Decrease 1 st.i.tch at the beginning of every row until 76 st.i.tches only are left. Decrease 1, rib 6, knit 6, rib 6, knit 6. Cast off 24, rib and knit the remainder. Decrease 1, rib and knit the rest. Cast off 6, knit and rib the rest. Decrease 1, rib and knit the rest. Cast off 6, rib and knit the rest. Rib and knit 12, cast off 6. Knit these 6 st.i.tches backwards and forwards for the shoulder strap. Make the other side of the front and back to match, bind the stays with ribbon, and sew on strings.
_Baby"s Sock._
To appear like a shoe and stocking. Eight steel needles, 4 No. 14, and 4 No. 20, and fine German lambs"-wool are required.
Cast 14 st.i.tches on one of the coa.r.s.e needles, with double lambs"-wool, knit 14 turns, loop 12 st.i.tches on the same needle, 28 on the second and 12 on the third, and pick up the 14 loops on the cast on side of the piece of knitting; you will now have 80 st.i.tches in all on the needles.
Knit 6 _turns_, decrease 1 st.i.tch at the end of each row until you have only 70 st.i.tches. Decrease 2 st.i.tches in the middle of the row, knitting 1 plain st.i.tch between; continue thus decreasing 2 st.i.tches for the heel in the centre of every row, and one at the end for the toe, until you have 60 st.i.tches left. Decrease 2 st.i.tches in the middle, divide the st.i.tches in halves, 29 on each needle, and join it by knitting the two rows together ending at the toe. Pick up 14 loops on the instep, and 56 round the top of the shoe, with a different color knit one _round_ and cast off; this is to look like the binding, and completes the shoe.
For the stocking use the fine needles and single wool. Take up 14 st.i.tches on the instep, behind the chain st.i.tch (or coloured binding).
Knit 1 plain row taking up a st.i.tch from the side and knitting that and the last st.i.tch together. Purl 1 row knitting the last st.i.tch and a side st.i.tch together. Knit the next row, bringing the wool before the needle every st.i.tch and knitting 2 st.i.tches taken together. Knit these last 2 rows alternately until you have 12 rows of holes, remembering to take up a st.i.tch at the side and knit it with the last st.i.tch. Then take up 34 st.i.tches round the shoe, behind the chain st.i.tch, continue the pattern as on the instep, when you have 12 rows of holes above the binding, knit 1 plain round adding a st.i.tch after every third st.i.tch, making in all 64 st.i.tches, knit 12 rounds of knitting, and purling 2 st.i.tches alternately. Cast off. Make a small rosette of ribbon, and sew it in front of the shoe.
_Netted Curtain._
For a French Bed.
With a mesh 1 inch wide net 130 st.i.tches. 195 rows will complete the curtain.
_Moorish Brioche or Cushion._
Choose any number of colored wools, or if preferred, two that contrast well. Two needles, No. 12.
Cast on 60 st.i.tches, bring the wool forward, slip a st.i.tch, knit 1, (by this you increase by a loop st.i.tch,) bring the wool forward, slip a st.i.tch, knit 1; repeat these st.i.tches to the end of the row. 2nd row: bring the wool forward, slip a st.i.tch, knit the loop made last row with the next st.i.tch, bring the wool forward, slip a st.i.tch, knit the loop and st.i.tch together; repeat these st.i.tches to the end of the row. Knit 6 more rows in the same manner, the st.i.tch is the same throughout. Fasten on the 2nd color, bring the wool forward, slip a st.i.tch, knit 1, bring the wool forward, slip a st.i.tch, knit 1. Now instead of continuing the row, turn back. Bring the wool forward, slip a st.i.tch, knit 1, bring the wool forward, slip a st.i.tch, knit 1. Continue to increase the number you slip and knit by 4 every time, until all the 60 have been knitted. Knit 8 rows of the 1st color, and proceed as before. Twelve of these divisions will make the cushion large enough. Sew it up at the side. Net a fringe with double coa.r.s.e lambs"-wool to the narrow part, and run in a string to tie it tightly together under the fringe. Make a round cushion, and cover it with the knitting.
_A Blanket._
Two very coa.r.s.e wooden needles and wool proportionably coa.r.s.e.
Cast on 30 st.i.tches; knit a few plain rows for the edge; then begin with the wool forward, slip 1 st.i.tch taking it under so as not to twist it, knit 1 st.i.tch, repeat these 2 st.i.tches to the end of the row, and you will find you have increased 15 st.i.tches; repeat this row with this only difference, that in future you knit the loop and st.i.tch under it together.
These strips done in squares of different colors are very pretty.
_Blanket in strips._
Needles and wool the same as for the preceding pattern.
Cast on 32 st.i.tches, knit 7 rows common knitting; then begin double knitting,[106-*] knitting 4 st.i.tches plain on each side for a border, knit about 24 rows, knit 8 rows plain and then double knitting again; continue these squares until the piece is long enough. It is very pretty if the squares are done in different colors.
[106-*] See Contents--Double Knitting. For a blanket it is better to put the wool twice round the needle in the knitted st.i.tches.
_Netted Lace._
Begin on a straight foundation with a mesh No. 16. Of course the number of st.i.tches will depend on the length that is wished for.
216 will make about a yard.
Net 24 plain rows. Take a mesh 1/4 of an inch wide, or a trifle wider, net 3 st.i.tches in the 1st st.i.tch, pa.s.s 2 st.i.tches, net 5 st.i.tches in the next, pa.s.s 2, and net 5 st.i.tches in every 3rd st.i.tch to the end of the row. Take the small mesh and net every st.i.tch you have increased as a single st.i.tch, and finish with another row on the small mesh.
_Puff Netting._
Very pretty for caps.
Begin your netting on a foundation that will divide by 10. Net 9 st.i.tches, net 9 st.i.tches in the 10th; repeat to the end of the row. Net 3 rows, 1 st.i.tch in _every_ st.i.tch. In the next row (which will make the 5th from the increase), take the first 9 st.i.tches as 1 st.i.tch, net the following 9 st.i.tches, repeat to the end of the row. Begin again.
_A Cool Night-cap._
Puff netting.
The mesh to be 1/4 inch wide.
Begin on a round foundation of 71 st.i.tches; net 3 plain rounds. In the 4th round, net 5 st.i.tches, net 5 st.i.tches in the 6th st.i.tch; repeat this all round. Net 2 rounds, netting one st.i.tch in _every_ st.i.tch. In the next round take the 5 plain st.i.tches as _one_, net 5 st.i.tches, repeat all round. Begin again with the 4th round (increasing 5 st.i.tches after the decrease). When the cap is deep enough net one round putting the cotton twice round the mesh; run a ribbon in at the top and bottom, and tie the top string tight.
_Suspenders._
Two needles No. 16.
Cast on 18 st.i.tches, and knit about 6 rows in double knitting with the thread once round the needle, knit 9 st.i.tches, take off the other 9 on another needle, and knit the first 9 backwards and forwards until it is long enough for a b.u.t.ton-hole; take back the cotton and knit up the other 9 until both are even, (the loop which is left from carrying the thread down can be sewn in afterwards); knit 6 more rows double knitting, and 2 rows double knitting with the thread twice round the needle. Knit 1 row of plain knitting, increasing 1 st.i.tch in every 2, which will make in all 27. Then in the front row; knit the 2nd st.i.tch first, drawing it over the 1st, knit the 1st, knit the 4th and 3rd, 6th and 5th, and repeat the same to the end, which will be 1 knitted st.i.tch.
Back row; purl the 1st st.i.tch, taking 2 st.i.tches together as if you were going to decrease, but pick up again the st.i.tch nearest to the right hand and purl it: repeat this to the last st.i.tch, which is to be purled.
Repeat these 2 rows until you think it long enough, then begin double knitting, decrease to 18 st.i.tches again, knit about 2 inches and finish in a point.
These suspenders are firmer and less elastic than those given in the first series.
_Parisian Net Knitting._
This pattern is very pretty for a foot-m.u.f.f, blanket, or sofa guard.
Take German lambs"-wool of two colors that contrast well; pink and white form a pretty mixture.
Cast on an even number of st.i.tches, and with the white wool knit several rows before beginning the pattern. 1st row; fasten on the pink wool forward, knit the first st.i.tch with the white wool, pa.s.s the pink round the needle bringing it forward again, and purl the next st.i.tch with it; pa.s.s the purled st.i.tch on to the left-hand needle and knit it with the white wool, knit 1 st.i.tch with the white, pa.s.s the pink wool round the needle, purl 1 st.i.tch and pa.s.s it back on to the left-hand needle, knit it and the following st.i.tch with the white wool; continue the same to the end of the row. 2nd row; purl the white st.i.tches with the white wool, and slip the pink loops, taking care not to twist them or change the side which is forward. 3rd row; knit the white st.i.tches with the white wool and slip the pink loops. 4th row; purl the 1st st.i.tch with the white wool, turn the pink wool (which is now behind) round the needle, and with it knit the pink loop and following white st.i.tch taken together, slip the st.i.tch on to the left hand needle and purl it with the white wool, purl 1 st.i.tch with the white, pa.s.s the pink wool round the needle, and knit with it the pink loop and following st.i.tch taken together, slip it on to the other needle and purl it with the white wool, repeat the same to the end. 5th row; knit all the white st.i.tches with the white wool and slip the pink loops. 6th row; purl the white st.i.tches with the white wool and slip the pink. 7th row; knit 1 st.i.tch with the white wool, pa.s.s the pink wool (which is forward) round the needle and with it purl the pink loop and following white st.i.tch taken together, observing to take the pink loop by the under side, slip the st.i.tch on to the left hand needle and knit it and the following white st.i.tch with the white wool; repeat the same to the end of the row: as the 7th row takes the place of the 1st, continue with the 2nd row.
_Diamond Knitting._
Cast on 14 st.i.tches for each pattern. 1st round: knit 12 st.i.tches, knit 2 taken together, and bring the cotton forward; repeat the same. 2nd round: knit 2 st.i.tches taken together, knit 9, knit 2 taken together and bring the cotton forward, knit 1 and bring the cotton forward again. 3rd round: knit 2 st.i.tches taken together, knit 7, knit 2 taken together, bring the cotton forward, knit 3, and bring the cotton forward again.
4th round: knit 2 st.i.tches taken together, knit 5, knit 2 taken together, bring the cotton forward, knit 5, and bring the cotton forward again. 5th round: knit 2 taken together, knit 3, knit 2 taken together, bring the cotton forward, knit 7, bring the cotton forward. 6th round: knit 2 st.i.tches taken together, knit 1, knit 2 taken together, bring the cotton forward, knit 9, bring the cotton forward. 7th round: knit 3 taken together, bring the cotton forward, knit 5, bring the cotton forward, knit 2 taken together, knit 4, bring the cotton forward. Begin again.
_Four Patterns, for D"Oyleys, Toilet Covers, Baby"s Quilts, or Basket Napkins._
Two needles, No. 22 or 23, and very fine knitting cotton.