb pattern.
Knit another plain row.
Repeat the row of long stitches, by again putting the wool six
times round the pin.
Again the plain row, as also the row of honeycomb pattern,
and the other plain row.

Continue this till the scarf is long enough to allow of your ending as you began, with seven nails of fancy stitch. A fringe should be added.

These scarfs are often made with the long stitches white, and all the rest coloured, and look very handsome.

AN IMPROVED SOCK.

Use coarse lamb’s wool and middle sized pins; cast on
seventeen stitches of coloured wool, this makes the
first row in reckoning.
At the end of the second row, make a stitch, which gives
a better form to the heel than setting on eighteen at
first.
At the end of the third row, add a stitch.
Add a stitch at the end of the fifth, seventh, ninth,
eleventh, &c., until you have twenty-five loops on the pin.
Then with a third pin knit ten stitches only.
Continue knitting backwards and forwards the ten stitches
only, until you have knit twenty rows.[3]
At the end of the twenty-first row, make fifteen stitches,
so as to have twenty-five stitches again on the pin, and
to make it correspond with the other side.
Finish this side of the shoe with as many rows as you knit
on the opposite side, decreasing every other row by
knitting the two first stitches together at the toe,
until there are but seventeen left on the pin, and
fasten off.
All this has been knit of red wool.
Then continue with the white wool for twenty-four rows,
which will complete the sock, adding at the end of the
two first sixth and seventh rows, one to enlarge the boot.
Sew up the shoe to the sock at the instep, and draw up the
toe and sew it round the heel and up the leg. A bow may
be added, if required, also leather soles.

[3] At the end of this twenty rows, take up ten stitches, and with white wool knit fourteen rows. Then take on to this middle pin, which has the white even upon it, nine stitches from each side (namely, from the top of the heel) of the red shoe, and knit two rows with coloured wool for the strap.

FLOWER STAND COVERS.

Take a tin can or jar, of the proper size for the flowers to be placed in, and make the knit cover as follows:—

Choose two middle sized steel pins, and rather fine wool of two colours, and begin as follows:—

Set on as many stitches as will measure to the depth of the
flower stand, and knit six rows of one colour, letting
the alternate rows be plain, and turn-stitch so as to
make one side appear like knit stockings on the right
side. The next six rows knit of the other colour, and
altering the alternate rows of plain and turn-stitch, so
as to throw the stocking-stitch inside. Continue thus
ribbing the piece of work until you have knit sufficient
to go round the base, when fasten off and sew up. Add a
fringe at the top, and a circular piece of wire inside,
both at top and bottom, is sometimes put to keep it in
shape; though the jar generally is sufficient in itself
when put inside. A leather or cloth bottom may be added.

KNIT PEN WIPER.

Set on your pin thirty stitches of black wool, and knit
eight rows backwards and forwards for the border. The
middle part is next begun in the embossed hexagon-stitch
of red, or any other colour, still observing to continue
the border, by knitting four plain stitches at the
beginning and ending of each pin of the black wool.

End by knitting the eight plain rows of black wool as
before, to complete the first enclosed square of the pen
wiper, do not fasten off, but begin knitting another
piece exactly to match the first, which when finished
completes the pen wiper. Double it like a book and sew a
bit of ribbon down the inside, under which may be passed
bits of silk or rag to wipe the pens upon.