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288.--Casting On.
This term is used for placing the first
row or round of knitting stitches on the needles--"casting them
on"--and is done in two ways--by "knitting on" the stitches, or as
follows:--
Hold the thread between the first and
second finger of the left hand, throw it over the thumb and first
finger so as to form a loop, and pass the needle in the loop; throw
the thread lightly round the needle, pass it through the loop, and
draw up the thread; this forms the first stitch (see No. 288).
289.--To Knit On.
Take the needle on which the stitches
are cast in the left hand, and another needle in the right
hand--observe the position of the hands (No. 289). Hold the left-hand
needle between the thumb and third finger, leaving the first finger
free to move the points of the needles. (The wonderful sense of touch
in the first or index finger is so delicate, that an experienced
knitter can work without ever looking at her fingers, by the help of
this touch only--in fact, knitting becomes a purely mechanical labour,
and as such is most useful.) Insert the point of the right-hand needle
in the loop or stitch formed on the left-hand needle, bring the thread
once round, turning the point of the needle in
[292]
front under the stitch, bringing up the thread thrown over, which in
its turn becomes a stitch, and is placed on the left-hand needle.
290.--Simple Knitting (plain).
Pass the right-hand needle into the
1st stitch of the left-hand needle, at the back throw the thread
forward, and with the first finger pass the point of the needle under
the stitch in forming a fresh stitch with the thread already thrown
over, as in "knitting on," only, instead of placing the newly-formed
stitch on the left-hand needle, leave it on the right-hand needle, and
let the stitch drop off the point of the left-hand needle. Continue
thus until all the stitches are taken from the left to the right-hand
needle, and the row is then complete.
291.--To Purl, Pearl, or Seam.
Seaming or purling a stitch is done by
taking up the stitch in front instead of at the back,
throwing the thread over and knitting the stitch as in plain knitting;
but before beginning to purl, the thread must be brought in front of
the needle, and if a plain stitch follows, the thread is passed back
after the purl stitch is made (see No. 291).
292.--To Increase. Increasing
or making a stitch is done by throwing the thread once round the
needle and in the next row knitting it as an ordinary stitch.
293.--To Decrease.
This is done in two ways: firstly,
taking up two stitches and knitting them together as one; secondly,
by taking up a stitch without knitting it, called slipping, then by
knitting the following stitch in the usual way, and then slipping the
1st (unknitted) over the 2nd (knitted) (see No. 293). When it is
necessary to decrease two stitches at once, proceed thus:--Slip one,
knit two stitches together, then slip the unknitted stitch over the
two knitted together.
294.--Round Knitting.
To knit a round four or five needles
are used; it is thus that stockings, socks, cuffs, mittens, &c., are
made. To knit with four needles, cast on, say, 32 stitches upon one
needle, insert a second needle in the last stitch of the first, and
cast on 30 stitches; proceed in a similar way with a third needle, but
casting on 28 only; when this is done, knit the two extra stitches on
the first needle on to the last; this makes 30 stitches upon each
needle, and completes the round.
295.--Casting Off.
Knit two stitches, and with the
left-hand needle slip the first stitch over the second; continue this
to the end of the row. Note.--The last knitted row, before
casting off, should be knitted loosely.
296.--To Pick up a Stitch.
This is done by taking up the thread
between two stitches and forming a stitch with it. |
