New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-09-12
KNITTING.
STOCKING KNITTING.
THE FoOT-TURSfNG THE HEEL
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what is i'll What is the problem, 80 to speak,
~h,ch the knitter has now to solvef Briefly stated
q, 4. this. Hitherto the task has been to knit
s,raiybt niece varying in width. but involving no
.hr,nt changes of shape. This is the leg part Now
niece has TO be knit for the foot which shall make
sharp turn at its lower edge, and Join the leg part
Mt right angles while its upper part slopes grad
ually ta the middle of the foot That Is the thing
10 BE- one. How is ii TO be Accomplishment
Ifa stocking is carefully examined it will be seen.
arst that the stitches at the bottom of the ankle
arc divided into two equal or almost equal parts
One of these parts is carried forward the front
part of the foot, and forms the instep. The other
part. with the seam stitch in the middle, is knit
downward till the bottom of the heel is reached
and turned. Then between these parts. at each SIDE
Of the heel there is an angular piece called the gus
set slopIng on its upper edge that next the IN
step The knitting of these three pieces solves the
problem turns the work IN the proper erection,
aad forms the heel portion OF the stocking.
The heel piece is the first to receive attention.
suppose the foot TO be reached with 81 stitches. the
odd stitch being of course. the seam stitch. DIVIDE
these into two parts, putting say 81 STITCHES on Two
needles 10 on each needle-for the Instep' ana ~
stitches on a third needle for the heel part The
30 stitches taken 81 that there are Ia on each
side of the seam stitch, and they all placed on
one needle not on two like the instcp stitches The
instep needles neglected for time. On
The heel needle nit forward and back ward piece
long enough 10 reach from the ankle to the bottom
of the heel This length varies of course, with the
size of the stocking but the principle Is the same III
all In working tins part, the fIst row Will be
knitted and the second purled and on. alter
nately purling when the rough or wrong side OF
the stocking is the knitter, and knitting when
the smooth or right side is nearest. The first stitch
in every one of these rows must always be slipped
and slipped So as to form what is known as chain
edge" that is, at the beginning of plain row the
stitch is slipped of as if 1t is about TO be purled
md the wool which has been in front is put back.
On the purl rows slip the stitch in the way,
with the wool at the back and then bring the wool
forward tor purlng.
When the heel piece is long enough the heel must
he turned One simple of cong this Is to knit to
the middle or seam stitch, TO place the two needles
back back, and then with third needle TO cast OH
both needles AT the same time, beginning with the
seam stitch. This plan Is recommended Oy some OLD
authorit es. and known sometimes the square
or French heel. WLen this method Is adopted 1t IS
customary to place the heel stitches on two needles
instead of one at the start though this is not essen
t,nl Tie piece must, however. he narrowed four or
five times on each siie of the stitch. as to
take OFF the sharp square corner, and give little
curvature and fullness the heel. One way of do
irG this is as follows:
Is, row: Knit 10 within stitches of the seam
stitch knit together twist stitch that Is, from
the back part part If the loops. knit 2 seam stitch.
knit 9 knit 2 together. knit the rest OF the row
plan.
2d row: Purl back the full row without harlow
ing.
Repeat these two rows four or five times. Knit TO
the seam stitch and with third needle cast of on
the wrong side of the work.
Another plan is this:
Isl row Knit plain till there are 4 stitches before
the seam stitch knit together. knit 2 seam stitch,
kni, Q slip l. knit l. and throw the slipped stitch
over; knit the rest plain
% row: Puzzled throughout.
Repeat these two rows for five times After the
last decreasing row, purl 10 the seam stitch, place
the two needles together and with an extra needle
cas-. off
Tbeso1are or French heel is extremely to
knit and forms a long narrow heel which is much
in favor with some kuitters. The usual plan OF
turning he heel however. is to keep on knitting In
the middle of the heel part narrow strlp or tongue
from 10 Q stitches wide. whichis joined to the SIDE
sitche. on the heel needle at the end of each row
ill tie whole of the side stitches are worked Of 10
get cl ar idea of what takes place let the young
knit5er cut a strip Of paper four inches long ana
three inches wide. Tins is to represent the heel
piece. Now cut another an inch long ana an men
wide and paste III the middle at the narrow end OF
the longer strip This Is the tongue at the bottom
Of the heel piece Now fold the tongue and sew
lightly one Of its edges 70 the bottom edge OF the
heel piece nearest it, Fold the opposite side and
sew The other edge of the tongue to the remaining
edo, al the bottom Of the heel piece. The little
pocket or cu-de-sac thus formed represents the heel
Of the stocking Inexperienced knitters who fail t.
turn the heel ia any other Way actually adopt IDS
pan. but it Is not to be recommended. Instead oil
kuitur he whole tongue first and joining 1t alter
ward the usual plan is Join 1t as the work al
vance, by knitting together al the end OF each row
the as stitch OF the tongue and the trt OF the ad-
joining side stitches, the process being repeated tlIl
oil the side stitches have been used up ms forms
the ordinary heel The manner of joining the tongue
stitches admits OF some variety. and these diher-
ences OF detail have given rise to several forms Of
heels such as the Margaret heel the Louisa heel
and the Sarah heel--all of which are based. how
ever Oh the one general principle OF knitting TO-
Cethel al the end of each the last stitch OF the
tongue OF middle part of the heel with the first OF
the adj AGENT side stitches.
The Margaret heel, Tor instance, IS made IN THIS
way:
1st row: Knit 10 the middle of the row. then knit
9 knit 2 together knit l. Turn back
2. row Purl to the middle Of the row. purl Z,
purl together, purl !. Turn back
Reneat these two rows till all the side stitches are
taken in; the turning of the heel is then finished
The Louisa heel differs from this in that 1t is lit
lie wider three stitches being knitted and purled
inter the middle is reached before the narrowing
takes place In the Sarah heel, the narrowing Is
slightly varied thus: Knit 10 the middle OF the
row. knit 9 slip l. knit l. and throw the slipped
stitch over Turn back. III the next row purl TO
the middle of the row. purl 2, purl together lurn
back This is for a small sock or stocking. For
Longer one knit before narrowing.
TORCHON INSERTION.
S,o,,a Kindly sends directions for max