The Book of Hats and Caps
9781465685384
213 pages
Library of Alexandria
Overview
All of these are made from good quality Wool, are full value at their prices, and give great satisfaction: still, the Peacock Qualities are universally admitted to be superior to any other, and they were Highly Commended and obtained a Certificate at the Sydney International Exhibition in 1879, in spite of the very large and extensive exhibits of numerous other makes and brands, all of which were deemed inferior. Ladies should be most particular to procure Peacock Qualities, or qualities under Peacock Brand if they desire their work to be of a superior kind. In presenting this book to the Public of useful Knitted and Crochet Articles, I wish to give a few suggestions with regard to the Wools used and the mode of washing them. No Wool is so cheap as the best. It is false economy (I have tested it constantly) to work with inferior Wools. From a very long and tried experience I have the greatest confidence in fully recommending Peacock Qualities; they are full measure, and extra good. If washed according to the directions I give, and not washed oftener than necessary, I have no doubt of their wear. Little children’s knitted garments should always be washed in the nursery, or at home. The following is an admirable method; but, where it can be done, all Knitting and Crochet should be “blocked” to dry. The “block” is a piece of evenly-planed hard wood—generally box-wood—cut the size and shape of the garment. In some cases the blocks are earthenware. Little feet, and models of children’s legs and feet, can be procured in nearly all sizes. The work, when washed and wringed, but not wrung, must be drawn on the blocks and left to dry quickly in a warm place. All fine Shetland, or other finely-combed and spun Wools, should be washed in a lather of bran—nosoap, unless very dirty. A gallon of boiling water should be poured over 1 lb. of bran, and the two stirred well together in a boiling state for five or six minutes; leave it in a pancheon or basin all night; in the morning pour off the water, make it lukewarm, wash your work in it, then rinse in lukewarm clean soft water and block till dry. Where you have not a block, cover a board with a clean cloth and pin the work out to dry. If the work is much soiled, take a little transparent soap (it is the most free from all injurious matters), mix into a lather in a little warm water, and gently wash the work in the lather (on no account rub the work with soap), rinse in cold water, and block.
