The Ladies' Work-table Book (2nd ed)

Recently I discussed the netting patterns and instructions found in The Ladies' Work-table Book.  The on-line copy was published in 1845.  Today I picked up the second edition of The Ladies' Work-table Book to list the netting information it contained.  I was surprised to notice that the online version of the second edition was published in 1844.

The netting information found in the two books is not identical.  Some of the information and patterns are worded differently.  Some patterns included in the first edition are not in the second edition, and there are some new patterns in the second edition.  Here is what the second edition contains for netting:

1. Netting (page 158) [this introduction contains a brief history of netting]
2. Plain Netting (page 160)
3. Bead Stitch (page 162)
4. Diamond Netting  (page 163)
5. Diamond Netting, of Five Stitches (page 163)
6. Grecian Netting (page 164)
7. Shaded Silk Netting (page 164)
8. Dotted Netting  (page 165)
9. French Ground Net (page 165)
10. Honeycomb Netting (page 166)
11. Honeycomb Netting, with Two Meshes (page 166)
12. Another Kind of Honeycomb Netting (page 167)
13. Leaf Netting (page 167)
14. Maltese Netting, in Spots (page 168)
15. Plain Open Netting (page 169)
16. Round Netting (page 169)
17. Shaded Silk Netting (page 170)
18. Honeycomb Mittens (page 171)
19. Netted Cuffs (page 172)
20. Netted Opera Cap (page 173)
21. Netted Scollop Edging (page 174)
22. A Plain Scollop (page 175)
23. Cap Border Scollop (page 175)
24. Net Cravat (page 175)
25. A Net Scarf (page 176)
26. A Long Purse, in Points (page 176)
27. Netted Wool Scarf (page 177)
28. Small Half Neckerchief (page 177)
29. Square Wool Neckerchief (page 177)
30. Netted Mittens (page 178)
31. Netted Fringe (page 179)
32. Striped Netted Purse (page 179)
33. Round Netting Purse (page 180)
34. A Purse, in Points (page 180)
35. Netted Curtain (page 180)
36. Curtain for a French Bed (page 181)

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

This week I got an email from Solange Oliveira. She lives in Brazil and has a website devoted to netting.  As I looked at her website again, I was reminded that many of her decorations are made with a stitch I have named Tufts.  She is very creative with that stitch, and I really liked one of her variations.  To be able to refer to it easily, I have called it Tufts Eyelet Decorative Stitch.  This week I decided I would try to make that stitch using a #3 size knitting needle, which is equivalent to a 1/8" flat mesh stick.

It did not look like this before it was starched.  The hole in the middle of the Tufts did not appear.  So, I made another sample.  This time I used a #8 knitting needle, which is the same as a 1/4" flat mesh stick.

Once I starched the stitch, I could see the hole in both of the samples, though I like the first one better.  Solange Oliveira has several patterns on her website which use this stitch.

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)

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

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.

The Ladies' Hand-book of Knitting, Netting, and Crochet by the author of "The Ladies' Hand-book of Fancy Needlework and Embroidery"

There are at least two digital copies of  The Ladies' Hand-book of Knitting, Netting, and Crochet  by the  author of The Ladies' Hand-book of Fancy Needlework and Embroidery.  This link is to the one that seems to have all its pages scanned.  The other copy is missing many of the even numbered pages.  As far as I could tell, the earlier book by this author, The Ladies' Hand-book of Fancy Needlework and Embroidery,  does not appear to have been digitized yet.  A few libraries and museums have copies.

The following list of netting history, equipment descriptions, stitches and patterns are included in The Ladies' Hand-book of Knitting, Netting, and Crochet:

1. history of netting (page vii)
2. Necessary Implements for Netting (page 7)
3. Plain Netting (page 13)
4. Net with Points (page 16)
5. Net with Beads (page 16)
6. Grecian Netting (page 17)
7. Diamond Netting (page 17)
8. Plain Open Netting (page 19)
9. Plain Netted Mittens (page 39)
10. Netted Cuff, with Silk and Wool (page 40)
11. Netted Fringe (page 41)
12. Plain Netted Gentleman's Purse (page 41)
13. A Lady's Purse (page 41)
14. A Purse with China Silk (page 42)
15. A Seam Purse, with Beads (page 42)
16. A Netted Bag, with Ring (page 42)
17. Dice Pattern Purse (page 42)

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

Mother Nature has a way of putting a hold on activities otherwise planned.  The beginning netting classes I was planning to teach today at  Novice Schola were cancelled because of the feet of snow dumped on us last night.  

This is what I saw when I opened the door to the carport.

The front door would not open because of the snow piled against it on the outside.

We measured about 21" depth of snow in the driveway. (photo on the right)

Last week, while we still thought the event would happen, I was trying to come up with a quick, easy project to make in square-mesh netting.  My SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) friends made a suggestion.

When I showed it to them, they agreed it was just what they had envisioned -- a Cup Cover

What is that?  Think back to the last picnic you had.  You had a cup of something to drink that the flies wanted to sample.  This net cup cover, placed over your cup, will keep the flies, bees and other flying creatures out of your drink.  At least that's what my friends assured me.  Today, there are no flies outside to experiment with, and I'm not going to take a cup of anything outside in this weather.  I'll sip my hot chocolate by the heater.

The netting is 6" square and made with string and a 3/8" mesh stick.  The glass beads at the corners add weight to the cover so it won't blow off.

The Handbook of Needlework by Miss Lambert

Published in 1842, Miss Lambert's book The Handbook of Needlework can be found online in two different places.  Click here to see it at one location and here to find it at the other location.  She includes information on the tools used in netting, some information on the history of netting, a description of how to tie the netting knot, some stitches (with illustrations of the finished stitch), and some patterns.  Four of the instructions are in French, and, since I don't read French, I can't say what she is describing in those four portions.

1. Implements: Netting Needles and Meshes (page 92)
2. Antiquity of the Art (page 224)
3. Plain Netted Gentleman's Purse (page 228)
4. A Lady's Purse (page 229)
5. Gentleman's Purse with Ends of Different Colours (page 229)
6. A Lady's Purse with Points (page 229)
7. A Pretty Purse with Chinè Silk (page 230)
8. Netting with Beads (page 230)
9. A Plain Netted Purse with a Bead Mouth (page 230)
10. A Pretty Sème Purse with Steel or Gold Beads (page 231)
11. An Elegant Netted Purse with Steel Beads (page 231)
12. Plain Netted Mittens (page 232)
13. A Knitter's Bag with Ring (page 232)
14. A Checked or Dice Pattern Purse (page 233)
15. Grecian Netting or Filet Rose (page 233)
16. A Purse in Grecian Netting (page 234)
17. Mittens in Grecian Netting (page 234)
18. Netted Fringe (page 235)
19. Single Diamond Netting (page 235)
20. Treble Diamond Netting (page 236)
21. Diamond Netting, with Five Stitches (page 236)
22. Sème Purse, Diamond Pattern (page 238)
23. Open Plain Netting, or Filet a Bagaette (page 239)
24. Fond de Berlin (page 239, written in French only)
25. Filet Rose (page 240, written in French only)
26. Filet a Baton Rompu (page 240, written in French only)
27. Filet Rond (page 241, written in French only)
28. Netted Mittens with Silk and Wool (page 241)
29. Netted Cuff with Silk and Wool (page 242)

I have been asked to teach a beginning netting class for Novice Schola this coming Saturday.  I have been trying to come up with a pattern that teaches the basic skills, uses the sizes of the inexpensive mesh sticks I got, can be finished within 2-3 hours, and is something that might have been used several centuries ago.  I decided on a net bag.

In trying to create a pattern that would fit my needs I felt a bit like Goldilocks.



The first bag had way too many knots - 618.

The second bag was better, but still had too many knots - 558.

Finally, the third bag looked just right - 360 knots.

I can finish it in under an hour.  I hope the students can get close to being done within two to three.