Part 149 (2/2)

These are rods or pins of ivory, bone, or steel. The latter are most commonly used, and should have tapered points, without the least _sharpness_ at the extremity.

1844. Casting On.

The first process in knitting is casting on. To effect this, hold the end of cotton between the first and second fingers of the left hand; bring it over the thumb and forefinger, and bend the latter to twist the cotton into a loop; bend the needle in the loop; hold the cotton attached to the reel between the third and little fingers of the right hand, and over the point of the forefinger; bring the thread round the needle by the slightest possible motion; bend the needle towards you, and tighten the loop on the left-hand finger, in letting it slip off to form the _first_ st.i.tch.

1845. Formation of St.i.tches.

Now take that needle with the loop on it in the left hand, and another in the right. Observe the position of the hands. The left hand needle is held between the thumb and the second finger, leaving the forefinger free, to aid in moving the points of the needles. This mode of using the forefinger, instead of employing it merely to hold the needle, is the great secret of being able to knit without looking at the work, for so extremely delicate is the sense of touch in this finger, that it will, after a little practice, enable you to tell the sort of st.i.tch coming next, in the finest material, so that knitting becomes merely mechanical. Insert the point in the loop, bringing it behind the other needle, slip the thread round it, bring the point in front, and transfer the loop to the left-hand needle without withdrawing it from the right hand. Repeat the process for any number of st.i.tches required.

1846. Plain Knitting.

Slip the point of the right-hand needle in a loop, bring the thread round it, and with the forefinger push the point of the needle off the loop so that the thread just twisted round forms a new one on the right hand.

1847. Purling.

The right-hand needle is slipped in the loop _in front of_ the left-hand one, and the thread, after pa.s.sing between the two, is brought round it; it is then worked as before. The thread is always brought forward before beginning a purled st.i.tch, unless particular directions to the contrary are given.

1848. Mode of making St.i.tches.

To make one, merely bring the thread in front before knitting, when, as it pa.s.ses over the needle, it makes a loop; to make two, three, or more, pa.s.s the thread _round the needle in addition_, once for 2, twice for 3, and so on.

1849. To Decrease.

Take one st.i.tch off without knitting; knit one, then slip the point of the left-hand needle in the unknitted st.i.tch and draw it over the other. It is marked in receipts d. To decrease 2 or more, slip 1, knit 2, 3, or more together, _as one_, and pa.s.s the slip st.i.tch over.

1850. How to Join a Round.

Four or five needles are used in round work, such as socks, stockings, &c. Cast on any given number of st.i.tches on one needle, then slip another needle in the last st.i.tch, before casting any on it; repeat for any number. When all are cast on, knit the first 2 st.i.tches off on to the end of the last needle. One needle is always left unused in casting on for a round.

1851. How to Join Toe of Sock, &c.

Divide all the st.i.tches on to two needles, hold both in the left hand, as if they were one, and in knitting take a loop off each one, which knit together.

1852. To Cast off.

Knit 2 st.i.tches; with the left-hand needle draw the first over the second; knit another; repeat. Observe that the row before the casting off should never be very tightly knitted.

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