Patterns for Netted Scarves

When I first heard about net scarves, I laughed.  How could netting with all its holes keep your neck warm? I guess the joke was on me.  I made one and, after wearing it, became an advocate for net scarves.  They will keep your neck warm. I also found they are an excellent way to practice a new stitch.

When I started looking online for digitized netting patterns, I found many net scarves.  Here are the ones I found in books.

1. The Ladies' Knitting and Netting Book (2nd edition), published in 1838 
1. Another Scarf (page 68) 
2. Pattern of a Net Scarf (page 67) 
2. The ladies' Knitting and Netting Book – first series (5th ed) by Miss Watts, published in 1840 
1. Another Scarf (page 73) 
2. Netted Scarf (page 76)
3. Pattern of a Net Scarf (page 73)
3. The Lady's Assistant in Knitting, Netting, and Crochet Work by Mrs [Jane] Gaugain, published in 1842 
1. Simple and Pretty Black Net Scarf (page 371, item 170) 
4. The Ladies' Work-table Book (2nd ed), published in 1844 
1. A Net Scarf (page 176) 
2. Netted Wool Scarf (page 177) http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29382
5. The Ladies' Work-table Book, published in 1845 
1. A Net Scarf (page 141) 
6. The Practical Companion to the Work-Table containing directions for Knitting, Netting & Crochet Work by Elizabeth Jackson, published in 1845 
1. Netted Scarf (page 146, item 98) 
2. Round Netted Scarf (page 146, item 99) 
7. Lady's Book of Useful and Ornamental Knitting and Netting Work by Miss Ronaldson, published in 1847 
1. Netted Ribbon for the Neck (page 83, item 46) 
2. Very Pretty Netted Scarf (page 84, item 47)
3. A Very Pretty Netted Scarf (page 91, item 55)
8. A Winter Gift for Ladies being instructions in Knitting, Netting, and Crochet Work by An American Lady, published in 1848 
1. Netted Scarf (page 33) 
9. The Ladies' Self Instructor, published in 1853 
1. Netted Scarf (page 175) 
10. The Ladies’ Complete Guide to Crochet, Fancy Knitting and Needlework by Ann Sophia Stephens, published in 1854 
1. Netted Scarf (page 114) 
11. Tatting and Netting by Butterick Publishing Company, published in 1895 
1. Netted Scarf or Throw - with illustrations (page 143) 
12. Netting by Primrose Cumming, published in 1956 
1. Scarf in Diamond Mesh (page 13) 
13. The Lady's Assistant for Executing Useful and Fancy Designs in Knitting, Netting, and Crochet Work by Mrs [Jane] Gaugain, published from 1840 to 1847 
1. Net Scarf (page 187) 
2. Flat Net Scarf (page 187) 

Here are the net scarves I found in magazines.

1. Godey's Lady's Book (Vol. 34-35), published in 1847  
1. Round Netted Scarf (page 49) 
2. Godey's Lady's Book (Vol. 36-37), published in 1848  
1. Netting-Knitting Scarf for the Neck (page 173) 
3. Peterson's Magazine (Vol. 29-30), published in 1856  
1. Netted Scarf for Evening Wear (page 392) 
4. Godey's Lady's Book (Vol. 54), published in Jan-Jun 1857  
1. Wool Scarf, in Crochet [ends finished in netting] (page 168) 
5. International Old Lacer's, published in January 1978 
1. A Practical Use of Netting contained Netting the New Wool Scarfs (page 70) 
6. Peterson's Magazine (Vol. 69-70), published in 1876  
1. Cloud Netting (page 77) 

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I've been working on remaking Twinkling Star for a few weeks.  I kept letting other things push it out of the way.  It's about 15 inches in diameter, used just over 70 yards, and has 3,675 knots.  I originally made this doily to see if I could make a large five-pointed star.  All the doilies I had seen from my grandmother had smaller points all around the edge of the doily.  

After making the doily designed by Giuseppa Nania last week, I had a hard time sticking to the plain points for this doily.  I kept wanting to decorate the points like she had done.  

Netting in Magazines - Peterson's Magazine (1870-1879)

Most of the netting patterns included in this ten-year span deal with darned netting, sometimes called net embroidery or lacis.  There are a few patterns which include directions for net borders or give directions as to how to make a circle, octagon, or square-mesh netting.  The only one that contained no darning or embroidery was "Cloud Netting" from the year 1876.  From the instructions I would guess that a cloud is some type of shawl or scarf.

I found no netting in the 1879 volumes.

1870 (Vol. 57-58 )

1. page 409 Tidy in Square Crochet or Darned Netting

1871 (Vol. 59-60 )

1. page 237 Counterpane in Crochet, Netting, etc. - illustration
2. page 292 Counterpane in Crochet, Netting, etc.

1872 (Vol. 61-62 )

1. page 248 Design for Darning Netted Tidy - illustration
2. page 296 Tidies in Darning or Crochet    
3. page 74 Netted Curtains - with illustration    
4. page 75 Netted Curtains - continued    
5. page 89 Bed Quilt in Crochet or Darned Netting    
6. page 146 Round Netted Tidy    
7. page 216 Octagon Antimacassar    

1873 (Vol. 63-64 )

1. page 369 Tidy in Darned Netting    

1874 (Vol. 65-66 )

1. page 79 Insertion in Darned Netting    
2. page 360 Designs for Darned Netting    

1875 (Vol. 67-68 )

1. page 161 Darned Netting - illustration    
2. page 215 Antimacassar Netting    

1876 (Vol. 69-70 )

1. page 77   Cloud Netting   
2. page 449 Square Net Antimacassar    

1877 (Vol. 71-72 ) 

1. page 245 Pattern in Darned Netting - illustration    
2. page 308 Border in Darned Netting    
3. page 309 Curtain in Darned Netting    

1878 (Vol. 73-74 )

1. page 107 Guipure Darning on Square Netting    
2. page 113 Guipure Darning on Square Netting    
3. page 227 Design for Darning on Netting    
4. page 225 Guipure Netting    

1879 (Vol. 75-76 )

Netting in Magazines - Peterson's Ladies' National Magazine (1850-1859)

I was able to find most of the volumes to Peterson's Ladies'National Magazine between 1850 and 1859 on-line.  The only year I could not locate was 1850 (Vol. 17-18).  There were two years that did not have any netting patterns in them:  1851 (Vol. 19-20), 1853 (Vol. 23-24)

1852 (Vol. 21-22)

1. page 56 Netted Handkerchief

1854 (Vol. 25-26)

1. page 406 Gentleman's Long Purse in Netting
2. page 219 Pincushion for Toilet Table
3. page 281 Netted Music Stool Cover
4. page 126 Net for the Hair

1855 (Vol. 27-28)

1. page 375 Octagon Antimacassar
2. page 314 Jewel Box
3. page 166 Darned Netted Window Curtains

1856 (Vol. 29-30)

1. page 392 Netted Scarf for Evening Wear
2. page 335 Design for a Music Stool Cover
3. page 277 Design for a Music Stool Cover - illustration
4. page 413 Netted Anti-Macassar
5. page 166 Darned Netted Window Curtains

1857 (Vol. 31-32)

1. page 132 Short Purse in Netting
2. page 85 Short Purse in Netting - illustration
3. page 78 Darned Netted Window Curtains
4. page 314 Gentleman's Netted Neck-Tie

1858 (Vol. 33-34)

1. page 79 Netted Window Curtain
2. page 80 Netted Window Curtain - continued
3. page 81 Netting [stitches]
4. page 81 Plain Stitch
5. page 81 Square Stitch
6. page 81 Oblong Stitch
7. page 81 Round Stitch
8. page 82 Honeycomb Stitch
9. page 82 Long, Twisted Stitch
10. page 82 Grecian Stitch
11. page 82 Ground Stitch
12. page 82 Spotted Stitch
13. page 82 Diamond Stitch
14. page 82 Large Diamond Stitch
15. page 82 Spotted Diamond Stitch
16. page 82 Leaf Netting
17. page 82 Netting terms and definitions
18. page 82 Pendant Fly Cage
19. page 238 Netted Mat
20. page 239 Netted Mat [illustration]
21. page 239 Netted Mittens
22. page 239 Netted Mittens - [illustration]
23. page 365 Anti-macassar

1859 (Vol. 35-36)

1. page 364 Knitting Bag [top portion]
2. page 458 Netted Hood with Daisy Fringe
3. page 459 Netted Hood with Daisy Fringe - illustration
4. page 363 Silk Net for the Hair
5. page 165 Gentleman's Neck Tie
6. page 166 Gentleman's Neck Tie - illustration

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Last week I needed to make a simple net project.  It needed to use thread rather than yarn, consist of only the plain netting stitch, be fairly quick to make (not to many knots), and I also wanted it to be something that could be used.  My husband gave me the perfect answer: a bookmark.  I know I'm not the only one that still likes to hold a paper book in my hand.  

Since it was so plain and basic I decided to use some variegated size 10 crochet thread and a 3/8" mesh stick.

Would you use a bookmark?  Which one would you prefer - the narrow or the wide one?

 

Netting in Magazines - Godey's Lady's Book (1850-1859)

The Godey's Lady's Book magazines between 1850 and 1859 had netting information in almost every year. I have listed many types of netting including embroidery or darning on netting. The link attached to the year and volume will take you to the entire magazine. The link attached to the title of the article will take you to the page where that article is listed.

There were a few words I could not define.  So I went to a dictionary and looked them up:

• garniture: Something that garnishes; an embellishment, decoration or embellishment, something that garnishes; decoration.
• ruche: A ruffle or pleat of lace, muslin, or other fine fabric used for trimming women's garments.
• tidy: An ornamental protective covering for the back or arms of a chair; an antimacassar.

Enjoy a glimpse of netting in the past.

1850 (Vol. 40-41)  an alternate location

1. page 179 Dahlias for Round Mat for a Candle Lamp 

1851 (Vol. 42) - Jan-Jun  an alternative location

1. page 130 Neck Tie in Grecian Netting 

1851 (Vol. 43) - Jul-Dec  an alternate location

1. page 246 Ruche round the top of Knitted Baby's Boot 
2. page 247 Netting - Fringe-Mat
3. page 370 Netting - Net for All the Hair

1852 (Vol. 44) - Jan-Jun no netting

1852 (Vol. 45) - Jul-Dec no netting  an alternate location

1853 (Vol. 46) - Jan-Jun

1. page 292  Flower Mat [illustration] 
2. page 366 Flower Mat
3. page 459 Net for The Hair
4. page 464 Knitting Bag [top is net]

1853 (Vol. 47) - Jul-Dec

1. page i Garniture for the Hair [illustration]
2. page 82 Netting - Garniture for the Hair 
3. page 484 Opera Cap - Netting [illustration] 
4. page 551 Netting - Sortie Du Bal, or Opera Cap 

1854 (Vol. 48) - Jan-Jun

1. page 67 Net Darning Pattern
2.  page 198 Embroidered Anitmacassar [illustration] 
3. page 269 Embrodered Antimacassar - net border
4. page 360 Netted Cap, for Morning Wear 

1854 (Vol. 49) - Jul-Dec

1. page 288 Cover for Back of Chair - Netting [illustration]
2. page 365 Netting - Cover for the Back of Chair 

1855 (Vol. 50) - Jan-Jun no netting

1855 (Vol. 51) - Jul-Dec

1. page 392 Child's Winter Collar [illustration]
2. page 454 Child's Winter Collar  

1856 (Vol. 52-53)

1. page 166 Netted Tidy
2. page 168 Net For Pony
3. page 259 Octagon Antimacassar
4. page 260 Cap for the Concert Room or Theatre
5. page 262 Lady's Netted Purse 
6. page 482 Tidy Darned in Colors [illustration]
7. page 544 Tidy Darned in Colors
8. page 546 Filigree Purse
9. page 166 Netted Curtains 
10. page 550 Chair Cover in Chinese Design 

1857(Vol. 54) - Jan-Jun

1. page 168 Wool Scarf, in Crochet [ends finished in netting]
2. page 262 Plain Netting
3. page 262 Square Netting
4. page 262 Oblong Netting 
5. page 262 Piece of Netting of six, eight, or ten sides
6. page 263 Round Netting
7. page 263 Long Twisted Stitch
8. page 263 Grecian Netting
9. page 263 Ground Net
10. page 361 Spotted Netting
11. page 361 Diamond Netting of Five Stitches
12. page 361 Large Diamond Netting
13. page 361 Spotted Diamond Netting
14. page 361 Leaf Netting
15. page 361 Netting Definitions
16. page 297 Netted Ornamental Dish Ruffs [illustration]
17. page 358 Netted Ornamental Dish Ruffs
18. page 457 Square Netted Rose Antimacassar
19. page 549 Antimacassar in Square Netting 

1857 (Vol. 55) - Jul-Dec  an alternate location

1. page 5 Chair Cover in Darned Netting
2. page 164 D'oyley In Flanders Guipure
3. page 455 Definition of Threads & Yarns
4. page 485 Tidy in Netting or Crochet [illustration only] 

1858 (Vol. 56) - Jan-Jun

1. page 4 A Lady's Netted Cap for Mourning [illustration]
2. page 66 A Lady's Netted Cap for Mourning
3. page 10 Netted Cheese or Cake D'oyley [illustration]
4. page 69 Netted Cheese or Cake D'oyley
5. page 106 D'oyley In Flanders Guipure

1858 (Vol. 57) - Jul-Dec  another location 

1. page 198 Star Toilet Pincushion [illustration]
2. page 261 Star Toilet Pincushion
3. page 199 Sofa Cushion in Black Net [illustration]
4. page 264 Sofa Cushion in Black Net
5. page 547 A Gentleman's Necktie

1859 (Vol. 58) - Jan-Jun 

1. page 395 Netted Tidy 
2. page 552 Fly-Catch 

1859 (Vol. 59) - Jul-Dec

1. page 362 A Netted Couverette for Fruit, Cake, Etc. 
2. page 392 Netted Shawl
3. page 451 Silk Net for the Hair
4. page 489 Crochet Undersleeve with [net]Cuff [illustration]
5. page 543 Crochet Undersleeve with [net]Cuff

I'm still trying to understand how the "Fly-Catch" is supposed to work.  Let me know if you figure it out.

Netting in Magazines - Godey's Lady's Book (1830-1849)

While looking for more magazines that had netting information, I stumbled across a wonderful website dealing with Godey's Lady's Book.  Started in 1830 by Louis Godey, this magazine continued until 1896.  A brief history of the magazine is located here.

I eagerly searched through the magazines from volume 1 (1830) through volume 28 (1844).  There was nothing on netting.  I could not find volume 19 (last half of 1839) nor volumes 29-33 (the last half of 1844 through 1846).   I was disappointed.

However, what I found after that more than made up for my initial disappointment.  Here is what I found from 1847-1849:

1847 (Vol. 34-35)

1. page 48 Netting
2. page 48 Netted Long Purse
3. page 49 Handsome Long Netted Purse
4. page 49 Round Netted Gentleman's Long Purse
5. page 49 Round Knitting Basket
6. page 49 Netted Scarf
7. page 49 Round Netted Scarf
8. page 49 Netted Cuffs
9. page 49 Netted Cuffs
10. page 49 Grecian Netting
11. page 50 A Round Netted Purse
12. page 50 Target Mat, with netted fringe
13. page 217 Netting
14. page 217 Plain Netted Gentleman's Purse
15. page 217 Plain Netted Purse with a Bead Mouth
16. page 217 Grecian Netting or Fillet Rose
17. page 218 Single Diamond Netting
18. page 218 Treble Diamond Netting
19. page 218 Diamond Netting of Five Stitches
20. page 218 Same Purse, Diamond Pattern
21. page 99 An Elegant Netted Purse with Steel Beads
22. page 99 Plain Open Netting or Filet a Baguette

1848 (Vol. 36-37)

1. page 64 Netting - Bead Purse, Diamond Pattern
2. page 186 Netted Bag
3. page 186 Netted Gauntlet - Maltese Pattern
4. page 186 Patterns for Mittens, Purses, etc. - Number 1
5. page 187 Patterns for Mittens, Purses, etc. - Number 2
6. page 187 Patterns for Mittens, Purses, etc. - For a Purse
7. page 312 Card Basket, in Crochet and Netting [illustration]
8. page 363 Card Basket, in Crochet and Netting
9. page 53 Knitted Opera Cap with Netted Border
10. page 173 Netting - Knitted Scarf for the Neck

1849 (vol. 38)   I could not find Vol. 39 (July-December) online.

1. page 361 Netting the Helen Cap

This week, instead of spending time netting, I spent my time searching through Godey's Lady's Book.  I found many patterns for darning square and diamond mesh netting as well as instructions for fancy stitches and plenty of beautiful netting.  Enjoy looking through this window to the past.

Next week I plan to list what I found between 1850 and 1859.

Netting in Magazines - International Old Lacer's Bulletin

Several years ago I stumbled across some articles on netting that had been published between 1968 and 1982 by the IOLI.  This week I found those same articles located in two places, here and here.

According to their website, IOLI was founded in 1954 as Old Lacers.  Their name has been changed several times: 1959 to National Old Lacers, 1970 to International Old Lacers, Inc., and 2012 to International Organization of Lace, Inc.

Here are some of the articles about netting I found in this quarterly magazine.

1. September 1970
1. Section: Art of Netting; Article: Corner in Darned or Guipure Netting (page 11)
2. Section: Art of Netting; Article: Netted Neckerchief (page 11)
2. January 1971
1. Article: Filet (page 40)
3. January 1973
1. Section: Netting and Guipure; Article: Netting (page 39)
2. Section: Netting and Guipure; Article: South Beloit Women Preserve Lacemaking, Antique Lace Made (page 40)
4. May 1973
1. Article: Netting (photo of doily made by Mrs. Frank Nelson) (page 65 )
2. Section: Book Review; Author: Mary Lou Kueker; Article: Netting by Primrose Cumming (page 78)
3. Section: Book Review; Author: Mary Lou Kueker; Article: La rete a Rosoni (Rosette Netting) (page 78)
4. Section: Book Review; Author: Mary Lou Kueker; Article: A Treasury of Needlework Projects from Godey's Lady's Book by Arlene Z. Wiczyk (page 78)
5. November 1976
1. Article: Netting (page 26)
2. Article: Filet Lace (page 27)
6. November 1977
1. Author: Sheila Bottorff; Article: Tatting-Frivolite [includes illustrations for tying the netting knot] (page 44)
7. May 1977
1. Section: A Book of Modern Netting Designs; Author: Mrs. Bertha Cragun; Article: "Kissin' Cousin" fantail fish design (photo only) (page 98)
2. Section: Filet Square; Author: Kay Asahi; Article: Single or plain mesh (page 99 )
8. January 1978
1. Section: A Practical Use of Netting; Article: Netted Doily (page 70)
2. Section: A Practical Use of Netting; Article: Netting the New Wool Scarfs (page 70)
3. Section: A Practical Use of Netting; Article: Netted Edging (page 70)
9. July 1979
1. Section: Modano Lace; Author: Mrs. Bertha Cragun; Article: Modano Lace (page 139)
10. January 1980
1. Section: Modano Lace; Author: Mrs. Bertha Cragun; Article: Circle It [net doll skirt] (page 52)
2. Section: Modano Lace; Author: Mrs. Bertha Cragun; Article: Garden Party [netting on Pillow Cases] (page 52)
3. Section: Modano Lace; Author: Mrs. Bertha Cragun; Article: Lacy Shawl (page 53 )
4. Section: Modano Lace; Author: Mrs. Bertha Cragun; Article: Garden Hat (page 53)
5. Section: Modano Lace; Author: Mrs. Bertha Cragun; Article: Lace on Lace (page 53)
6. Section: Modano Lace; Author: Mrs. Bertha Cragun; Article: Modano Lace Star for a Birthday Calendar of Calligraphy (page 53)
11. May 1980
1. Section: Modano Lace; Author: Mrs. Bertha Cragun; Article: Modano Lace [forming a center without a foundation loop] (page 92)
2. Section: Modano Lace; Author: Mrs. Bertha Cragun; Article: Tool Keeper Tip (page 93)
12. November 1980
1. Section: Book Review; Article: The Technique of Filet Lace by Pauline Knight (page 26 )
13. May 1981
1. Section: Modano Lace; Author: Mrs. Bertha Cragun; Article: Pauline Knight [author of The Technique of Filet Lace] (page 69)

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Last Saturday I went to two baby showers.  Although they were not held at the same time, they were held in the same large building.  That made it easier to go from one to the other.  As a gift, I brought what everyone who knows me expected - a net bag.

Since I am trying to get my instructions correct for my net bags before I publish them, I have two different styles here.

The blue bag is a rectangular bag with a single tied handle.  

The pink bag is a circular bag made from the bottom up and has two handles.

Of course the bags contained some of my favorite baby bibs.  

Judging from the comments at the baby showers I attend, the bibs are a favorite with other mothers also.

The baby bibs are made of tea-towels and have ribbing around the neck edge.  

Netting by Primrose Cumming

Dryad Press, in England, published many small booklets dealing with handcrafts.  In 1956 they published Netting by Primrose Cumming.  There are illustrations throughout the book.

1. Netting (page 2)
2. Plain Diamond Mesh (page 3)
3. A Hammock (page 5)
4. A Ping-pong or Table Tennis Net in Square Mesh (page 6)
5. A Ping-pong or Table Tennis Net in Diamond Mesh (page 8)
6. Shopping Bag in Green and White Macrame String (page 9)
7. Rabbit or Purse Net (page 12)
8. Scarf in Diamond Mesh (page 13)

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This week I finally got around to photographing some of the netting I have finished recently - a scarf and two bowl covers.  These items can be found on Knots Indeed with more information about each item.

Variety, Italian Cut Work and Filet Lace, Book No. 1

According to Iva Rose Vintage Reproductions, Carmela Testa & Company was a small company that published 7 Variety books.  Italian Cut Work and Filet Lace is the first book in that series.  This book, published in 1921, deals with Italian Cut Work and Filet Lace.  It has a couple of pages concerning how to net and how to make square-mesh netting and several pages of patterns that can be embroidered onto the netting.  There are two sites where the digitized copies can be found:  here and here.

1. Filet Designs - illustrations (pages 8-24)
2. Netting - with illustrations (page 25)
3. Filet Lace (page 27)

The other books in the series can be found at Amazon or Iva Rose Vintage Reproductions.  As far as I can tell, Italian Cut Work and Filet Lace is the only one available to download.

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Several years ago I wanted to try some new stitches, but I didn't want to add them to a doily and deal with increases and decreases in addition to learning a new stitch.  That was when I decided to make some scarves.  I was introduced to net scarves by David Keller back in 2004.  He even gave me the instructions for his Blizzard Busters and allowed me to put the instructions online.

This week my son has added posts and I added photos of those scarves.  Some of the scarves are very short - I only wanted to use a single skein of yarn; some are more than six feet.  Some are wide and some are narrow.  All of them keep necks warm.  Yes, even with all the holes, net scarves keep necks warm!

Tatting and Netting by Butterick Publishing Company

In 1895,  Butterick Publishing Company added a lace-making book to their list of publications.  Tatting and Netting, as its title indicates, covers the topics of tatting and netting.  The first half of the book is devoted to tatting; the last half, to netting.  Rather than describing the netting information included in this book, I've listed the descriptive headings used in the book:

1. Method of Making a Hammock or a Tennis-net - with illustrations (page 77)
2. Square Netting - with illustrations (page 81)
3. Oblong Netting - with illustration (page 81)
4. Square in Meshes of Two Sizes - with illustration (page 82)
5. Square of Netting Begun at the Middle - with illustrations (page 82)
6. Strips of Straight Netting - with illustrations (page 82)
7. Straight Netting with a Pointed Edge - with illustration (page 82)
8. Angular Edge for Handkerchief Borders, Etc.  - with illustrations (page 83)
9. Wire Frame for Embroidering Netting  - with illustrations (page 84)
10. Circular Netting of Long and Short Loops   - with illustration (page 85)
11. Circular Netting Formed by Increases or Widenings - with illustration (page 85)
12. Loose Loops in Clusters  - with illustrations (page 85)
13. Swiss Diamond Netting  - with illustration (page 86)
14. Diamond Netting  - with illustration (page 87)
15. Square Diamond Netting  - with illustrations (page 87)
16. Diagonal Netting with Crossed Loops  - with illustration (page 87)
17. Rose Netting in Stripes  - with illustrations (page 88)
18. Diamond Pattern  - with illustrations (page 88)
19. Diagonal Netting   - with illustration (page 89)
20. Star-Netting - with illustration (page 89)
21. Round Netting  - with illustrations (page 90)
22. Open Twisted Netting  - with illustrations (page 90)
23. Bunch Netting  - with illustration (page 91)
24. Grecian Netting   - with illustration (page 91)
25. Looped Netting  - with illustration (page 92)
26. Loose-Loop Pattern  - with illustration (page 92)
27. Design in Long and Crossed Loops (page 92)
28. Oriel Netting  - with illustration (page 93)
29. Fancy Netting  - with illustration (page 93)
30. Stripe Netting - with illustration (page 93)
31. Honeycomb Netting  - with illustration (page 93)
32. Leaf Netting   - with illustration (page 94)
33. Spike Netting   - with illustrations (page 94)
34. Spider Netting   - with illustrations (page 95)
35. Double Leaf Netting  - with illustrations (page 95)
36. Beaded Netting (page 95)
37. Mosaic Netting  - with illustration (page 96)
38. Stripe for Shawls, etc - with illustration (page 96)
39. Stitches and Designs for Darning Netting (page 97)
40. Netted Scollop - with illustration (page 107)
41. Netted Lace  - with illustration (page 107)
42. Pointed Edging - with illustration (page 108)
43. Trimming, with Thick Loops and Fan Edge - with illustration (page 108)
44. Netted Insertion - with illustration (page 108)
45. Netted Edging - with illustration (page 109)
46. Netted Fringe  - with illustration (page 109)
47. Netted Trimming - with illustration (page 109)
48. Netted Scollop - with illustration (page 110)
49. Pointed, Net Edging - with illustration (page 110)
50. Netted Lace - with illustration (page 111)
51. Netted Insertion - with illustration (page 111)
52. Netted Edging - with illustration (page 111)
53. Netted Border, with Fringe - with illustration (page 112)
54. Edging in Double Fan or Sheaf Design - with illustration (page 112)
55. Netted Fringe - with illustration (page 112)
56. Border in Rose and Sheaf Pattern  - with illustration (page 113)
57. Tassel Fringe - with illustration (page 113)
58. Netted Scollop for Borders - with illustration (page 113)
59. Netted Edging - with illustration (page 114)
60. Netted Edging - with illustration (page 115)
61. Netted Pointed Lace - with illustration (page 115)
62. Netted Border, with Fringe - with illustration (page 116)
63. Netted Lace - with illustration (page 116)
64. Netted Edging - with illustration (page 116)
65. Netted Guipure Insertion (pages 114, 115, 117, 118, 154)  - with illustrations
66. Netted Guipure Lace (pages 110, 111, 114, 115, 117, 118) - with illustrations
67. Bureau Toilet-Set - with illustration (page 119)
68. Cracker Doily - with illustration (page 119)
69. Finger-Bowl, Doily, with Netted Border - with illustration (page 120)
70. Doily, with Nbetted Border and Embroidered Center - with illustration (page 121)
71. Netted Tumbler Doily - with illustration (page 121)
72. Platter Doily, with Netted Border - with illustrations (page 122)
73. Table-Mat or Center-piece with Netted, Fluted Edge - with illustration (page 123)
74. Netted Mat - with illustrations (page 124)
75. Netted Wheel, for Decorating Scarfs (page 124)
76. Netted Mat  - with illustrations (page 125)
77. Platter Doily, with Netted Border - with illustrations (page 125)
78. Netted Finger-Bowl Doily - with illustrations (page 127)
79. Netted Mat  - with illustrations (page 127)
80. Plate Doily, with Netted Border - with illustrations (page 128)
81. Plate Doily, with Netted Border - with illustrations (page 129)
82. Plate Doileys, with Netted Borders - with illustrations (page 130)
83. Round Doily - with illustrations (page 131)
84. Netted Doileys - square with rose netting edging - with illustrations (pages 131, 132)
85. Rond Center-piece for table (page 132)
86. Netted Tumbler Doily - with illustration (page 133)
87. Netted Doileys - square with different edgings  - with illustrations (page 133)
88. Doileys with Netted Borders - with illustrations (page 134)
89. Netted Doily - with illustrations (page 135)
90. Netted Doily - with illustrations (page 135)
91. Carving Cloth with Netted Border  - with illustrations (page 135)
92. Netted Doily - with illustration (page 135)
93. Netted Doily, with Linen Center - with illustration (page 136)
94. Netted Doily - with illustration (page 136)
95. Finger-Bowl Doily - with illustration (page 137)
96. Square Center-Piece for Table - with illustration (page 137)
97. Netted Square - with illustrations  (pages 137-142)
98. Netted Scarf or Throw - with illustrations (page 143)
99. Infant's Netted Cap - with illustrations (page 144)
100. Work-bag, with Netted Cover - with illustrations (page 144)
101. Corner of a Netted Shawl - with illustrations (page 145)
102. Netted Mouchoir or Photograph Case - with illustrations (page 146)
103. Netted Border for Handkerchief - with illustrations (page 146)
104. Letter Box - with illustrations (page 147)
105. Directions for Netting a Seine  (page 147)
106. Netted Shawl - with illustration (page 148)
107. Netted Book Cover - with illustrations (page 148)
108. Netted Tab - with illustration (page 149)
109. Netted Lappet for Caps, etc - with illustration (page 149)
110. Directions for Half of Netted Collar - with illustration (page 150)
111. Netted Cover for Bon-Bon Dish - with illustration (page 151)
112. Directions for Making Netted Curtains (page 151)
113. Netted Tie - with illustration (page 152)
114. Netted Scollop for Scarfs - with illustration (page 152)
115. Bag for Holding Tennis Balls (page 152)
116. Netted Neckerchief - with illustration (page 153)
117. Netted Seine - with illustration (page 153)
118. Plum Basket - with illustration (page 153)
119. Netted Silk Purse (page 153)

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Many years ago, when I was trying to discover uses for netting other than doilies, I saw some satin ornament balls that were covered in crochet.  Each ball was beautiful.  I decided to try the same thing with netting.  

This week, as I looked at the balls I had not given away as Christmas gifts, I realized that I needed better pictures.  In taking the photos, I noticed that not all the patterns I had created were represented.  So I've been netting the missing ball covers, while my son has been posting the ones I photographed.  

I still need to make one more and then photograph them; he still has more to post, but while we're doing what we need to do, you can look at the ornaments that are posted. 

The Ladies’ Complete Guide to Crochet, Fancy Knitting and Needlework by Ann Sophia Stephens

Although she lists several uses for the "delightful art of netting" in her introduction to The Ladies’ Complete Guide to Crochet, Fancy Knitting and Needlework, published in 1854, Ann Sophia Stephens leaves the instructions and patterns for "sleeves, cuffs, rigolettes, and over-shoes" to others.  Besides the introduction, which briefly discusses the uses of netting, the book contains only two patterns for netting.  Both of those patterns involve square-mesh netting.  She does note on page 94, "All the designs given for D'oyleys and AntiMacassars in square crochet may be equally well worked in square netting, the pattern being darned in afterwards."

1. Introduction (page 12)
2. Square Netting (page 94)
3. Netted Scarf (page 114)

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One of the net bag patterns I had sitting on my computer was for a single-handle, spiral, top-down gift bag.   I decided to make it not once, but twice, since I needed two gift bags for a baby shower for twins.  I decided to make the blue one with a moebius handle.  The pink one has a regular handle.

The pattern claimed to have a hexagon base.  It's true that when I started decreasing for the base there were six decreases that occurred in several rows, but I'm not sure I could truly call it a hexagon base.  

This is because, when making it, once I reached the point where I had only six loops left in the round, instead of netting them all together with one knot, like I did for the pentagon bags, I decreased the loops down to three and then joined them with one knot.

If you look closely at the base, you can see where the six decreases are.

The base does not look like a triangle because the bag was made using spiral rather than circular netting.



What would you suggest I call the base of this bag?

The Ladies' Self Instructor

There is no author listed for The Ladies' Self Instructor in Millinery and Mantua Making, Embroidery and Applique, Canvas-work, Knitting, Netting and Crochet-work.  The linked, digitized copy was published in 1853.  Even though it is "illustrated with numerous engravings," none of those engravings are included with the netting information.

1. Explanation of Terms Used in Knitting (page 152)
2. Netted Mittens (page 162)
3. A Net Purse in Points (page 167)
4. Corkscrew Netting for a Purse (page 168)
5. Netted Curtain (page 175)
6. Netted Scarf (page 175)
7. Treble Diamond Netting (page 176)
8. Single Diamond Netting (page 177)
9. Tuft Netting (page 177)
10. Double Netting for a Mitten (page 180)
11. Patterns for D'oyleys, Basket, or Fish Napkins and Purses: No. 1 (page 182)
12. Patterns for D'oyleys, Basket, or Fish Napkins and Purses: No. 2 (page 182)
13. Patterns for D'oyleys, Basket, or Fish Napkins and Purses: No. 3 (page 183)
14. Netted Lambs'-wool Shawl or Handkerchief (page 183)
15. Netted Sofa Tidy (page 183)
16. To Work the Backs of Netted Mittens (page 184)
17. Netted Cuffs (page 186)
18. Netted Bag (page 189)
19. Striped Purse (page 189)
20. Bead Netting (page 190)
21. Bead Netting, with the Bead on the Knot (page 190)

Thanks to this book I have become acquainted with some new terms:  

• Mantua - "loose gown worn by women 17c.-18c.," 1678, from Fr. manteau "cloak, mantle," from O.Fr. mantel (see mantle); form infl. in Eng. by Mantua, name of a city in Italy. Mantua-maker (1694) became the general early 19c. term for "dressmaker."Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper 

• Tidy - (used as a noun) an antimacassar

• Antimacassar - "a cloth covering the back and arms of chairs, etc, to prevent soiling or as decoration"; "coined 1852, from anti- + macassar oil, imported hair tonic from Indonesian island of Sulawesi. The cloth was laid to protect chair and sofa fabric from people leaning their oily heads back against it. Macassar is from native Mangkasara, name of a district on the island." Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper 

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A mobius or moebius strip is a continuous, one-sided surface formed by twisting one end of a rectangular strip through 180° about the longitudinal axis of the strip and attaching this end to the other.  To see how to make one click here or here.

Several years ago I became acquainted with moebius knitting through the delightful Cat Bordhi.  She would knit a moebius strip, thereby creating a scarf.  Sometimes she would add a hat or bag to the moebius strip.  I wondered how I could use the unique and magical techniques she had developed for knitting and apply them to netting.   Then one day I figured out how to net a moebius bag.

Since I am going through my patterns and checking out the instructions, I decided to take the pattern for the spiral net bag I made a few weeks ago, give the handle a twist when joining it, and create a moebius bag.  

The fun thing with a moebius bag is that even though it looks like the bag has an inside and an outside, it is really a one-sided surface.   There is only one surface!   All I did was stretch one portion of the moebius strip a little and put a few extra stitches in it.

The only difference between the patterns for the regular bag and the moebius bag is the twist in the handle. 

A Winter Gift for Ladies being instructions in Knitting, Netting, and Crochet Work by An American Lady

A Winter Gift for Ladies being instructions in Knitting, Netting, and Crochet Work by An American Lady was published in 1848.  I found an interesting netting note at the end of the Explanation of Terms used in Knitting.  It stated, "The netting meshes are numbered from the knitting needle gauge, as I am not aware there is any other rule for them."  If that sentence had been given in some of the first netting books I looked at, I would have been sure much earlier that my hypothesis, that numbered mesh sticks were referring to knitting needles, was correct.

The netting patterns and stitches in this book are as follows:

1. Explanation of Terms used in Knitting (page 10)
2. Netted Mittens (page 20)
3. A Net Purse in Points (page 23)
4. Corkscrew Netting for a Purse (page 26)
5. Netted Curtain (page 33)
6. Netted Scarf (page 33)
7. Treble Diamond Netting (page 34)
8. Single Diamond Netting (page 35)
9. Tuft Netting (page 35)
10. Double Netting for a Mitten (page 38)
11. Netted Lamb's-wool Shawl or Handkerchief (page 41)
12. Netted Sofa Tidy (page 41)
13. To work the backs of Netted Mittens (page 42)
14. Netted Cuffs (page 44)
15. Netted Bag (page 47)
16. Bead Netting (page 49)
17. Diamond Netting (page 49)

No pictures today, sorry.  I spent most of my day at Novice Schola (and most of my week preparing to teach netting).  Novice Schola is an SCA event held annually in Springfield, Massachusetts.  While there, I taught three novices how to tie the netting knot.  When they left,  all three could tie a netting knot.  I hope they retain that knowledge tomorrow.  

While I was at Novice Schola, a friend shared with me a picture she had seen in Woven into the Earth: Textile finds in Norse Greenland by Else Ostergaard.  Included in the picture were two men, and each of them was wearing a net version of our modern belt bag or fanny pack tied around his waist.  One bag seemed to be in diamond-mesh and the other in square-mesh.  Amazing where netting turns up.

The Practical Companion to the Work-table by Elizabeth Jackson

The best digitized copy I could find for The Practical Companion to the Work-table Containing Directions for Knitting, Netting & Crochet Work by Elizabeth Jackson is located here.  Even though it is missing pages 14 and 15, which tell how to use the knitting needle gauge she has pictured in her book, at least it has all the netting patterns, which some online copies do not seem to have. This copy of the book was published in 1845.

These netting patterns all include the material and the mesh to be used.  Care needs to be taken, though, when selecting the mesh.  The numbering starts with the largest size at 1 and the smallest at 26.

1. Remarks on Netting (page 135)
2. Netted Mittens (page 137, item 89)
3. Netted Mittens (page 138, item 90)
4. Netted Border for a Cap (page 139, item 91)
5. Tulip Purse (page 140, item  92)
6. Purse in Points (page 141, item 93)
7. Handsome Long Netted Purse (page 143, item 94)
8. Netted Long Purse (page 144, item 95)
9. Round Netted Gentleman's Long Purse (page 144, item 96)
10. Round Netted Mat (page 145, item 97)
11. Netted Scarf (page 146, item 98)
12. Round Netted Scarf (page 146, item 99)
13. Netted Cuffs (page 147, item 100)
14. Netted Cuffs (page 147, item 101)
15. Netted Half Square Handkerchief (page 148, item 102)
16. Netted Cardinal Cape (page 149, item 103)
17. Scallop for Veil Borders, &c (page 150, item 104)
18. Scallop for Curtains, &c (page 150, item 105)
19. Single Diamond Netting (page 151, item 106)
20. Grecian Netting (page 151, item 107)
21. A Round Netted Purse (page 153, item 108)

Last week I mentioned I had received an email from Solange Oliveira.  What I did not mention was that she included in her email some net jewelry.  I wanted to get her permission to share these photos before I posted them.  These works of art are from a group of women in the city of Marechal Deodoro, in the state of Alagoas, Brazil.

Corresponding with someone who speaks a different language is a challenge.  Google Translator is fine for an overview but is poor when it comes to specifics like types of laces.

When describing what type of lace these ladies made, Solange wrote in Portuguese, "O nome de artesanato e 'clareza de Renda' e é igual ao italiano faça chamado 'ad Puntino atrás' na cidade de Latronico. O artesanato que faço chama Renda turco, mas é semelhante ao Singeleza de Renda."

Google translated it as, "The name of handicrafts and 'Income Plainness' and is equal to the Italian make called 'ad Puntino ago' in the city of Latronico. The crafts I make calls Income Turkish, but is similar to Income Plainness."

Hoping for some clarity, I contacted my son who lived in Brazil for about two years.  He replied with this translation, "This type of craft/art is called 'Clearness of Lace, or Lace Clarity', which is the same as the Italian art called 'ad Puntino atras' from the city of Latronico.  The craft I make is called Turkish lace, which is similar to Single Lace (or Solitary Lace)."

He also added, "The translation problem with the craft names is that I haven't really met anyone who does these in English.  If I recall correctly, Turkish lace is similar to macrame, but not identical.  Clearness of Lace could be something as simple as needlepoint, knitting, or netting, since I never met anyone who called it that while in Brazil, and don't have the photos.  Renda can mean lace, but there's a feel there of a woven (or worked) textile as well."

Whatever you call it, it is beautiful and demonstrates something else that can be made with netting.