Border with Round-Loop Heading from The Young Ladies' Journal Complete Guide to the Worktable

When I looked at this edge, I immediately wondered how it would look without the top rows (rows 1-6) of Border with Round-Loop Heading #40 from The Young Ladies' Journal Complete Guide to the Worktable (page 134, illustration on page 132).

So I made that first (so I could check out my instructions without making rows 1-6).

The pattern called for wool (wound double around the netting needle) and silk, 2 round mesh sticks (one half the size of the other), and a 3/4" wide mesh stick.  I decided to use size 10 crochet thread (wound double around the netting needle) and size 20 crochet thread. For mesh sticks I chose to use a #8 knitting needle, a #3 knitting needle, and 3/4" flat mesh stick.

Round netting:
     Round netting only differs from regular netting in the direction the netting needle is put through the loops of the previous row.
     Wrap the thread around the fingers in the usual manner, put the netting needle through the loop around the fingers and under the mesh stick. Instead of going up through the loop formed in the previous row, come from above the loop and go down into it with the netting needle passing over the mesh sticks. Remove the threads from around the fingers and tighten the knot in the usual manner.

NOTES:
Use an odd number of loops for rows. Fill 2 netting needles: 1 filled with double thread (size 10) and one filled with single thread (size 20).

Instructions for the edge:

Begin by netting an odd number of loops into the foundation loop. I used 9 in the sample. Net 3 rows of netting (1 knot in each loop) with the #3 knitting needle and the single thread netting shuttle.

Row 1: double-thread netting needle, #8 knitting needle
     Net 1 knot in each loop using round netting.

Rows 2-3: single-thread netting needle, #3 knitting needle
     Net 1 knot in each loop.

Row 4: double-thread netting needle, #8 knitting needle
     Net 1 knot in each loop using round netting.

Rows 5-6: single-thread netting needle, #3 knitting needle
     Net 1 knot in each loop.

Row 7: double-thread netting needle, 3/4" flat mesh stick
     Net 3 knots in the first loop, *skip a loop, net 3 knots in the next loop;* repeat from * to *.

Row 8:  single-thread netting needle, #3 knitting needle
     Net 1 knot in each set of double loops.

Row 9:  single-thread netting needle, #3 knitting needle
     Net 1 knot in the first loop without using a mesh stick (no loop formed), net 1 knot in each of the remaining loops.

Row 10: double-thread netting needle, 3/4" flat mesh stick
     *Net 1 knot in the 1st loop, net together the 1st loop and the 2nd loop (the one next to the 1st loop), net 1 knot in the 2nd loop, skip a loop,* repeat using the next 2 loops as the 1st and 2nd loops.

Row 11: single-thread netting needle, #3 knitting needle
     Net 1 knot in each set of double loops.

I also wondered how it would look with the entire edge made with a single strand of thread.

So I tried it with size 20 crochet thread.

Edging: Double Fan or Sheaf from The Young Ladies' Journal Complete Guide to the Worktable

I think this is a first.  The same edge from two different books. Almost a year ago (25 October 2014) I made an edge from page 112 of The Art of Tatting and Netting.  When compared to this edge from page 131, item #38 of The Young Ladies' Journal Complete Guide to the Worktable, the names are close: Edging in Double Fan or Sheaf Design and Edging: Double Fan or Sheaf. The illustrations look similar and the instructions for rows 1-5 are word-for-word identical until you get to the heading and then they are the same thing said slightly different.

The Art of Tatting and Netting was published in 1895 and The Young Ladies' Journal Complete Guide to the Worktable was published in 1885.  I wonder if this was a very common pattern or if the editor of one book "borrowed" it from the other book.

I wish I could find a way to get this look without tying each sheaf together after everything else is finished.

Here are my notes on making this edge.

Multiple of 3 loops

I used size 20 crochet thread, a 1/4" mesh stick, and a 1" flat mesh stick.
One netting needle filled with single strands of crochet thread
One netting needle filled with double strands of crochet thread

Row 1: (1/4" flat mesh stick and a netting needle filled with single thread)
     Net 12 loops in the foundation loop.

Rows 2-3: (1/4" flat mesh stick and a netting needle filled with single thread)
     Net 1 knot in each loop.

Row 4: (1" mesh stick and a netting needle filled with double thread)
     Net 1 knot in each loop.

Row 5:  (1/4" flat mesh stick and a netting needle filled with single thread)
     Net 1 knot in each double strand loop.


To form a sheaf:
     The long loops of row 4 are caught together in clusters of three double-thread loops. The thread is wrapped around the center of the loops and then fastened in the back (the thread ends are cut short).

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

I finally pulled the photos taken at the Big E (Eastern States Exposition) from my camera. From the 10 days I demonstrated, I can count on one hand the number of people that were knowledgeable about netting. There was actually one person who asked me what I was netting.  That made my week!

More common questions or comments were:
     "Is that tatting? My grandmother (or aunt) used to tat."
     "I've never seen that before!"

It was extra fun this year to have one of my granddaughters demonstrating netting with me on two different days.

Border with Bunches of Loops from The Young Ladies' Journal Complete Guide to the Worktable

The instructions for Border with Bunches of Loops (page 131, item #38 from The Young Ladies' Journal Complete Guide to the Worktable) matched the illustrations very well.

I did make some changes:

• The original instructions called for wool and a 1/2" mesh stick. I decided to use size 20 crochet thread and a #8 knitting needle or 1/4" flat mesh stick for each row. 
• I used single thread rather than doubled; therefore I put more loose loops in each bunch than the instructions in the book described. This gave each bunch more thickness or body.
• I added one stitch on either side of the sample so the instructions need a multiple of 6 rather than a multiple of 4 as the instructions in the book needed.

To net each Bunch of Loops:

1. Wrap the thread around the mesh stick and insert the netting needle through the last loop, going from the back to the front of the loop, pull the netting needle through the loop, repeat this 2 more times (a total of 3 wraps).
2. Net 1 more knot in the same loop.
3. Wrap the thread as if to tie a regular netting knot but do not go through the loop, instead go around the back of the loop the bunch is attached to and out on the other side of the bunch.                 
4. Pull the knot tightly against the top of the bunch WITHOUT forming a new loop. 
1. This can be done by removing the mesh stick just before tightening the knot, 
2. tying the knot without the mesh stick, 
3. or when wrapping the thread around the mesh stick for this final knot bring it around the fingers as usual and then in front of the mesh stick rather than behind it. If the mesh stick was removed, replace it into the loop to the left of the bunch - not into the bunch.

WARNINGS:

•      DO NOT net into the loops in the bunches.  Net into the open loops on either side of the bunches.
•      DO NOT pull on the individual loops in the bunches as they may change size.

Multiple of 6 loops

Begin by netting 6 loops into the foundation loop.    

Row 1: Net 1 knot in each loop

Row 2: Net 1 knot in each loop for 3 loops, net a Bunch of Loops, net 1 knot in the next loop, net a Bunch of Loops, net 1 knot in each loop for 2 loops.

Row 3: Net 1 knot in each loop for 2 loops, *net a Bunch of Loops, net 1 knot in the next loop,* repeat from * to * 2 more times for a total of 3 bunches, net 1 knot in each loop for 2 loops.

Row 4: Repeat Row 2.

Row 5: Repeat Row 3.

Row 6: Repeat Row 2.

Rows 7-8: Net 1 knot in each loop.

Row 9: Net 1 knot in each loop for 3 loops, net a Bunch of Loops, net 1 knot in each loop for 3 loops.

Row 10: Repeat Row 2.

Row 11: Repeat Row 3.

Row 12: Net 1 knot in each loop for 2 loops, *net a Bunch of Loops, net 1 knot in the next loop,* repeat from * to * 3 more times for a total of 3 bunches, net 1 knot in each loop for 1 loop.

Row 13: Net 1 knot in each open loop between the bunches.

Fan Netting from The Young Ladies' Journal Complete Guide to the Worktable

For a change, the instructions of the edge I matched the photo. This made it easier to make the sample for this edge. Here is Fan Netting (page 131, item #37) from The Young Ladies' Journal Complete Guide to the Worktable.

Here's my phrasing for instructions for this edge.

This pattern needs an odd number of loops in row 1.

Use a #8 knitting needle or 1/4" flat mesh stick for each row.

Row 1: Net 9 loops into the foundation loop.

Row 2: Net 1 knot in each loop.

Row 3: Wrap the thread over the mesh stick one time before netting one knot in the loop in the usual manner, repeat that for each loop.  This makes the loops longer.

Row 4: Net 1 knot in each loop.

Row 5: Wrap the thread over the mesh stick one time before netting one knot in the loop in the usual manner, net a total of 5 knots, each made in the same way, in each loop created in row 4.

Row 6: Net 1 knot in each loop for 4 loops, *skip the next loop, net 1 knot in each loop for 4 loops*; repeat from * to * across the row.

Row 7: Without the mesh stick, net 1 knot in the first loop of the row, now using the mesh stick, net 1 knot in each loop for 3 loops, *wrap the thread over the mesh stick, skip a loop, net 1 knot in each loop for 3 loops (creating one long loop and two short loops)*; repeat from * to * ending with net the last 2 loops together.

Row 8: Net 1 knot in each loop for 2 loops, *wrap the thread over the mesh stick, skip the long loop, net 1 knot in each loop for 2 loops (creating a long loop and a short loop)*; repeat from * to * across the row.

Border with Double Loose Loops from The Young Ladies' Journal Complete Guide to the Worktable

As I attempted to understand the instructions for this edge, I found a source for diamond graph paper - http://incompetech.com/graphpaper/diamond/. I found it helpful to draft the design from the instructions before attempting to net it, since I found the directions hard to visualize, even with the illustration..

Here is Border with Double Loose Loops (page 131, item #36) from The Young Ladies' Journal Complete Guide to the Worktable.

I did add row 12 to fasten down the loose loops made in row 11.  If I were to make them again, I would add one more loop in the beginning row.  That would make the final row come out correctly. Below are the directions I wrote as I attempted to understand and follow what was printed.


Loose Loops Stitch: 
Bring the netting needle down across the front of the mesh stick, around the mesh stick, and then up through the loop above the closest knot to the right in the previous row


To Begin: Net 19 loops into the foundation loop over a #8 knitting needle or 1/4" flat mesh stick.

Rows 1-2:  Using a #8 knitting needle or 1/4" flat mesh stick
Net 1 knot in each loop.

Row 3:  Using a #8 knitting needle or 1/4" flat mesh stick
Net 1 knot in each loop for 5 loops, create Loose Loops Stitch, net 1 knot in each loop for 8 loops*; repeat

from * to * ending with net 1 knot in each loop for 2 loops.

Row 4:  Using a #8 knitting needle or 1/4" flat mesh stick
Net 1 knot in each loop for 2 loops, *create Loose Loops Stitch, net 1 knot in each loop for 3 loops, net 3 loops together, net 1 knot in each loop for 7 loops, net 1 knot in each loop for 4 loops*; repeat from * to * ending with net 1 knot in the last loop.

Row 5:  Using a #8 knitting needle or 1/4" flat mesh stick
Net 3 loops together, *net 1 knot in each loop for 3 loops, create Loose Loops Stitch, Net 1 knot in each loop for 2 loops, create Loose Loops Stitch, net 1 knot in each loop for 2 loops, net 3 loops together*; repeat from * to *, ending with net 1 knot in each loop for 2 loops.

Row 6:  Using a #8 knitting needle or 1/4" flat mesh stick
Net 1 knot in each loop for 4 loops, *net 3 loops together, net 1 knot in the next loop, net 3 loops together, net 1 knot in each loop for 5 loops*; repeat form * to * eding with net 1 kot in each loop for 4 loops.

Row 7:  Using a #8 knitting needle or 1/4" flat mesh stick
Net 1 knot in each loop for 3 loops, create Loose Loops Stitch, *net 1 knot in each loop for 4 loops, create Loose Loops Stitch*; repeat from * to * ending with net 1 knot in each loop for 4 loops.

Row 8:  Using a #8 knitting needle or 1/4" flat mesh stick
Net 1 knot in each loop for 3 loops, *net 3 loops together, net 1 knot in each loop for 3 loops*; repeat from * to *.

Row 9:  Using a #8 knitting needle or 1/4" flat mesh stick
*Net 1 knot in each loop for 2 loops, create Loose Loops Stitch, net 1 knot in each loop for 3 loops, create Loose Loops Stitch, net 1 knot in each loop for 3 loops, create Loose Loops Stitch*; repeat from * to * ending with net 1 knot in each loop for 3 loops.

Row 10:  Using a #8 knitting needle or 1/4" flat mesh stick
*Net 1 knot in each loop for 2 loops, net 3 loops together*, repeat from * to * 2 more times, net 1 knot in the next loop, net 3 loops together, repeat from * to * 2 times, net 1 knot in each loop for 2 loops.

Row 11:  Using a #8 knitting needle or 1/4" flat mesh stick
Net 1 knot in the first loop, create Loose Loops Stitch, *net 1 knot in each loop for 8 loops, create Loose Loops Stitch; repeat from * to * ending with net 1 knot in each loop for 2 loops.

Row 12:  Using a #8 knitting needle or 1/4" flat mesh stick
Net 1 knot in the first loop, net 3 loops together, net 1 knot in each loop for 7 loops, net 3 loops together, net 1 knot in the last loop.

Row 13:  Using a 1/2" flat mesh stick
Net 3 knots in each loop

Row 14:  Using a #0 knitting needle
Net 1 knot in each loop.

Row 15:  Using a 1/2" flat mesh stick
Net 1 knot in each loop.

Row 16:  Using a 1/2" flat mesh stick
Without the mesh stick net 6 loops together, now with the mesh stick, net 6 loops together across the row.