Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-03-17
The New Knitting.

nothing more or less than carefully
arranged mixture of ordinary knitting
and species of crochet tricot, the two
styles, although so different, being
judiciously blended in such a manner as
to form an apparently original and novel
form of wool work. At first sight it
seems almost impossible to hazard an
opinion on the method of procedure;
not only does the work possess the soft.
ness and peculiar flexibility of knitting
Ia flexibility somewhat denied to the
sister work, crochet), but it also I'M
doubtedly presents some of the features
common to tricot; yet, on the other
hand, there is complete and unaccount-
able absence of those stitches that, to
the initiated. denote the gradual
withdrawal of the hook from the long
chain of stitches resting on it.
Briefly described, the secret of the
new work is this: 1t is accomplished by
means of pair of long knitting needles
and an equally-proportioned crochet
hook, the latter being one size finer than
the needles. Sometimes the stitches are
knitted off the crochet hook, sometimes
the reverse takes place, and each stitch
in turn is taken from the knitting needle
and treated by the hook; in addition, a
row every here or there of ordinary
knitting worked in the usual manner)
serves to still further mystify the I'M
initiated. To knit from crochet
hook or to crochet from a knitting needle
This sounds difficult. But five minutes
use of the implements will convince the
worker she has nothing to fear, and that
this new method of using well-known
tools is an easy matter. When the
stitches are being knitted off the hook,
the lip of the latter must be kept point.
ing in a downward direction, otherwise
the wool will run the risk of catching,
thereby dragging the stitch out of shape
If this rule is strictly adhered to nc
difficulty will be experienced in slipping
the stitches off the hook; but the mo-
ment the crochet hook is allowed to turn
sideways there invariably arises slight
but tiresome misunderstanding between
the worker and the piece of work. The
crochet rows are worked directly from
the needle itself, the stitches being al
lowed to accumulate one by one on the
hook as the row proceeds. In these
rows the hook is held in the ordinary
manner, and the wool passed over the
fingers of the left hand; the only diff
ferences between this work and the
ordinary crochet are: Firstly, that the
hook working as it does on needlefu
of stitches instead of on finished row,
is inserted through the stitches after the
manner of knitting needle-that is tt
say, it enters the stitch or stitches from
the left hand side; and, lastly, that eacl
stitch on completion is left upon the
hook. This is of course, in order t.
provide work for the next row, which il
one of knitting. The enormous posi-
bilities of the new work are at once ap
parent, for there is the advantage o
being able to combine every variety O
knitting and crochet stitch. More, there
is also the ability to bring actual crochet
tricot into play as well, and thereby ado
its store of stitches to the general fund
Again, there is no arbitrary law that ;
crochet row shall inevitably follow ont
of knitting; these rows and their ar
rangement are a matter of persona
pleasure and forethought, and many ;
beautiful design can be contrived b!
working three rows of knitting mot nee
eSsarily plain knitting, rememberO ant
then one of crochet. Let it also here b.
added that the possibility of being abl'
to put one treble into two stitches (takel
together) of the preceding row causes al
entirely new effect and has little or NJ
resemblance to the familiar 81 treble,
chain, miss /, l treble" of the ordinar.
crochet recipe.
The following are few points neces
sary to bear in mind when trying to fol
low or devise some of the new recipes
(a) When knitting from the hook, keel
the lip down. The wool is held over TIN
fingers of the right hand, as in the cas-
of ordinary knitting.
(b) When working crochet row tn
wool is held in the left hand, and tn
hook is passed through the stitches as
it were knitting needle.
(c) In any knitted row the first stitcl
is slipped in the usual way. In a row o
crochet the first stitch is always treated
in the same manner as the others, an,
must not be slipped.
Id After having cast on the stitches
always work one plain row of knitting
with the second needle-before com
mencing the design. This row must b
knitted as loosely as possible.
(e) When casting off after row o
knitting use the second needle, and cas-
off in the ordinary way. If the castin:
off follows row of crochet it is best t.
draw the wool through each stitch il
turn with the hook, in the manner o
crochet tricot. This leaves only on
stitch to be fastened off.
(D The new style of knitting take
more wool than the old way; this is il
consequence of the occasional row o
crochet; therefore, in purchasing sup
ply of wool for making IA garment, it i
as well to get an extra ounce-or eve
two-should the pattern be large one
The chief advantage of the new worl
apart from its novelty-is the spec,
with which it can be accomplished; tn
IintersperSed rows of crochet seem t
have an amazing effect upon the growt
of the wooden work, and it is quite posi-
BILE to make child's vest in the cours
of single day.
BABY's sACQUE.
M,tar;o1c. Two ounpeS of white ves