The Young Englishwoman by Isabella May Beeton

Three weeks ago I commented on another book by Isabella Beeton, which also contained netting patterns and instructions.  The Young Englishwoman was published in 1875, five years after Beeton's Book of Needlework.  Her earlier book covers the basics of netting and has a couple of patterns. This later book assumes that the reader knows how to net and does not include any basic information.  There are some netting patterns (no duplication between the two books), as well as designs for net embroidery, darning, or lacis.  She also includes one pattern that combines netting, knitting, and crochet in making a hood.

1. Clothes Bag - with illustration (page 107, item 100)
2. Design in Netting and Darning for Antimacassars, etc.  - with illustration (page 110, item 118)
3. Designs in Netting and Darning - with illustration (page 166, item 150)
4. Designs in Netting and Darning - with illustration (page 166, item 151)
5. Lady's Hood in Netting, Knitting and Crochet - with illustration (page 226, item 193)
6. Lambrequin Darning on Netting - with illustration (page 527, item 538)
7. Swinging Hammock - with illustration (page 646, item 651)

*          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *       

Many years ago a son-in-law approached me with an interesting idea.  He wondered if I could make a doily that resembled an eye.  Using the stitches and colors he wanted, we designed it.  

Since I forgot to record how much thread I used, I decided to make it again.  This time I did it all in one color.  I discovered it takes 33 yards of size 20 crochet thread.  It measures 13.75 inches in diameter.

 I call it Hurricane.

    

Take My Advice by The Late Editor of "The Family Friend"

According to the title page, the full title of this book, published in 1872, is given as Take My Advice: A Book for Every Home: Giving Complete and Trustworthy Information on Everything Pertaining to Daily Life: Household Management; Domestic Cookery; Brewing, Distilling; Domestic Chemistry, Medicine; Clothing; Gardening; Law; Trade and Scientific Facts; In-door and Out-door Games; Domestic Pets and Pests; Etiquette and Manners; Ladies’ Work; and Something for Everybody, Etc.  I've referred to it as Take My Advice.

The section on netting is found in "Ladies' Work" and includes the following:

1. Netting ( page 327)
2. Plain Netting ( page 328)
3. Square Netting ( page 328)
4. Round Netting ( page 328)
5. Honeycomb Netting ( page 328)
6. Long Twisted Stitch ( page 328)
7. Embroidery on Netting ( page 328)
8. Netted Neck-tie ( page 328)

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

Back in 2006 some of my children started juggling.  One of my daughters took her juggling balls to school so she could practice during her lunch time.  To make it easy to transport them, I net her a bag out of parachute cord.

I actually made two different bags.  One had 100 knots; the other, 96 knots.  Recently, when I went to post the photos, I could not tell which photo was the bag with 10 rows and which was the one with 8.  To solve that problem, I decided remake the two patterns using different cords so they would not look the same.  These are the two bags.

The one on the left has 10 loops in a row and 10 rows for 100 knots.  The bag on the right has 12 loops and 8 rows for 96 knots.

Looking at them, I would not have guessed that they had just a four-knot difference between them.  The one on the right looks much smaller.  I wondered if those four knots really made a difference. 

To test my theory, I packed as many spools of thread into the bag with 100 knots (the bag on the left).

Then I took the same spools and packed them into the bag with 96 knots.  I could not close the bag as tightly this time.   You can see that there is an circular opening below and to the right of the cord-lock.

In a bag this small, four additional loops make a difference.

At least now I can tell the difference in the bags and in the photos.

Best of Everything by Robert Kemp Philp

Although he is not listed by name on the title page of Best of Everything, many sources indicate that Robert Kemp Philp is the author.  The title page states the book is "by the author of 'Enquire Within.'"  Best of Everything, published in 1870, contains only one page on netting.  While the descriptions are brief, if you know what you are doing, the instructions make sense.  Another digitized copy can be found here.

1. Hints on Netting (page 278)
2. Implements (page 278)
3. Diamond Netting (page 278)
4. Square Netting (page 278)
5. Honeycomb Netting (page 278)
6. Herring-bone Netting (page 278)

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

I created this doily pattern several years ago. Since I did not have a digital camera then and had to rely on a photocopy machine to let me record what a doily looked like, I could only record part of the doily.  I recently made it again so I could get a photo of the entire doily.  

I must have been watching Star Trek or Star Wars when I finished it since it reminded me of a wormhole or star gate.  I called it Stargate.

Beeton's Book of Needlework by Isabella Beeton

In 1870, Beeton's Book of Needlework by Isabella Beeton was published.  Years ago I had picked up a hard-backed copy.  Here is a list of the netting items included in her book.

1. Netting - with illustration (page 301, item # 302)
2. To net - with illustration (page 302, item # 303)
3. Square Netting - with illustration (page 303, item # 304)
4. Round Netting - with illustration (page 304, item # 305)
5. Diamond Netting (page 304, item # 306)
6. To Net Rounds - with illustration (page 304, item # 307)
7. "English" Netting (page 305, item # 308)
8. Lace Edging (page 305, item # 309)
9. Open Lace - with illustration (page 305, item # 310)
10. Shell Border - with illustration (page 306, item # 311)
11. Netted Fichu or Cape - with illustration (page 316, item # 315)
12. Netted Nightcap - with illustration (page 361, item # 343)
13. Netted Nightcap - with illustration (page 363, item # 344

I loved the Netted Fichu or Cape, especially the edge.  When I finally made it several years ago, I was disappointed in the size. It would have worked nicely for my young granddaughter.  

I wanted to wear it as a Cape or Shawl, so I tried again.  This time I used larger mesh sticks and was pleased with the result.

One of these days I'm going to experiment and use another decorative stitch instead of the plain stitch for this shawl.

The Young Housekeeper as Daughter, Wife, and Mother: Forming a Perfect “Young Woman's Companion"

Compiled by the Ed. of “The Family Friend,” The Young Housekeeper as Daughter, Wife, and Mother: Forming a Perfect “Young Woman's Companion" contains information on a wide variety of topics.  It was published in 1869 and has an illustration for almost every netting stitch it mentions.

1. Preparation for Netting (page 182)
2. Plain Netting - with illustration (page 182)
3. Square Netting - with illustration (page 182)
4. Oblong Netting - with illustration (page 182)
5. To Make a Piece of Netting of Six, Eight, or Ten Sides, Working from the Centre (page 183)
6. Round Netting - with illustration (page 183)
7. Honeycomb Netting - with illustration (page 183)
8. Long Twisted Stitch - with illustration (page 183)
9. Grecian Netting - with illustration (page 183)
10. Ground Net - with illustration (page 183)
11. Spotted Netting - with illustration (page 184)
12. Diamond Netting  - with illustration (page 184)
13. Large Diamond Netting - with illustration (page 184)
14. Spotted Diamond Netting - with illustration (page 184)
15. Leaf Netting  - with illustration (page 184)
16. Double Stitch (page 184)
17. Long Stitch (page 184)
18. To Work with Beads (page 184)
19. Mesh (page 184)
20. Embroidery on Netting (page 184)
21. Instructions in Netting - with illustrations (page 235)
22. Diamond Netting (page 236)
23. Round Netting (page 236)
24. Square Netting (page 237)
25. Grecian Netting (page 237)
26. Honeycomb Netting (page 237)
27. Herringbone Netting - with illustration (page 237)

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

I have made a variety of net bags over the years, including several that were sized to hold a water bottle.  I think my favorite is made from the bottom up, using circular netting.  Because it is made from the bottom up, the bag can be adjusted to be just the right height for the water bottle being used.  Since the handles are net last, they can be made into whatever length is best.

I recently made one again, not because I needed it, but because the last time I made it, I forgot to record how much string I used.

Now I know that it takes 31 yards of size 4 cotton crochet thread to make this bag according to the instructions.