Saturday, April 16, 2016

Netted Lace from Treasures in Needlework


In 1855, Mrs. Warren and Mrs. Pullan published Treasures in Needlework. Among the patterns were several which included net edges. The instructions for Netted Lace, found on page 13, recommended using a "bone mesh a quarter of an inch wide; steel mesh gauging, No. 13." I used a 1/4" mesh stick and a #1 knitting needle (having converted the Old English size 13 to a modern US size 1 or 2.5 mm).
I also discovered that when the thread is wrapped once around the knitting needle before the netting knot is tied, the finished loop is the equivalent of a 1/4" mesh stick.  So I changed the mesh stick used in rows 11-14 to reflect this. I tried to get my instructions to produce a sample that looked similar to the picture of the stitch.





Here's my version of the directions for this edge.

Row 1: (1/4" mesh) Net 9 loops (or any odd number) in the foundation loop.
Row 2: (1/4" mesh) Net 1 knot in each loop.
Row 3: (#1 knitting needle) Net 1 knot in each loop.
Row 4: (#1 knitting needle) Wrap the thread around the mesh stick one time, net 1 knot in the first loop (creating a double-length loop), now net 1 more knot in the first loop (creating a regular-sized loop), *wrap the thread around the mesh stick one time, net 1 knot in the next loop (creating a double-length loop), in the same loop, net 1 more knot (creating a regular-sized loop)*; repeat from * to *.
Rows 5-6:  (#1 knitting needle) Only netting into the double-length loops, repeat row 4.
Row 7: (#1 knitting needle) Net 1 knot in each loop.
Row 8: (1/4" mesh) Net 3 knots in the first loop, *skip the next loop, net 7 knots in the following loop*; repeat from * to *, ending with net 4 knots in the last loop.
Row 9:  (#1 knitting needle) Net 1 knot in each loop for 2 loops, *wrap the thread around the mesh stick one time, skip the same loop as in the last row, net 1 knot in each loop for 6 loops*; repeat from * to *, ending with net 1 knot in each loop for 3 loops.
Row 10:  (#1 knitting needle) Net 1 knot in each loop for 2 loops, *wrap the thread around the mesh stick one time, skip the same loop as in the last row, net 1 knot in each loop for 5 loops*; repeat from * to * ending with net 1 knot in each loop for 3 loops.
Row 11: (1/4" mesh) Net 1 knot in each loop for 2 loops, *skip the next loop,  net 1 knot in each loop for 4 loops*; repeat from * to * ending with net 1 knot in each loop for 2 loops.
Row 12: (1/4" mesh) Net 1 knot in the first loop, *skip the next loop, net 1 knot in each loop for 3 loops*; repeat from * to *, ending with net 1 knot in each loop for 2 loops.
Row 13: (1/4" mesh) Net 1 knot in the first loop, *skip the next loop, net 1 knot in each loop for 2 loops*; repeat from * to * ending with net 1 knot in the last loop.
Row 14: (1/4" mesh)  *Skip the next loop, net 1 knot in the following loop*; repeat from * to *.

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