The Lady's Assistant in Knitting, Netting, and Crochet Work

In hunting for netting books online, I found several by Mrs. Gaugain.  The Lady's Assistant in Knitting, Netting, and Crochet Work, second volume, is a sequel to the one I mentioned last week.  It was originally published in 1842.  Apparently in 1842 she published both books.

Besides knitting and crochet patterns, it contains the following netting patterns:

• Long Net Purse, called Double Netting (item 121, page 252)
• Small Net Neckkerchief (item 122, page 253)
• Very Beautiful Long Net Purse, with Gold Beads (item 136, page 290)
• Another Very Beautiful Long Net Purse (item 137, page 292)
• Diced Net Purse, in Twist and Beads (item 142, page 295)
• Net Cuffs, in Berlin Wool and Silk (item 194, page 307)
• Very Light and Elegant Square Net Dress Shawl (item 166, page 365)
• Simple and Pretty Black Net Scarf (item 170, page 371)

This book also contains:

• Directions for guiding the proper sizes of Silks and Meshes used for Purses in Net Work (page 415)
• Remarks on Netting (page 416) 
• [comments on the direction (lengthwise or widthwise) to make curtains for the best result when they are hung and how to block finished netting]
• Make a Stitch in Netting
• To Take-in or Diminish
• Bead Stitch [how to add beads to netting]
• Netting with Shade Silk

In the process of creating the videos for my Circular Netting Class, I needed to make more hot pads.  This one was a revision of a pattern I had already made for this class.

Flower - Hot Pad

This was a new one.  I realized that I had not made any simple hot pads that demonstrated how to decrease.  So this one fills that need. 

Tops - Hot Pad

I finished the taping done for several of the videos.  Now I just need to pull the pieces together to make coherent videos that teach the skills needed in circular netting.  At least progress is finally being made on the videos.

Gauge = mesh stick size and yarn size (continued)

Last week I showed three small round pieces of netting that changed size when the yarn and mesh stick size were increased.  This week I finished three more.

Here they are shown as the top of bookmarks.

Flower

Candle

Magic

And here they are shown as hot pads.

Hot Pad #1

Hot Pad #2

Hot Pad #3

Can you match the hot pad to the proper bookmark?  On August 4th, at noon EDT, the contest will end.  I'll put the names of all those whose comment included the correct answer in a bowl and draw out the winner.  The winner can choose either one net item from Knots Indeed (1,000 knots or less) and I'll make it for them, or 2 of my netting patterns.  Be sure to leave some way for me to contact you, in case you are the winner, otherwise I'll pick again.

Gauge = mesh stick size and yarn size

I was looking at the patterns for my upcoming Circular Netting class.  I noticed that I had only one hot pad.  It uses the plain stitch.   

As I continued to transform the instructions for the net coasters from something I could understand to a handout everyone could understand, I realized I could have more hot pad patterns.  I just needed to make some changes to the coaster patterns.  

By using thicker thread and larger mesh sticks I went from coaster to hot pad.  The inserts in the acrylic coasters are just under 3 inches.  The hot pads are between 5 and 6 inches.

In knitting and crocheting how tightly you grip your yarn and needle affects the gauge and the finished size of your project.  This is not what happens with netting.  The finished size of an article of netting depends on the size of the yarn or thread and the size of the mesh sticks used.

Small Circular Netting: A coaster, potholder, or hot pad?

One of the challenges in creating a new netting class is creating quick, easy, and useful projects.  The circular netting class I'm working on is no exception.

When I learned to net, my grandmother started me with spiral netting.  (I didn't realize that there was any other type of netting for years.)  Since she started the center on my first two doilies, I didn't even get to try the process for over a year.  And since each doily took a long time to complete I had a hard time remembering how to start the doily.

I wanted to avoid that problem with my students, so I have created several small circular projects.  Here are the latest.

7" diameter

5" diameter

I was not sure what to call them.  Are they coasters, potholders, or hot pads?







A friend recently experimented with these net yarn items. She found that they worked great when holding hot items like a cup of tea or coffee.  The steam and heat did not transfer to the surface below.  She also found they did not work so great with cold soft drink cans.  The condensed moisture that gathered on the surface of the can dripped through the holes onto the surface below. 

I guess that means I should stop calling them coasters and start calling them hot pads.  What would you call them?