BETTER KNITTING.

Cromwell Argus, Volume LXVIII, Issue 3482, 16 August 1937, Page 7

BETTER KNITTING.

Professional Tricks. I have yet to meet the knitter who enjoys knitting into the backs of caston stitches. Oh, I know that some of you will tell me that tney cast on by twiddling wool round their thumbs, which obviates the necessity of knitting Into the backs, but that twiddling business needs a lot of practice. Here's a much better way of doing the whole thing, and the edge it produces is superior to either; make first two stitches in ordinary way, then put the rigbt-hand needle between the two stitches, and cast on as usual. Repeat this process of putting the needle between the last two stitches all along the row. This hint was passed on to me by an expert. And, believe me, I shall never mind casting on again! Neat Buttonholes. Another tricky job is that of making buttonholes, for there's one beastly loose stitch which will appear no matter how tighly you cast on for the upper edge. Well, here's the solution to that little difficulty. When you approach the cast-on stitches you'll find that a loose thread appears before the first of those cast-on stitches. By the way, remember to cast them on In the way I have suggested, won't you? This loose thread should be twisted over the left-hand needle and knitted in with the first cast-on stitch; then, to avoid a looseness at the opposite end, knit into the back of the first stitch after the cast-on ones.

This really is a cure for wobbly buttonholes, and you'll be pleased with their firmness. The Shoulders.

I've just evolved, too, the perfect way to cast off a sloping shoulder to avoid those "cliffy" edges which are so difficult to seam up neatly with the arm-holes.

We'll say that there are 21 stitches on the shoulder, to be disposed of in three lots of sevens. First row: Cast off seven to end. Second row: Knit 13 stitches, leave last stitch on needle, turn. Third row: Slip first stitch on to needle and cast it off with the stitch left on from the end of second row. Repeat this again and you'll get the perfect shoulder—a gentle slope and no crags to baffle you when sewing up the seams! Care of Your Wools.

Then when you use pretty pastel or •white wools, don’t "treat them rough.” Wrap up your work in tissue paper, or a length of cotton, and see that your ball of wool is not picking up the dust on the carpet like a second-in-command to the vacuum cleaner. It takes all the glamor of the new “knitted” away, if you have to pop it straight into the soapsuds on completion. It really is wonderful how little tips like this ease up your work and give It a professional finish. And what a thrill it will give you to know your work is just as neatly finished off as the most expensive “handknltteds in shops.