h or
loop, transfer the stitch to the left needle by bringing the latter in
front and putting the point through the loop from front to back, leaving
the right needle in place for the next stitch; the loops are not slipped
off, as in knitting plain, but transferred, so that all are kept on the
needle. A little practise will enable one to cast on thus very rapidly
and evenly.

[Illustration: Figure 2. Knitting Plain]

The plain knitting (Figure 2), is done as follows: Having cast on the
requisite number of stitches, insert the right needle through the front
of left needle from left to right, the right needle passing behind the
left; carry the thread around point of right needle and bring it down
between the two needles, then draw the point of right needle back and
through the stitch, forming the new stitch on right needle and letting
the other slip off the left, pushing down the point of left needle to
facilitate this process; repeat until all the stitches are knitted off
and the row is complete. Where there are edges to be joined, as in
knitting back and fronts of a sweater, it is a good plan to slip the
first stitch of each row.

Right here a suggestion about the method of holding the thread may be of
value: By the first method the thread is carried over the little finger
of right hand, under second and third fingers and over the tip of the
forefinger, which should be held close to the work; it is this finger
which passes the thread over point of right needle for the new stitch.
By another method the thread is carried over the left forefinger, under
second and third and over the little finger, exactly as it is held for
crocheting: insert the right needle through 1st stitch on left needle in
usual way, push it over the thread on left forefinger, and draw this
back through the stitch with the point of right needle. Only the needle
is held in the right hand, and many workers claim that the work is much
more rapidly done.

[Illustration: Figure 3. Purling]

The purl- or seam-stitch (Figure 3) is the exact reverse of plain
knitting, both as to method of work and appearance, being in reality the
wrong side of plain knitting. In the latter the thread is kept at the
back of the work; for purling, bring it to the front between the two
needles. Put the point of right needle through the front of 1st stitch
on left needle from right to left, the right needle being thus brought
in front of the left; pass the thread around the