by throwing the thread once round
the needle and in the next row knitting it as an ordinary stitch.

[Illustration: 292.--Increasing.]

293.--_To Decrease_.

This is done in two ways: _firstly_, taking up two stitches and knitting
them together as one; _secondly_, by taking up a stitch without knitting
it, called slipping, then by knitting the following stitch in the usual
way, and then slipping the 1st (unknitted) over the 2nd (knitted) (see
No. 293). When it is necessary to decrease two stitches at once, proceed
thus:--Slip one, knit two stitches together, then slip the unknitted
stitch over the two knitted together.

[Illustration: 293.--Decreasing.]

294.--_Round Knitting_.

To knit a round four or five needles are used; it is thus that
stockings, socks, cuffs, mittens, &c., are made. To knit with four
needles, cast on, say, 32 stitches upon one needle, insert a second
needle in the last stitch of the first, and cast on 30 stitches; proceed
in a similar way with a third needle, but casting on 28 only; when this
is done, knit the two extra stitches on the first needle on to the last;
this makes 30 stitches upon each needle, and completes the round.

295.--_Casting Off_.

Knit two stitches, and with the left-hand needle slip the first stitch
over the second; continue this to the end of the row. _Note_.--The last
knitted row, before casting off, should be knitted loosely.

296.--_To Pick up a Stitch_.

This is done by taking up the thread between two stitches and forming a
stitch with it.

* * * * *

The following Designs of New Stitches can be used for a variety of
work:--

297.--_Peacock's Tail Pattern_.

Needles, wood or ivory; Messrs. Walter Evans and Co.'s knitting cotton.

[Illustration: 297.--Peacock's Tail Pattern.]

Cast on a number of stitches divisible by nine, as it takes nine
stitches for each pattern, and two for each border; the border, which
is in plain knitting, will not be mentioned after the first row.

1_st Row_.--2 plain for border; 2 plain *, make 1, 1 plain, repeat this
four times from *, make 1, 2 plain; repeat from the beginning--then 2
plain for border.

2_nd Row_.--2 purl, 11 plain, 2 purl; repeat.

[Illustration: 298.--Spiral Stitch.]

3_rd Row_.--Take 2 together, 11 plain, take 2 together; repeat.

4_th Row_.--Purl 2 together, purl 9, purl 2 together; repeat.

5_th Row_.--Take 2 together, 7 plain, take 2 together.

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