Instructions for Body Belts

From the North Wales Chronicle, 2nd October 1914.

KNITTED BELTS FOR OUR SOLDIERS. 

(To the Editor).
Sir.—I should be much obliged if you would be so good as to insert this letter and enclosure in the Pioneer.  We have all seen the appeal made by the Queen to forward Lord Kitchener's request for 300,000 woven or knitted belts for the men on active service.  Many women are wishing to set to work at once or to employ and pay women in need of work in making them.  The following is a copy of the officially approved receipt for knitted belts. It gives 3 different sizes.—Yours. etc.,
ALICE DOUGLAS-PENNANT,
Chessington, Surrey.

DIRECTIONS FOR HAND-KNITTED WOOLLEN BELTS.

Width of belt at edges when folded and length:
Size I.      Size II.      Size III.
9 ins. wide    10 ins. wide     11 ins. wide
12 ins. long  12½ ins. long   13 ins. long

Needles: Nos. 16 and 10 (four needles of each).
Worsted: 4-ply fingering.  Amount required, 2 to 3 ounces.
Colour: Natural shades.
Size I. : -- With No. 16 needles cast on 234 stitches, knit 1 plain, 1 purl, for 3 inches.  Now with No. 10 needles, knit 1 plain, 1 purl, for 6 inches.  Now again take No. 16 needles and knit 1, purl 1, for 3 inches.
Size II. :-- With No 16 needles cast on 260 stitches, knit 1 plain, 1 purl, for 3 inches.  Now take No. 10 needles and knit l plain, 1 purl, for  6 ½ inches. Now again take No. 16 needles and knit 1 plain. 1 purl, for 3 inches.
Size III. :—With No. 16 needles cast on 286 stitches, knit 1 plain, 1 purl, for 3 inches. Now take No. 10 needles, knit 1 plain, 1 purl, for 7 inches. Now again take No. 16 needles and knit 1 plain, 1 purl, for 3 inches.
The size to be marked on each belt. All parcels to be marked “Woollen Belts," and addressed to the Lady in Waiting to the Queen, Devonshire House, Picadilly, London.

[In spite of the Surrey address, Alice Douglas-Pennant was the daughter of Lord Penrhyn, of Penrhyn Castle in North Wales (now owned by the National Trust).  I imagine you were supposed to know that.  Perhaps she had sent the same letter  to several newspapers, hence the reference to the Pioneer.

The body belts instructions are extremely long-winded, but at least they give any knitter a very clear idea of what's required.  The sizes are astonishingly small - the same sizes were specified for woven belts, which would not stretch very much.  Even if they were very close-fitting, they would have to be worm by very slender men.]