KNITTING HINTS

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 123, 27 May 1922, Page 16

KNITTING HINTS

FOUNDED ON EXPEEIENCE.

A knitting expert gives below some hints founded on experience which will be useful to knitters generally, says an exchange. Above all cleanliness is essential. Even in these days it is no uncommon thing to see some women knitting choice garments without a cloth on their knees to protect the delicate work from their dresses. And they are annoyed when told their work is soiled! ' ' '

Cast on with two needles only in the case of a ribbed garment or where elasticity is required. Casting on with one needle and the thumb gives a much neater edge and is the method which should be more frequently used/. Cast off loosely. Dozens of garments' are spoilt just because the stitches are cast off too tightly. If there is any difficulty in this respect a pair of 'thicker needles should be used for the purpose. Always increase, or decrease, for shaping, on the third stitch from either end of the needle—never on the end stitch, as this spoils the edges for sewing up. Never join with knots, but knit tho wool double for about six stitches. If two colours are being used leave the ends loose and run them in afterwards with a darning needle.

Wool should "never be wound into a hard ball, as this will ruin its texture and make it thin. Wind loosely over two or three fingers, withdrawing the latter at frequent intervals so as to change the position of the ball and keep it symmetrical.

Experienced knitters will find great interest in making some original garment. It is a good plan to study the ordinary fashion books, and, a choice of garment being "made, work to the paper pattern. First knit a small piece of fabric for a guide; measure the stitches and ridges per inch and from them it will be easy to calculate the number of stitches required for the different parts of the garment. And, what is more, "nobody else will have one like it.