Corticelli Knitting and Crochet Book - 18

 

by Mrs. L. Addie Crandall Smith, 1922


 [The complete document is available as a PDF download: Part I (8.6 MB), Part II (7.3 MB)]

The images and texts in these pages come from a book scanned by Judith Combs in 2007 for the the Antique Pattern Library. They have been licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License. To view a copy of this license, visit Creative Commons licenses or send a letter to Creative Commons, 559 Nathan Abbott Way, Stanford, CA 94305 USA.

Conditions for use and redistribution apply; in particular, it is not allowed to sell copies or printouts. Please visit the site for further details.


 

You Can Make the Fashionable New Designs

In preparing this new book for you, the Corticelli designers have tried to show as many of the fashionable new designs as possible and to make the instructions so clear that you can have any of the new garments so stylish this season.

All unnecessary description has been eliminated and this space has instead been devoted to making the working instructions as complete and lucid as possible.

To make the instructions easy to read and grasp, a certain style has been followed throughout the book. First you will find the illustration, then follows, in order, a brief description of the design, the materials required, other colors that can be used, and, finally, complete detailed instructions.

The many illustrations in full color are also an unusual feature for a book selling at such a moderate price.

All of the instructions in this book are written for use with Corticelli Yarns and, since other makes vary in size and twist, the results naturally will be doubtful if anything other than Corticelli is used.

And may we offer a suggestion-one which can save you much annoyance and possible disappointment later on? Each lot of yarn that is dyed varies a little in color, so be sure you buy the full amount called for by the instructions. Then you will escape the difficulty of matching yarn to finish a garment.

Mrs. L. Addie Crandall Smith, one of America's foremost knitting and crochet authorities, has been at the head of the Corticelli designing department for several years. It is her earnest desire and the desire of every one of her staff that you consider the Corticelli designing department at your service at all times. Whenever you are in doubt about some garment, the colors and materials you should use, or what style would be best, write to Mrs. Smith and you will receive her personal advice, gladly given, and based on her many years of professional experience.

 

Hints That Will Help You

Wash all wool garments with Lux or IvorySoap Flakes thoroughly dissolved in warm water. Do not rub, but knead and squeeze garments between the hands under water.

Place on a paper and stretch to shape, leaving the garment to dry in the sun and wind if possible. Do not lift while wet.

In knitting always slip the first stitch without knitting unless specified differently.

Widening and narrowing should always be done on the second and next to last stitch of the needle.

To widen, knit the stitch but do not slip it off the left-hand needle, then knit the back half of same stitch and slip stitch off. To narrow, knit two stitches together. In some cases you narrow by what is called "slip and bind," which is sîip the stitch off from the left-hand needle on to right-hand needle, knit the next stitch and pull the slip stitch over the one just knit.

Our needles are gauged according to American gauge, which is not like the millimeter or foreign gauge. In ordinary knitting on No. 5 needles with Flosola (or Shetland Floss) there are 5 stitches to the inch and 5 ribs to the inch. With Cobweb Yarn there are 7 stitches to the inch and 6 ribs. With Knitola there are 4,5 stitches to the inch and 4 ribs to the inch.

Garments made of Silk Flosola will be a trifle larger than the plain Flosola. If one wishes to use any of the other yarns they will have no trouble in making the garment fit as desired if they will take the measurement of hips across back from hip bone to hip bone loosely, set up sufficient stitches for this, and then follow the directions.

Narrowing in crochet work: Instead of skipping a stitch, if in single crochet, draw loop through stitch, draw loop through next stitch, thread over, and draw through all three loops on needle. If double crochet, thread over needle, draw loop through stitch. thread over, draw through two loops on needle, thread over, draw loop through next stitch, thread over, draw through two loops on the needle, thread over, and draw through the three loops on needle.

Thread over: Throwing thread over the needle, which is knit as an extra stitch on next row and forms eyelet or open space.

 

ABBREVIATIONS USED

  • s.c. -single crochet.
  • d.c. -double crochet.
  • t.c. -treble crochet.
  • * -repeat work given between two stars.
  • ch. -chain.  
  • sl.st.-slip stitch.
  • st. -stitch.
  • p. -purl.
  • sts. -stitches.
  • k. -knit.
  • o.m.-open mesh.
  • cm.-closed mesh.
  • in, -inches.