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The Library Exercises in Knitting

Exercises in Knitting

Cornelia Mee, 1846

Chapter 1 of 8

Chapter 1

Twelve Chair Covers, Nos. I to VII

As the number of stitches required to work each pattern will be mentioned, these patterns can easily be applied for any other purpose, and are most of them well adapted for doilies. Some of the most open patterns are suitable for Shetland shawls; and as the majority of the chair covers are now done in coloured wool, the colours and number of shades will be described; though, if wished in white, the linen thread, No. 1, is the proper material to be used.

I. German Pattern of Open Double Knitting, both Sides alike

  1. Large wooden pins are required for this pattern, which is done in double or eight-threaded wool, in 5 colours that contrast well—claret, gold colour, blue, white, scarlet; and 4 rows of each, worked in the order they are here placed. Cast on 71 stitches.
  2. First row:—Seam 1, make 1, slip 1: this row is only to begin with, and is not repeated, the whole of the knitting being done as the
  3. Second row:—Seam 2 together, make 1, by passing the wool round the pin, slip 1, and repeat. At the end of the row, if correctly knitted, there will be 1 stitch, which seam. When the colours have been repeated 6 times, the cover will be the proper size.
  4. To finish it round, work fringe No. 2, work claret for the head, and put in two lengths of each colour in the fringe.

II. Nun’s Pattern

Pins No. 10, 8 stitches to a pattern: 14 shades of orange 4-threaded German wool, beginning with the darkest, and working 6 rows of each: 4 plain rows to begin and end the cover; and 4 plain stitches at the beginning and end of every row, for an edge. These edge stitches are not mentioned with the pattern, but will be included in the number cast on. Cast on 112 stitches.

  1. First row:—Make 1, knit 1, make 1, knit 2, slip 1, knit 2 together, pass the slipped stitch over, knit 2, and repeat.
  2. Second row:—Seamed.
  3. Third row:—Make 1, knit 3, make 1, knit 1, slip 1, knit 2 together, pass the slipped stitch over, knit 1, and repeat.
  4. Fourth row:—Seamed.
  5. Fifth row:—Make 1, knit 5, make 1, slip 1, knit 2 together, pass the slipped stitch over, and repeat.
  6. Sixth row:—Seamed. Repeat from 1st row.
  7. When 6 rows of each shade have been done, reverse them by continuing with the 2d lightest shade.

III. Viennoise Pattern

  1. Pins No. 10, 9 stitches to a pattern. Eight shades of scarlet four-threaded German wool, 12 rows of each, the shades to be arranged and reversed as No. 2. Cast on 116 stitches (this includes the 8 edge stitches).
  2. First row:—Make 1, knit 5, knit 2 together, pass the wool twice over the pin, knit 2 together, repeat.
  3. Second row:—Seamed. The stitches that were passed twice over the pin to be knitted only as 1 stitch.
  4. Third row:—Knit 1, make 1, knit 4, knit 2 together, pass the wool twice over the pin, knit 2 together, repeat.
  5. Fourth row:—Seamed as before.
  6. Fifth row:—Knit 2, make 1, knit 3, knit 2 together, pass the wool twice over the pin, knit 2 together, repeat.
  7. Sixth row:—Seamed as before.
  8. Seventh row:—Knit 3, make 1, knit 2, knit 2 together, pass the wool twice over the pin, knit 2 together, and repeat.
  9. Eighth row:—Seamed.
  10. Ninth row:—Knit 4, make 1, knit 1, knit 2 together, pass the wool twice over the pin, knit 2 together, and repeat.
  11. Tenth row:—Seamed.
  12. Eleventh row:—Knit 5, make 1, knit 2 together, pass the wool twice over the pin, knit 2 together, and repeat.
  13. Twelfth row:—Seamed, then repeat from the 1st row.

IV. Beautiful Coral Pattern

Pins No. 12. Sixteen shades of scarlet, four-threaded German wool, and 6 rows of each shade, to be worked in the same order as No. 2, for the cover. Cast on 116 stitches; if wished for any other purpose, cast on any number of stitches that will divide by 17, and 14 stitches over, to make the pattern correspond at the edges.

  1. First row:—Knit 4, knit 2 together,* thread forward, knit 2 together, thread forward, knit 2 together, thread forward, knit 1, thread forward, knit 2, slip 1, knit 1, pass the slipped stitch over, knit 4, knit 2 together, knit 2, and repeat from * till within 8 of the end, then thread forward, knit 2 together, thread forward, knit 2 together, thread forward, knit 4.
  2. Second row:—Seamed.
  3. Third row:—Knit 3, knit 2 together,* thread forward, knit 2 together, thread forward, knit 2 together, thread forward, knit 3, thread forward, knit 2, slip 1, knit 1, pass the slipped one over, knit 2, knit 2 together, knit 2, and repeat from *. For the end: thread forward, knit 2 together, thread forward, knit 2 together, thread forward, knit 5.
  4. Fourth row:—Seamed.
  5. Fifth row:—Knit 2, knit 2 together,* thread forward, knit 2 together, thread forward, knit 2 together, thread forward, knit 5, thread forward, knit 2, slip 1, knit 1, pass the slipped stitch over, knit 2 together, knit 2, and repeat from *. For the end: thread forward, knit 2 together, thread forward, knit 2 together, thread forward, knit 6.
  6. Sixth row:—Seamed.
  7. Seventh row:—Knit 4,* thread forward, slip 1, knit 1, pass the slipped stitch over, thread forward, slip 1, knit 1, pass the slipped stitch over, thread forward, knit 2, slip 1, knit 1, pass the slipped stitch over, knit 4, knit 2 together, knit 2, thread forward, knit 1, and repeat from *. For the end: thread forward, slip 1, knit 1, pass the slipped stitch over, thread forward, slip 1, knit 1, pass the slipped stitch over, thread forward, slip 1, knit 1, pass the slipped stitch over, knit 4.
  8. Eighth row:—Seamed.
  9. Ninth row:—Knit 5,* thread forward, knit 2 together, thread forward, knit 2 together, thread forward, knit 2, slip 1, knit 1, pass the slipped stitch over, knit 2, knit 2 together, knit 2, thread forward, knit 3, and repeat from *. For the end: thread forward, knit 2 together, thread forward, knit 2 together, thread forward, knit 2 together, knit 3.
  10. Tenth row:—Seamed.
  11. Eleventh row:—Knit 6,* thread forward, slip 1, knit 1, pass the slipped stitch over, thread forward, slip 1, knit 1, pass the slipped stitch over, thread forward, knit 2, slip 1, knit 1, pass the slipped stitch over, knit 2 together, knit 2, thread forward, knit 5, and repeat from *. For the end: thread forward, slip 1, knit 1, pass the slipped stitch over, thread forward, slip 1, knit 1, pass the slipped stitch over, thread forward, slip 1, knit 1, pass the slipped stitch over, knit 2.
  12. Twelfth row:—Seamed. Repeat from 1st row.

V. Beautiful Diamond Pattern

  1. Pins No. 10; 24 stitches to a pattern; 6 shades of scarlet four-threaded German wool, 12 rows of each shade, and for the centre, 12 rows of white. Cast on 128 stitches.
  2. First row:—Knit 2, make 1, knit 2 together, knit 3 (make 1 and knit 2 together 3 times), knit 2 together and draw the preceding stitch on the right-hand needle over the stitch formed by knitting the last 2 together, make 1 and knit 2 together twice, make 1, knit 3, make 1, knit 2 together; repeat.
  3. Second row:—Seamed.
  4. Third row:—Knit 1, knit 2 together, make 1, knit 3 (knit 2 together and make 1 three times), knit 1 (make 1 and knit 2 together twice), make 1, knit 3, knit 2 together, make 1, knit 1.
  5. Fourth row:—Seamed.
  6. Fifth row:—Knit 2, make 1, knit 2 together, knit 1 (knit 2 together and make 1 three times), knit 3 (make 1 and knit 2 together three times), knit 2, make 1, knit 2 together; repeat.
  7. Sixth row:—Seamed.
  8. Seventh row:—Knit 1, knit 2 together, make 1, knit 1 (knit 2 together and make 1 three times), knit 5 (make 1 and knit 2 together three times), knit 2 together, make 1, knit 1, and repeat.
  9. Eighth row:—Seamed.
  10. Ninth row:—Knit 2, make 1, knit 2 together, knit 1 (make 1 and knit 2 together three times), knit 1, make 1, knit 2 together, knit 2 (make 1 and knit 2 together four times).
  11. Tenth row:—Seamed.
  12. Eleventh row:—Knit 1, knit 2 together, make 1, knit 3 (make 1 and knit 2 together three times), knit 2 (knit 2 together and make 1 three times), knit 1, knit 2 together, make 1, knit 1.
  13. Twelfth row:—Seamed.

VI. Pretty Feather Pattern

  1. Pins No. 11; 25 stitches to a pattern. Six shades each of scarlet, drab, and blue. Cast on 108 stitches. Commence with the darkest blue and knit 4 plain rows.
  2. First row:—Knit 2 together four times, bring the wool forward and knit 1 eight times, knit 2 together four times, knit 1, and repeat.
  3. Second row:—Seamed.
  4. Third row:—Knit.
  5. Fourth row:—Seamed.

The shade is changed after the completion of these 4 rows. The 6 shades of blue are knit from dark to light; then the 6 shades of scarlet; and then the shades of drab: each set of shades is knit twice, and you will finish with the lightest drab. Knit 4 plain rows of that colour besides the 4 pattern rows.

VII. Rose-Leaf Pattern

  1. Pins No. 10; 19 stitches to a pattern. Fifteen shades of blue four-thread German wool, and 6 rows of each colour. Cast on 122 stitches.
  2. First row:—Knit 1, seam 2, knit 1, make 1, knit 1, slip 1, knit 1, pass the slipped stitch over, seam 1, knit 2 together, knit 1, seam 1, knit 1, slip 1, knit 1, pass the slipped stitch over, seam 1, knit 2 together, knit 1, make 1, and repeat.
  3. Second row:—Seam 3, knit 1, seam 2, knit 1, seam 2, knit 1, seam 4, knit 2, seam 1; repeat.
  4. Third row:—Knit 1, seam 2, knit 1, make 1, knit 1, make 1, slip 1, knit 1, pass the slipped stitch over, seam 1, knit 2 together, seam 1, slip 1, knit 1, pass the slipped stitch over, seam 1, knit 2 together, make 1, knit 1, make 1, and repeat.
  5. Fourth row:—Seam 4, knit 1, seam 1, knit 1, seam 1, knit 1, seam 5, knit 2, seam 1, and repeat.
  6. Fifth row:—Knit 1, seam 2, knit 1, make 1, knit 3, make 1, slip 1, knit 2 together, pass the slipped stitch over, seam 1, slip 1, knit 2 together, pass the slipped stitch over, make 1, knit 3, make 1.
  7. Sixth row:—Seam 6, knit 1, seam 7, knit 2, seam 1, and repeat.
  8. Seventh row:—Knit 1, seam 2, knit 1, make 1, knit 5, make 1, slip 1, knit 2 together, pass the slipped stitch over, make 1, knit 5, make 1, and repeat.
  9. Eighth row:—Seam 16, knit 2, seam 1, and repeat.
  10. Begin again from the 1st row.
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Reprinted from Exercises in Knitting, by Cornelia Mee (1846). Free for personal use. Please share a link rather than copying this page.

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