An Opera Cap.

No. 10 needles--Double German wool, or three-thread fleecy.

Cast on eighty st.i.tches,--white.

Pearl one row, } white.

Knit one row, }

Pearl one row,--coloured. In the next row,--

Bring the wool before the needle, and knit two st.i.tches together.

Pearl one row, } white.

Knit one row, }

Pearl one row, } white.

Knit one row, }

The above forms the border.

_First division_--coloured.

Pearl one row.

Knit one row, decreasing one st.i.tch at each end.

Knit one row.

Knit a fancy row, by bringing the wool forward, and knitting two st.i.tches together.

_Second_--white.

Pearl one row, decreasing one st.i.tch at each end.

Knit one row, decreasing two st.i.tches at each end.

Knit one row, decreasing one st.i.tch at each end.

Knit a fancy row as before.

_Third_--coloured.

Pearl one row, decreasing one st.i.tch at each end.

Knit one row, decreasing one st.i.tch at each end.

Knit one row, _without_ decreasing.

Knit the fancy row as before.

_Fourth_, _Fifth_, _Sixth_, _Seventh_--

The third division is to be repeated, alternately with white and coloured wool.

_Eighth_--white. _Ninth_--coloured.

In these two last divisions, only two st.i.tches are to be decreased in each; this is to be done in the row after the pearl,--decreasing one st.i.tch at each end.

N.B. There should be forty-six st.i.tches left on the needle in the last row.

Pick up thirty st.i.tches on each side, and make the borders at the sides and back like that in front.

Make up the cap by turning in the border to the fancy row, and hem it all round: it is to be tied behind, and under the chin, with ribbons or plaited wool, with ta.s.sels of the same.

A Sontag, or Cephaline

The border for this cap is worked the same as the preceding,--casting on one hundred and two st.i.tches;--single German wool;--No. 15 needles.

Knit one row in white, to bring the pearl on the right side. Then,--

With the darkest shade, bring the wool round the needle, pearl two together; pearl one.--Repeat to the end of the row.

In the next row--bring the wool forward, knit two together; knit one.--Repeat to the end of the row.

Knit forty-two rows in the same manner, taking in one st.i.tch at the end of almost every row, so that the number of st.i.tches in the last row is reduced to seventy-two, taking care to keep the pattern regular, and changing the colour every two rows.

Take up forty st.i.tches, on each side, and knit one row of white round all the three sides: knit another row to make the pearl, and finish the border with white and coloured wool, as in the preceding cap. Finish with ribbons, or cords and ta.s.sels.

The border is knitted in white, and the middle shade of whatever colour is used in the head piece. This is prettiest in five distinct shades of any colour, with one or two rows of white between each division of shade.

A Bonnet Cap.