TO KNITTERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 June 1922, Page 10

TO KNITTERS.

SOME USEFUL AND PRACTICAL HINTS. Knitting seems to be as popular a pastime as ever.' in fact more and more women seem to become imbued with its fascination. There are frequent knitting competitions which are largely patronised, and the variety in knitted jumpers is amazing. A knitting expert gives below some hints founded on experience which will be useful to knitters generally. Above all, cleanliness is essential. Even in these days it is no uncommon thing to see some women knitting choice garments without a cloth on their knees to protect the delicate work from their dresses. And they are annoyed when told their work is ■soiled! Cast on with two needles only in the case of a ribbed garment or where elasticity is required. Casting on with one needle and the tjjumb gives a much neater edge and is the method which should be more frequently used. Cast off loosely. Dozens of garments are spoilt just been use the stitches are east off 100 lighLiy. If there is any difficulty in this respect a jiair of thicker needles should be used for the purpose. Always increase, or decrease for shaping, on the third stitch from either end of the needle—never on the end stitch as this spoils the for sewing up. Never join with knots, but knit the wool double for about six stitches. If two colors are being used leave the ends loose and run them in afterwards with a darning needle. Wool should never be wound into a hard ball as this will ruin its texture and make it thin. Wind loosely over two or three fingers, withdrawing the latter at frequent intervals so as to change the position of the ball and keep it symmetrical. Experienced knitters will find great interest in making some original garment. It is a good plan to study the ordinary fashion books, and, a choice of garment being made, work to the paper pattern. First knit a small piece of fabric for a guide; measure the stitches and ridges per inch and from them it will be easy to calculate the number of stitches required for the different parts of the garment. And, what is more, nobody also will have one like it. —Daily Mail.

NEW YORK’S NIGHT LIFE. ORIENTAL PRINCE’S VIEWS. IN QUEST OF BEAUTY The night life of New York is the fastest in the world up to midnight and the slowest in the world thereafter, according to Prince Mohammed Ali Ibrahim. who discussed, before leaving for California, the quality of the entertainment afforded after sundown in the great cities of the world. “New York has a gayer night life than Paris while it lasts, but I like it better,” said the Prince; but he added that the gaiety disappeared like Cinderella when the clock started to strike twelve.

“Berlin is? dead,” observed the Prince. “Vienna is dead and gone and will never come back. Paris is the only European city with a night life.” New York nights would be pleasantest of all. according to the Prince, if the inhabitants did not miscalculate the duration of night by seven or eijjfht hours. The Prince, who is 22, rich, and a sportsman, is touring the world, according to account's, to make a scientific survey of the amusements which the planet affords to those with plenty of time and money, and to make a comparative study of the beautiful women of all nations. He declined to pass a final opinion on the speed of the life in different cities until he has completed his tour. The Prince has oth,er regions to visit, and, marked with a red cross on his Californian itinerary is Hollywood.

The Prince, who is an enthusiast on prize-fighting, does not drink, according to his bodyguard, first, because he is a pidus Mohammedan, and secondly, because he keeps constantly in training, so that he makes his studies of beauty and gaiety with a- sober and impartial observation.

New York easily beats off the palm for beautiful women, according to this Oriental. From seats in hotel lobbies, from boxes in the theatre, behind the scenes, in restaurants, and on the streets, the Price has studied them with the enthusiasm and scientific severity of an archaeologist studying ancient medals, gems and bronzes.

Like the bus driver who spent his Sundays and holidays riding with other bus drivers, the Prince has been spending a large part Of his time hunting up Oriental atmosphere in New York. He paid a visit behind the scenes at every theatrical production which he attended in New York, in ortfer to verify his impressions about American actresses. He talks English almost like a native.

“Call me anything,” are the Prince’s opening words, because the first words put to him are what to call him. He has not had time, however, to put anyone in New York sufficiently at ease to address him as Mohammed or “Mo.” Although a Prohibitionist himself, he circulated the information to a limited circle that he carried with him quite a cellar of champagne and sixty-year-old brandy.

One of his trials was that many young women . fled at his approach, partly because of rumors that the young Oriental carried on wholesale kidnapping operations for his harem. “Our harems have been abolished more than a hundred ydars,” said the Prince.