YOUR NEW TENNIS FROCK

Ladies' Mirror, Volume 4, Issue 5, 2 November 1925, Page 33

YOUR NEW TENNIS FROCK

TO BE REALLY “IN THE SWIM” YOUR NEW TENNIS FROCK MUST LOOK LIKE A SWEATER AND PLEATED SKIRT IN FRONT YET SHOW A LONG STRAIGHT BACK. YOU NEED NOT HAVE THE ATTRACTIVE PLAITED HEM IF YOU ARE A STRENUOUS PLAYER, IT IS SEWN ON SEPARATELY SO CAN BE OMITTED IF • YOU WISH

IV/T ATERIALS. —IIb. 4ozs. of IVI “Beehive” 4-ply wool. One pair of bone knitting needles, size 9, and three steel needles pointed at both ends, size 12. Measurements. — Length from top of shoulders 45 ins. Width all round skirt and bodice 44 ins. Length of sleeve from neck edge 11 ins. Tension. —l 3 stitches to 2 ins. in stocking-stitch and 15 rows to 2 ins. in depth, measured after pressing. For the bodice and skirt back you should get six stitches to the inch with the bone needles. Begin at the lower edge of the skirt front and with bone needles cast on 200 stitches. Knit a plain row into the back thread and commence the ribbing:— Ist rozv. —*Knit 18, purl 8. Repeat from * 7 times, ending the row knit 18. 2nd rozv. *Purl 18, knit 8. Repeat from * 7 times, ending the row purl 18. Repeat these two rows for a depth of 18 ins. Cast off. For the bodice begin at the front waist and, with the same needles, cast on 132 stitches. Knit a plain row into the back thread, then work in the following rib;— Ist rozv. — 1 into the back thread of the stitch, purl 1 in the ordinary way. Repeat from * to the end. 2nd rozv. —*Knit 1 in the ordinary way, purl 1 into the back thread of the stitch. Repeat from * to the end. Repeat these 2 rows for 10 ins., bringing you to the front panel. WITH the right side of the work towards you knit 56 in the ribbing and put these stitches on a spare needle. Cast off 20, knit 56, turn, knit 56 in ribbing. Continue on this half only for 10 ins., then for the sleeve cast on 2 stitches at the beginning of each row when the work is the wrong side towards you, until you have put on 12 stitches, then cast on 18 at the beginning of the next row, making 86.

Continue on this number for li ins., bringing you to the neck shaping. Cast off 2 stitches at the beginning of each row when the work is the right side towards you, until you have taken off 20 stitches, leaving 66. Continue on this number until the sleeve edge measures about Si ins., when you will have reached the top of the shoulder. Now knit twice into the end stitch on the neck edge in every row, putting on 18. Finish off with the wool at the neck end, break off and put the 84 stitches on a spare needle. Take the 56 stitches from the other spare needle and work up this side to correspond, but casting on for the sleeve at the beginning of the rows when the work is the right side towards you and casting off for the neck with the work the wrong side towards you. When you reach

the top of the shoulder knit twice into the end stitch of every row at the neck end, putting on 18, then cast on 24 at the same end and knit

across the stitches from the spare needle making 192 altogether. Continue down the back in ribbing on this number of stitches until . the

sleeve edges measure 11 ins. from the beginning. Now cast off 18 at the beginning of the next two rows, then cast off 2 at the beginning of each row, taking off another 12 at each side, leaving 132. Work on this number until it measures the same length as the front from the top of the shoulders. The Plaited 'Bands 'C'IVE strips of trimming are required. One measuring 44 ins. for the skirt hem, two measuring 11 ins. for the sleeves, one measuring 13 ins. for the bodice panel, and a narrower strip to fit round the neck edge. Cast on 22 stitches with steel needles and knit two rows plain. Next row. Knit 8, turn, purl 4, turn, knit the 4 just purled, turn, purl 4. Work backwards and forwards in stocking-stitch on these 4 stitches for 10 rows altogether finishing after a plain row. Slip these stitches on a spare needle, then slip the next 5 stitches from the left hand needle to the right one. Now take the spare needle and on to it knit 9 from the left needle to the end. Turn and knit two rows right across the 22 stitches. Next —Knit 8, turn knit 4. Work backwards and forwards in stocking-stitch on these 4 stitches for 10 rows, finishing after a purl row. Slip these on a spare needle, then slip 5 stitches from the left needle to the right one. Now take the spare needle and knit the remaining stitches from the left needle on to it. Knit two rows plain across the 22 stitches. Repeat from * for lengths required. For the narrower strip cast on 16 stitches and begin with knit 5 instead of knit 8, also use 3 stitches instead of 4 for each plait. To TTCahe Up 'T'ACK down each side of the A wide ribs making them meet and forming box pleatsthe purl ribs being invisible on the right side, but forming the pleats on the wrong side. Press flat with a hot iron over a damp cloth. Press the remaining knitting on the wrong side without the damp cloth. Join the front skirt to the bodice by oversewing the edges on the wrong side, then join the side and under-arm seams in the same manner. Stitch in the front panel, then stitch on the sleeve bands and the lower border over the knitting. Join the neck border into a round and stitch one edge to the neck making the seam come in the centre of the back. Stretch the edge of the band as you stitch it round to make it set well. If you are going to wear it for tennis omit the border round the hem, it will allow greater freedom for movement.