OUR WORK-TABLE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 850, 15 June 1888, Page 4

OUR WORK-TABLE.

There seems to be a largo demand for knitting patterns just now, judging from the letters of correspondents. Directions for the article required are, however, rather long for the ‘ Exchange ’ column, so I think it would perhaps be better to embody them in a second work-tablp paper. * Why, I wonder, does not my kind, ‘Constant Reader ’ select some more distinctive nom-de -plume ? When there are two or three with that most uncharacteristic signature it becomes slightly embarrassing to the Editrees. However, we will let the point pass and proceed to business.

Woollen knickerbockers for a girl of four, years is what a * Constant Reader ’ asks for ; therefore I will commence with that article, premising that I am of opinion that drawers and vest combined is in most cases preferable. KNITTED DRAWERS. Use soft white fingering and bone needles No 8. Commence with one leg. Cast on 50 stitches, and knit a rib of 3 plain, 3 purl for twenty rows. The rest will be all plain knitting. In the 21st and every succeeding fourth row, increase a stitch at the beginning and ond of the row, till you have S2 on the needle. Then increase every alternate row till there are 88. Next row and three following rows cast on three stitches before commencing the row. One leg will now be unished, though if you find- it too 3hort a few trore rows may be added. Slip the stitches on to a. spare noedle, and knit a second log exactly like the first. For the body take all tho stitches on to one needle and knit eight rows. Now mark the two centre stitches, and the quarters of tho body, with colored wool, and on each side of tho two centre stitclie3 knit two together, every alternate row six times. At the quarters knit two together, every fourth row four times. The work will be reduced considerably. Continue knitting till there are 80 rows of body, or more if necessary (children vary so in size) eighty-first row, knit two purl two. Repeat 3 more rows ; 85th row, purl ; 86th plain ; 87th, slip 1 knit 1 ; * make 1, knit 2 together, repeat from * ; 88th, purl ; 89th purl; ,90th knit 2, purl 2, throughout; 91st purl 2, knit 2 throughout. Repeat these two rows ond cast off loosely. Sew up the legs and body. Run a crochet chain through tho ribs at waist, and finish with two wool tassels.

A correspondent from Hawkes Bay asks directions for smocking a child’s frock. There is no doubt that this style of ornamentation will soon become as popular in New Zealand as it lias elsewhere, both for ladies’ and children’s (Rosses. It is rather tedious work, the great difficulty being to gather the material regularly. No doubt you arp familiar with * Briggs’ stamping patterns ’ for embroidery; I see in the home papers that Briggs’ patterns for smocking are much used, but I know not whether they are obtainable hero yet. They would be a great facility to workers. The next best aid is undoubtedly the chart method, which I will describe.

lIOW TO SMOCK. Take a piece of perforated cardboard about

liaif a jjmrd long and 5 or 6 inchfca wide ; with & sharp penknife cht out two holes and have three to tile end of. a line. Count seven holes down and repeat the cutting out as before, till you have six lines finished. Place this chart on your material, taking care it is perfectly straight, then with colored chalk or pencil mark the holes that are cut out ; when the six rows are marked slip the card on to the bottom line and continue the marking till you have the required depth for your purpose ; be particularly careful not to let the card slip, or irregularity will result. Thread a long needle (a fine darner will do) with cotton and take a stitch between the dots, to the end of tho liue and fasten off by twisting the cotton round a pin. Each lino must be run in the same way, and when finished no pen-, oil marks should "be visible. Now proceed with the embroidery; work from the left and pick up two plaitß, sewing them together, carry your silk to the next plait diagonally and sew it together with one of the two plaits you took up in the preceding row. A glance at a piece of smocking or an engraving of it will show my meaning. Continue the diagonal lines till all are embroidered, when the work should look like honeycomb, and be perfectly elastic when the cotton threads are drawn out. When once commenced smocking is fascinating employment, and the perfection of embellishment ipr children’s frocks.

As wraps for evening wear, clouds have given place to shawls knitted or crocheted, and as they are such delightful occupation for leisure moments I will give an extremely effective pattern, which has besides the merit of being easily remembered. The shawl may be made iu any fine wool, and I may here mention that I saw the other day at Thorndon House in this city, the most lovely quality of fingering that I haveever mot with. It is of German make, beautifully fine aud soft ; in both qualities far exceeding Baldwin’s Beehive. One longed to set to work with it at once and manufacture just such a shawl as I describe. KNITTED WOOL SHAWL. Use No. S bone needles and cast on any number divisible by 13, with 6 stitches over ; 3 to be knitted plain at the beginning ancl end of every row, to form a firm edge. 266 stitches will make a leDgth of about a yard and a half. You will remember to kuit the first and last 3 stitches of each row plain, so I will not again allude to them. First row —Purl 1, knit wool forward knit 3 together, wool forward knit ’4, purl 1 ; repeat. Second row—Purl (indeed, every alternate row is purled). Third row—Purl 1, knit 2, knit 2 together, purl 1.; repeat. Fourth row—Purl. Fifth row— Purl 1, knit 1, knit 2 together, wool forward knit 5, wool forward knit 2 together, knit 1, purl one; repeat. Sixth row—Purl. Seventh row—Purl I, knit 2 together, wool forward knit 3, wool forward, knit 2 together, knit 2, wool forward knit 2 together, purl 1 ; repeat. Eighth row—Purl. .Ninth row—Purl 1, knit 2, wool forward knit 2 together, knit- 3, knit 2 together, wool forward knit 2, purl 1 ; repeat. Tenth row—Purl. Eleventh row—Purl 1, knit 3, wool forward knit 2 together, knit 1, knit 2 together, wool forward knit 3, purl 1 ; repeat. Twelfth row - purl. Commence again at the first row. Possibly some of my little friends are fond of faneywork and would like a pattern. Here is a simple recipe for a doll's CAP IN CROCHET. It will fit a dolls head measuring eight inches in circumference ; the crown measures ten inches.. Single Berlin or filoselle. Make a chain of 3 and unite, then two double crochet in each chain stitch till there are 24 altogether ; then, work 2 in one chain and 1 iu the next alt-rnateiy till it begins io pucker ; then 2 in 1 and 1 in tho next 2 chains alternately, increasing thus at your discretion, till 3'ou have made a circle of about three inches in diameter. Keep it as flat as possible. Now begin to decrease by missing every 7cb stitch for two rows, and then miss every sth for two rows more : then work 3 rows without any decreasing for tho little band round the head, and finish off. Make the little tuft in the middle of the crown by winding the wooi round and round the finger till you have about the size of a small plum ; run a piece of wool through the whole before you slip it off your finger ; tie it tight, and then puff it out and trim it, aud sew it on to the cap. Elise.