1862.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
Fig. 1. 
Impromptu Handkerchief Night-Cap. 
Night-caps should be worn when sleeping in 
a draft of air, but not otherwise. A very good 
and effective head covering may be made in 
half a minute by any person obliged to sit or 
sleep in a draft of air in a room, or while travel¬ 
ing in cars, or elsewhere, if he have a fair size 
pocket handkerchief, or piece of cloth. First — 
bring two edges together and then turn one edge 
back even with the fold. Second —Seize the fold¬ 
ed part in the two hands, and turn the handker¬ 
chief directly over from you. Then bring the two 
upper corners over towards you as seen in fig. 2. 
Third —Commencing at the side next to you, roll 
up the edge, as in fig. 3, so as to bring in and 
fastentlie two ends of the fold. Fov/rth —Raise 
the hands up, and a bagging portion will drop 
down, which 
is to be placed 
over the fore¬ 
head. Bring 
the rolled pait 
back over the 
head and a- 
round the 
neck, tying un¬ 
der the chin, 
as seen in fig. 
4.—Our artist 
seems to have caught sight of one of the “Zou¬ 
ave ” soldiers in the Park Barracks, while mak¬ 
ing the sketch. Or more probably he wished 
especially to attract the attention of soldiers, for 
they of all others will find this a most con¬ 
venient arrangement.—N. B. The Agriculturist 
claims no patent on this niglit-cap—it is free to 
all the world, and to the “ rest of mankind.” 
Knitting Mittens with one Finger. 
The direction for knitting socks published in 
the December Agricultwist are proving of great 
interest and value. We already hear of knitting 
circles started in various parts of the country, 
originated wholly from seeing our article and 
illustration. One subscriber informs us that he 
saw over thirty ladies at work knitting socks 
the other evening, with the Agriculturist before 
them as a guide. We are glad to hear thus 
much, and therefore take the more pleasure in 
now presenting directions for knitting mittens. 
Gloves, though convenient for working and 
driving, are very cold, as the fingers, when kept 
isolated, do not help keep each other warm. 
Still it is quite essential to have the free use of 
one finger in almost all kinds of work; and this 
is indispensable for soldiers in handling and 
using their fire-arms, during cold weather. 
Directions. —We present herewith (fig. 1) 
an engraving just liaif tlie size for an ordi- 
. nary mitten. ¥ani.—For Army Mittens, 
grey or blue mixed yarn, No. 20, or coarser, is 
recommended, though any color but white will 
do. They may be knitted or crotclieted. 
Knitting Needles. No. 15 are about the 
right size.— Weight, 3 ounces at least.— 
Length, 11 to Hi inches.— Width over palm 
of hand 41 to 4i inches.— Wrist, or CnlT. 
Put 22 stitches on each needle, of No. 20 yarn, 
or more or less if the yarn be finer or coarser 
than No. 20. Rib 2 to 21 inches for length of 
wrist or cuff.— TThiimh. Begin the thumb 
at A, by making 2 stitches for seams, and widen 
2 between seams, every four times round, until 
you have 20.—At B, drop 20 thumb stitches, and 
cast on 8 new stitches to increase width of hand. 
— 'B'o Finish Thumb, take up the 20 
stitches dropped at B , and add 8 new stitches.— 
Finger. At 0\ drop 16 stitches for finger, and 
cast on 8 new stitches.— To Finish Fisager, 
take up the 16 stitches dropped at C, and add 8 
new stitches.— To Finish lUaiad, begin to 
narrow at D, but keep the width well up to the 
end.—The exact directions for finishing off the 
thumb, finger, and hand, we can not give. Our 
engraved pattern will be a sufficient guide, re¬ 
membering that it is just half of the average size. 
Any person desiring a pattern of full size can 
receive one free of charge by addressing John 
J. Hinchman & Co., at 26 Vesey-st., N. Y. City, 
to whom we are indebted for the directions. 
Cloth Mittens with one Finger. 
These are very easily and cheaply made, and 
answer an excellent purpose. With a hand 
needle a woman can make up a dozen pairs or 
more in a day, and with the aid of a sewing 
machine the number may be more than quad¬ 
rupled. The cost of making is so little that it 
pays to use up even old cloth—the skirts and 
back of a coat, the wider portions of pantaloons 
etc. We have from the Office of the Willcox & 
Gibbs’ Sewing Machine Co., a full-size pattern, 
which we have reduced 
exactly one-fowrth. Only 
two pieces of cloth are 
required, though the 
cloth, if too small, may 
be pieced out before 
cutting. Cut the larger 
piece like Fig. 2. When 
folded over from the 
dotted line, a matches a, 
and / upon / forms the 
cot for the forefinger. 
The semicircular piece, t, is cut so far as marked, 
and then turned up against the inside of the 
thumb, giving a double thickness just where 
most used. Fig. 3, is a pattern for the thumb. 
Directions. —First sew the round piece (t) on 
to the outside of thumb (at *); then close up the 
thumb on the back, and fit it to its place (in tj) 
I where it must be firmly stitched. Next close 
the side and finger by stitching around. The 
directions before us advise to leave the edges of 
cloth outside as they shield the sewing, while this 
secures a better fit. It will not look so neatly, 
though the appearance is not of much account. 
The folding is to be one way for the right-hand, 
and the other way for the left-hand mitten 
A little practice with paper, and then with 
any cheap cloth, or common brown muslin, 
will enable any one to get a very neat pattern 
in an hour or two. Half a million pairs would 
doubtless be welcomed by the soldiers who are 
handling cold weapons in this chilly weather. 
If our girls will get up plenty of these mittens for 
their fathers and brothers, so that they can have 
