Exercises in Knitting


Read by LibriVox Volunteers

(4.8 stars; 5 reviews)

Mrs. Mee, her husband, and her sister ran a yarn and needlework import/warehouse business in Bath, England. Her books primarily contain practical everyday items that knit up quickly with the busy homemaker in mind. At this time, published knitting "receipts" did not contain abbreviations and were laborious to use. They were, however, rich in error!

Later in her career, due to circumstances of war and the resulting social stress and poverty, many of her knitting books were printed for ladies' charitable societies, which used her knitting "receipts" to clothe the poor mill workers who were out of work due to the American Civil War and the embargo of cotton.

In addition to recording the original patterns, LibriVox knitters have also knitted samples of these patterns, displayed at the KnitWiki, and have attempted to condense and clarify the patterns for the enjoyment of modern day knitters. (Summary by Brenda Price)
(2 hr 53 min)

Chapters

Chair Cover 1 - German Pattern of Open Double Knitting, both Sides alike 2:06 Read by Sarah Jennings
Chair Cover 2 - Nun's Pattern 1:41 Read by Karen Savage
Chair Cover 3 - Viennoise Pattern 1:50 Read by Karen Savage
Chair Cover 4 - Beautiful Coral Pattern 5:44 Read by Betsie Bush
Chair Cover 5 - Beautiful Diamond Pattern 2:33 Read by Karen Savage
Chair Cover 6 - Pretty Feather Pattern 1:13 Read by Karen Savage
Chair Cover 7 - Rose-Leaf Pattern 3:52 Read by Betsie Bush
Chair Cover 8 - Pretty Spider-Net Pattern, with Open Work between 5:22 Read by Betsie Bush
Chair Cover 9 - Shield Pattern, surrounded with Open Work 4:56 Read by Sarah Jennings
Chair Cover 10 - Canvass Pattern 1:46 Read by Sarah Jennings
Chair Cover 11 - Leaf Pattern 3:41 Read by Kristin LeMoine
Chair Cover 12 - Another Leaf Pattern 4:04 Read by Gesine
Narrow Vandyke Edging 3:03 Read by Betsie Bush
For a Baby's Hood—very pretty 3:22 Read by Betsie Bush
Very Pretty Pattern for a Fish Serviette 2:34 Read by Karen Savage
Two pretty Fringes for Chair Covers, &c; 1:51 Read by Sarah Jennings
New Pattern for Lace Edging 2:42 Read by Kara Shallenberg (1969-2023)
Sugar-Plum Stitch 1:16 Read by Betsie Bush
Leaf Pattern for Half-Square Shawl 5:18 Read by Erin Hastings
Baby's Shoe and Stocking 3:31 Read by Betsie Bush
Shell Pattern for a Baby's Cap 5:28 Read by vickienj
For a Knitted Bodice 2:33 Read by Lizzie Driver
Pretty Open Pattern 1:48 Read by Gesine
Shell Knitting for a Bag, in German Wool 2:54 Read by Betsie Bush
Pretty Pattern for Basket Serviettes 1:44 Read by Gesine
Oriental Mat, or Hookah Carpet 2:05 Read by Anne Cheng
Very elegant Knitted Pelisse 4:57 Read by Jennie Hughes
Half Cap for Wearing under a Bonnet 2:58 Read by Betsie Bush
For a Muff 2:13 Read by sharknit
A Swiss Pattern for the Top of a Mitten or Muffatee 1:16 Read by Alex Whittaker
Beautiful Pattern for a Shetland Shawl 2:38 Read by Jennifer Stearns
For a Comforter 1:18 Read by Kathy Jacobs
For Another Comforter 1:01 Read by Tonia
Raised Knitting, a kind of Bell Pattern, for a Counterpane 2:43 Read by Sarah Jennings
For a Knitted Penwiper 3:04 Read by Betsie Bush
Beautiful Pattern for a Scarf 5:18 Read by Sarah Jennings
Twisted Knitting 1:00 Read by Tonia
A Pretty Pattern for a Baby's Shoe 3:56 Read by Betsie Bush
Pretty Open Diamond Border 1:36 Read by Tonia
Honeycomb Cuffs 1:37 Read by Betsie Bush
Fan-Pattern Knitting for a Mitten 3:14 Read by Betsie Bush
Corkscrew Muffatees 1:44 Read by Betsie Bush
Gentlemen's Cuffs: an Excellent Pattern 1:14 Read by Anne Cheng
Receipt for a Stocking 11:48 Read by Betsie Bush
For a Brioche 2:26 Read by Betsie Bush
Very Pretty Vandyke Border 6:56 Read by Betsie Bush
For Children's Gaiters 1:44 Read by Erica Sims
For an Under Spencer 6:11 Read by Betsie Bush
Netted Shawl 1:49 Read by Betsie Bush
Another Pretty Pattern for a Knit Purse 1:14 Read by vickienj
For a Knitted Collar 14:20 Read by Betsie Bush
Pretty Feather-Pattern for the Border of a Shawl 1:04 Read by Betsie Bush
Open Diamond Pattern for the Centre of a Shawl 4:10 Read by Betsie Bush
Fan Pattern 1:27 Read by Gesine