elicate is the sense of touch in this
finger, that it will, after a little practice, enable you to tell the
sort of stitch coming next, in the finest material, so that knitting
becomes merely mechanical. Insert the point in the loop, bringing it
behind the other needle, slip the thread round it, bring the point in
front, and transfer the loop to the left-hand needle without
withdrawing it from the right hand. Repeat the process for any number
of stitches required.

1846. Plain Knitting.

Slip the point of the right-hand needle in a loop, bring the thread
round it, and with the forefinger push the point of the needle off the
loop so that the thread just twisted round forms a new one on the
right hand.

1847. Purling.

The right-hand needle is slipped in the loop _in front of_ the
left-hand one, and the thread, after passing between the two, is
brought round it; it is then worked as before. The thread is always
brought forward before beginning a purled stitch, unless particular
directions to the contrary are given.

1848. Mode of making Stitches.

To make one, merely bring the thread in front before knitting, when,
as it passes over the needle, it makes a loop; to make two, three, or
more, pass the thread _round the needle in addition_, once for 2,
twice for 3, and so on.

1849. To Decrease.

Take one stitch off without knitting; knit one, then slip the point of
the left-hand needle in the unknitted stitch and draw it over the
other. It is marked in receipts d. To decrease 2 or more, slip 1, knit
2, 3, or more together, _as one_, and pass the slip stitch over.

1850. How to Join a Round.

Four or five needles are used in round work, such as socks, stockings,
&c. Cast on any given number of stitches on one needle, then slip
another needle in the last stitch, before casting any on it; repeat
for any number. When all are cast on, knit the first 2 stitches off
on to the end of the last needle. One needle is always left unused in
casting on for a round.

1851. How to Join Toe of Sock, &c.

Divide all the stitches on to two needles, hold both in the left hand,
as if they were one, and in knitting take a loop off each one, which
knit together.

1852. To Cast off.

Knit 2 stitches; with the left-hand needle draw the first over the
second; knit another; repeat. Observe that the row before the casting
off should never be very t