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XIV. LADIES' WORK.

and flowered, or with pieces of printed cotton, arranged into regular circles, squares, and diamonds, so as to produce a harmonious design.

Patchwork.-This is a nice way of using up scraps of silk, satin, and velvet, which would otherwise be too small to convert to any useful purpose. Pin-cushions, sofa-cushions, and many similar things are done in this way; and when calico and cambric are used, quilts are made. Rich materials look very handsome in mosaic patterns, stars, diamonds, and other fancy shapes, which should be cut from cardboard or tin plates. Old envelopes, or other waste writing-paper, cut from the shapes, may be used in backing up the pieces. The satin or other material is then tacked on the paper, and the various pieces are sewn together. It requires care to arrange the colours well. The study of any mosaic wood-between. work will greatly aid in this, as far as emery. the effects of light and shade are concerned.

Cloth Patchwork.-For this kind of patchwork a pattern should be chosen of rather large-shaped pieces, each piece bound with galloon of decided colour. Handsome borders for tablecovers can be made by this means. The pieces of cloth are to be selected of as many bright and decided hues as can be obtained. Each piece may be about the size of an ordinary play. ing-card, and have a pattern braided upon it with gold-coloured worsted braid. A lady with taste would make every design different, and, this being done, the outline of each piece should be made correct, and the binding, of the same shade as the braid, put all round. It should be placed on the right side, and neatly sown down with the same coloured silk, and then turned over the edges, and secured on the reverse side; the pieces are then seamed together, with due regard to a symmetrical arrangement.

Patchwork Quilts are formed in the same way with pieces of silk, plain

Needle-Books are usually made with a pin-cushion on one side— that is, instead of two thin covers merely, one side consists of two pieces of pasteboard, with a margin of ribbon between, and stuffed with flannel. The flannel leaves for needles should be of different sizes, neatly cut in delicate points around the edge, or worked with coloured silk. These books can be round, or square, or oblong. Some make butterfly needle-books; the outside wings of embroidered velvet, the inside of silk, and flannel, for needles,

The body is stuffed with Needle-books are made in many fancy shapes-a pair of bellows is one of the most popular. Each side forms a pin-cushion, with a piece of kerseymere for needles between them, and a bodkin for the nozzle.

Emery Bags are made in various forms. Some are merely little square bags, stuffed hard with emery; others are made round, and painted like an apple, plum, or peach; others imitate a little barrel, with coloured cord for hoops. But the prettiest are imitations of strawberries, made of crimson merino, worked with green and brown silk to represent the calyx and spots of the strawberry. Unless these bags are made of very firm stuff, they should be lined, for the emery is apt to sift out.

Knitting.- Persons with weak sight, and even those who are quite blind, can produce delicate knitted articles. Great attention must be paid to the position of the hands and fingers in knitting. The implements are either two, four, or five needles, sometimes called pins. The one on which the stitches are to be transferred is held

in the right hand; the work itself, and the other needle, or needles, in the left. The work being held in the left hand, the needle in the same hand must be held closely pressed between the palm and the third and fourth fingers, while the foremost stitches are kept near the point by the thumb and the second finger; the first is thus left free to assist in knitting, slipping the stitches forward, shortening the point of the needle, &c. The other needle is held between the thumb and first finger of the right hand, and rests on the palm. If four or five needles be employed, the two absolutely in use must be held as described; the others naturally fall below the left hand. Now look to the following instructions and the diagrams.

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To Cast on with Two Pins. -Make a loop at the end of the thread, and put it on the left-hand pin; take the other pin in the right hand, and slip it into the loop; pass the thread between the two pins, and bring the point of the right-hand pin in front; pass the thread through the loop on the left pin; there will then be a loop on each pin (see diagram). The loop must then be slipped on to the lefthand pin. Repeat, by putting the right-hand pin through the loop, and passing the thread between the pins as before.

stitches, the pin with the turn the thread round the

little finger of the right hand, and pass it under the second and third fingers, and over the fore-finger; with the right hand put the other pin into the first loop on the left pin; with the forefinger of the right hand the thread must be passed between the pins, and, by bringing the head through, one stitch is formed; then take the loop of the left pin and repeat.

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To Slip a Stitch is to transfer a stitch from the left pin to the right without knitting it. In all knitting the first stitch of every row should be slipped to make the edge firm and even. This is not given in the directions to work the patterns, as it would much lengthen the description, but is to be observed as a fixed rule; for example, when a row commences thus, knit two together, work

as follows:-Slip the first stitch, knit the second, and turn the slipped stitch over the knitted one.

G

To Make Two, Three, or More Stitches. Turn the thread as many times round the pin as E FG, and in the next row; pearl a stitch and knit a stitch alternately, taking off one turn of the thread each time, for as many stitches as were made in the row before.

To Make a Stitch.-Bringing the thread forward between the pins. When this stitch is worked in the next row, it will form an open stitch.

To Knit Two Stitches together.-Take two stitches with the right-hand pin, and knit as one stitch.

To Knit Three Stitches together.-Slip one stitch, knit two stitches together, and with the point of the left-hand pin turn the slipped stitch over the two knitted together, leaving but one stitch.

Pearl, also called Seam, Back, or Rib-Stitch. -Begin the row with the thread in front of the pin, pass the point of the pin down the stitch, turn the thread round the pin, and take it off as in plain knitting; repeat, always keeping the thread in front.

Pearl and Plain Stitches in the Same Row.-Pass the thread to the back of the work before knitting plain stitches, and to the front before pearling stitches.

To Pearl Two or Three Stitches together.-Keep the thread in front of the pin, pass the point of the right pin down two or three stitches, and pearl them to gether.

To Make a Stitch in Pearl Knitting.-Having the thread in front of the pin, turn the thread round the pin so as to bring it in front again.

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To Cast-off.-Knit two, pass the one first knitted over the other; knit one, pass the preceding one over it, and continue. The number passed over are reckoned as cast off.

Ladies Knitted Spencer or Jacket. -Materials: Four hanks Scotch scarlet wool, and one black; two bone knitting pins.

To Form a Round. - Four or five pins are required. Cast on the required number of stitches on one of the pins, and divide them equally between the other pins, keeping the fourth or fifth pin to knit with, and with this pin knit the first stitch that was cast off. On knitting off, the three or four pins form one round.

To Join Two Pieces of Knitting together.Put the two pins containing the work together, the deepest at the back, and with a third pin put it through one stitch of each pin (see diagram), and knit the two together as one stitch. Decreasing, or Knitting Two Stitches together. Merely knit two stitches as if they

were one.

in the middle of the work, and 20 stitches have been added at one side; sew this to the back, then begin at the other shoulder, and do this side the same, sew to the back, knit three ribs across the bottom, join on the black wool,* work two ribs and a row of holes by casting up the wool and taking two together, two ribs plain, Cast on for back 24 stitches; work cast off, lift the stitches all round the back and forward; increase to 64 by front with black wool, and repeat from casting up the wool in front of the pin,*; draw a narrow ribbon through the before the last stitch of each row; 12 holes, top and bottom. Sleeves may ribs plain, decrease to 26 by taking two together before the last stitch of each row, cast off, lift for shoulder, where you finish casting off, 26 stitches, knit 5 ribs plain, increase to 50 for neck, knit 24 ribs plain,* knit from the front 20 stitches, take two together, then knit to the end of the row, casting up the wool before the last stitch so as to form the front and the back at the same time, plain row, then repeat from, till 20 intakes have been made

be knitted for this jacket by casting on 74 stitches, knit 3 ribs, then decrease to 50 stitches by taking two together at the end of each row, knit 50 ribs, join on the black wool and knit two plain, two purl, till the black is two inches deep, cast off, sew up the sleeve, and sew into the jacket. A rib means two rows.

Ladies' Knitted Body-Flannel.-Materials: Five hanks white Scotch wool, two bone pins.

Cast on 90 stitches; plain first row, second row three plain, two purl, repeat to end of the row; repeat second row again, which forms a plain and purl stripe alternately; work the length of five-eighths, and at the end of the back row cast on 24 stitches, to form the arm-hole, knit three rows plain, then make a row of holes by casting up the wool to make one stitch, take two together-this last row is purled-knit two plain rows, cast off; this forms the one side, knit the other side in the same way, then sew up the sides till within two inches of the top, which is left for the sleeve; join the row of holes together, and run a blue ribbon through them, knotted in front. For sleeve, cast on 72 stitches, knit two rows plain, decrease to 50 by taking two together at the end of each row, work 14 rows, a row of holes same as round the top, two plain rows, cast off, sew up the sleeve, and put it in the jacket.

34 on two needles, this divides the stitches for the heel; the part where the seam-stitch is, forms the heel, and is worked back and forward, one purl and plain row alternately, slipping always the first stitch without working, keeping the seam-stitch purled; work in this manner 34 rows, which form the length of the heel. To close it, purl two stitches past the seam-stitch on the purl side, take two together, purl one, then turn the stocking and begin on the right side, knit till two past the seam-stitch, then take two together, knit one, turn again and purl till three past the seam-stitch; take two together, purl one, turn again and knit till three past the seamstitch; take two together, knit one, turn again and work as before, always knitting one stitch beyond the last, till there are only three stitches left; each side inworked, then knit two together, and turn without knitting one after, repeat plain and purl side till Ladies' Knitted Stocking. Mate- the stitches are all worked on one rials: Six hanks Scotch fingering wool, needle-this forms a gusset; the seamwhite or scarlet, or, when worked in stitch need not be continued in the stripes, any two colours may be used-gusset. With the needle on which a French wool, "Bonna Mara," is very suitable; four needles, No. 13, or finer if the French wool is used.

the gusset is on, lift 17 stitches down the side of the heel, and on one needle knit the 34 stitches that were left for Cast on 32 stitches on each of two the front, then lift 17 stitches on the needles, and 33 on the third, which other side of the heel, and on that will make 97, join together and work needle knit the half of the gusset, one round, first row plain, second row two plain row all round, and down the side of plain, two purl all round; repeat till the heel that was first lifted to the last the work is an inch deep; the plain three stitches, knit two together, knit stitches being always worked over the one, knit the front across, and, at the plain, this forms the top of the stock-beginning of the next needle, knit one, ing; work plain all round, except one take two together, work round and stitch purl for the seam; continue to do so till it is eight inches long, then begin the intakes at the third stitch from the seam, slip one, knit one, pass the slipped one over the knitted one, work one plain, purl the seam-stitch, one plain, then take two together; do this every fifth row eight times, then six intakes, having six rows between each-this shapes the stocking; work plain round; except the seam-stitch, 4 inches long, you have then 69 stitches on the needles; put on one needle 16 stitches on each side of the seam-stitch, then leave the remaining

repeat these intakes every alternate row 10 times at each side of the heel; work plain round four inches in length, keeping the needles in the same position as when the heel was finished; the front of the stocking being on one needle, there should be the same number of stitches on this needle as on the two back needles; begin the intakes at the same side of the stocking as at the heel, three stitches from the end of the needle on the under side of the foot, take two together, knit one, then on the next needle knit one, take two together, work to the last three stitches,

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