TO KNIT A STITCH
“GOODNESS, Billy, you made me jump!” exclaimed Mary Frances, running
downstairs to meet him.
[Illustration: “You made me jump!”]
“Sorry,” said Billy. “I couldn’t find you down here and guessed that
you’d be in the sewing room. What keeps you there so long?”
“Oh, I told you, Billy—I am practicing knitting!” Mary Frances replied.
“Well, it must be lots of fun,” Billy said. “It certainly keeps you
quiet enough. Come on, and have a game of tennis.”
Mary Frances went to find her hat and jacket.
[Illustration: To find her hat.]
“When I know how, I shall make myself a sweater,” she thought. “I
should like to make one for mother first though—a pink one trimmed
with gray.”
“Come on, Mary Frances,” called Billy, “aren’t you ready?”
“Coming,” cried Mary Frances, running out the door.
* * * * *
In about an hour and a half she came back to the room. “Oh, I have been
so worried!” she exclaimed. “Dear Knitting and Crocheting People, I
forgot entirely to give Mary Marie her bottle.”
[Illustration: “Did you?”]
“I gave her her pacifier,” said Crow Shay.
“Oh, what a story!” cried Knit.
[Illustration: “Oh, what a story!”]
“Oh, what a story!” cried Knack.
“I am glad that he didn’t,” said Mary Frances. “I do not often let her
have if for fear it will spoil the shape of her pretty mouth. I must
run and give her her bottle now.”
“I thought the little Miss was joking,” Crow Shay said as soon as she
had gone. “I never heard of a baby taking a bottle if she was old
enough to go to school, did you?”
“Oh, keep still, Crow Shay,” whispered the Yarn Baby. “You know all
about it. You know that Mary Marie is only——”
[Illustration: “Keep still, Crow Shay.”]
Just then Mary Frances came back.
“Mary Marie was sound asleep,” she said, “so I didn’t disturb her. Now
I’ll work hard to learn the next lesson,” and she repeated the little
verse,
“Fairy Fairly Flew,
Please come, for I need you;”
and the fairy appeared.
“I’ve been waiting to be called,” she said settling quickly in the
doll’s rocker, “for you have such an important lesson to learn. Quickly
set up fifteen stitches on one knitting needle.”
[Illustration: “I’ve been waiting.”]
“Which method shall I use?” thought Mary Frances, picking up Knack. “I
believe I will use the first one I learned,” she decided, and soon had
the fifteen stitches ready. She broke off the short end of yarn which
was hanging from the needle.
“Now,” said Fairly Flew, “now, you are ready to learn how—
TO KNIT PLAIN
Material: Knitting worsted or four-fold Germantown
zephyr in any color.
One pair bone knitting needles, No. 6, 7, or 8.
With the fingers, cast about 15 stitches on one needle.
Tie the short end of yarn to the long end in a single
knot close to the needle. Cut off short end.
[Illustration: “No, you’ll knot!”]
CUT 1
Take up the other knitting needle with the thumb and
fingers of the right hand, and slip the point of the
right-hand knitting needle into the first loop on the
left-hand needle, holding work in the position shown
in the picture. Let the point of the right-hand needle
stick out beyond the loop about an inch.
CUT 2
Now spread open the thumb and finger of the right hand,
and slide the hand forward until you can lift the
thread which is over your first finger over the point
of the right needle.
[Illustration: “We’ll knit!”]
CUT 3
Now slide the right hand back into the position shown
in this picture, and put the first finger of your
_left_ hand on the point of the right-hand needle, and
push the right-hand needle back until the point is even
with the left needle.
[Illustration: PLATE 7—MOTION PICTURES SHOWING HOW TO KNIT PLAIN
SEE DESCRIPTION, PAGE 162]
CUT 4
Bring the point of the right-hand needle over the front
of the left-hand needle. This carries a new loop on to
the right-hand needle.
CUT 5
Slide the right-hand needle to the point of the left
needle.
CUT 6
Slip the end loop on the left needle off the point of
the left needle, holding back the other loops on the
left needle with the finger and thumb.
Continue to knit in this way until all the stitches are
knitted off the left needle.
* * * * *
Now place the needle with the new stitches on, in
the left hand. Do not knit the first stitch off the
needle, but slip it off the needle without knitting.
Always slip the first stitch on a row unless told to do
otherwise.
[Illustration: “See me knit!”]
TO SLIP A STITCH
Put the point of the right-hand needle through the
first stitch, and slip it over the top of the left
needle.
Continue to knit plain across the row.
[Illustration: “Don’t brag!”]
[Illustration: She drew up the strings]