STRAIGHT RAKES.
Fig. 1.
DIMENSIONS.
Length—32″.
Width—2⅝″.
Thickness—¾″ to ⅞″.
Opening down the center (black)
27″ long.
⅜″ wide.
SETTING OF NAILS.
RAKE No. 1
Nails ½″ apart in rows ¾″ apart, set as in drawing.
RAKE No. 2
Nails ⅜″ apart in rows ¾″ apart.
RAKE No. 3
Nails ⅜″ apart in rows ⅝″ apart.
RAKE No. 4
Nails ⁵⁄₁₆″ apart in rows ¹⁰⁄₁₆″ apart.
SHORT RAKES, with the same setting of nails are useful for knitting collars, pockets and belts.
Fig. 2. Cap Rake
- Outside circle diameter = 6⅞″
- Inner circle diameter = 5¼″
- Shaded space cut out = ⅝″ wide
- Rows of nails ⅝″ apart
- Nails in outer row set ½″ apart
- Nails in inner row set ⅜″ apart
- Nails ½″ above surface
Fig. 3. Cap Rake
Size 1.
- Outside dia. = 11¼″
- Inside dia. = 9¼″
- Nails set 1″ apart
Size 2.
- Outside dia. = 13″
- Inside dia. = 11½″
Fig. 4. Rakes.
Yellow poplar or red gum makes a rake that is light to handle, and holds the nails securely.
Select well-seasoned lumber, free from knots, about ¾ to ⅞ inch thick. Rakes made from thinner wood give in the middle and are not satisfactory.
The opening within the rake can be cut out with a keyhole saw, or better still with a jig saw or a band saw, if such is available.
The rakes must be well-planed and sandpapered, and no roughness left anywhere to catch the wool when knitting.
The dimensions for the rakes are given in Figs. [1], [2 and 3].
The long rakes ([Fig. 1]) are set with 1 inch finishing nails or with 1 inch, No. 16 wire brads. The nails must be set carefully as indicated in the drawing and project evenly ⅜ inch above the surface of the wood.
The small double round rake ([Fig. 2]) is set with 1 inch finishing nails.
The large round rake ([Fig. 3]) is set with 1½ inch No. 10 wire brads, or with wooden pegs whittled from ⅜ inch doweling, leaving a small head to prevent the yarn from slipping off too easily. The pegs should be securely glued into holes drilled just the right size to take them. Many patients prefer the wooden pegs in the round rakes. Such a rake was sold in some stores during the war and used for knitting hospital stockings to cover surgical dressings.
For a pick, an ordinary nutpick, ([Fig. 5]) will serve very well, or one can be made from a 3 inch finishing nail, set in a wooden handle, bent and filed into shape as shown in [Fig. 6], and finished with emery cloth, and oil and pumice.
Materials.
Four-fold yarn or silky wool is used for most garments.
Medium and heavy-weight sweater yarns may be used for men’s sweaters.
Two-fold yarn and silky wool is used for light-weight garments.
[Chapter 2.]
WINDING A LONG RAKE.
Three different stitches are commonly used in rake knitting.