it from roving still further. The braid is thus formed, and must be sewed on at each top and bottom loop. KNIT MATS. Set on thirty stitches or more, according to the size required, and knit in the two coloured chainstitch till a square is completed, when make a fringe, No. 1, and sew it round. When completed, cut it and comb it out, taking care not to pull out the bits by drawing too hard. COVERLET. PLATE 21. FIG. 66. This is knit with cotton, and is composed of several squares sewed together. These squares are begun at one corner, commencing with two stitches, and increasing to fifty or more, by widening at each end of each row. It is then decreased by narrowing at each end of each row, and fastened off when two stitches are left on the pins. These squares are often ornamented, sometimes by knitting one row turn-stitch, seven rows plain, backwards and forwards, and so on, so as to form three ribs garter, and one rib stocking-stitch. Some persons ornament each square differently, others merely sew them, so that the rows shall run or lie in different positions. A border with fringe may be put round, for which purpose, refer to the stitches for fringes, &c. The huckaback pattern is very suitable for coverlets. BLANKETS. These are usually made for infants' cradles and invalids, on account of their warmth and lightness; they should be knit with very large pins and thick wool, and in double knitting all the way, having a border of imitation double knitting or huckaback all round, to keep them more in place. Set on from 100 to 200 stitches, according to the size required, knitting about ten ribs of border, after which the remainder is plain double knitting. Observe that the first and last eight or ten loops on each end of the pin be knit in the border-stitch. COTTON DOYLEYS. PLATE 21. FIG. 67. These are very pretty, and may be made in various stitches. The following is a particularly pretty way : Set on thirty-eight stitches, Knit two plain ribs, Continue knitting two plain stitches and two turn stitches, remembering every two ribs to knit plain stitches over turn stitches, and turn stitches over plain, so as to form a kind of ornamental knitting, resembling huckaback or checks. Observe, the two last, as well as the two first stitches of every row are plain, to continue the border; also knit two plain ribs to correspond, before fastening off. Sew in the fringe, No. 2. ANOTHER DOYLEY. This is similar to the one before, excepting that it is knit in honeycomb or hole-stitch. A HANDSOME BORDER AND CORNERS FOR A SHAWL. This is a very beautiful pattern when properly done, and would answer well for a shawl, a baby's zephyrine, a mat, carpet, counterpane, or any other article enclosed in a square. The border (which is a kind of fantail stitch) is ended at each corner by squares, which gives great lightness to the whole. In beginning one of these corners, set on but two stitches on the pin to form the point; and observe, as you go on, to increase one stitch at the end of every row, until the square or diamond is knit to a sufficient width (say thirteen rows) when decrease every row one stitch at the end, until the number of loops on your pin is reduced to two again, when fasten off, and the square is completed. The stitch with which the square is knitted is formed as follows; and the number of ribs at the side should be divisable by six and one over, to be the proper width for the border; thirteen is a very good number of ribs. Begin the square by knitting plain every row until you have thirteen stitches on your pin (remembering to increase one stitch at the end of each row) and then continue as below. 1st Row. Knit six stitches plain, Pass the cotton in front to make a stitch, Knit two together, Knit the remaining stitches plain. Next Row. Knit plain, Knit six stitches plain, Pass the cotton in front, to make a stitch, Knit two stitches together, Pass the cotton in front again, to make a stitch, Knit two stitches together, Knit the remaining stitches plain. Next Row. Knit plain. Continue the above, observing that every alternate row is knit plain, and the rows between knit in the above stitch; always leaving six plain stitches at each end of the pin, to make a kind of little border to the square. When complete, begin the border by picking up the stitches on one side of the square, and then continue thus:— Knit two together. Next Row. Seam a stitch, Knit one, Seam one, Knit two together, Knit nine plain, Knit three together. Next Row. Knit a stitch, Seam a stitch, Knit a stitch, Knit two together, Seam seven stitches, Knit two together. Continue these four rows successively, until the border is long enough to insert another corner or square, as before. GENTLEMAN'S TRAVELLING CAPS. These are remarkably pretty and comfortable, and should be made of shaded wool or silk, and are knit with two pins only. Set on an even number of stitches, Knit the first row plain; Observe to slip off the first stitch of every row throughout, and continue as follows: 1st Row. (After slipping the first stitch) put the wool in front to make a stitch, Slip off a stitch the contrary way, Knit a stitch, as before, Continue this until at the end of the row, Next Row. (After, as usual, slipping off the 1st stitch) knit two stitches together the whole way, leaving one at the end to knit plain. Repeat this. SOFA FOOT COVERS, OR WARMERS. These are useful for the feet of an invalid, when lying on the sofa, and are knit as follows:Set on one pin 174 stitches, and knit one plain row, after which knit eleven or twelve rows in any fancy stitch to form a border, and then commence double knitting, remembering to continue the border pattern at each side, by knitting the first and last twelve stitches on the pin, every row in the same fancy stitch. Continue this until your work is square, when open it like a bag, which must be done by gently taking out your pin and picking up the loops on two pins, each pin taking up the alternate loops. Knit a similar border as that made at the beginning, to each pin of stitches, and fasten off. The foot warmer, or bag, is then completed, and may have a fringe sewn on all round, to give a finish to the whole. RETICULE BAG. This is knit in two colours, say violet and green. Set on your pin any number of stitches divisible by six, (about seventy-eight is a good size), and, after knitting one plain row, fasten on the other colour and knit six stitches with the violet and six with the green, alternately, to the end of the row. Next row, knit entirely turn-stitch, still knitting six stitches, alternately, of the two colours, taking care that each colour shall be knit in continuation of itself, so as to form distinct stripes. Continue knitting alternate rows of plain-stitch and seam-stitch, until the work is so long, as when doubled will form a well-proportioned reticule bag. Observe, in passing the wool bebind of one colour across the other, not to pull it tight; when completed, fasten off; line with buckram and flannel and violet green or gold silk; put a cord of silk or wool all round, with cord handles and tassels. This makes a durable handsome bag, and may be knit of even more colours or shades, if preferred. Reticules knit with other stitches look very pretty, as the herring-bone back-stitch, The two coloured rib-stitch, The two coloured chain-stitch. Or the above striped pattern may be varied by arranging the stripes in checks instead. KNIT PETTICOAT. For delicate children, a knit petticoat is far warmer and lighter than a flannel one, and is knit in double knitting, or in imitation double knitting:-for a child of four or six years of age, set on 400 stitches and knit the proper length, when finish with a few plain rows and fasten off. Sew up the seam to the proper distance behind. CHILD'S KNIT STAYS. As stays vary so very much in size, according to the make of the child, it would be difficult to form a receipt, as they should fit well, and the styles of knitters vary so much. It is better to cut, in paper, the exact shape of the stay, and then knit your stay to match it, by constantly measuring. Set on sufficient stitches on your pin to form the depth of the end of the stay, and knit several plain rows until the rise of the shoulder. Add a stitch at the beginning of every rib until it is sufficiently raised or hollowed, to form the beginning of the shoulder strap, then begin to hollow for the arm hole, decreasing one stitch at the beginning of one row, and the end of the next, and so on, until the hole is deep enough, when commence increasing in the same proportion, to form the rise inside the arm hole. The body in front should be slightly hollowed towards the middle, and the remainder half of the body finished in the same manner, therefore, it is advisable to set down every widening and narrowing as you do it, in order that the one half may exactly correspond with the other. These bodies generally have tape shoulder straps, but knit ones can easily be attached, by picking up six stitches on the shoulder, knitting a narrow strip. They are generally straight at the bottom, and are usually knit of cotton, and are very elastic. SILK WATCH GUARD. Set on your pin seven or nine stitches, or even more if the silk is very fine. Knit in common knitting a yard and a half in length. Some thread their silk with beads, either black or gold, and introduce them in the knitting to form the initials or name of the wearer, or to make fanciful devices; others knit it entirely with beads of one or more colours, introducing one bead at every stitch, but the plain knitting is the neatest and handsomest of the three kinds, the other two being too gay for daily wear. CHECKED NAPKIN RINGS. Choose two colours, say green and gold, set on your pin with the green wool twenty-four stitches and knit one plain row, and then knit as follows: 1st Row. Knit plain four stitches, alternately of each colour, to the end of the row. 2nd Row. keep the gold 3rd Row. Turn-stitch (four stitches alternately of each colour) to the end of the row, observing to colour over the gold, and green over the green. Plain knit, as in the first row. 4th Row. Turn-stitch, as in the second row. Repeat these four rows. The next eight rows are knit exactly the same way, excepting that the colours are arranged so that the green is placed over the gold, and the gold over the green. Continue alternately changing the situation of the colours every eight rows, until about one and a half nail in length is knit, when fasten off, line with buckram or wire, and silk, putting a bow at the seam where the ends are sewn together, and it is completed. Some knit these in the two coloured rib and two coloured chain-stitch. SOFA SHAWL. These are very expensive, but useful for invalids, on account of their warmth and lightness. Set on five or six hundred stitches and knit a square of double knitting, or imitation double knitting, either with or without a border, if the latter is preferred, the one which is explained with corners is the handsomest, unless fringe is also required, when one of the fringe borders may be added at once. A BOSOM FRIEND. Set on your pin seventy stitches, and knit in imitation knitting for about 100 rows, when knit twenty-five stitches of the next row, after which take another pin and fasten off the next twenty stitches, then knit the last twenty-five stitches on another pin. Continue knitting the twenty-five stitches on one pin in the same stitch, fastening off one stitch at every end and beginning of each row, next to the middle, which forms the hollowing round the neck. When the stitches are reduced to four, fasten off. Do the same with the other pin containing twenty-five stitches, and fasten off. Sew pieces of white ribbon to the corners, to hang it by round the neck. Some persons do not hollow out bosom friends, but knit them square or oblong. BRACES FOR GENTLEMEN. These may be knit in wool, cotton, or even silk. The following receipt is for cotton braces (the wool would require fewer stitches, and the silk more than the cotton). The shape of a brace is wide in the middle, with two narrow ends. For the first narrow end, set on twenty-four stitches, and knit two nails in length, in imitation of double knitting, or in huckaback-stitch. Widen to forty-eight stitches, and knit a length of nine nails. Narrow at each end, till reduced to thirty stitches, when put half the loops on one pin and half on another; continue knitting each end separately until three nails long, when fasten off and the one |