For an Under Spencer.
Reading edition
For the sleeve, cast on 40 stitches, knit 6 rows plain knitting, seam and knit in twos 20 rows (the stripes at the beginning and ends will have 3 stitches), knit 6 rows plain knitting.
Seventh row:—Knit 3 stitches, bring the wool forward, knit 2 together, knit 4 stitches. Continue making a stitch, knitting 4 between, to the end of the row. Knit a stitch, increase a stitch, knit to within 2 stitches of the end, increase a stitch by knitting 2 in one loop. Continue increasing a stitch in every 6th row till there are 72 stitches; cast off 18 stitches, knit to the end of the row; cast off 18 more. Knit 2 together at the beginning of
For the back, begin at the waist by casting on 28 stitches, knit 3 plain rows, knit 3 stitches, bring the wool forward, knit 2 together, knit 6. Continue making a stitch, and knitting 6 between, to the end of the row; knit 6 rows, knit 3 stitches, increase 1 by knitting 2 in one loop, knit to within 4 stitches of the end, increase 1 as before, knit 3, the next row knit plain. Continue to increase a stitch till within 3 stitches of the beginning and end of the needle, every second row, till there are 82 stitches. The next row, knit 3 stitches, knit 2 together, knit till within 5 of the end of the row, knit 2 together, knit 3, knit 16 rows without increasing or decreasing (this is for the arm-hole); knit 3, knit 2 together, knit to within 5 of the end, knit 2 together, knit 3.
For the fronts, begin at the waist, cast on 52 stitches; knit 3 rows, knit 3 stitches, bring the wool forward, knit 2 together, knit 6. Continue to make a stitch, and knit 6 between, to the end of the row; knit 12 rows, knit (from the front) 11 stitches, increase a stitch by knitting 2 in 1, knit to the end of the row, knit 3 rows, knit 12 stitches, increase 1, knit to the end, knit 3 rows, knit 13 stitches, increase 1, knit to the end, knit 3 rows, knit 15 stitches, increase 1, knit to the end, knit 3 rows, knit 17 stitches, increase 1, knit to the end, knit 3 rows, knit 18 stitches, increase 1, knit to the end, knit 3 rows, knit 19 stitches, increase 1, knit to the end. Knit 3 rows, knit 20 stitches, increase 1, knit to the end. There should now be 61 stitches on the needle. Knit 8 rows, without
This is the beginning of the arm-hole. Knit 2 together at the beginning of each row at the arm-hole, until it is reduced to 37 stitches; knit 32 rows without increasing or diminishing; cast off 10 stitches from the front, knit a stitch, knit 2 together. Continue to decrease a stitch in front every row (inside the first stitch) till only 20 stitches remain. Leave off decreasing in front; knit to within 2 stitches of the end next the arm-hole; increase a stitch as before. Continue to do this every row till there are 27 stitches; knit a plain row, cast off, take up the stitches down one side of the spencer, knit 3 rows at one side, knit 3 stitches from the
For the button-holes, knit 5 rows, cast off, sew the back and fronts together, take up the stitches all round the neck, knit 3 rows, knit 4 stitches, bring the wool forward, knit 2 together, knit 6, make a stitch. Continue to make a stitch, and knit 6 between, to the end of the row. This is for a string to pass through, as are also the holes at the waist. Knit 8 rows, cast off, and sew in the sleeves.
This should be knit in No. 3 white lamb's-wool yarn and No. 14 steel pins.