85 A FEJRST LESSON IN NKKDLEWORK CROCHET Choice of Cotton— Hook or Needle— First Stitches— C bain Stitch— Single Crochet— Double Crochet- Treble— Hairpin Work ^ROCHET dates from the sixteenth century. ^ About 1840 it became fashionable in England, and has ever since been one of the most popular kinds of work. All the elementary details for crochet are dealt with in this article. Choice of Cotton. — It varies in number from 000 to 60 — that is, from very coarse to very fine ; 26, 28, 30 are useful for ordinary purposes, and 36, 40, 50, and 60 for very fine work. Choice of Hook or Needle. — Choose a smooth one, and select it according to the thickness of the cotton. Hooks vary by half sizes, from i to 6, ^^ being a good medium size, price id. or 2d. Method of Holding the Work. — When working, hold the hook lightly in the right hand in a horizontal position, and with the left hand grasp the work and hold the last stitch between the thumb and forefinger. Put the cotton over first and second fingers, under the third, and over the little finger of the left hand (see illustration) . Remember it is dangerous to carry hooks about with- out a holder To Make a Very Simple and Pretty Hook-Protector. — Cover two medium-sized corks with a piece of silk, and work over them with different coloured crewel silks. French knots and feather stitching look well. On the top of corks -- sew round and round fine silk cord, and leave a strand be- tween a trifle longer than the crochet hook. Place the hook into centre of corks, and the cord keeps it in place. Method of Making a Chain Stitch (Fig. i). — Make a slip-knot (see sketch) , put needle through it, and cotton over hook, and draw it through loop on needle, and proceed in this manner for length of chain required. First Stitches (Fig. 2). — A foundation of chain is necessary for working all the stitches in to form the pattern. Double Foundation (^ig- 3)- — This is a row of chain and single crochet worked into it — tfiz., put the hook into a foundation Fig. 3 H stitch and draw the cotton through it, and the loop on nesdle at the same time. Cord Founda- Ti on Wo rked with Two Threads (Fig. 4). — Make a slip-knot, put hook through it. Do the same with another length of cotton, and put hook through it (two loops on needle), and draw through both loops with the cotton on the left-hand side ; then make one chain with the cotton on the right-hand side and one with the cotton on the left-hand side, and continue this alternately. Draw the cot- ton tightly after each stitch. Note. — This, if worked in black silk, makes a nice thick cord for eyeglasses or for draw-strings for work-bags, etc. Single Crochet (Fig. 5). — Put the hook through a founda- ^-, tion stitch, draw ^- ^^^f^ the cotton through ^^ it, and through the loop on hook at the same time. Double Cro- chet (Fig. 6). — Put the hook through a foundation stitch, draw the cotton through, put cotton over - needle, and draw it through both loops together. Half Treble (Fig. 7) . — Cotton over hook, put Fig. 6 ^^'^ hook through foundation stitch, draw it through; cotton again over hook and draw it through all three loops together. Treble (Fig. 8).- C o t t o n over hook, put hook into foun- d a t i o n stitch, draw cot- ton through (three loops on needle) , cotton over hook, and draw it through two loops ; cotton agam over hook and draw 7 ^ / ^ / ? n ^* through the '"^^'l^^P^dK -• ^^^^ ^^^'° loops. ^*K(^J^Jft^ Double ^WC^t^^^ Treble (Fig. 9). — Cotton twice over hook ; put hook through foun- dation stitch, draw cotton through, then cotton over and draw it through two loops ; cotton over, draw it through two
