The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness Part 20

_White wool_--Knit and pearl alternately for four rows; decrease at the beginning and ending of the two plain rows.

Knit eighteen plain st.i.tches, run a piece of cotton through the remaining sixty-two st.i.tches. Pearl and knit alternately, decreasing at the beginning and ending of every plain row, until you have four st.i.tches remaining; cast them off; then take up eighteen st.i.tches on the opposite sides, and work a piece to correspond; leaving forty-four centre st.i.tches on the cotton.

Take up the centre st.i.tches on a needle pointed at both ends, draw the cotton out; then pick up fourteen st.i.tches at each end of the needle.

_Shaded wool_--Knit two plain rows.

_White wool_--Knit one plain row. Next row; wool forward, knit two together to the end of the row.

_Shaded wool_--Knit two plain rows and cast off. Join the two points together at the back of the cap. Fold the front at the first pattern row, and hem it to form the scallop at the edge. Pick up eighty st.i.tches at the back of the cap.

AN ECONOMICAL POINT COLLAR.

It is well known that worked muslin collars, particularly if the work is good, very soon wear out; as the work is too heavy for the muslin, which, when it has been washed two or three times, becomes full of slits and holes, though the work is still as good as ever. When this is the case, cut the muslin off the work with a pair of sharp scissors, and lay the work on the pattern of a collar cut in paper, so as to fill the whole of the pattern. The work may be taken from two or three collars; the arrangement of it must depend upon taste. When the cut-out work is properly arranged, it must be tacked or basted to the paper pattern; and this is best done with colored thread, that no mistake may arise when the basting threads are to be drawn out. Four or six threads are then drawn from one piece of work to another, with a needle and cotton, so as to attach them together, and the loose threads are then overcast like b.u.t.ton-holes, so as to imitate the uniting threads of point lace. When well done, with a sufficient quant.i.ty of the uniting threads, to make the work firm, these collars are handsome, and will wash and wear well.

KNITTED VEILS.

It is now customary to knit white veils of what is called Lady Betty's wool, for babies to put over their faces when they are carried out in cold weather, instead of pocket-handkerchiefs, which were formerly used for the purpose, though they were very unfit for it. Knitted veils in black silk or worsted are also worn by grown-up persons. The veils for babies are very simple in their construction; they consist of oblong pieces of knitting of any width and depth that may be required, with knitted lace at the bottom and sides, and a string case at the top. The following pattern is the most common:

Knit and pearl alternately four rows, so that there may be two of each; then bring forward and take two together an entire row. This pattern is repeated through the entire veil; and it must be observed, that as many st.i.tches must be cast on as will make it of the necessary width. The needles should be of the smallest size, of bone. Any lace will do; but the following pattern, though not new, is both pretty and suitable; and has, besides, the important recomendation of being very easy.

Cast on eleven st.i.tches and knit a row plain, then begin the pattern.

_1st row_--Knit three; bring forward and take two together; knit one, take two together; put the thread twice round the needle, take two together, and knit one.

_2nd row_--Knit two, pearl one, knit one, put the thread twice round the needle, take two together, bring forward, and knit five.

_3rd row_--Knit three, bring forward, take two together, knit one, bring forward, knit two, pearl one, bring forward, take two together, and knit two.

_4th row_--Knit two, bring forward, knit five, bring forward, take two together, knit five.

_5th_ row--Knit three, bring forward, and take two together, knit the rest plain.

_6th row_--Cast off four, and knit the rest plain.

HINTS TO CROCHET-WORKERS.

Examine carefully the form of the needle, and _try_ the hook, to ascertain that it is perfectly smooth. Some are so sharp and ill-made as to tear the cotton. Select those which are not of uniform thickness up to the hook; the best are those which are thinner there than an inch farther up. Where the needle is not proportionally fine near the hook, it is almost impossible to keep the work even.

Chain st.i.tch ought to be done rather loosely, as working on it afterwards contracts it, and is apt to give it a puckered appearance. It is often advisable to use a needle one size larger for making the chain than for the rest of the work, especially in edgings. It will be found much easier to work the succeeding rows when this precaution is taken.

Crochet needles should be kept in a housewife similar to those used for ordinary needles. The slightest soil or rust should be effaced with fine sandpaper.

ORNAMENTAL NET FOR THE HAIR.

Take two pieces of fine silk braid, scarlet or royal blue, and a No. 3 bone crochet hook.

Make a chain of eight st.i.tches, unite the ends, and then D. C. the first round, putting two st.i.tches into each loop; there will now be sixteen st.i.tches and in the next round one long must be worked into every st.i.tch, and two chain between each long; the round will now consist of forty-eight st.i.tches, and we commence the pattern, or diamonds.

_3rd round_--Three long, two chain, four long with two chain after each, and these long put into every second loop; repeat.

_4th round_--Five long, two chain, five long with two chain after each, and these long put into every second loop with the exception of the fifth or last of them, which must skip two st.i.tches instead of one; repeat.

_5th round_--Seven long, two chain, seven long with two chain after each, and each of these long put into every second st.i.tch; repeat.

_6th round_--Five long, two chain, five long with two chain after each, and each of these long put into every other st.i.tch, three long, two chain, five long again with two chain after each, and each put into every second st.i.tch; repeat from beginning.

_7th round_--Three long, two chain, five long with two chain after each and worked in every third loop, five long, two chain, five long again with two chain after each, and these long worked as aforesaid in every third loop; repeat from beginning.

_8th round_--One long, two chain, five long with two chain after each and these long put into every third st.i.tch, seven long, two chain, again five long, &c. &c.; repeat from beginning.

_9th round_--Six long with two chain after each and work in every third st.i.tch, (five long, twelve long with two chain after each, these long put in every third st.i.tch); repeat the pattern in brackets.

_10th round_--Nine long with two chain after them, these long being worked in every second loop, (three long, two chain, nineteen long with two chain after them, and the long worked in every second loop); repeat the pattern in brackets.

_11th, 12th, and 13th rounds_--A long and two chain all round, and the long being worked alternately in every second and third loop; care being taken to bring one into the position to complete each diamond as it is come to.

A crochet edging, begun with braid, and the last two or three rows worked with gold twist as nearly the size of the braid as may be, and a cord and ta.s.sels, finish off this elegant head-dress.

The cord should be run in and out through the thirteenth round. We, however, prefer a single-crochet band of some fifty st.i.tches long and six or eight wide, worked in the same material as the net, to a cord, and this band may be finished off with a piece of gold fringe instead of ta.s.sels at the ends, or with a scallop of edging crocheted in gold twist.

DRESS GLOVE BANDS; FULL OR FRILLED SHAPE.

Take three pieces of fine embroidery chenille, and a No. 3 bone crochet hook.

Make a chain of about forty st.i.tches, or one long enough to go round the wrist; Dc one row.

_3rd row_--Two long, one chain and miss a st.i.tch--repeat this all along.

Then one row Dc.

_6th row_--Long crochet worked _very_ loosely, so much so as to leave these st.i.tches _at least_ half an inch high; two st.i.tches to be put into every second or third loop and one in each of the others all the way along; fasten off.

Join the chenille now on to the first row, and work a similar row or frill to the one just directed, so that there be one on each side.

Run a narrow velvet through the holes of the third row and affix wider velvet ends, or chenille ta.s.sels to each extremity. Finish off with a b.u.t.ton and loop, and flute the frill on each side over the finger to make it set.

We need scarcely say that the chenille used should be selected to match or agree with the evening dress, and that the velvet must match the chenille.

These bands may be made to look very handsome by working a row of Dc loosely and evenly along the edge of each frill with gold or silver twist, and running a band of gold or silver braid or tr.i.m.m.i.n.g through the holes in the third row instead of velvet. Then small bullion ta.s.sels to match the twist will form a suitable and elegant finish.

These bands may be worked round and slid over the hand like m.u.f.fatees, or made open as we have directed and b.u.t.toned, like the glove. The b.u.t.tons should be covered with crochet, and the loops crocheted.

KNITTED UNDER HABIT SHIRT.