metimes made with the needle and cotton in working
over these bars.

1841. Instructions in Knitting.

1842. Improvements in Process.

Although the art of knitting is known perhaps more generally than
almost any other kind of fancy work, still as the knowledge is not
universal, and there have been of late years great improvements in
many of the processes, we hope that a short account of all the
stitches, and the elementary parts of the craft, will be welcomed by
many of our friends--and most seriously would we recommend them to
attain _perfection_ in this branch of work, because, above all others,
it is a resource to those who, from weak eyes, are precluded from many
kinds of industrial amusement, or who, as invalids, cannot bear the
fatigue of more elaborate work. The fact is that knitting does not
require eyesight at all; and a very little practice ought to enable
any one to knit whilst reading, talking, or studying, quite as well as
if the fingers were unemployed. It only requires that the fingers
should be properly used, and that one should not be made to do the
duty of another.

1843. Implements for Knitting.

These are rods or pins of ivory, bone, or steel. The latter are most
commonly used, and should have tapered points, without the least
_sharpness_ at the extremity.

1844. Casting On.

The first process in knitting is casting on. To effect this, hold the
end of cotton between the first and second fingers of the left hand;
bring it over the thumb and forefinger, and bend the latter to twist
the cotton into a loop; bend the needle in the loop; hold the cotton
attached to the reel between the third and little fingers of the right
hand, and over the point of the forefinger; bring the thread round the
needle by the slightest possible motion; bend the needle towards you,
and tighten the loop on the left-hand finger, in letting it slip off
to form the _first_ stitch.

1845. Formation of Stitches.

Now take that needle with the loop on it in the left hand, and another
in the right. Observe the position of the hands. The left hand needle
is held between the thumb and the second finger, leaving the
forefinger free, to aid in moving the points of the needles. This mode
of using the forefinger, instead of employing it merely to hold the
needle, is the great secret of being able to knit without looking at
the work, for so extremely d