New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-11
STOCKING KNITTING.

THE LEG-UPPER FART.

THE LSG-UPPER FART
After knitting the band at the top OF the s'och
inc the next division OF the work is the upper part
of the leg or that lying between the band and the
becinping of the narrOwIngs or intakes. IhIs part
is freouently knitted plain throughout THAT ls'
without inoreasinPs or decreasings, and when thls
4; done the work simple and calls for no speclal
directions beyond the fact that the seam sutton.
which starts at the band must be carefully carried
along. This is done either by DurDg or scanning III
every round or every other round, as may be pre-
farred the first stitch On the first needle or tae mid
die stitch on the second needle. 1t may be found
necessary however not only in this part hut through
ont the stocking when the work seems to be too
loose at the junction of the needles to transfer coca
sOnay two or three stitches from one needle 10 the
other in order to prevent the appearance OF seam
at these points. THIS will only be necessary IN the
case of an inexperienced kntter, but when done
care must always be taken that the seam stitches
fall exactly under another
Some authorities contend that the upper part OF
the leg when knitted plain in this way makes the
stocking ungany and that in wel-shaped stocking
afew narrowings and increasings are necessary Be
low the knee tue leg contracts little. and then
begins TO swell out again till the calf is reached
When this part of the stocking Is knitted OF uniform
size the elasticity of the material Is supposed to
adapt itself to the slight irreguarity In tie shape
Of the leg Where the stocking itself is made to
fit the rreguarty the knitter proceeds as follows
Surprising that the stocking here is seven
inches long knit three inches plain then one round
of decreasiugs. Knitanother inch IN length piaih'
then a second round of decreasings. After another
inch of plain work. make round OF ncreaslngs'
Rencat this round of incTeaslngs twice with the
same interval of plain knitting. ms makes the
niece seven inches long. and leaves it two stitches
6 tko cfn kipO VI
an advantage On the following row begin the regu-
lar decreasings for the lower part of the leg. The
real poiut TO be watched il will be is to mar
row this piece slightly at or about the middle, and
then 10 widen II gradually just as much as IL was
decreased or even little more. thus adapting IL 10
the natural form of the leg. In making the lncreas-
ings here suggested the plan adopted in open WORK
is not applicable. If the wool were thrown over
or brought forward" in open work patterns, the
loops thus formed would be so lorg and loose that
on the next round holes would appear ana the
stocking would look as If 1t were moth eaten. Inc
increasjpgs must therefore. be made either by
'rasing' stitch that Is picking up with the ieIt
needle the horizontal loop or bar between the two
needles, and knitting this as an extra stitch, or by
emitting .wo stitches into loop. To do this KNIT
nlain stifcb but before slipping the stitch on the
left needle put the right needle into the under part
of the same loop and knit second stitch. In other
words knit PLAIN stitch and twist sttch mo
the same loop Ibis method Is decidedly preferable
particularly in coarse woTk-to that OF raising
stitch. ,,
The decreasngs as has already been explained
are made on the second and third stitches on each
side of the seam; slipping the third knitting the
second aud throwing the slipped stitch over before
the seam Is reached, and knitting the second and
third together after the seam. This rule. though
MT hz and correspondent Sug-
rests that much better effect is produced by re-
versing it-kpittng the two together before the
seam and sllpping one over the other afier H.
This plan is also recommended by Miss Ryder a
Yorkshire writer on stocking knitting In the pup.
lie schools Of Great Britain the following method
OF making the intakes 10 the leg is taught' hnlt
plain TIL there are stitches before the seam sttch'
slip l. knit /. cross the slip stitch over the iasI
knitted stitch, knit 2. SEAM STITCH KNIT = shp
J. knit l. he slip stitch over the last knitted
stitch knit the rest plain" Mrs. CruppleS, another
English authority follows the same method. except
that she begns on the third stitch from the seam
instead OF the fourth Still another writer directs
that the second and third stitches both sides OF
the seam stitch be knitted together while Mrs eau
gain, who was a recognized authority in her day,
directs that the third and second stitches before the
be knitted together twist stitches anc
the second and third after the scam Oe
knitted together PLAN. All this shows how
wide the latitude here is as 10 methods
so long the narrowings are actually made
Probably the best method would be to follow
the general rule before the seam. and after 1t tc
narrow thus; Knit the second stitch and pat 1t on
the left needle again. Now, with the right needle
slip the third stitch it, Put the second stitch
back again on the right needle and go on with Tho
work. Theoretically this would make the appear
on hoth aid NJ norfppfly unliOTlQ--
which is the end to be attained by the different
styles of decreasing it involves little trouble
aEd has therefore not found its way into prGctlca
oiir, .Ons Tor stocking knitting.