THE WORK CORNER.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XII, Issue VI, 10 February 1894, Page 141

THE WORK CORNER.

CROCHET CAPE. The following is one of the very simplest designs in knitting that I have ever met with, and makes such a pretty cape when finished—just the thing to throw over one's shoulders when walking in the garden in the evening, or to take with one as an extra wrap in case of need, when going out on a warm day and returning late after the sun has gone down or if sitting np at night with an invalid, etc. Two colours of wool are required, light and dark, and these may be more or less delicate and dainty, according to the purpose for which it is required. For useful wear dark blue and cardinal, or golden brown and yellow, or brown and pink make good combinations. For evening wear, pale grey and white, pale green and white, pink and white, blue and white, etc. Peacock fingering is the wool used, with two bone needles to match the size of the wool. Five ounces of the dark wool and three of the light are required. Cast on sixty stitches and knit plain-purling back until you have done eleven rows, and can count nine ribs on the purling side. Then put on the light wool and knit nine rows (to count seven ribs of purling). The purling of the light wool must come reverse to that of the dark wool ; for instance, when the plain rib of the dark wool is uppermost the purled rib of the light wool must be on that side, and vice versa. Then take up the dark wool again and do two plain rows to make it reverse properly, but only when you knit on the dark. Knit 57 stripes of the dark and light wool alternately in this way (11 rows of dark, 9 rows of light) and then begin to cast off. When you have cast off eight stitches drop one, cast off four and drop one, and continue in this way (four and drop one) until you are within four inches of the opposite side. Cast this off plain without dropping any more stitches; this forms a sort of shoulder piece. Pull the dropped stitches out to the other end. Then crochet a simple edging of the dark wool all round, and run a ribbon through at the neck to draw it in. Or it may be bordered with fur, a silk ruching, or feather trimming, or a frill of lace, if desired, instead of the crochet.