*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78371 *** THE KNITTING TEACHER’S ASSISTANT DESIGNED FOR THE USE OF NATIONAL GIRLS’ SCHOOLS. NEW EDITION, EDITED BY E. M. C. AUTHOR OF ‘THE LADY’S CROCHET-BOOK.’ FOUR SERIES. ‘THE LADY’S KNITTING-BOOK.’ FOUR SERIES. ‘THE LADY’S WORK-BOOK.’ TWO SERIES. ‘THE LADY’S NETTING-BOOK.’ ONE SERIES. ‘THE LADY’S CREWEL EMBROIDERY.’ THREE SERIES. ‘EMBROIDERY AND ART-NEEDLEWORK DESIGNS.’ Fifty-third Thousand. LONDON: HATCHARDS, PICCADILLY. 1881. _Price Sixpence._ * * * * * LONDON PRINTED BY STRANGEWAYS AND SONS. Tower Street, Upper St. Martin’s Lane. * * * * * EDITOR’S PREFACE. The fact that this little work has kept its place for about fifty years, proves that it has answered a general want; and it is with pleasure that I offer the present edition, in a carefully revised form, to learners and workers of knitting. The additional Scale of Measurements will be found a useful guide to anyone who may be working with finer wool and pins—and consequently with more stitches—than the directions give. Pins No. 14, Chambers’ bell-gauge, and any wool about the thickness of Berlin fingering, are suitable for working these patterns. E. M. C. ADVERTISEMENT. The chief object of this Assistant is to enable Teachers of Classes properly to explain the art of Knitting; for, however simple the art may seem, it has often been observed that little Teachers have a difficulty in expressing the meaning of their instructions to their pupils. The Questions and Answers here furnished, combined with exemplification in practice, will, it is hoped, tend to remove this difficulty. The annexed scales of stockings and socks may be useful to knitters in general. CONTENTS. PAGE Questions on Knitting 9 Narrowing 14 The Heel 15 The Foot 16 For a Stocking of eighty-five Stitches, second Size 18 For a Stocking of ninety-one Stitches, third Size 20 For a Stocking of ninety-nine Stitches, fourth Size 21 For a Stocking of a hundred and nine Stitches, fifth Size 23 For a Stocking of a hundred and nine Stitches, Man’s Size 24 For a Stocking of a hundred and thirty-three Stitches, second man’s size, with needles and wool rather finer 26 For a Sock of forty-nine Stitches, first Size 27 For a Sock of fifty-five Stitches, second Size 29 For a Sock of eighty-five Stitches in Scotch Fingering, Man’s size 30 Scale of Stockings and Socks 32 THE KNITTING TEACHER’S ASSISTANT. _Questions on Knitting._ _Q._ What is the first thing you do in knitting a stocking? _A._ I cast on the stitches. _Q._ How do you cast on the stitches? _A._ I take the worsted that is on the ball in the right hand, and twist it once round the little finger, pass it under the two next, and bring it over the fore-finger, and take the needle between the finger and thumb. _Q._ What next? _A._ I take the _end_ of the worsted in the left hand, twist it round the little finger, bring it over the thumb and round the two fore-fingers, to form a loop. _Q._ What do you do then? _A._ I put the needle under the lower worsted of the loop, and bring it above that which goes over the fore-finger. _Q._ What do you do with the worsted which is over the fore-finger of the right hand? _A._ I pass it under the needle, bring the needle _down_ through the loop, and draw the worsted in the left hand tight; which finishes the stitch. _Q._ How many stitches do you cast on each needle for a stocking of seventy-three stitches to fit a child of five? _A._ Twenty-four on two needles, and twenty-five on the third.[1] _Q._ Is there any reason for there being an odd stitch on one needle? _A._ Yes: there must always be an odd stitch on one needle, for the seam. _Q._ What do you do when you have cast on the stitches? _A._ I begin to knit. _Q._ How do you make the knitting stitch? _A._ I put the needle through the stitch, turn the worsted over the needle, take up the worsted I turned over, and let off the under loop. _Q._ How many rounds do you knit _plain_? _A._ One. _Q._ How do you fasten in the end of the worsted? _A._ I knit it in with the three first stitches. _Q._ What next? _A._ I knit six rounds _ribbed_. _Q._ Why do you knit six rounds ribbed? _A._ To prevent the top of the stocking from curling. _Q._ How do you form the ribs? _A._ By knitting three stitches plain, and turning three. _Q._ How do you make a _purl_ stitch? _A._ I bring the worsted before the needle, and instead of putting the needle over the upper worsted I put it under. _Q._ What is the next thing you do? _A._ I begin the seam. _Q._ How do you make the seam? _A._ By purling the stitch every second round. _Q._ Which is the seam stitch? _A._ The first stitch on the first needle. _Q._ How many rounds must you have before you begin narrowing? _A._ Eighty. _Q._ How do you fasten on a fresh piece of worsted? _A._ By reversing the ends upon each other, and knitting six stitches with the worsted thus doubled. _Q._ If a stitch be dropped, and you do not discover it till you have gone one round, how do you take it up? _A._ I take the stitch that is dropped with the right needle, and put it on the left; then take up the loop at the back, put it over the left needle, and cast the stitch over it. _Q._ If the stitch has been dropped for many rounds, how do you take it up? _A._ I take it up on a spare needle, pass the needle under the lowest loop, and cast the stitch over the loop, then take up the next loop as before, till they are all taken up. FOOTNOTES: [1] N.B. All the proportions in the following scales are for coarse worsted and large needles. _Narrowing._ _Q._ How do you narrow? _A._ I slip one, knit one, and pass the slipped stitch over the knitted one before the seam, and knit two together after the seam, leaving one stitch on each side between the seam and the narrowing. _Q._ How many times do you narrow, to form the calf? _A._ Eight times. _Q._ How many rounds do you leave between the narrowings? _A._ I narrow every third purl stitch, which leaves five rounds between. _Q._ How many rounds do you make after the last narrowing before you begin the heel? _A._ Thirty-six. _The Heel._[2] _Q._ How do you begin the heel? _A._ I divide the stitches in half, leaving the seam stitch for the middle of the heel. _Q._ Do you knit the heel like the rest of the stocking? _A._ No; I knit it in rows, and every row on the inside of the heel must be purl stitches. _Q._ How long do you make the heel? _A._ Twenty-four rows. _Q._ How do you finish the heel? _A._ I knit the nine middle stitches in rows, like the heel, taking up one of the others with the last stitch of every row till they are all taken off. _Q._ How many needles do you use? _A._ Only two. _Q._ How many stitches are there when the heel is finished? _A._ Nine. FOOTNOTES: [2] If the heel or toe be required stronger than usual a finer worsted must be added in those parts. _The Foot._ _Q._ How do you begin the foot? _A._ By taking up the stitches at the sides of the heel on the second row. _Q._ How many stitches do you take up for the foot? _A._ Sixteen on each side of the heel. _Q._ What do you do next? _A._ I narrow every second round on each side of the instep till the number is even with the ankle. _Q._ How many narrowings do you make? _A._ Seven on each side. _Q._ How many stitches will there be then? _A._ Fifty-six. _Q._ How many rounds do you make between the heel and toe narrowings? _A._ Twenty-eight. _Q._ How do you begin the toe? _A._ By narrowing twice at each side, leaving two stitches only between; this decreases four stitches. _Q._ How often do you narrow? _A._ Twice, leaving three rounds between, twice leaving two, twice leaving one, then every round till I have sixteen stitches left. _Q._ How do you finish? _A._ I put the two needles that have the stitches on them together. _Q._ What next? _A._ I take a stitch from each, and knit them together. When two stitches are done in this way, I cast the first over the last, and so on till they are all taken off. _Q._ How do you widen? _A._ By knitting two stitches in the same loop. _For a Stocking of Eighty-five Stitches, Second Size._ _Q._ How many stitches do you cast on? _A._ Twenty-eight on two needles, and twenty-nine on the third. _Q._ How many rounds are there to the narrowings? _A._ One hundred and ten. _Q._ How many narrowings do you make? _A._ Ten. _Q._ How many rounds do you leave between each narrowing? _A._ Four. _Q._ How many rounds to the heel? _A._ Forty. _Q._ How many stitches for the heel? _A._ Thirty-three. _Q._ How many for the instep? _A._ Thirty-two. _Q._ How long is the heel? _A._ Twenty-four rows. _Q._ How many stitches do you take up for the foot? _A._ Twenty on each side of the heel. _Q._ How many narrowings for the foot? _A._ Eight on each side. _Q._ How long is the foot between the narrowings? _A._ Thirty-two rounds. _For a Stocking of Ninety-one Stitches, Third Size._ _Q._ How many do you cast on? _A._ Thirty on two needles, and thirty-one on the third. _Q._ How many rounds are there to the narrowings? _A._ One hundred and twenty. _Q._ How many narrowings are there? _A._ Twelve. _Q._ How many rounds between the narrowings? _A._ Four. _Q._ How many rounds to the heel? _A._ Forty. _Q._ How many stitches for the heel? _A._ Thirty-three. _Q._ How many for the instep? _A._ Thirty-four. _Q._ How many stitches do you take up for the foot? _A._ Twenty-one on each side of the heel. _Q._ How many narrowings for the foot? _A._ Eight on each side. _Q._ How long is the heel? _A._ Twenty-eight rows. _Q._ How long is the foot between the narrowings? _A._ Thirty-six rounds. _For a Stocking of Ninety-nine Stitches, Fourth Size._ _Q._ How many do you cast on? _A._ Thirty-three on each of the three needles. _Q._ How many rounds are there to the narrowings? _A._ One hundred and thirty-five. _Q._ How many narrowings are there? _A._ Thirteen. _Q._ How many rounds between each narrowing? _A._ Three. _Q._ How many rounds to the heel? _A._ Forty-four. _Q._ How many stitches for the heel? _A._ Thirty-seven. _Q._ How many for the instep? _A._ Thirty-six. _Q._ How long is the heel? _A._ Twenty-eight rows. _Q._ How many stitches do you take up for the foot? _A._ Twenty-two on each side of the heel. _Q._ How many narrowings for the foot? _A._ Nine on each side. _Q._ How long is the foot between the narrowings? _A._ Forty rounds. _For a Stocking of a Hundred and Nine Stitches, Fifth Size._ _Q._ How many do you cast on? _A._ Thirty-six on two needles, and thirty-seven on the third. _Q._ How many rounds to the narrowings? _A._ One hundred and forty-eight. _Q._ How many narrowings are there? _A._ Fourteen. _Q._ How many rounds to the heel? _A._ Forty-six. _Q._ How many rounds between each narrowing? _A._ Three. _Q._ How many stitches for the heel? _A._ Forty-one. _Q._ How many for the instep? _A._ Forty. _Q._ How long is the heel? _A._ Thirty rows. _Q._ How many stitches do you take up for the foot? _A._ Twenty-five on each side of the heel. _Q._ How many narrowings for the foot? _A._ Nine on each side. _Q._ How long is the foot between the narrowings? _A._ Fifty-two. _For a Stocking of a Hundred and Nine Stitches in Scotch Fingering, Man’s Size._ _Q._ How many do you cast on? _A._ Thirty-six on two needles, and thirty-seven on the third. _Q._ How many rounds to the narrowings? _A._ One hundred and forty. _Q._ How many narrowings are there? _A._ Eighteen or twenty. _Q._ How many rounds to the heel? _A._ Sixty-two. _Q._ How many stitches for the heel? _A._ Forty-one. _Q._ How many for the instep? _A._ Forty. _Q._ How long is the heel? _A._ Thirty-two rows. _Q._ How many stitches do you take up for the foot? _A._ Twenty-five on each side of the heel. _Q._ How many narrowings for the foot? _A._ Nine on each side. _Q._ How long is the foot between the narrowings? _A._ Fifty-eight rounds. _Q._ How do you narrow the toe for this sized stocking? _A._ Twice leaving three rounds between, twice leaving two, four times leaving one, then every round till I have twenty stitches left. _For a Stocking of a Hundred and Thirty-three Stitches, Second Man’s Size, with Needles and Wool rather finer._ _Q._ How many stitches do you cast on? _A._ Forty-four on two needles, and forty-five on the third. _Q._ How many turns to the narrowings? _A._ One hundred and forty-eight. _Q._ How many narrowings? _A._ Twenty-one. _Q._ How many rounds to the heel? _A._ Eighty. _Q._ How many stitches for the heel? _A._ Forty-five. _Q._ How many for the instep? _A._ Forty-six. _Q._ How long is the heel? _A._ Forty rows. _Q._ How many stitches do you take up for the foot? _A._ Twenty-nine on each side. _Q._ How many narrowings for the foot? _A._ Ten on each side. _Q._ How long is the foot between the narrowings? _A._ Sixty-eight rounds. _For a Sock of Forty-nine Stitches, First Size, in Fine Wool._ _Q._ How many do you cast on? _A._ Sixteen on two needles, and seventeen on the third. _Q._ How many rounds of ribs do you make? _A._ Twenty. _Q._ How many rounds after this to the heel? _A._ Twenty-six. _Q._ How many stitches for the heel? _A._ Twenty-five. _Q._ How many for the instep? _A._ Twenty-four. _Q._ How long is the heel? _A._ Twenty rows. _Q._ How many stitches do you take up for the foot? _A._ Fourteen on each side of the heel. _Q._ How many narrowings for the foot? _A._ Six on each side. _Q._ How long is the foot between the narrowings? _A._ Twenty rounds. _For a Sock of Fifty-five Stitches, Second Size. In Scotch Wheeling this fits a boy of fifteen._ _Q._ How many stitches do you cast on? _A._ Eighteen on two needles, and nineteen on the third. _Q._ How many turns to the heel after the ribbing? _A._ Sixty. _Q._ How many stitches for the heel? _A._ Twenty-nine. _Q._ How many for the instep? _A._ Twenty-six. _Q._ How long is the heel? _A._ Twenty-four rows. _Q._ How many stitches do you take up for the heel? _A._ Eighteen on each side of the heel. _Q._ How many narrowings for the foot? _A._ Eight on each side. _Q._ How long is the foot between the narrowings? _A._ Forty rounds. _For a Sock of Eighty-five Stitches in Man’s Size._ _Q._ How many do you cast on? _A._ Twenty-eight on two needles, and twenty-nine on the third. _Q._ How many rounds to the heel? _A._ Sixty-eight. _Q._ How many stitches for the heel? _A._ Forty-three. _Q._ How many for the instep? _A._ Forty-two. _Q._ How long is the heel? _A._ Twenty-eight rows. _Q._ How many stitches do you take up for the foot? _A._ Twenty-five on each side of the heel. _Q._ How many narrowings for the foot? _A._ Nine on each side. _Q._ How long is the foot between the narrowings? _A._ Fifty-six rounds. SCALE OF STOCKINGS AND SOCKS. STOCKINGS. | Stitches |Rounds to |Narrowings|Rounds|Stitches|Stitches|Length| Foot | cast on. |Narrowings.| in Leg. | to | for | for | of |between the Sizes. Scale. Page.| | | | Heel.| Heels. | instep.| Heel.|Narrowings. -------------------+----------+-----------+----------+------+--------+--------+------+------------ 1st. 73 10 |24, 24, 25| 80 | 8 | 36 | 29 | 28 | 24 | 28 | | | | | | | | 2nd. 85 18 |28, 28, 29| 110 | 10 | 40 | 33 | 32 | 24 | 32 | | | | | | | | 3rd. 91 20 |30, 30, 31| 120 | 12 | 40 | 33 | 34 | 28 | 36 | | | | | | | | 4th. 99 21 |33, 33, 33| 135 | 13 | 44 | 37 | 36 | 28 | 40 | | | | | | | | 5th. 109 23 |36, 36, 37| 148 | 14 | 46 | 41 | 40 | 30 | 52 | | | | | | | | 6th. 133 26 |44, 44, 45| 148 | 21 | 80 | 45 | 46 | 40 | 68 SOCKS. | Stitches |Turns|Stitches|Stitches|Length| Foot | cast on. | to | for | for | of |between the Sizes. Scale. Page.| |Heel.| Heel. |Instep. | Heel.|Narrowings. -------------------+----------+-----+--------+--------+------+----------- 1st. 49 27 |16, 16, 17| 46 | 25 | 24 | 20 | 20 | | | | | | 2nd. 55 29 |18, 18, 19| 80 | 29 | 26 | 24 | 40 | | | | | | 3rd. 85 30 |28, 28, 29| 88 | 43 | 42 | 28 | 56 SCALE OF MEASUREMENT IN INCHES. |To decreasings| Entire | Length |Entire | for Ankle. | length |of Heel.|length SOCKS AND STOCKINGS. | | before | |of Foot. | |dividing | | | |for Heel.| | ------------------------------+--------------+---------+--------+-------- Sock for Child of four | | 5 | 1½ | 6 Sock. Second size | | 6¾ | 1¾ | 6¾ Sock for Boy of nine | | 7¼ | 2 | 8 Sock for Boy of twelve | | 8 | 2½ | 9½ Sock for Boy of fifteen | | 8 | 2¾ | 10 Man’s Sock. First size | | 8 | 2¾ | 10 Man’s Sock. Second size | | 8¼ | 3 | 10½ Man’s Sock. Third size | | 8¾ | 3 | 11½ Stocking for Child of five | 8¼ | 14 | 1¾ | 6¾ Stocking for Child of seven | 10 | 16 | 2 | 8 Stocking for Child of nine | 11 | 17 | 2 | 8¼ Stocking for Child of eleven | 12 | 21½ | 2 | 9 Woman’s Stocking. First size | 12¼ | 21¾ | 2½ | 9¼ Woman’s Stocking. Second size | 13 | 23 | 2¾ | 10 Man’s Stocking | 12½ | 22 | 3¼ | 11¼ * * * * * By E. M. C. =1. EMBROIDERY AND ART-NEEDLEWORK DESIGNS.= With Book of Directions, &c. In crown 8vo. packet, price, 2_s._ 6_d._ =2. THE LADY’S CREWEL EMBROIDERY BOOK. 1st Series.= With Book of Directions, and Twelve Floral Designs for Tracing. Second Edition. Price, 2_s._ 6_d._ =3. THE LADY’S CREWEL EMBROIDERY BOOK. 2nd Series.= With Book of Directions, &c., and Twelve Floral Designs. Price, 2_s._ 6_d._ =4. LADY’S WORK SERIES (THE).= Containing Patterns and Receipts of Useful and Ornamental Work. With Illustrations. Square 18mo. cloth, 1_s._ 6_d._ each; paper, 1_s._ each. =Knitting.= 1st Series. 24th Thousand. 80 Patterns. =Knitting.= 2nd Series. 12th Thousand. 48 Patterns. =Knitting.= 3rd Series. 10th Thousand. 46 Patterns. =Knitting.= 4th Series. 9th Thousand. 42 Patterns. _The four Knitting-Books in One Volume, cloth, gilt edges, 4s. 6d._ =Crochet.= 1st Series. 11th Thousand. 46 Patterns. =Crochet.= 2nd Series. 8th Thousand. 44 Patterns. =Crochet.= 3rd Series. 5th Thousand. 21 Patterns. =Crochet.= 4th Series. 6th Thousand. 42 Patterns. _The four Crochet-Books in One Volume, cloth, gilt edges, 4s. 6d._ =Work.= 1st Series. 2nd Thousand. 84 Patterns. =Work.= 2nd Series. 2nd Thousand. 45 Patterns. =Netting.= 1st Series. 3rd Thousand. 36 Patterns. =Knitting Teacher’s Assistant.= 48th Thousand. Sewed, 6_d._ For National Schools. With Special Scale of Stockings and Socks. =Teacher’s Assistant in Needlework.= For National Schools, &c. 24th Thousand. Sewed, 6_d._ _The above 13 Works in 6 Volumes, in handsome cloth box, 15s._ * * * * * _Over 150,000 copies of the above works have been sold._ * * * * * HATCHARDS, PUBLISHERS, PICCADILLY, LONDON. _And all Berlin Warehousemen._ * * * * * [Transcriber’s note—the following change has been made to this text: In SCALE OF STOCKINGS AND SOCKS, number of stitches cast on for 3rd size of socks changed from “22, 28, 29” to “28, 28, 29”.] *** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78371 ***