The Ladies' Knitting and Netting Book Part 1

The Ladies' Knitting and Netting Book.

by Miss Watts.

THE LADIES' KNITTING AND NETTING BOOK.

SECOND SERIES.

_Gentlemen's Knitted Gloves._

Four needles No. 15, and fine German lambs'-wool.

Cast on 88 st.i.tches, 28 on each of 2 needles, and 32 on the 3rd, knit round, knitting and ribbing 4 st.i.tches alternately; when you have done about one inch, continue with plain knitting[2-*] until your glove is long enough to begin increasing for the thumb, which is done by knitting twice in one st.i.tch (that is, when you have knitted the st.i.tch, knit it again at the back before you slip it off the needle,) in the middle of a needle. Knit a plain round; then increase twice in every other round before and after the last increase; continue this until you have st.i.tches enough for the thumb (about 29); take all the st.i.tches except those for the thumb, on two _other_ needles; divide the st.i.tches for the thumb on 3 of your 4 needles and knit round, decreasing gradually at the join towards the end; take the remaining st.i.tches, about 9, on a worsted needle and sew it up. Divide the st.i.tches for the hand again on your needles, taking up 5 st.i.tches at the bottom of the thumb for the gusset; knit two rounds; in the next three rounds decrease 3 st.i.tches of the gusset: knit plain until the glove is long enough to begin the fingers; begin with the first finger, which will require 27 st.i.tches, decrease as you may think fit at the end of the finger. This will leave 25, 23, and 21 st.i.tches for the 3 succeeding fingers. When you have finished the first finger, you must take up 4 st.i.tches at the bottom for a gusset, these may be decreased or not according to the size required.

[2-*] If you wish to make a seam on the outside of the glove, or a pattern down the back, it may be done by purling one or more st.i.tches.

_Netted Gloves._

The mesh to net these gloves should be No. 14, and the netting silk fine.

Begin on a round foundation of 50 st.i.tches; net 6 rounds, net 1 round, putting the silk twice round the mesh, this is to make a place to run the ribbon in; net 6 rounds, then begin to increase for the thumb by netting twice in one st.i.tch, net one st.i.tch, net twice in the next st.i.tch: continue to increase in the same manner every other round, before and after where you increased last, until you have 19 (or 21 for rather a large size) st.i.tches for the thumb; net one round, then net the st.i.tches for the thumb _round_, when you have done 1 round decrease once in every round at the join for 4 or 5 rounds; net until the thumb is long enough and in the last round take 2 st.i.tches in 1 and sew up the end: (the fingers are finished in the same way.) Fasten on your silk at the bottom of the thumb, and net 4 extra st.i.tches for a gusset; net 5 rounds, in the 6th decrease 2 st.i.tches of the 4; net 10 or 12 rounds according to the size required. Now begin the first finger, for which 16 st.i.tches are required, net round and finish like the thumb; the other fingers are done in the same way, except that you must make a gusset of two st.i.tches, which are not to be decreased, at the bottom of the _finished_ finger, this allows 15 st.i.tches, including the two of the gusset, for the second finger, 14 for the third, and 12 for the fourth.

Run a pattern on the back with flox silk.

_Feather Gloves._

Four needles No. 19, and very fine cotton are required.

Cast 64 st.i.tches on 1 needle, and 38 on each of the other two: knit round, knitting and ribbing 5 st.i.tches alternately until you have half an inch. Then knit a round, putting the cotton _round the needle_, and knitting 2 st.i.tches taken together, this is to make a runner for the ribbon. Knit 3 rounds plain. Knit the st.i.tches of the first needle plain and begin the feather pattern for the back with the second needle, bring the cotton forward knit a st.i.tch, repeat this twice, decrease by knitting 2 st.i.tches taken together 3 times, knit 1 st.i.tch, which is the centre st.i.tch of the pattern, decrease 3 times, increase 3 times, and repeat these 19 st.i.tches until you come to the needle with 64 st.i.tches, which is always plain knitting. Knit 3 rounds. Repeat these 4 rounds until the glove is long enough to begin to increase for the thumb: after the 3 plain rounds, knit 1 st.i.tch, increase 1 by taking up a st.i.tch between 2 st.i.tches, knit 1, increase 1: continue to increase in the same manner before and after the last increase, every other round, continuing the pattern on the 2 needles as before. When you have 9 st.i.tches for the thumb, and have knitted the round without increasing, knit a st.i.tch, bring the cotton forward, knit a st.i.tch, knit 2 st.i.tches taken together, knit a st.i.tch (this is to be the centre st.i.tch of the thumb), knit 2 taken together, bring the cotton forward, knit a st.i.tch, knit 1 st.i.tch, increase as before.

When you have knitted the 3 rounds, increasing as usual, on the 1st needle, knit 1 st.i.tch, increase 1, bring the cotton forward, knit a st.i.tch, repeat this, decrease twice, knit the centre st.i.tch, decrease twice, increase twice, increase the st.i.tch for the thumb. In the next round of the holes of the _pattern_ you will have 17 st.i.tches for the thumb: increase as usual, knit 2 st.i.tches, increase twice, decrease twice; knit the centre st.i.tch, decrease twice, increase twice, knit 2, increase 1. In future you will have st.i.tches enough to make the pattern down the thumb like the pattern at the back, which is to be done with the 19 middle st.i.tches of the thumb, the rest on either side are to be knitted plain: when you have increased 45 st.i.tches and knitted 1 round, take all the other st.i.tches on 2 _other_ needles, and knit the thumb round, gradually decreasing a few st.i.tches at the join. When the thumb is finished take the st.i.tches for the hand on your needles as before, take up 5 st.i.tches for the gusset at the bottom of the thumb, and continue knitting as before, (on the third needle you will have an odd st.i.tch, which belongs to the 1st needle, it will prevent any mistake if you pa.s.s it on to the 1st needle); after doing a few rounds, decrease the gusset st.i.tches until you have 64 st.i.tches on the 1st needle: continue the pattern as before, and when the glove is long enough, begin the 1st finger with the first plain 20 st.i.tches and the opposite 19; knit round, continuing the pattern down the outside of the finger: when you have done this finger, take up 4 st.i.tches for the gusset at the bottom of the 1st finger,[8-*] 16 plain st.i.tches, and 19 of the pattern.

The other 2 fingers are done in the same manner: 14 plain st.i.tches, 19 of the pattern, for the third finger, and 12 plain st.i.tches and 19 of the pattern for the 4th finger, these numbers do not include the gusset st.i.tches.

When finished, sew a piece of lace round the top, and run a narrow ribbon in the holes.

[8-*] These st.i.tches may be decreased again or not.

_Plain open Mittens._

Begin on a round foundation of 30 or 34 st.i.tches, with a mesh No.

14, and moderately fine silk.

Net 6 rounds, net 1 round with the silk twice round the mesh, (for the ribbon to run in,) and 6 rounds with it once round the mesh; in the next round, net 14 st.i.tches, increase 1 st.i.tch in both the following st.i.tches, complete the round, and net 2 rounds without increase.

Increase again in the next round before and after the st.i.tches in which you increased before; net 2 rounds. Continue to increase 2 st.i.tches every 3rd round until you have increased 7 times on each side, (to make the thumb fit nicely, the increase st.i.tches should be made _over_ each other for the last 3 times.) Net 1 round and the 14 thumb st.i.tches. Net the thumb round for a round or two, and decrease by netting 2 together, if necessary, until the thumb fits tight; when it is nearly long enough net 1 round, 2 st.i.tches in every st.i.tch twice round the mesh; 1 round, taking the 2 st.i.tches together, on a finer mesh, and 2 rounds on the fine mesh to finish. Cut off the silk, and fasten it on at one side of the thumb, make 2 st.i.tches on each side and continue to net until the mitten is long enough. Finish the hand in the same way in which the thumb was finished. If it be thought an improvement, the 4 last rows can be repeated at the wrist, or a lace sewn on to finish it.

_Another plain Mitten._

On a smaller mesh than the preceding.

Begin with a foundation of 39 st.i.tches, net 3 _rows_ with the silk once round the mesh, 1 row with it twice round the mesh, and 3 more rows with it once. Now begin to net _rounds_ instead of _rows_, by netting the last st.i.tch of the row to the first. Net 9 rounds. Net 6 st.i.tches, increase 1 in the 7th, finish the round. In the next round increase a st.i.tch on each side of the st.i.tch added last round, finish the round and net another round without increase. Increase _outside_ the last additional st.i.tches every other round until you have 7 additional st.i.tches. Net a plain round. Next round, increase _within_ the additional st.i.tches; a plain round. Increase a second time _within_ the last increase; net 3 plain rounds; continue to net until you come to the st.i.tch _over_ the last added st.i.tch, net this to the corresponding st.i.tch on the other side of the thumb, net round the thumb (decreasing to make it fit properly) until it is nearly long enough: finish it by netting 1 round with double silk _twice_, and 3 rounds with single silk _once_, round the mesh. To finish the hand, fasten on the silk at the side of the thumb, make 2 additional st.i.tches on each side, (if after 2 rows you decrease these 4 st.i.tches to 2 the thumb will set better), and net until the mitten is nearly long enough, then repeat twice the 4 rounds with which the thumb is finished; the last round should be done on rather a finer mesh.

_Annet Mittens._

Begin with 60 st.i.tches. Net 4 _rows_; then net 1 row with the silk twice round the mesh, 2 rows with it once round the mesh, and begin to net _rounds_ instead of _rows_. In the 1st round, every st.i.tch has the silk pa.s.sed twice round the mesh. 2nd round, pull the 1st st.i.tch through the 2nd (from the back), net it, pull the 2nd st.i.tch through the middle of the 1st, net it (taking care not to twist it), pull the 3rd through the 4th, net it, pull the 4th through the middle of the 3rd, net it, repeat these st.i.tches until the round is completed. Net 1 round pa.s.sing the silk twice round the mesh. In the next round, which is like the second, care must be taken that the thick part comes over the open part in the last pattern. In the round which follows, net 11 st.i.tches twice round the mesh, increase 2 st.i.tches in the 12th, net 5, and increase 2 st.i.tches in the 6th. (All the st.i.tches in this round have the silk pa.s.sed twice round the mesh.) The next round is like the 2nd. Net 1 round twice round the mesh; then 1 like the 2nd. Repeat both these rounds. Net a round pa.s.sing the silk twice round the mesh, increasing 2 st.i.tches on each side; these additional st.i.tches should be 4 further back than the last were, so as to leave a row of open st.i.tches slanting from the 1st to the 2nd. Net 4 rounds as before. Increase again. Net 4 rounds more, and increase 2 st.i.tches on each side _over_ the last additional st.i.tches. Net 3 rounds, and proceed to make the thumb as directed in the last pattern. When the thumb is nearly long enough, net 1 round twice round the mesh, 2 st.i.tches in each st.i.tch. In the next round net the 2 st.i.tches as 1, and finish with 5 plain rounds, for the last of which use a very small mesh. To complete the hand fasten on the silk at the side of the thumb, make 2 st.i.tches on each side, net the alternate rounds, and finish the hand like the thumb.

_Honey-comb Mittens._

Mesh No. 17, foundation 46 or 48 st.i.tches.

Net 3 _rows_. Net 1 row, putting the silk twice round the mesh; 2 rows once round the mesh; then begin netting in _rounds_. 1st round, for every st.i.tch put the silk twice round the mesh. 2nd round, (each st.i.tch once round the mesh,) net the 2nd st.i.tch first half turning it; then net the 1st st.i.tch plain. Net the 4th st.i.tch half turning it, then net the 3rd plain, and finish the round in the same manner. Every alternate repet.i.tion of the pattern you must plain net 1 st.i.tch before beginning the pattern, so as to bring the thick st.i.tch over the open one. Net a plain round, and begin again with the 1st. The same pattern is continued throughout the mitten, but for brevity the number of rounds only is given. When 6 rounds are done, net 10 st.i.tches increase 2 in the 11th, net 3, and increase 2 more in the 4th. Net 2 rounds, and increase again 2 st.i.tches in the st.i.tch which would have been over the 1st st.i.tch in which you increased, (had you not increased,) net 7 and increase 2 more.

Net 2 rounds, and in the next round increase again 2 st.i.tches on each side of the thumb. Net 2 rounds, and increase a 4th time; net 2 rounds, and then net the first and last st.i.tches of the thumb together. Decrease if necessary, and when the thumb is nearly long enough, finish with double silk, 1 round twice round the mesh, 1 round once round, 1 round twice round, and 2 once round the mesh. Fasten on the silk at the bottom of the thumb, add 1 st.i.tch on each side, and net the alternate rounds of the pattern until the mitten is long enough to be finished like the thumb.

_Matrimony Mittens._

The increase and diminution are precisely the same as in the last mitten; the increase st.i.tches are made in the plain knitted rounds. As this st.i.tch is given for a purse, it is not necessary to repeat it. The mitten must be netted on a foundation of 48 or 50 st.i.tches.

_Note._--It will be observed that the last patterns for mittens, begin with _rows_ instead of _rounds_, this is to prevent the necessity of untieing the ribbon every time the mitten is taken off: a b.u.t.ton is fastened to one side of the opening and a loop is made on the other.

_Lambs'-wool Mittens._

This mitten is made open, and when finished is sewn up.

Begin on a foundation of 53 st.i.tches, and with a mesh a quarter of an inch wide.

Net 4 rows. Net 1 row with silk, on a mesh half the size of the 1st. Net 2 rows with lambs'-wool on the 1st mesh. 1 row with silk on the 2nd.

Repeat these rows of lambs'-wool and silk 4 times: then in the middle of the row, net 13 st.i.tches of wool on the large mesh, and net the same back again. Net 1 row of silk, 2 of lambs'-wool, 1 of silk, these st.i.tches form the thumb. Begin again on the hand part of the mitten: net 2 rows of lambs'-wool (leaving out the 13 thumb st.i.tches), 1 row of silk, 2 rows of lambs'-wool, 1 of silk, 2 of lambs'-wool, and 1 of silk.

All the rows of lambs'-wool are netted on the large mesh; all those of silk on the small mesh. Sew up the thumb and hand, and run a ribbon in at the top of the first row of silk.

This mitten may be made of one, two, or three colours.

_Mitten in Round Netting._

Begin on a round foundation of 44 st.i.tches, with a mesh No. 14.

Pa.s.s the needle under the silk every st.i.tch, as directed, in round netting for a purse, throughout the mitten. Net 4 rounds. 1 round twice round the mesh. 2 rounds once round the mesh, increase a st.i.tch, taking care to take the left hand side of the st.i.tch as that by the twist you give the silk will be nearer the right side of the st.i.tch; net 2 st.i.tches, increasing in the last. Net two rounds. Increase 2 st.i.tches in the third round, (the increase st.i.tches are one before and one after the st.i.tches which are over those in which the increase was made last time); increase in the same way 5 times, netting 2 rounds between each increase. Increase over the last added st.i.tches 3 times, and net several rounds until the mitten is long enough for the thumb st.i.tches to be joined together. Join the first and last st.i.tches over the last added st.i.tches, and net round, decreasing occasionally to make the thumb fit.

When the thumb is long enough, cut off the silk and fasten it on at the bottom; increase 4 st.i.tches, (2 on each side) and net round until the hand part of the mitten is long enough.

If desired, the hand and thumb may be finished with a narrow lace, or a round of plain netting, 2 st.i.tches in each st.i.tch, which in the next round are netted as one st.i.tch, on a small mesh.