Mistborn Quilt

In the spring of 1990 I began a tradition of making something for my child who was graduating from high school. They got to choose what it was, although I could veto it if it was too elaborate. That spring my oldest chose a hand-knit sweater using wool I spun on my wheel. After that the children all chose a quilt. Each quilt was different. Due to life getting in the way of my projects, I have never had the project done by the day they graduated. Some were only a few months late, others were several years late.

My youngest child is a big fan of all books by Brandon Sanderson. So I was not surprised when he said he wanted the quilt to be based on the Mistborn series.

When my son said he wanted his quilt to contain the symbols for Allomancy and Feruchemy, I made the mistake of asking (a bit tongue in cheek), "So you want Allomancy on one side and Feruchemy on the other?" Of course he said yes! This quilt is two sided - one design on one side and the other design on the back side.

Last month (2 days before leaving on vacation) I finished his quilt; it was only 4 years + 4 weeks late. I finally got photos taken this week.

Handkerchief with net edge - 2

Last week I showed the first handkerchief I made with a net edge for my granddaughters.

Here is the second handkerchief I made for a granddaughter.

This is a close-up of the edge she wanted.

Handkerchief with net edge - 1

About 3 years ago my oldest daughter asked me if I would be willing to net an edge around a handkerchief for each of her daughters.  Of course I said yes. It took some time to find the linen I wanted to use and to learn to hemstitch the edges (isn't the Internet a wonderful tool). Then I took the list of net edges I had found in old books and magazines I had located online and began to make them - one each week. I may find more net edges or borders in the future, but for now I have finished the ones I know about. I thought I should show the handkerchiefs with net edgings I have made so far. (I have 4 granddaughters old enough to chose the edge she wanted.)

Here is the first handkerchief I finished.

This is a close-up of the edge she wanted.

Net Edging from Treasures in Needlework

The edging for the square-mesh doily that appears on pages 440-441 of Treasures in Needlework is made of scallops that are either half or three-quarter circles. The scallop on the right of the photo is made at each of the corner squares of the square-mesh netting. The scallop on the left of the photo is made along the edge beginning with the ninth square from a corner. Changing the size of the mesh sticks used for the scallops will change the size of the scallop and the number of squares that are between scallops.

For the samples above I started the center of the scallop as I would start a circular doily.  Then, instead of going around the netting, I went back and forth in rows.


My directions for the border at the corners of the square-mesh netting

Row 1: (#6 knitting needle) Net 12 stitches in the square at a corner.
Row 2: (#3 knitting needle) Net 1 knot in each loop.
Row 3: (# 2 knitting needle) Net 2 knots in each loop.
Row 4: (#000 knitting needle) Net 1 knot in each loop.
Row 5: (#000 knitting needle) Net 1 knot in each loop.

Cut the thread to the netting needle.




My directions for the border along the sides of the square-mesh netting

Row 1: (#6 knitting needle) Net 12 stitches in the square eight squares from the corner or last scallop.
Row 2: (#3 knitting needle) Net 1 knot in each loop.
Row 3: (# 2 knitting needle) Net 1 knot in each loop.
Row 4: (#000 knitting needle) Net 1 knot in each loop.
Row 5: (#000 knitting needle) Net 1 knot in each loop.

Cut the thread to the netting needle.


All the scallops are net separately on the doily. After all the scallops are made, thread a fine hand-sewing needle. The points, at the beginning and the end of the last rows of adjacent scallops, are sewn together and also to the edge of the doily.

Vandyke Trimming from Treasures in Needlework

This Vandyke Trimming, found on page 407 of Treasures in Needlework,is not a typical net square-mesh Vandyke edge.  It has two squares at the point of the Vandyke and two squares between Vandykes. This edge has 7 rows of square mesh above 6 rows of Vandyke. The design meant to be embroidered on the netting is found in the book. My purpose was to show how to create the net background. The instructions in the book worked well to make the first Vandyke and to figure out the additional repeating ones. Creating the directions for the final vertical straight edge and accompanying Vandyke presented a challenge.

My directions for the square-mesh netting:
First Vandyke with straight vertical side

Row 1: Net 2 knots in the foundation loop.
Row 2: Net 1 knot in the first loop, net 2 knots in the last loop.
Row 3: Net 1 knot in each loop except for the last loop, net 2 knots in the last loop.
Row 4: Net 1 knot in each loop except for the last loop, net 2 knots in the last loop.
Row 5: Net 1 knot in each loop except for the last loop, net 2 knots in the last loop.
Row 6: Net 1 knot in each loop except for the last loop, net 2 knots in the last loop.
Row 7: Net 1 knot in each loop except for the last loop, net 2 knots in the last loop.
Row 8: Net 1 knot in each loop.
Row 9: Net 1 knot in each loop except for the last loop, net 2 knots in the last loop.
Row 10: Net 1 knot in each loop.
Row 11: Net 1 knot in each loop except for the last loop, net 2 knots in the last loop.
Row 12: Net 1 knot in each loop.
Row 13: Net 1 knot in each loop except for the last loop, net 2 knots in the last loop.
Row 14: Net 1 knot in each loop.
Row 15: Net 1 knot in each loop except for the last loop, net 2 knots in the last loop.
Row 16: Net 1 knot in each loop.
Row 17: Net 1 knot in each loop except for the last loop, net 2 knots in the last loop.
Row 18: Net 1 knot in each loop.
Row 19: Net 1 knot in each loop except for the last loop, net 2 knots in the last loop.
Row 20: Net 1 knot in each loop. Cut the thread from the netting needle. Tie the netting needle onto the loop that is 7 loops up from the last loop on row 20. There needs to be 7 loops above where the netting needle was tied to the loop.


Repeating Vandyke

repeat rows 7-20 for as many Vandykes as desired


Last Vandyke with a straight vertical side

Row 7: Net 1 knot in each loop except for the last loop, net 2 knots in the last loop.
Row 8: Net 1 knot in each loop.
Row 9: Net 1 knot in each loop except for the last loop, net 2 knots in the last loop.
Row 10: Net 1 knot in each loop.
Row 11: Net 1 knot in each loop except for the last loop, net 2 knots in the last loop.
Row 12: Net 1 knot in each loop.
Row 13: Net 1 knot in each loop.
Row 14: Net 1 knot in each loop.
Row 15: Net 1 knot in each loop  except for the last 2 loops, net the last 2 loops together.
Row 16: Net 1 knot in each loop.
Row 17: Net 1 knot in each loop except for the last 2 loops, net the last 2 loops together.
Row 18: Net 1 knot in each loop.
Row 19: Net 1 knot in each loop except for the last 2 loops, net the last 2 loops together.
Row 20: Net 1 knot in each loop. Cut the thread from the netting needle.