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Old-Fashioned Shell Tidy

Mockup of the old fashioned shell tidy from Home Work, published in 1891

The sample was knit with fingering weight cotton on 2mm needles, but I’d suggest 3mm needles because the fabric is a bit tight. The sample shown here is a mockup of a full tidy (I only knit a swatch because of the tightness of the fabric on 2mm needles).

Pattern

In Words

Cast on 73 or 96 sts (a multiple of 23 + 4 extra)

1st row: K2, *(k2tog) 4 times, (yo, k1) 7 times, yo, (k2tog) 4 times; repeat from * until 2 sts remain, k2
2nd row: Purl
3rd row: Knit
4th row: Purl

Rows 1-4 form pattern. Repeat for desired length.

Trim with edging or fringe.

Charted

Cast on 73 or 96 sts (a multiple of 23 + 4 extra). Sample was knit over 96 sts

Commence from row 1 of chart

Chart for knitting the old fashioned shell tidy from Home Work, published 1891

Rows 1-4 form pattern. Repeat for desired length.

Trim with edging or fringe.