More voices from the past

This article, written by D. McQueen, first appeared in the June, 1936 issue of Knitting and Homecrafts. It is my pleasure to share it with you today:

'Tips From Professional Knitters
by D. McQueen

Did you ever knit an article and when it was finished, feel very dissatisfied with it? It doesn't look like the model. The sleeves don't fit smoothly. You can see the decreasing in the skirt. The seams do not sew up as evenly as they out to. Everyone who knits has felt so at some time or another.

Here are some little hints, which should overcome these annoyances.

Let us think of the model itself first. Did you know that the models are made a little on the tight side? This is necessary to show it off to advantage in the photograph. In fact they fit so snugly that the average woman would not wear them. So cheer up, your dress probably looks better on you than the one the model wears, looks on her.

Now for the sleeves or in fact any part of the garment that calls for decreasing at the edges. Instead of knitting the first two stitches together, try slipping the first stitch and knitting the second and third together. The same may be done at the end of the row by reversing the order, but knitting the last stitch instead of slipping it. Another trick on the same type of work is to slip the first stitch, knit the second and pass the first stitch over the second. This last of course can only be done at the beginning of the row.

You can see the decreasing in the skirt. Did you ever try slipping the stitch to be decreased, knitting the next, and passing the slipped stitch over the knitted one? This makes a very smooth decrease, particularly with silk or any type of boucle.

Now here's a way to make an edge that sews up very smoothly, on a garment knit in stocking stitch. Of course you always slip your first stitch, but on the purl side try slipping the first stitch as though you were going to knit it plain, also at the end of a purl knit the last stitch instead of purling it. This makes a row of little ridges which are very easy to match when sewing.

To make a firm edge when casting on stitches, make a slip knot on the needle, just as you have always done, but instead of picking up only one loop of the stitch, place the right hand needle behind the stitch, put the wool over and draw the stitch through, placing it on the left hand needle. This makes an edge somewhat like crocheting.

When making buttonholes: if the back of the stitch is knitted, on the first row after casting on stitches that loose look will be avoided.

Do try some of these little tricks and see if you are not pleased with the results.'

Some of my best friends crochet. : )