Exercises in Knitting

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

21032

Title

Exercises in Knitting

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Cornelia Mee's 'Exercises in Knitting' offers a comprehensive guide to creating intricate textile items using double knitting, netting, and crochet techniques. The book provides detailed instructions for crafting chair covers, shawls, pelisses, and accessories, utilizing specific patterns like the German Open Double Knitting and Spider-Net. With clear step-by-step directions for casting on stitches, managing color changes, and finishing with fringes, this volume serves as an essential manual for 19th-century domestic craft, appealing to those seeking to master complex stitch work...

Summary up to 500 words

Published in 1846, Cornelia Mee's *Exercises in Knitting* serves as a definitive instructional manual for producing domestic and fashion items ranging from doilies to Shetland shawls. The text emphasizes adaptability, noting that while colored wools are standard for chair covers, white linen thread is recommended for white projects. Mee details twelve distinct chair cover patterns, such as the 'German Pattern of Open Double Knitting' and the 'Beautiful Diamond Pattern,' specifying precise stitch counts, wool types like four-threaded German wool, and specific color sequences. Beyond furniture, the volume offers extensive instructions for baby caps, muffins, mittens, and functional items like carpet hooks and purses, often incorporating decorative elements like beads and silk tassels. A significant portion is dedicated to shawls, featuring designs for Shetland, netted, and feather styles that utilize large wooden pins and fine white wool for centers. The manual also guides readers through complex garments like the 'Very elegant Knitted Pelisse,' which features a white border imitating ermine and requires careful management of rib decreases to shape the bodice. Instructions for counterpanes utilize raised knitting and cross-stitch patterns on open stripes, while edgings, collars, and shawl borders ensure a complete resource for professional results. Throughout, Mee stresses the importance of precise stitch counts, the alternation of plain and patterned rows, and the reversal of color shades to achieve rich visual effects. The book concludes with patterns for various borders and edgings, ensuring the reader possesses a comprehensive guide for executing diverse knitting projects with professional precision.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/21032.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg21032.epub

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Downloaded at

2026-07-06 03:00 UTC

Categories

• Needlework
• Crafts