This is a facsimile reprint of the first edition of The Knitting Teacher’s Assistant Designed for the Use of the National Girls’ School, London: Printed for J. Hatchard, Bookseller to the Queen, No. 190, Opposite Albany, Piccadilly, 1817. It can be obtained from http://robinstokes.com/books.htm

The book is an instruction manual, all in text, for teaching the technique of knitting stockings. Four different sizes are given, with a stich-count chart for five sizes for stockings and three sizes for socks. Since this is an historical pattern, no needles sizes or gauge/tension is given although the suggestion of “large needles” in this case most likely means moving slightly above the sizes of extremely thin or wire-like needles. The language of the pattern is in early knitting terms which are easily understood or can be with the assistance of knitting glossaries available on the internet or in knitting/needlework publications from the 1820s-1860s.

There are some variations in technique which are very interesting but no part of the patterns is difficult and the stockings knit up quickly.