Cast on seventy-two stitches, and knit twenty rounds; purling two, and knitting two; then knit six rounds plain.
TO FORM A PATTERN FOR THE BACK.
First round—knit seven, purl one; knit eight, purl one; knit eight, purl one; knit the rest plain. Second round—knit six, purl three; knit six, purl three; knit six, purl three; rest plain. Third round—knit five, purl five; knit four, purl five; knit four, purl five; rest plain. Fourth round—knit as the second. Fifth round—knit as the first. Knit ten rounds plain, still purling one stitch on the end of each diamond.
Begin the thumb by making one stitch in each of the two last, at the same time increasing one plain stitch in the first and third purl stitches. Continue increasing two stitches on the two thumb stitches, each other round, till you have twenty-four extra stitches, which place on another pin, and knit forty rounds without them. Divide the thumb stitches on three pins, and increase two more on the under part of it; knit round, decreasing the same part (the under) till you have twenty-two left, which knit on till long enough, when again decrease till you have nine stitches only; break off the wool, and with a worsted needle, draw it through all the stitches, and fasten it inside. Divide your stitches for each finger, taking two more for each of the two first fingers, than for the other two; it is better to measure by a glove, for the length of the fingers and thumb: this pattern is for the left hand, and wants the pattern for the back, reversing and knitting on the last, instead of the first pin; two-thread fleecy is required.
Directions for the different Stitches
IN
CLOSE AND OPEN CROCHET WORK.
The greater part of close crochet articles are done in the double-plain stitch, which is done by taking a piece of wool, and casting on as many loops in chain-stitch as you may require, with the needle; it is very simple, being only to form a loop and draw the wool through one and another; the easiest manner would be, to continue drawing the wool through from right to left; this will make the work the same on both sides. The plain single-crochet is done by merely drawing the one loop you have on your needle through each stitch. Plain double crochet is when you have cast on the foundation-loops, draw the wool through one stitch; take it up again, and through two; this stitch is used for table-covers and sofa-cushions; also when patterns are worked in. In the double-stitch crochet, you take both sides of the loop, but that is only used when you require it thick, and is very nice for soles for shoes.
Raised Crochet is worked alternately from one side to the other, drawing the wool quite through, and taking the underneath part of the loop.
The Chain open Crochet is made of chains, as for instance, five or seven loops drawn one through the other, and joined to the centre stitch of the preceding row; this is very pretty for purses, with a bead on each of the centre stitches.