The Illuminated Ladies' Book of Useful and Ornamental Needlework by Mrs. Henry Owen

There are two digitized copies of  The Illuminated Ladies' Book of Useful and Ornamental Needlework, which was published in 1844.  One is located here and the other is located here.  I found it interesting that Mrs. Henry Owen thought it necessary to discuss how to use a netting and knitting gauge.   Apparently there were enough people using it incorrectly that she felt it necessary to include an illustration as well as a description of the proper way to use it.  Besides that, she gave a variety of netting patterns, including another cardinal.

1. Netting and Knitting Guage (page 5)
2. A Gentlleman's Purse (page 7)
3. Silk Mittens (page 8)
4. Netted Silk and Wool Mittens (page 9)
5. Netted Muffatees (page 10)
6. A Purse of Two Colours Netted in Points (page 11)
7. Grecian Netting (page 11)
8. A Purse in Squares of Different Colours (page 12)
9. A Shaded Silk Purse (page 13)
10. Treble Diamond Netting (page 13)
11. Diamond Netting (page 14)
12. Netted Fringe (page 15)
13. Netted Ruffle Cuff (page 15)
14. A Pretty Netted Ruff for a Child's Neck (page 16)
15. An Elegant Purse with a Cornucopia Pattern (page 17)
16. Netted Cardinal (page 19)
17. Flower Baskets or Stands (page 19)

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My completed project for this week has nothing to do with netting.  Three years ago I knit some helmet-type hats for two of my grandchildren.  

I was informed recently by my granddaughter, who was a new-born at the time the other hats were made, that she did not have a hat like her brother and sister.  She needed a hat like theirs.  Then she asked politely if I would make one for her.  When asked what her favorite color was, she replied, "Green."

So this week I knit a green helmet.  I had to get it done and shipped to her before winter is gone.  

And since she has had to wait for more than three years, I sent another type of hat along to add to her collection.

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.