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  I originally made this bag for one of my young sons.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.

Knitter's Friend by Mrs. Hope

I discovered that I have links to two books named The Knitter's Friend.  One is by Mrs. Gaugain and the other is by Mrs. Hope.  They both contain netting patterns.  I wrote about The Knitter's Friend by Mrs. Gaugain almost a month ago.  Today I picked up The Knitter's Friend by Mrs. Hope.  It was published about 1847.

There are instructions for 10 different items related to netting.

1. Stirrup for Netting   (page 44) - This is what I would call a tension device.
2. Plain Netted Purse   (page 78)
3. Rounded Neckerchief   (page 82)
4. Invalid's Supporter   (page 84)
5. Double Netted Shawl   (page 85)
6. Circassian Cap   (page 86 - picture included)
7. Front of an Upright Piano, or A Window Blind   (page 88)
8. Cardinal Cape (page 90)
9. Bottle Stand   (page 93)
10. Round Netted Doyley   (page 94)

I recently made two long snoods with staggered beads.  One was with 6 mm glass beads and brown thread.

The other was made with 6 mm beads that were much lighter than glass.  The red beads were netted with black thread.

If the hair color matches the thread color of the snood, the netting vanishes into the hair and only the beads are left to be seen.  

I finally finished all the projects for my Circular Netting class, photographed them, and put them up on Rita's Netting Nook.  I purposely created many smaller projects so those taking the class would be able to practice starting net circles without getting bored.  

The Work-Table Magazine or Church and Decorative Needlework (vol 1) by Mrs. Mee and Miss Austin

Last week I entered a list of net items contained in Mee's Companion to the Worktable.  Because of that, I thought this week I should look into what was in The Work-Table Magazine or Church and Decorative Needlework (vol 1).  This book is by Mrs. Mee and Miss Austin.  The copy that is online was published in 1847.

1. Doily (page 19)
2. Diamond Netting (page 24)
3. Grecian stitch open (page 33)
4. Curtains, in stripes of small and large diamonds (page 39)
5. Purse - simple and elegant pattern (page 46)
6. Purse, with beads (page 57)
7. Mat (page 64)
8. Shawl - novel and exquisite pattern (page 73)
9. Chair cover (page 123)
10. Necktie (page 133)

This week I finished the last three bookmarks for my circular netting class.  I used tatting thread for these samples, but I could have also used size 30 crochet thread.

When I showed my bookmarks to some friends, I was surprised to learn that they would not use them for bookmarks.  I was told they were too fancy.  Do you agree?

This bookmark has the small tier circle at the top.  The length is done in English Netting or Honeycomb Stitch.

I could have ended in a point, but I decided to use up the last of the thread with a tassel instead.

I love the cubes that are formed.

This bookmark uses the small circle Web at the top.

The length of the bookmark is the same one used earlier for the bookmark Magic.  It combines the Plain Stitch and the Beet Stitch and ends in a point.

I could have put a tassel on this bookmark, but chose not to do so (I had enough thread left to make another one).

This bookmark uses the small circle Well at the top.  It combines the Plain Stitch and the Shield Stitch to create the length.

Here also I could have ended with a point, but again I chose to use up the thread with a tassel.

Mee's Companion to the Worktable by Cornelia Mee

This week I decided to choose another book by Cornelia Mee from my list of online netting books.  Mee's Companion to the Worktable was published in 1845.   Here are the 8 net patterns that she included:

1. For a Netted Cardinal (page 8)
2. Netted Shawl (page 19)
3. Netted Shawl in Crossbars (page 20)
4. Netted Flower Stand (page 35)
5. Pretty and Simple Netted Opera Cap (page 56)
6. Pretty simple Netted Cap for wearing under a Bonnet (page 112)
7. Very Pretty Net Purse (page 126)
8.   Pretty Netted Purse, with Rows of Honeycomb between (page 127)

Again I've come across a word that has a new meaning for me.  The very first pattern listed is a netted cardinal.  Now I know that a bird is a cardinal, as is a high church official in the Roman Catholic Church.  I know it is a color, and that it has a mathematical meaning.  But I did not see how any of these could be involved in a piece of netting.   So I checked the dictionary.  One dictionary also defines it as "a woman's short cloak with a hood, originally made of scarlet cloth and popularly worn in the 18th century," while another dictionary gives the definition as "a woman's hooded shoulder cape worn in the 17th and 18th centuries."  Now that definition makes sense when used in connection with netting.

This week I also starched some net bookmarks.  The patterns to these bookmarks will be included in my Circular Netting class.

Candle small circle is used.

Floweret small circle is used.

I have tried to have some quick and useful patterns included with the Circular Netting class.


You'll notice that this candle bookmark is a different color than the other one I made.

Tops small circle is used.

Plain small circle is used.

The small circles can be used for bookmarks, hot pads, and lacy insets for acrylic coasters.

Manual of Knitting by Mrs. Mee and Miss Austin

I find it strange that a book devoted to knitting would contain a single netting pattern but Manual of Knitting by Mrs. Mee and Miss Austin does just that.  I wonder which woman designed the netting pattern.  This book was published around 1860.

This book contains a pattern (page 10, item 7) for making a Netted Jupon.

Since I had no idea what a jupon is and there is no picture of the finished product, I decided to use a dictionary.

Most of the definitions were similar: "a short close-fitting sleeveless padded garment, used in the late 14th and early 15th centuries with armour"

I liked this one because it included how to pronounce the word.

But somehow I could not see this definition matching something made with netting.  Then I found a dictionary which included a second definition: "A petticoat."  That made more sense.


This week I also took the time to double check netting instructions for making small circles.  The directions will be included in my circular netting class.

I wanted to have something that was small enough that it could be made quickly.  This way the students could practice several times, instead on only once or twice, the techniques that start a piece of circular netting.  I also wanted to include a variety of stitches so the different techniques for starting rounds could be practiced.

These patterns can be used in making hot pads, bookmarks, or inserts into acrylic coasters.  It just depends on the size of the thread and mesh sticks used.

The Knitter's Casket: a new series of receipts in Knitting and Netting

Today I looked down my list of digital books that contained netting patterns and picked one at random.  I chose The Knitter's Casket: a new series of receipts in Knitting and Netting by Mrs Hope.  It was published around 1848.

She included the following netting patterns.

1. Dice-pattern Purse (page 70)
2. Dice-pattern Purse with beads (page 72)
3. Mat (page 73)
4. Purses with Beads No. 1, Pine and Star (page 75)
5. Purses with Beads No. 2, Pointed Pattern (page 78)
6. Purses with Beads No. 3, Simple Bar Pattern (page 79)

I noticed online that she has another book, The Book of the Baby's Wardrobe in Knitting and Netting.  Unfortunately this book does not appear to be available in digital format yet.   

One of these days I'm going to try some of these patterns.

But instead of doing that this week, I have been making a net bag for another baby shower.

This bag is the medium size of the circular bags included in my circular netting class.

I have also been working on the transcripts of the circular netting videos.  I think I am done with everything except one video and its transcript.  But to make that video, I'll have to do some more netting, after I finish the doily I'm making for a nephew and his new wife.

The Knitters' Friend by Mrs. Gaugain

When I saw the title of Mrs. Gaugain's book, The Knitters' Friend,in a list of books that were available online, I almost passed it by.  After all, it was a knitting book and I was looking for netting patterns.

Then I happened to glance at the sub-title: being a selection of receipts for the most useful and saleable articles in knitting, netting and crochet work.  I decided to look at it.  When I clicked on the link, the cover read, "The People's Book" and I wondered if I was in the correct location.  I decided to scroll down a bit, and the title page let me know that I was looking at the correct book.

This is the last of Mrs. Jane Gaugain's books that I have been able to find online.  It was published in 1846.

Here are the netting patterns found in this book.

1. Pretty Netted Flower Mat (page 15)
2. Netted Mat for a Hyacinth Glass, or Round D'Oyley (page 17)
3. Maltese Long Net Mitten (page 157)
4. Very Pretty Grecian Net Long Purse for a Lady (page 168)
5. Maltese Spotting, six stitches apart (stitch on page 170)

This week I also had a chance to record my son using the mesh poi I made.  I wanted him to demonstrate how to use them.

I've been working on the Circular Netting class.  I was able to finish a couple of transcripts and I only have one video left to make.  I can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Mrs Gaugain's Miniature Knitting, Netting, and Crochet Book

Listed below are the netting patterns that are contained in Mrs Gaugain's Miniature Knitting, Netting, and Ckrochet Book.  This book was published around 1843.  The netting patterns appear similar to those in The Lady's Assistant for Executing Useful and Fancy Designs in Knitting, Netting, and Crochet Work which was also by Mrs Gaugain.

1. Long Net Purse for a Lady (page 55)
2. Long Net Purse for a Lady (page 56)
3. Round Netting for a Gentleman's Long Purse (page 57)
4. Honeycomb Netting for Veil (page 58)
5. Very Pretty Long Grecian Net Purse for a Lady (page 60)
6. Grecian Net for a Veil (page 62)
7. Single Diamond Netting (page 63)
8. Diamond of Five Stitches for a Long Purse (page 64)
9. Leaf Netting (page 66)
10. Dotted Net (page 67)
11. French Ground Net (page 68)
12. Scollop for Borders of Veils, Collars, Caps, &c (page 69)
13. Another Scollop for Border (page 70)
14. Scollop (page 71)

Today my 3rd son is getting married.  I let them choose the center, stitches and edge for a doily I created for them.  Here is a photo of the doily I made.  We named it Sun Kissed.

The Accompaniment To Second Volume of Mrs Gaugain's Work on Knitting, Netting, and Crochet

This week we will look at another of Mrs Gaugain's books in our listing of  public domain books containing netting patterns.   The Accompaniment To Second Volume of Mrs Gaugain's Work on Knitting, Netting, and Crochet was published in 1845.  It has several knitting and crochet patterns but only two netting patterns.

1. Pretty Netted Flower Mat (page 15)
2. Netted Mat for a Hyacinth Glass, or Round D'Oyley (page 17)

Since I had no idea what a Hyacinth Glass was, I decided to see what information I could find.  I located a link or two explaining what it is. These sites make using a Hyacinth Glass to grow Hyacinths indoors sound so easy.  I wonder if my "black thumb" could get some of these to grow.  If I try it, I will have to make the Netted Mat for a Hyacinth Glass to go under it.



Between now and the end of November there are three women I know who are expecting.   Over the past few years I have made three tea-towel baby bibs with ribbing around the neck edge and placed them in a small net gift bag to give to each mother-to-be.  The bag can be re-used later to hold whatever the mother wants.








Yesterday I attended a potluck dinner for one of the women.  Since her baby is supposed to be a boy, I made the bag and one of the bibs blue.












Making this bag did not hinder my progress on the Circular Netting class.  I video taped myself starting the bag and making the handles.  The videos will become part of three different videos for the class.  If you look at the syllabus this week, you will notice that there are only three videos left to create.

I wish I could say that next week I will finish making the videos for the class, but one of my sons is getting married on Saturday, and I have a few other things I need to get finished for that.

The Lady's Assistant in Knitting, Netting, and Crochet Work

In hunting for netting books online, I found several by Mrs. Gaugain.  The Lady's Assistant in Knitting, Netting, and Crochet Work, second volume, is a sequel to the one I mentioned last week.  It was originally published in 1842.  Apparently in 1842 she published both books.

Besides knitting and crochet patterns, it contains the following netting patterns:

• Long Net Purse, called Double Netting (item 121, page 252)
• Small Net Neckkerchief (item 122, page 253)
• Very Beautiful Long Net Purse, with Gold Beads (item 136, page 290)
• Another Very Beautiful Long Net Purse (item 137, page 292)
• Diced Net Purse, in Twist and Beads (item 142, page 295)
• Net Cuffs, in Berlin Wool and Silk (item 194, page 307)
• Very Light and Elegant Square Net Dress Shawl (item 166, page 365)
• Simple and Pretty Black Net Scarf (item 170, page 371)

This book also contains:

• Directions for guiding the proper sizes of Silks and Meshes used for Purses in Net Work (page 415)
• Remarks on Netting (page 416) 
• [comments on the direction (lengthwise or widthwise) to make curtains for the best result when they are hung and how to block finished netting]
• Make a Stitch in Netting
• To Take-in or Diminish
• Bead Stitch [how to add beads to netting]
• Netting with Shade Silk

In the process of creating the videos for my Circular Netting Class, I needed to make more hot pads.  This one was a revision of a pattern I had already made for this class.

Flower - Hot Pad

This was a new one.  I realized that I had not made any simple hot pads that demonstrated how to decrease.  So this one fills that need. 

Tops - Hot Pad

I finished the taping done for several of the videos.  Now I just need to pull the pieces together to make coherent videos that teach the skills needed in circular netting.  At least progress is finally being made on the videos.

Old Netting Patterns and Books Now Online

I've looked for books containing netting patterns ever since my mother gave me a copy of Nelson Netting Patterns, Beautiful New Advanced Doilies (supplement #3) for Christmas in the 1960s.   I was sorely disappointed when I found no books and very few patterns dealing with netting in the library of the college I attended.

I was elated when I discovered old netting books on-line in a digitized format.  I downloaded all I could find but never had took the time to look through the files very thoroughly.  It was one of those projects I was always going to do.  A few months ago, I don't remember why, I started looking through one such file.  The book was published in 1847.  I discovered, to my amazement, that there were drawings of nine netting stitches.  Stitches I knew!  Some of these stitches like Plain Net, Grecian Net, Leaf Netting, Dotted Net, and Honeycomb Net I had learned from my grandmother.  Others like Round Net, Open Plain Net, Single Diamond Net, Diamond of Five Stitches, and French Ground Net I had learned from more modern books.

As I continued browsing through the file, I saw patterns for items I had wanted to make but had not had the time to design. Looking through other files I had downloaded to my computer, I realized that I needed to create a listing of which patterns were found in which books.

I decided to enter them in this blog so others could also find the netting patterns they wanted.  Besides a list of netting patterns found in each book, I will include the title, author, publication date, and link where I found the book.

Here's the first book.  It had to be first.  It was the one that captured my attention and made me decide to make this list.

The Lady's Assistant for Executing Useful and Fancy Designs in Knitting, Netting, and Crochet Work by Mrs Gaugain, 1847.  It was also published in 1840, 1842, and 1845.  The patterns for netting were the same, regardless of when the book was published.

Netting patterns and stitches found in this book:

Long Net Purse for a Lady
Long Net Purse for a Lady (different pattern)
Round Netting for a Gentleman's Long Purse
Honeycomb Netting for Veil
Honeycomb Netting for a Veil, Purse, &c
Grecian Net for a Veil
Very Pretty Long Grecian Net Purse for a Lady
Single Diamond Netting
Diamond of Five Stitches for a Long Purse
Leaf Netting
Raised Net
Dotted Net
French Ground Net
Scollop for Borders of Veils, Collars, &c
Scollop
Another Scollop for Border
A Netted Garter
Netted Mitten of Purse Silk
A Pretty Fringe for the above Mitten
Cravat of White and Blue Wool
Net Scarf
Flat Net Scarf
A Long Net Purse of Two Colours, united in Points
Very Handsome Long Net Purse

In case you think I have forgotten about my Circular Netting class, I have not.  I finally made the first two videos and checked to see if all the pattern instructions were ready.  They were.  If you want to see what videos and patterns will be included in the class, you can look at the class syllabus.

I'm still learning about netting from my grandmother

My grandmother, the one who taught me to net, died over 30 years ago.  However, she is still teaching me new ideas in netting.

Several years after her death, I asked one of my aunts, who still had many of her doilies, if she would be willing to take the doilies and photocopy them on a black background.  She did.  I filed those photocopies, since I did not have the time then to read all the patterns off the photocopies, write them down, and make them.  Over the years I have pulled them out and created the doilies when I've needed to make a doily for one of my many nieces and nephews as they got married.

A couple of weeks ago I realized that I did not have any doilies already made that used one of my grandmother's patterns and that there was a nephew getting married shortly.  So I pulled out the rough draft approximation of the instructions of one of Grandmother's doilies.  The photo included with the instructions looked like this.

I started making the doily, correcting the instructions as I went.  It was not until I reached the end of the split stitches that I realized they were supposed to be centered under the break between the increase stitches, not under the increase stitches, where I had placed them.

If it had been one of my patterns, I would have just continued and given the new pattern a different name.  However, since this present to my nephew and his wife was to be a copy of one of my grandmother's doilies, I could not do that.

I had two choices.  I could begin again and do it correctly, or I could cut off all the split stitches I had done and start again two rows after the increase stitch.




I cut off the mistake.


Now I need to decide what to do with 2 yards of cast-off netting; throw it away or attach it to something.







It took me an extra day to finish the doily, but it followed her pattern.

And what did she teach me?  Well, the stitch between the center and the split stitch is either a new stitch that I have to name,

or a combination of a decrease stitch and an increase stitch that I had never seen her put together before.

I also had to figure out a way to end the split stitches so that the proper stitch would be skipped in the next round.


I'm not sure how Grandmother did it, but I figured out one way to do it.

Netting Bag updated

Prototypes are made to be revised.  Netting projects are no different from any other creative endeavor.  A few week ago I showed a version of a net belt and a bag attached to it to hold medical equipment.

Since the beginning of August there have been a few changes made.  Here are some photos of the latest version.

As you can see, the net belt is gone.  It stretched too much when the weight of the medical device was in place, sending the bag down past my friend's knees.

Changed are some of the mesh stick sizes.  The actual bag is still made with a 1" mesh, but the upper loops that the belt goes through are now made with a 2" mesh.   The number of rounds in the height of the bag has also changed.  The place where the rounds change to rows is shorter than the device.

The material used to make the bag has also changed.  The cotton cord first used was not durable enough for the amount of use the bag experienced.  The cord broke within days after it was made.  I had some black parachute cord on hand and decided to try using that.  It worked very well.

At last report, my friend stated, "I want you to know that ... what I am doing ...[determines] where I place the bag along the belt. While making my bed, for example, I slide the bag behind my back. While just sitting, I have it by my side."

It seems the bag is working and meets her needs.

Change the netting, just a little bit

I can do the same instructions over and over, but that doesn't mean that I will.  Sometimes it is more fun to start off with a set of instructions and change just a little of the instructions and suddenly you have something new.  Sometimes the changes happen on purpose and sometimes changes just happen.

I've been making small, circular pieces of netting for my next netting class - Circular Netting.  One of the first things I created with one of the small, circular pieces of netting was a bookmark.

When I decided to make it in color instead of white thread, I started with the same instructions.  After all, I was going to check to make sure I had written it correctly.  I made the circular part and started on the rectangular length of the bookmark.  I was sitting in the library, visiting with members of our knitting group.  I realized I had been netting for a while and wondered how close I was to changing stitches.  I thought I knew how many rows of plain netting I needed to do before I changed to a different stitch, but, when I looked at the instructions and counted the rows, I had done more plain netting than I was supposed to do.

Now I had a choice to make.  Did I want to follow the pattern exactly (which would mean untying each knot, one at at time, for several rows), or did I want to end up with a different bookmark pattern than the one I had started to make.

I decided I did not want to untie that many knots.

I ended up with a new pattern and a slightly different look.  Which do you like better?

More Mesh Poi

I mentioned last week that Carmen chose some net mesh poi for having the correct answers in my contest.  When I checked with Lucy I discovered that she wanted the same thing - in a different color.  So this past week I have been busy netting Mesh Poi.  I made sure that the pocket or bag section would hold several different sizes of balls.

The blue ones have been delivered to Lucy.  

The pink ones were delivered to Carmen.

Since I have no idea how long the cotton yarn will last before it wears out, I wondered what the mesh poi would look like if I made it from something more sturdy -- parachute cord.

I had some extra black around the house, so I decided to use it up.  It is more challenging to net with since I cannot put as much cord on the shuttle; however, I think it would last much longer.

I think I'll let my son, who started the whole project, test this style and compare it to the cotton ones I sent him earlier.  He'll be visiting in October and I can wait that long for his opinion.