INTRODUCTION.
In sending this little work before the public, I have tried to remedy one fault which I have often heard complained of, namely, that knitting-books generally give so many more stitches than are really required. This is partly owing to the different qualities of wool used by different knitters, and partly also, to a certain extent, whether the worker knits loosely or tightly. The following directions are for medium knitters. As knitting sometimes shrinks in the washing, I should advise my readers to try and knit moderately loose. But, of course, the principal thing is to have the same sized wool or silk as that for which the directions are given; and this is especially important in socks and stockings. I will therefore state that Charity wheeling is the thickest and most harsh kind of yarn made; Scotch wheeling is a trifle less coarse. Scotch fingering is the usual yarn sold for socks and gentlemen’s stockings: it ought to be very strong, and to appear about the same size as Berlin. If it looks finer (and some does) put on more stitches than are given. For couvrettes, and things of that kind, the size of the wool and pins is, of course, a matter of less importance, as it does not signify whether the work is a trifle larger or smaller than intended; but in stockings, a slight thing makes a good deal of difference in the fit.
I have also endeavoured to explain everything at full length, so as to enable inexperienced knitters to find out the patterns by themselves; the cost of each article is put, whenever possible, at the head of the pattern.