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A Brioche[A].

The Brioche knitting-stitch is simply—bring the wool forward, slip one; knit two together.

A Brioche is formed of sixteen straight narrow stripes, and sixteen wide stripes, the latter [22]gradually decreasing in width towards the top or centre of the cushion. It may be made in three-thread fleecy, or double German wool, with ivory or wooden pins, No. 8.

Cast on ninety stitches, in black, for the narrow stripe; knit two turns;—then, three turns in gold colour, and two turns again in black. This completes the narrow stripe.

The conical stripe is knitted as follows:—bring the wool forward, knit two together, twice, and turn; knit these two, and two more of the black and turn; continue this,—taking each time two more stitches of the black, until within two stitches of the top, and turn; the wool will now be at the bottom or wide part of the stripe. Commence again with the black, as in the former narrow stripe, knitting the two black stitches at the top. It may be also as well to diminish the narrow stripes by turning when within two stitches of the top, in the centre row of gold colour.

[23]By a turn is meant one row and back again.

The colours for the conical stripes may be any two or four colours, which assort well together; or each may be different. When the last conical stripe is finished, it is to be knitted to the first narrow stripe.—The brioche is to be made up with a stiff bottom of mill board, about eight inches in diameter, covered with cloth. The top is drawn together, and fastened in the centre with a tuft of soft wool, or a cord and tassels. It should be stuffed with down or fine combed wool.

Fringe Pattern Knitting.

Cast on any even number of stitches, in German wool—No. 10 needles.

Turn the wool round the needle, bringing it in front again; knit two together, taken in front.

Every row is the same.

[24]An Opera Cap.

No. 10 needles—Double German wool, or three-thread fleecy.

Cast on eighty stitches,—white.

Pearl one row,—coloured. In the next row,—

Bring the wool before the needle, and knit two stitches together.

The above forms the border.

First division—coloured.

Pearl one row.

Knit one row, decreasing one stitch at each end.

Knit one row.

Knit a fancy row, by bringing the wool forward, and knitting two stitches together.

[25]Second—white.

Pearl one row, decreasing one stitch at each end.

Knit one row, decreasing two stitches at each end.

Knit one row, decreasing one stitch at each end.

Knit a fancy row as before.

Third—coloured.

Pearl one row, decreasing one stitch at each end.

Knit one row, decreasing one stitch at each end.

Knit one row, without decreasing.

Knit the fancy row as before.

Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh—

The third division is to be repeated, alternately with white and coloured wool.

Eighth—white. Ninth—coloured.

In these two last divisions, only two stitches are to be decreased in each; this is to be done[26] in the row after the pearl,—decreasing one stitch at each end.

N.B. There should be forty-six stitches left on the needle in the last row.

Pick up thirty stitches on each side, and make the borders at the sides and back like that in front.

Make up the cap by turning in the border to the fancy row, and hem it all round: it is to be tied behind, and under the chin, with ribbons or plaited wool, with tassels of the same.

A Sontag, or Cephaline

The border for this cap is worked the same as the preceding,—casting on one hundred and two stitches;—single German wool;—No. 15 needles.

Knit one row in white, to bring the pearl on the right side. Then,[27]—

With the darkest shade, bring the wool round the needle, pearl two together; pearl one.—Repeat to the end of the row.

In the next row—bring the wool forward, knit two together; knit one.—Repeat to the end of the row.

Knit forty-two rows in the same manner, taking in one stitch at the end of almost every row, so that the number of stitches in the last row is reduced to seventy-two, taking care to keep the pattern regular, and changing the colour every two rows.

Take up forty stitches, on each side, and knit one row of white round all the three sides: knit another row to make the pearl, and finish the border with white and coloured wool, as in the preceding cap. Finish with ribbons, or cords and tassels.

The border is knitted in white, and the middle shade of whatever colour is used in the head piece. This is prettiest in five distinct[28] shades of any colour, with one or two rows of white between each division of shade.

A Bonnet Cap.

Cast on ninety stitches, in hair-brown German wool, for border.—No. 16 needles.

First, second, and third rows—plain knitting.

Fourth row—bring the wool forward, knit two together. Then,—

Commence with another colour—say white.

Fifth, sixth, and seventh rows—plain knitting.

Eighth row—bring the wool forward, knit two together.

Repeat these last four rows seven times: then the brown border as before. They form a band of about four inches wide, which is to be drawn up at the two ends, and strings attached to tie it close to the chin.

Then, cast on forty stitches and commence[29] another band with the brown border as above,—three rows of the pattern in white, and repeat the brown border. This is to be sewn or knitted on to the head piece, and forms the band for the back. A ribbon is to be run through it, to tie it close to the head.