The Ladies' Knitting and Netting Book Part 2

Turn to the back of your mat and pick up the st.i.tches of the round before that in which you looped on the fringe; knit 1 round, purl 1 round, knit 1 round, purl 1 round, knit 1 round, and cast off.

Cut a round piece of card the size of the mat, cover it with green baize or colored paper, and sew the edge which is under the fringe firmly to the edge of the card all round.

_Netted Mat._

To put between plates.

This mat is netted round. The mesh should be about a 1/4 of an inch wide. Net 60 st.i.tches putting the cotton twice round the mesh; net 24 rounds with the cotton once round the mesh, then 1 round twice round the mesh; thread the st.i.tches of this and the first round together, and tie it tight, (this is the centre).

Thread the needle with double cotton; and with a much wider mesh net a round, pa.s.sing the needle through by the knots of the 13th round for a fringe. The color can be varied at pleasure.

_Knitted Vase Mat._

Two needles No. 14.

This mat is to be knitted in two colors, (violet and maize are very pretty). Cast on 3 st.i.tches, increase 2 every row until you have 15; knit 2 rows plain, and decrease 1 st.i.tch in every other row, to a point. Knit 3 pieces of each color, sew them together with the points in the centre, and surround the mat with a fringe. (No. 6 of the former vol.)

_Table Mats._

These mats are knitted in 6 pieces, 2 side pieces and 4 end pieces.

Side piece. Cast on 20 st.i.tches, knit 18, turn your work, slip 1 of the 2 st.i.tches on the right-hand needle upon the other needle, pa.s.s the cotton back, and replace the st.i.tch as it was before, (this must be repeated every time you return without knitting the whole row, to prevent a hole); knit the 18 st.i.tches back again; in the next row knit 16 and return, and continue to knit 2 st.i.tches less each time until you knit only 2; then knit 4, and continue to add 2 to the number each turn, until you knit 18 and back again; cast off.

End piece. Cast on 20 st.i.tches; knit 3 st.i.tches, increase 1, knit to within 2 of the end and return; knit 3, increase 1, knit to within 4 of the end and return; continue to increase in every 4th st.i.tch and to leave 2 more at the end each turn until you have 32 st.i.tches left behind and only 4 knitted; then continue to knit 2 more st.i.tches each time, without increasing any more until only 2 are left behind; cast off.

Join these pieces together with the points meeting in the centre, and surround the mat with a fringe. The size may be altered by varying the size of the needles, and round mats may be made with 6 of the side pieces.

_Table Mat._

In one piece.

Cast on 3 st.i.tches, and increase 2 in every row until you have 21; increase 2 st.i.tches in every 4th row until you have 29 st.i.tches; increase 1 st.i.tch in every 4th row until you have 32 st.i.tches; knit 8 rows; this makes half the mat. Knit the other half to correspond, decreasing where you before increased. Surround it with a fringe. The size can be altered by varying the size of the pins.

_Napkin Ring._

This ring must be made of string, or stout cord, and with rather fine pins.

Cast 12 st.i.tches on each of 3 needles; knit 4 rounds; rib 4 rounds; knit 3 rounds, and cast off rather tight.

_A Pence Purse, or Jug._

Five needles No. 17, and 2 skeins of German lambs'-wool of different colors, are required.

Begin with the handle: cast on 4 st.i.tches and knit backwards and forwards, in common knitting, until it is an inch and a half long; loop 6 st.i.tches on the same needle, 26 on the second, and 10 on the third, (the 5th needle is not required yet). Knit off the 1st needle, knitting 2 and ribbing 2 st.i.tches alternately; with the 2nd needle rib 2, knit 2, rib 2, pa.s.s the wool back, slip a st.i.tch, knit 1, pull the slipped st.i.tch over the knitted one, knit the succeeding st.i.tches plain until within 7 of the end; then knit 2 taken together, knit 1, rib 2, knit 2; on the next needle rib 2 and knit 2 alternately; continue to repeat this round until you have only 12 st.i.tches on the 2nd needle, and you will find you have made the spout. Knit 3 rounds, ribbing 2 and knitting 2 alternately; take the other color and knit 5 rounds in the same manner, then 3 rounds with the first color, 5 with the second; 1 round of plain knitting with the first color, 3 rounds ribbed, 1 plain round making a st.i.tch between every 2 st.i.tches; 3 rounds ribbed with the second color, knit a plain round; in the next 2 rounds, bring the wool forward and knit 2 st.i.tches together. With the first color, knit 1 plain round and 3 ribbed; repeat the last 7 rounds. Now divide the st.i.tches on 4 needles, (there should be 12 on each,) begin plain knitting, decreasing 1 st.i.tch on each needle; continue the same for 5 rounds, decreasing alternately at the beginning, middle, and end of each needle; knit 3 rounds, decreasing as you think necessary to keep it a good round shape; divide the st.i.tches on 3 needles, knit a plain round, rib 3 rounds without decreasing. Begin again to decrease, and continue to do so, until you have only 3 st.i.tches on each needle; fasten off with a worsted needle, and sew down the handle.

_Bouquetier._ No. 1.

You will require 5 needles No. 14, and two knots of silver twist.

Cast 6 st.i.tches on each of 3 needles; knit 1 round; in the second round knit and rib 3 st.i.tches alternately, and continue the same for 44 or 48 rounds. Plain knit 1 round, bring the thread forward, (thus increasing by a loop st.i.tch), knit 3 st.i.tches; bring the thread forward, knit 3; and continue the same all round. Knit 2 plain rounds. In the next round bring the thread forward at the beginning and in the middle of each needle, thus increasing 6 st.i.tches in the round. Knit 2 rounds plain, continue to increase in the same manner (6 st.i.tches every 3rd round) until you have 16 st.i.tches on each needle. Knit 8 st.i.tches, with the 5th needle rib the same st.i.tches back again, and continue to knit and rib alternate _rows_, decreasing to a point by taking 2 st.i.tches together in the centre of 2 rows out of 3. Finish the other 5 leaves in the same manner.

_Bouquetier._ No. 2.

Four needles No. 14.

Cast 6 st.i.tches on each of 3 needles. Knit and rib 3 st.i.tches alternately for 48 rounds. Then knit and rib alternate _rounds_, increasing 2 st.i.tches every round where it will be least observed, until you have 40 st.i.tches in the round; turn and knit back again; knit backwards and forwards, decreasing 1 st.i.tch at the beginning and 1 st.i.tch at the end of every row, (for you will perceive those which were rounds have become rows) until the bouquetier ends in a point.

_Tidy Basket._

Seven of each needles, No. 16, 14, and 12.

Cast 2 st.i.tches on each of 4 needles, No. 16; knit round, increasing 4 st.i.tches in each round, until you have 9 st.i.tches on each needle; divide your st.i.tches on 6 needles, and purl 3 rounds; knit 3 rounds, increasing 3 times in each of the 2 first rounds, and 6 times in the third.

Alternately knit and purl 2 st.i.tches for 3 rounds; repeat the same 3 rounds with the larger needles, No. 14; and 3 rounds more with the largest, No. 12. Knit 1 round plain, and cast off 20 st.i.tches; knit 4 st.i.tches, cast off another 20, and knit the remaining 4 for the handle, until it is nearly 3 inches long; then knit it to the 4 st.i.tches which were left on the opposite side of the basket.

Cover a round bit of card with paper, the color of the basket, and fasten it to the bottom on the inside.

_Ladder St.i.tch Bag._

Two needles No. 12.

Cast on 50 st.i.tches. Second row, knit and rib 2 st.i.tches alternately; and in the 3rd row, knit and rib the same st.i.tches: in the 2 following rows reverse the knitting and ribbing; continue this pattern for 12 rows, and also for 10 st.i.tches at the beginning and end of each row, to form a border all round. Plain knit 1 row (between the borders). In the next row, (after the 10 st.i.tches) knit the 2nd st.i.tch, pulling it over the 1st; knit the 1st; knit the 4th and 3rd, 6th and 5th; continue the same to the end of the row: every row is alike. Continue this pattern until the bag is nearly long enough. Add a border as at first, and make the other side to correspond. Knit or sew up the sides, and run a ribbon round the top.

_Crossed St.i.tch Bag._

Two needles No. 12.

Cast on 50 st.i.tches. Knit one row with the cotton twice round the needle, and in the next row, knit the 2nd st.i.tch, slipping it over the 1st; knit the 1st, then the 4th and 3rd, 6th and 5th, and continue the same to the end of the row. Begin again at the row twice round the needle.

When you have knitted enough for the bag, cast off, and sew up the sides.

_Netted Bag._

To hold the ball when knitting.

These bags are plain netted, and the size of the foundation must of course vary according to the size you wish to have your bag. They are very pretty netted with very narrow ribbon in different colors. The mesh should be rather wide; when the bag is half deep enough, net in a ring, (either bra.s.s or whalebone), then net on until the bag is sufficiently long.