Ladies' Knit Gaiters, 1857

Ladies' Knitted Gaiters, Godey's Lady's Book, 1857

*pattern corrected 7/27/08*

Notes: The term "seamed" here means "purled." A modern seven-stitch cable can be substituted for the old method worked in Rows 24 and 25.

Materials: Three half-ounce skeins of 4-thread German wool, and pins, (single-pointed knitting needles) No. 14 (US size 0), are required.

These gaiters are frequently done in cotton, when the wool is found unpleasant to the skin. Then use No. 10 knitting cotton.


Cast on 87 stitches.
1st Row--Knit.
2d.--Seamed.
3d.--Knit.
4th--Knit 9, *knit 2 together, knit 2 together, knit 7, repeat from *.
5th--Seamed.
6th.--Knit 4, *make 1, knit 1, make 1, knit 2, knit 2 together, knit 2 together, knit 2, repeat from *.
7th.--Seamed.
8th.--Knit 5, *make 1, knit 1, make 1, knit 2, knit 2 together,
knit 2 together, knit 2, repeat from *.
9th.--Seamed.
10th.--Knit 6, *make 1, knit 1, make 1, knit 8, repeat from *.
11th.--Seamed.
12th.--Knit.
13th.--Knit.
14th.--Seamed.
15th.--Knit.
16th.--(The pattern now divides by 9; and there should be 90 stitches on the pin.)--*Make 1, knit 2 together, knit 7, repeat from *.
17th.--*Make 1, seam 2 together, seam 7.
Repeat the last two rows alternately till 23 rows are done.
24th.--*Make 1, knit 2 together, slip off 3 stitches on to another pin, knit 4, repeat from *.
25th.--*Make 1, seam 2 together, taking the first of the 4 and the first of the 3 on the other pin together, seam the 2 stitches on the other pin, then seam the 3 remaining from the 4, seam 1, repeat from stitch, the repeat from 16th row five times more, then repeat from 16th row once, increasing 1 at the beginning of every row. These stitches are kept plain at the edge, and must not interfere with the pattern. Then knit once from the 16th row, decreasing 1 stitch at the beginning of every row. This will bring the stitches to the original number. *Knit 2 together, knit 7, repeat from * next row, * seam 2 together, seam 6, repeat from *.
Seam 1 row, knit 1 row, seam 1 row, next row, seam 2 and knit 2 stitches alternately.
Knit 42 rows like the last, knitting the stitches that were seamed in the previous row, and seaming those that were knit. This makes the knitting ribbed, and tightens it in for the ankle.
43rd.--Seam 2 and knit 2 alternately, till 16 stitches are done; then pick up a stitch and knit it; knit till within 16 of the end, and increase another stitch in the same way; knit to the end, seaming and knitting 2 alternately as before.
44th and 45th same as 43rd; but the increased stitches must not interfere with the ribs.
Repeat these 2 rows till 6 stitches are increased on each side, then let off 24 stitches on each side on to another pin, and knit the remaining stitches backwards and forwards in ribs as before, till 12 rows are done; decrease 1 stitch at the beginning and end of the next row.
Knit 8 more rows, and decrease again; then knit 4 rows more, take up 16 stitches down the side of the toe to meet the 24 stitches that were let off, put them all on to one pin, take up 16 stitches on the other side, and take the 24 stitches on the other pin also on to the same.
Knit 4 plain rows, and cast off. Sew back seam. A leather strap fastened to the little gore on each side of the foot completes the gaiter.