Is it necessary to follow standardized patterns?
No. The Admiralty wants women to realize that as long as garments are warm and well-made, and are in navy blue (in every case except stockings, which are to be in natural wool), the choice of pattern is left to knitter at this stage.
If detailed knitting directions are needed, are official ones available?
Not yet. They will be, later. Meanwhile, the Admiralty approves the patterns for woollies for the Navy Published by leading wool firms and obtainable at wool shops.
What are the best needles and wools to use?
These vary with the garment. In the case of the Balaclava helmets, for instance, which many women wish to make, four No. 6 knitting needles with Points at both ends, and three-ply wool, For seaboot stockings also use three ply wool and four No. 10 knitting needles with points at both ends.
If three-ply wool is used for mittens the correct needles will be four No. 11, with points at both ends, A famous passage in Sir P. Warwick's "Memoirs" related how, shortly before the Civil War, "we had Catched at each other's locks and sheathed our swords in each other's bowels had not the sagacity and great calmness of Mr. Hampden...prevented it a forecast most decidedly "unparliamentary" conduct. it is said to have been about 1720 when fine gentlemen gave up wearing swords for their strolls abroad in favour of the walking-stick; the carrying of an umbrella was as yet regarded as effeminate. Now, says "Townsend, "custom has completely reconciled us to this useful appendage, and effeminacy can no more be imputed now to the bearer of an About to A umbrella than valour would be argued of one who should attach to a A in which army is going to produce are sure to be of the highest order, judging his side the rusty sword of the mer are advancing on their work. They are boys from a Puritan." school in Worthing about to prepare the ground for a new crop of greens.
That passage may well have pleased John Bright, who was privileged to attend Levees' swordless. Harcourt, admitted. It has nevertheing swords at their sides; a custom dressing in a hurry, once forgot his one good effect—at least one which sometimes led to dangerous sword, and ras stopped. He pointed will be good—in opening rencontres on days of stirring debate to Bright, "Mr, Bright is a Quaker," our eyes to the shortcomings of our and after sharp altercation in the he was reminded, "So am I—today," ional education, which, be it re-committee-rooms at their evening said Harcourt, brushing past. membered, is far and away the most mortar building the most perfectly equipped schools imaginable. What we get out of them is another mat-
It would of course be unfair and
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.