From Exercises in Knitting by Cornelia Mee. Original text at Project Gutenberg.
Updated Version
Materials
5 colors of dk weight yarn and a pair of 4mm needles needles
Abbreviations
CO = Cast on
yo = yarn over – bring the yarn over the top of the right hand needle, wind it around the needle and bring it back to the front.
p2tog = purl two stitches together
BO = Bind off
CA = yarn color A (the lightest color)
CB = yarn color B
CC = yarn color C
CD = yarn color D
CE = yarn color E (the darkest color)
Stripe Pattern
With CA, CO 80
Rows 1-3: knit to end
Row 4: *yo, p2tog; repeat from * to end
Change to CB
Rows 5-7: knit to end
Row 8: *p2tog, yo; repeat from * to end
Change to CC
Row 9-11: knit to end
Row 12: *yo, p2tog; repeat from * to end
Change to CD
Row 13-15: knit to end
Row 16: *p2tog, yo; repeat from * to end
Change to CE
Rows 17-19: knit to end
Row 20: *yo, p2tog; repeat from * to end
Change to CD
Rows 21-23: knit to end
Row 24: *p2tog, yo; repeat from * to end
Change to CC
Row 25-27: knit to end
Row 28: *yo, p2tog; repeat from * to end
Change to CB
Row 29-31: knit to end
Row 32: *p2tog, yo; repeat from * to end
Repeat Rows 1-32, three more times
Change to CA
Repeat Rows 1-3
BO all
The muff should be lined with two layers of satin, between which layers of horse hair and stuffing are used to hold the shape of the muff and provide extra warmth.
Other versions of this pattern published say to cast on 70 or 80 stitches, and to finish off the ends with tassels or ribbon, since the muff was designed to hung around the neck.