LADIES' WORK-BOOK

CONTAINING INSTRUCTIONS IN

Knitting, Crochet, Point-Lace, &c.

LONDON:
JOHN CASSELL, LA BELL SAUVAGE YARD, LUDGATE HILL.

THE
LADIES' WORK BOOK.

[CONTENTS &LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.]

[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.

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 stitches; pass 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 pass the thread from the ball round the needle; then bend the point of the needle through the loop, which tighten, and one stitch 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.

TO CAST ON WITH TWO NEEDLES.

PLAIN KNITTING.—After all the stitches are cast on, hold the needle containing them in the left hand. Pass 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 stitch, 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 stitch, and a new stitch is knitted.

GERMAN MANNER.—The thread, instead of being held by the fingers of the right hand, is passed 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 stitch 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 stitch from the point of the left-hand needle.

PLAIN KNITTING.

When knitted and purled stitches occur in the same row, the thread must be brought forward before a purled stitch, and taken back before a knitted one.

THE GERMAN MANNER.

TO MAKE A STITCH. Bring the thread in front, as if for a purled stitch, so that when you knit one the thread will pass over the needle, and will make a hole in the following row. This diagram shows the manner of making three stitches, 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 stitch will take it over a third time. In doing the next row, knit one, purl one, knit one of these stitches; however many are made, they must be alternately knitted and purled in the next row. When the stitch allowing the made stitches is to be purled, the thread must be entirely passed round the needle, once for every stitch to be made, and brought forward also.

PURLING.

TO MAKE A STITCH.

SLIP STITCH.—Pass a stitch from the left needle to the right, without knitting it. There are two ways of decreasing: first, by knitting two, three, or more stitches as one, marked in knitting, as k 2 t, k 3 t, etc. Secondly, in the following way: slip one stitch, knit-one, pass the slip stitch over: this decreases one stitch. To decrease two; slip one, knit two together, pass the slip stitch over.

TO TAKE UP STITCHES.

A reverse stitch 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 stitch, and the point brought out towards you or otherwise. But to make a reverse stitch, you insert the point of the needle in the stitch 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 stitch.

TO KNIT TWO PIECES TOGETHER.

To reverse two, three, or more stitches together, insert the needle in them all at once, from the last to the first.

TO TAKE UP STITCHES.—Insert the needle in the loop, pass 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 stitches on both.

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.

TO CAST OFF.

TO FORM A ROUND:—This diagram represents the French manner of performing this process by casting the whole number of stitches on one needle, and then distributing them on three, or perhaps four. But the English mode is to divide the number of stitches, and cast so many on each needle, not withdrawing the last stitch of each needle from the point of the next needle. When all are cast on, the round is made by knitting the two first stitches on to the last needle. Four needles are employed for stockings, five for doyleys and other round articles.

To cast off:— knit two stitches, insert the point of the left hand needle in the first stitch, and draw it on the other. Knit another stitch, and treat these two in the same way.

[Contents]

INFANT'S SHOE, IN KNITTING.

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

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

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 stitch.

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 stitches, always decrease by knitting two together (once) on the needle that has the thirty stitches in every row which is not plainly purled, until only twelve stitches are left on it.

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

Now take up the twenty centre stitches 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 stitches, so that there are 60 altogether.

These stitches must be knitted backwards and forwards thus:—

1st row: X knit 3, slip 2 as before, X repeat with the last stitch, 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.

4th: Like 2nd.

5th: Purled; join at the end.

6th: Knitted; join at the end.

7th: X knit 2, slip 2, knit 1, X join at the end.

8th: X purl 1, slip 2, knit 2, X join as before.

9th: Like 7th.

10th: Like 8th.

11th: Purled.

12th: Knitted.

13th: X knit 1, slip 2, knit 2, X join at the end.

14th: X purl 2, slip 2, knit 1, X join.

15th: Like 13th.

16th: Like 14th.

17th: Purled, with join at the end.

18th: Knitted. The same. Repeat these 18 rows.

Take up the remaining stitches of the 70, and form the whole into a round for the ankle. Purl four rounds.

5th round: X knit 3, make 1, knit 2 together, X all round. Purl 6 more rounds, and cast off.

FOR THE TASSELS.—Plait some wool into a cord, and fasten at each end a tassel of white and pink wool combed out.

FOR THE RUCHE.—Cast on five stitches with the coarser needles, and the white embroidery wool. Knit and purl the rows alternately, winding the wool six times round two fingers of the left hand at every stitch, and taking up those threads with the stitches. Do about ten rows so; then for ten more wind the wool only for the first and last stitches, and the pink for the others of each row. Do enough to go twice round the top of each boot. Cut the loops, and comb out the wool. Sew it round the top of the boot.

[Contents]

THE TULIP WREATH FLOWER-VASE MAT.

MATERIALS..—12 shades of amber, 7 shades of lilac, 4 shades of green. 4 Skeins of each colour. 5 Steel Needles, No. 14. Cardboard foundation, covered with white or amber cambric, 8 inches in diameter.

FOR THE MAT.—Knit 4 rounds of each shade of amber, beginning with the lightest. Cast on 2 stitches on each of 4 needles; bring the wool forward, knit half the stitches on the first needle; t. f. and k. [Footnote: K. means knit; k. 2+ knit two together; p. purl; t. f. thread forward.] the other half; repeat the same on each of the other 3 needles; k. the next round plain; repeat these two rounds until there are 48 stitches on each needle; then cast off, and sew this on the covered cardboard foundation.

FOR THE TULIPS.—5 tulips to be knitted in 7 shades of amber, and 5 in 7 shades of lilac; 4 rounds to be knitted of each shade; 4 needles. Cast on 2 stitches on each of 3 needles; t.f. at the commencement of each needle; k. 1 plain round; purl a round, increasing at commencement of each needle. Repeat these two rounds till there are 22 stitches on each of the three needles; then first k. 3, k. 2+, k. 1, k. 2+, k. 3; turn the work back, and purl the stitches.

THE TULIP WREATH FLOWER-VASE MAT.

3rd: K. 2, k. 2+, k. 1, k. 2+, k. 2.

4th: Turn back and purl.

5th: K. 2, k. 2+, k. 1, k. 2+, k 2.

6th: Turn back and purl.

7th: K. 1, k. 3+, k. 1.

8th: Purl.

9th: K. 3+.

20 tulips will be required.

THE LEAVES (10 of which will be necessary).—4 shades of green, 12 rows of each; 2 needles.

Cast on 3 stitches; k. plain, till before the centre stitch; t.f. and k. the centre stitch; t.f., k. the remainder plain; p. the next row; repeat these 2 rows, till there are 12 open stitches up the vein of the leaf; then k. 1, k. 2+, k. plain, till 2 from the centre stitch; then k. 2+, t.f., k. 1, t.f., k. 2+, k. plain, till 3 from the end; then k. 2+, k. 1; p. the next row; repeat till there are 8 more open stitches, that is, 20 from the beginning; then k. 2+ at the beginning and end of every other row, till the last ends in a point. Now sew the leaves round the mat by the part where the stem should be; then sew the tulips on as in engraving, sewing the leaf about 6 rows from the point on the stem of the tulip.

A WOVEN PARASOL.