A Square of Square Diamond Netting

One of the patterns I was looking for several months ago was one with big squares and little squares.
It is called Square Diamond Netting.

This pattern is very confusing. None of the directions I looked at were clear.  One of the sources quoted in The Art of Netting, edited by Jules and Kaethe Kliot gave only the following instructions:

"In making a foundation of this style, the work is begun in the usual manner. For the small squares the thread is wrapped once about the mesh-stick; for the large squares it is wrapped twice. This makes a pretty foundation for darning fancy patterns upon."

I finally resorted to looking very closely at the few drawings of the stitch that I could find. From that, and subsequent practice, I learned that there are two lengths of loops tied in this type of stitch – a long loop and a short loop. I found, however, that there are three ways to create the long loop.

NAME	INSTRUCTIONS
wrapped long loop	Wrap the yarn once around the mesh stick by putting it across the front of the mesh stick, around the mesh stick, and up the back side of the mesh stick.  Then tie the netting knot in the usual way.
long loop in a long loop	Remove the mesh stick if necessary.  Tie the netting knot so the bottom of the long loop is touching the top of the mesh stick.
long loop in a short loop	Tie the knot at the bottom of the short loop by gradually pulling the thread slightly upwards not downwards when ending the netting knot. DO NOT have the bottom of the short loop touch the top of the mesh stick.

There are also two ways to create the short loop.

NAME	INSTRUCTIONS
short loop in a short loop	Pull short loop down so the bottom of the short loop is touching the top of the mesh stick.  Tie the netting knot in the regular way.
short loop in a long loop	Tie the netting knot in the regular way.  The bottom of the long loop is touching the mesh stick

Here are my instructions for creating a square of Diamond Square Netting.

Before starting the actual netting:

1. Fill a netting needle or shuttle with thread or cord.
2. Attach it to a foundation loop.  To do this:
1. Tie a slip knot in the thread or cord coming from the needle or shuttle.  Leaving a tail, at least 2 to 3 inches.
2. Slip the foundation-loop cord through the slipknot.
3. Tie the foundation-loop cord into a circle thereby creating a foundation loop.
4. Tighten the slipknot.
3. Attach the foundation loop to a tension device.
4. Choose a mesh stick.

Increase Portion of the Square

Row 1:  Net 2 more knots into the foundation loop. (2 loops both small in the row)

Remove the mesh stick and turn the work so that the next row can be worked from left to right. (This will be done at the end of each row.)

Row 2:  Net a long-wrapped loop in the first loop net both a short loop and a long-wrapped loop into the last loop. (3 loops, long, short, and long in the row)

Repeating Increase Rows

Odd Rows: (the loops at the bottom of the finished row are even with each other)

*Net a short loop in the long loop, net a long loop in the short loop; *

repeat from * to * until there is one loop left,

net 2 short loops in the last loop and turn the netting.

Even Rows: (the loops at the bottom of the finished row are jagged)

Net a long-wrapped loop in the first loop,

*net a short loop in the long loop, net a long loop in the short loop; *

Repeat from * to * until there is one loop left,

Net both a short loop and a long, wrapped loop into the last loop.

Repeat the odd and even rows until the number of small squares desired appear on the sides of the triangle. The last row will be an even row.

Decrease Portion of the Square

                First Odd Decrease Row:

                        Net a short loop in the next loop,

                        *net 1 long-wrapped loop in the following loop, net a short loop in the next loop*; repeat from * to * across the row.

                First Even Decrease Row:

Net a short loop in the first loop,

*Net a long-wrapped loop in the next loop, net a short loop in the following loop; *

repeat from * to * until there is one loop left,

net a short loop in the last loop, turn the netting.

Repeating Decrease Rows

Odd Rows: (the loops at the bottom of the finished row are even with each other)

Without a mesh stick net 1 knot in the short loop, now with a mesh stick, *net a short loop in the long loop, net a long loop in the short loop; *

repeat from * to * across the row, turn the netting.

Even Rows: (the loops at the bottom of the finished row are jagged)

Without a mesh stick, net 1 knot in the first loop, now with a mesh stick, *net a short loop in the next loop, net a long-wrapped loop in the following loop; *

repeat from * to * across the row.

Final Odd and Even Rows

Last Even Row: Without a mesh stick, net 1 knot in the first loop, now with a mesh stick, net a short loop in the next loop.

Last Odd Row: Without a mesh stick, net 1 knot in the short loop. Cut the thread near the knot just tied.

Tie the First Corner

Remove the foundation loop from row one of the net. 

Tie the tail onto a tapestry needle, which is used in place of the netting needle. 

Net the first two loops together without using a mesh stick.

Cut the thread near the knot just tied.