The Drawing-Room Magazine or Ladies Book of Fancy Needlework and Choice Literature

Published in 1848, The Drawing-Room Magazine or Ladies Book of Fancy Needlework and Choice Literature, Vol. 1, does not list an author.  I did notice that all of the netting patterns listed below, except for the first Netted Doily on page 6, were designed by Mrs. Warren.

Volume 1 includes six netting patterns.  The digitized copy does not stop at the end of Volume 1.  Instead it continues and includes Volume 2.  Volume 2 includes two more netting patterns.  There is also an illustration of the completed item for most of those patterns.

Volume 1

1. Netted Doily (page 6)
2. Netted Under Sleeve And Cuff (page 33)
3. Knitted Opera Cap with Netted Border (page 34)
4. Neck Tie in Grecian Netting (page 69)
5. Pattern for Darning a Netted Bread Cloth, Netted Square (page 99)
6. Piece of Netted Lace (page 202)

Volume 2

1. Netted Doyley for a Center, or a Top Dessert Dish (page 2)
2. Netted Dessert Doyley or Bread Cloth (page 38)

I'm still trying out different patterns and different types of cord for a laundry bag. This week I tried some type 1 parachute cord. Just like the Twisted Polypropylene Rope from last week, this type of parachute cord did not hold the netting knot very well. I finally had to resort to heating each knot to make it hold its shape. I used a heat gun, but an iron would have worked just as well.
This laundry bag could hang permanently from a rod or hook; therefore, the bottom of the bag is made to open and close so the clothes can drop out of the bag when it is time to empty it.  I originally made this bag for one of my young sons.  Space in his room was at a premium, so I hung his laundry bag on the back of his bedroom door.

This time when I made the bag I attached a drawstring and cord lock to both the top and bottom openings.

Bag with top up

Closeup of bag top

Closeup of bottom of bag

Bag with bottom up

On a more seasonal note, I received an email today from someone in Brazil who also makes netting.  She sent me a link to some beautiful Christmas netting done by Enza in Italy.  Netting is truly world-wide.

Our Christmas Poem - 2012

Here is the latest of our annual Christmas poems.  Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from our family.

Perfect Praise

The final rehearsal has come to a close,
But we’ll not be leaving till everyone knows
When we will be singing, when we will perform
So we’ll be prepared in our very best form.

Shhhh.  Everyone listen.  Now what did they say?
We’re performing tonight!  There’s no time for delay!
Before we perform I must be at my best.
Where’s my special outfit?  It needs to be pressed.

But that being said, I perceive and confess
There are things more important than my outward dress.
If the light in my soul can reflect on my face,
Then I ought to let God fill my soul with His grace!

While my voice tries to blend in harmonious accord
With the choir, is my own heart in tune with the Lord?
Though my technique be flawless, do I also take care
To serve God and all others with pure love and prayer?

While I must admit that I wouldn't mind perfection
In wardrobe and voice, still I hope the inspection
Of what is unseen but of greater import
May, with God’s loving grace, not be found to fall short.

The moment’s arrived!  It’s time that we bring
Ourselves to the place where we’re going to sing.
Now that I’m dressed in my grandest attire,
I’ll warm up my voice for my part in the choir.

Oh look.  Here’s the field where we’re supposed to perform;
The sky’s full of stars; there’s no sign of a storm.
Oh where is the audience?  No one’s in view
Except for some sheep and a few shepherds too.

The choir has all gathered; we’re ready to start
Once it’s been explained that we’re here to impart
Good news to all beings above and below,
Glad tidings that angels and mortals should know.

Proclaim to these herdsmen!  Sing out ye vast throng!
Our Savior is born!   Let’s praise him in glad song!
Sing grand alleluias that all men may hear,
That they may rejoice and be filled with good cheer!

The Lady's Album of Fancy Work

This week I've chosen to list the netting patterns found in The Lady's Album of Fancy Work.  This book has no author listed.  It was published in 1849.  Another digitized copy of this book with a publication date of 1850 is available through Project Gutenberg.  This book also includes a sketch for each of the netting patterns.

The netting patterns include:

1. Cover for Music Stool (page 10, item 9)
2. Net for the Hair (page 15, item 16)
3. Lady's Silk Mitten (page 24, item 28)
4. Opera Hood (page 25, item 31)
5. Cover for Fruit-Dish (page 30, item 37)

A few weeks ago I was asked about making a net laundry bag.  I've made a few over the years, but not recently.  I had used medium weight household string for the one I made for my oldest son when he went to college.  That was back in the days before I had a digital camera, so I did not have a photo of that pattern. I needed to make another one so I could get a photo of that pattern.  I tried to find some 1/16" cord.  At a local hardware store I located some Twisted Polypropylene Rope that was the right diameter. The only color they had was pink. The cord was even "specially treated to knot securely." I guess the sheet bend does not qualify as a knot since, after the netting sat for a few minutes, the sheet bends would start to slide apart. I finally took the suggestion of a friend and ironed the knots, after pulling them tight one more time. The heat from the iron melted the knots just enough to hold them in place.

net laundry bag with grommet at the bottom of the bag

The bag was made using circular netting.  The photo on the left shows the grommet at the bottom of the bag.

The photo on the right shows the top of the bag, which is fastened with a black cord lock.  I used  brown type I parachute cord to go through the final round of loops and attach to the cord lock.

The Lady's Book of Useful and Ornamental Knitting and Netting Work by Miss Ronaldson

The digitized netting book for this week comes to us through Google Books.  I really appreciate the efforts that are being made to put these older books on-line for all to access.  Years ago, when I was trying to find netting patterns, if the book was not in your local library, you were unable to see it.  Now, with a few key strokes I can view so many.  The version of The Lady's Book of Useful and Ornamental Knitting and Netting Work by Miss Ronaldson that is on-line was published in 1847.

The netting patterns she includes are:

1. Netted Flower-Stand with a Frill (page 80, item #43)
2. Small Netted Stand for a Glass of Flowers (page 81, item #44)
3. Another Small Netted Stand  (page 82, item #45)
4. Netted Ribbon for the Neck (page 83, item #46)
5. Very Pretty Netted Scarf (page 84, item #47)
6. Netted Cover for a Salver (page 85, item #48)
7. Netted Window Curtain (page 86, item #49)
8. Netted Pie Napkin (page 87, item #50)
9. Round Netted Wine Rubber (page 88, item #51)
10. Netted Wine Rubbers (page 89, item # 520)
11. Handsome Netted Shawl (page 90, item #53)
12. Netted Cuffs, with a Frill (page 90, item #54)
13. A Very Pretty Netted Scarf (page 91, item #55)
14. Handsome Netted Tippet (page 164, item #98)
15. Long Netted Window Curtains for a Drawing Room (page 165, item #99)
16. Netted Victorine (page 174, item #104)

Miss Ronaldson used several different names for items we would probably call a doily.  They included a stand, cover, napkin, and rubber.  She had patterns for a tippet, which is a narrow stole or scarf, and a victorine, which is a tippet with long narrow ends.  She did include an illustration of the Netted Victorine in the book.

This week I finished a beaded snood or hairnet, the one on the left.  

Unlike the other beaded snoods I have made recently, this one is supposed to cover all the hair.

The one on the left uses 6mm beads, while the one on the right uses 4mm beads.

(See more information about this snood.)

Knitting, Crochet, and Netting by Mlle. Riego De La Branchardiere

It's been a while since the book I selected had the word netting in the title.  Knitting, Crochet, and Netting by Mlle. Riego De La Branchardiere does that.  There is another digital copy of her book located here.  Both copies were published in 1846.

Here are the patterns that she included for netting.

1. Anti-Macassar (page 89)
2. D'Oyley (page 90)
3. Bread Basket D'Oyley (page 90)
4. Netted Purse (page 90)
5. Purse for a Lady (page 91)
6. Bead Purse  (page 91)
7. Wedding Purse with Motto (page 92)
8. Plain Purse with Motto (page 93)

I have some Great News!  The Circular Netting class at Rita's Netting Nook is ready for students!

Look at the projects included. See which videos, patterns, and handouts are available.  Find what supplies you will need.

To register for the class, either go to Rita's Netting Nook and scroll down to the bottom of the page, or go to the registration page.

Like the other classes, this one is $35.00, you can start immediately, and you can take as long as you like to finish the class.

Parlour Recreations for Ladies

When I went to the shelf where I keep my netting books I picked Parlour Recreations for Ladies at random. This book does not have an author or compiler listed.  It was published in London in 1848 by Wm. S. Orr and Co.   Parlour Recreations for Ladies has a wide range of netting instructions including several stitches and directions for adding beads to netting.  It contains a variety of patterns for net purses, shawls, and mittens as well as unique items like a netted toilet cover, sofa guard, mat, curtains, and  vase stand.

1. Remarks on Netting (page 77)
2. Bead Stitch (page 77)
3. Patterns for purses (page 78)
4. Another Pretty Pattern (page 78)
5. Stitch adapted for Curtain (page 78)
6. Netted Toilet Cover (page 79)
7. Sofa Guard (page 79)
8. Puff Netting (page 79)
9. Netted Bag in Shaded Silk (page 79)
10. Best Method of Closing a Purse (page 80)
11. Honeycomb Netting (page 80)
12. Mitten (page 85)
13. Another Pattern, Suitable for a Purse or Mitten (page 85)
14. A Pattern Suited for Mittens (page 85)
15. Netted Bag (page 86)
16. Strong Netting for Purses (page 87)
17. Netted Sovereign Purse - Albert Blue Twist and Good Beads (page 87)
18. Splendid Purse Netted (page 87)
19. Lady's Netted Plain Purse (page 88)
20. Seam Purse, with Beads (page 88)
21. Netted Purse in Squares, Beads in the Center of Each Square (page 89)
22. Netted Mat (page 91)
23. Netted Shawl (page 92)
24. Netted Vase Stand (page 94)
25. Netted Shawl in Stripes (page 94)

Today someone asked me about a pattern for a net laundry bag.  When I went looking for my instructions I realized that I had not yet displayed that particular feature of netting.  Eventually I found three patterns (written so I would be the only person to understand what was meant).  

Here are old pictures for two of the bags.  The one on the left is supported from the door by a plastic circular hoop.

The one on the right is supported from the door by a system of double bars.

Either one would work with the top fastened around the top of a plastic laundry hamper or just tossed on the floor in a corner.

Now I'm off to a local hardware store for cord to make them again to be sure my directions are correct.  I know that they are all three done in circular netting.  I hope before I have these patterns ready, my Circular Netting Class will be available for people to learn how to net rounds instead of rows.