OUR WORK TABLE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 758, 10 September 1886, Page 4

OUR WORK TABLE.

i «Constant Reader 5 writes, requesting ihe publication of directions for knitting raised cable insertion. Although our corresondent has not complied with the usual sjDrmality of giving her name and address, I have much pleasure in acceeding to her wish, the more so as I have lately made a handsome sofa blanket in cable knitting, combined with point muscovite crochet stripes, the description of which may be of service to other of our readers.

I used double Berlin wool for the cable, as it looks so much more effective ; but for the crochet good fingering answered very well. CABLE STRIPE. Cast on 27 stitches and knit two or three plain rows as a foundation. First pattern row—Knit 11 stitches ; turn, and purl 5; turn, knit 5 ; continue purling and knitting these 5 stitches four more times; slip them on to a third needle in front of the work, or hold them between your finger and thumb, while you take off 5 from the left hand needle ; slip back the stitches that are on the third needle, and knit the remaining .6 or end stitches. 2nd row—Knit G, purl 15, knit 6. 3rd row—Knitted. 4th row—Knit 6, purl 5 ; knit and purl these 5 alternately 5 times ; slip off the next 5 as before to the third needle ; take off 5 as for purling ; slip on the stitches again, and knit the 6 end stitches. sth row—Knit. 6fch row—Knit 6, purl 15, knit 6. Repeat from first row. It is rather a difficult pattern to work from written instructions, but I trust you will find these plain enough. I have in my blanket three stripes of cable, or, rather, raised plait, for that is the truest name. The centre is a double plait, formed of five sets of five stitches instead of three, and worked in precisely the same way, except that you slip off a second five. My two crochet stiipes were done in point muscovite ; that is, tricot with a pattern in raised loops which are made in the return row by working four chain wherever you wish a tuft to be. When doing the forward row as usual, by keeping these four chain in front, a tuft is made. Any simple pattern such as a diamond can be easily done, and it looks extremely pretty. Now I will give you a lovely pattern for a Shetland shawl—quite original, for I discovered it myself while experimenting for this paper. SHETLAND SHAWL. Cast on 225 stitches, knit six rows plain. Ist pattern row.—Slip 1, knit 5, knit 3 together, put back the stich thus made and knit, purl, knit it, making 3 stiches in 1. Knit 3 together again, slipping the stitch back to the left hand needle and knit, purl, knit as before ; continue to the end of row, with the exception of the last six stitches, which must be knitted plain. 2nd row.— Plain knitting. These two rows form tha pattern, so you see it is very easy. Of course, you will like a handsome border for your shawl, and here is one that will serve that purpose and many others, as it is extremely pretty in cotton. ■FLORENCE LACE. Cast on 22 stitches. Ist row.—Knit 2, over twice, knit 2 together, knit 10, (over twice knit 2 together) three times, knit 2. 2nd row.—Knit 4, purl 1, knit 2, purl 1, knit 2, purl 1, knit 12, purl 1, knit 2. 3rd and 4th rows.—Plain. sth row.—Knit 2 (over twice knit 2 together), twice, knit 12 (over twice, knit 2 together), three times ; knit 2. 6th row.—Knit 4, purl 1 (knit 2, purl 1), three times ; knit 11, purl 1, knit 2, purl 1, knit 2. 7 th row.—Plain. Bth row.—Knit 2 together (knit 1, knit 2 together), 8 times, knit 3. 9th row—Knit2 (overtwice knit 2together) 9 times, knit 2. 10th row.—Knit 4 (purl 1, knit 2), to the end of row. 11th row.—Plain. 12th row.—Like Bth. 13th row.—Like 9th. 14th row.—Like 10th. 15th row.—Plain. 16th row.—Cast off 9, knit rest plain ; repeat from Ist row. As I am frequently asked for a pretty baby’s boot, I have taken pains to find one, which I am sure will be satisfactory. baby’s boot, leaf pattern. White beehive fingering, No 13 needles. Cast on 3S stitches, knit 1 plain row. Ist row—Purl 2, miss 1, knit 3, knit 2 together at back, knit 2 together, knit 3, miss 1, repeat ; finish the row with 2 purl. 2nd and each alternate row—Knit the purled, and purl the knitted and made stitches of previous row. 3rd l’ow —Purl 2, knit 1, miss 1, knit 2, knit 2 together at back, knit 2 together, knit 2, miss 1, knit 1 ; repeat, finishing the row with 2 purl. sth row—Purl 2, knit 2, miss 1, knit 1, knit 2 together at back, knit 2 together, knit 1, miss 1, knit 2 ; repeat; finish the row with 2 purl. 7th row—Purl 2, knit 3, miss 1, knit 2 together at back, knit 2 together, miss 1, knit 3 ; repeat as before. This is one pattern ; knit as many as will make the leg the desired length. Make a row of holes for a ribbon by making 1 and knitting 2 together all along. From this time forward you must knit 1, purl 1, reversed every third row to make a dice pattern, and decreasing at the end of each row. Cast on 11 extra at the end of each of the next two rows, making 52 in all. Increase at the beginning of every row until there are 62 ; do 4 plain rows ; then decrease in the same way until you have only

52 again. Cast off and sew up. Crochet a scollop on the top to give a finish. A wonderful bed quilt eclipsing anything in the line of patchwork heretofore existing, has been made the subject of admiring comment in the land of crazy-quilts. . The specimen in question is worked in many-colored cloths and composed of many thousands of pieces in the shape of birds, animals, flowers, monograms, m fact all manner of devices, constituting a veritable curiosity. I doubt whether as much comfort will be got out of that masterpiece of patience and ingenuity, as out of the few knitted articles above mentioned. Elise.