KNITTING FOR WARMTH IN WINTER

Southland Times, Issue 24153, 15 June 1940, Page 12

KNITTING FOR WARMTH IN WINTER

Knitwear is still the handiwork that most appeals to people and for every year that passes, they want to undertake bigger and more difficult tasks. Of recent years people have been particularly keen on the smart Fair Isle and other jolly patterns. Once you have begun on interesting work you want to experiment with new colours and new patterns. Those who have never previously devoted time to knitting patterns would however be wise to begin with something easy like the spotted pattern illustrated here for example; it has a very decorative striped effect. For the pattern shown use two needles and two colours, say white and red. The wool used for casting on will form the ground colour - the other colour will form the pattern. Cast on a number of stitches divisible by four. Knit two rows plain and then: First pattern needle: three white stitches plain; one red stitch plain, and so on to end of row.

Second pattern needle: two white purl stitches, then one red purl, three white purl repeated' to end of row. Continue with these two pattern needles until the work is the desired length. It is easiest to knit patterns when they are worked in a circle, as for example for caps and mittens. The work will turn out best if you keep both wools over your first finger. When kitting a pattern in several colours a rather larger number of stitches must be used as a rule than for patterns in one colour only, since the thread behind will always tend to draw the work together slightly. PLEATED SKIRT ■ This year short full skirts are fashionable, so now is the time to begin

knitting a pleated skirt which will always be popular because it keeps its shape so well. The pattern will look best when knitted in rather harsh yarn. Cast on a number of stitches divisible by seven. First row: 6 plain, 1 purl, repeated to end of row. Second row: 2 plain, 5 purl, repeated to end of row. Third row: 4 plain, 3 purl, repeat to end of row. I 4th row: 4 plain, 3 purl, repeat to end of row. Fifth row: 2 plain, 5 purl, repeat to end of row. Sixth row: 6 plain, 1 purl, repeat to end of row: Repeat these 6 rows until the work is the desired length. The fashionable knitted hoods are worn both by children and grown-ups. The illustration shows jacket without hood in a patent pattern. The hood is not knitted until after the jacket has been made up. The stitches are taken up from the edge of the neck. The hood is in two similar parts that go straight up in front and slope steadily out from the neck. When both halves are finished they are sewn together at the neck and over the head. If you want to make the hood warmer, line it with closely woven checked material; this will also look well when the hood hangs down the back. The patent pattern is to cast on a number of stitches divisible by two. First row: Knit 1, make 1, slip 1 purlways, knit 1 plain; continue thus to end of row. Second row: Knit 1, make 1, slip 1 purlways, knit 2 together; continue thus to end of row. All succeeding rows to be knitted like the second row.