Square-mesh netting and the darning stitch - pattern three

Using some net embroidery patterns from pages 94-95 in The Techniques of Filet Lace by Pauline Knight, I designed three bookmarks that used the darning stitch.

The bookmarks can be made with any mesh stick. The size of the bookmark will vary depending on which mesh stick is used.

Here is the third example I made.

Square Mesh Instructions

Begin the Bookmark by Increasing

Row 1:  Leaving an 8" tail, net 2 knots into the foundation loop.  (2 loops)

Row 2:  Net into the first loop and increase by netting twice into the second loop.  (3 loops)

Row 3:  Net 1 knot in each loop except for the last loop, net 2 knots into that loop.  (4 loops)

Row 4:  Net 1 knot in each loop except for the last loop, net 2 knots into that loop.   (5 loops)

Row 5:  Net 1 knot in each loop except for the last loop, net 2 knots into that loop.   (6 loops)

Row 6:  Net 1 knot in each loop except for the last loop, net 2 knots into that loop.   (7 loops)

Row 7:  Net 1 knot in each loop except for the last loop, net 2 knots into that loop.   (8 loops)

Row 8:  Net 1 knot in each loop except for the last loop, net 2 knots into that loop.   (9 loops)

Row 9:  Net 1 knot in each loop except for the last loop, net 2 knots into that loop.   (10 loops)

Row 10:  Net 1 knot in each loop.   (10 loops)

Row 11:  Net 1 knot in each loop except for the last loop, net 2 knots into that loop.   (11 loops)

Turn One Corner

Row 12:  Net 1 knot in each loop until there are 2 loops left.  Net the last 2 loops together. (10 loops)

Lengthen Bookmark by Increasing and Decreasing

Row 13:  Net 1 knot in each loop, net 2 knots in the last loop. (11 loops)

Row 14:  Net 1 knot in each loop until there are 2 loops left; net the last 2 loops together. (10 loops)

Rows 15 - 26:  Alternate between instructions for row 13 and for row 14.

Turn a Corner and Complete the Bookmark by Decreasing

Rows 27-33:  Net 1 knot in each loop until there are 2 loops left; net the last 2 loops together.

Create Last Corner

Row 34:   Net the last 2 loops together without using a mesh stick.  Cut the thread.  Fasten loose end of thread into the net bookmark, or cut it leaving a small tail.

Complete the First Corner of the Bookmark

1.       Remove the beginning of the netting from the foundation loop and, with the 6"-8" tail. 

2.       Two loops will be visible. Net the first two loops of the bookmark together without using a mesh stick.

3.       Fasten loose ends of the thread in the same manner you did for Row 32.

Square-mesh netting and the darning stitch - pattern two

Using some patterns from pages 94-95 in The Techniques of Filet Lace by Pauline Knight, I designed three bookmarks that used the darning stitch.

The bookmarks can be made with any mesh stick. The size of the bookmark will vary depending on which mesh stick is used.

Here is the second of the examples I made.

Square Mesh Instructions

Begin the Bookmark by Increasing

Row 1:  Leaving an 8" tail, net 2 knots into the foundation loop.  (2 loops)

Row 2:  Net into the first loop and increase by netting twice into the second loop.  (3 loops)

Row 3:  Net 1 knot in each loop except for the last loop, net 2 knots into that loop.  (4 loops)

Row 4:  Net 1 knot in each loop except for the last loop, net 2 knots into that loop.   (5 loops)

Row 5:  Net 1 knot in each loop except for the last loop, net 2 knots into that loop.   (6 loops)

Row 6:  Net 1 knot in each loop except for the last loop, net 2 knots into that loop.   (7 loops)

Row 7:  Net 1 knot in each loop except for the last loop, net 2 knots into that loop.   (8 loops)

Row 8:  Net 1 knot in each loop except for the last loop, net 2 knots into that loop.   (9 loops)

Row 9:  Net 1 knot in each loop except for the last loop, net 2 knots into that loop.   (10 loops)

Turn One Corner

Row 10:  Net 1 knot in each loop until there are 2 loops left.  Net the last 2 loops together. (9 loops)

Lengthen Bookmark by Increasing and Decreasing

Row 11:  Net 1 knot in each loop, net 2 knots in the last loop. (10 loops)

Row 12:  Net 1 knot in each loop until there are 2 loops left.  Net the last 2 loops together. (9 loops)

Rows 13 - 38:  Alternate between instructions for row 11 and for row 12.

Turn a Corner and Complete the Bookmark by Decreasing

Row 39:  Net 1 knot in each loop until you come to the last 2 loops; net the last 2 loops together.  Row 40-45: Repeat the last row until there are just 2 loops left.

Create Last Corner

Row 46:   Net the last 2 loops together without using a mesh stick.  Cut the thread.  Fasten loose end of thread into the net bookmark, or cut it leaving a small tail.

Complete the First Corner of the Bookmark

1.       Remove the beginning of the netting from the foundation loop and, with the 6"-8" tail. 

2.       Two loops will be visible. Net the first two loops of the bookmark together without using a mesh stick.

3.       Fasten loose ends of the thread in the same manner you did for Row 46.

Square-mesh netting and the darning stitch - pattern one

Earlier this year I was asked to teach our local lace group something about square-mesh netting. I decided to also teach them how to do a simple lacis or net embroidery stitch. I checked a few lacis or filet lace books, got some ideas, and designed three different square-mesh bookmark patterns that used the darning stitch - one of the easier net embroidery stitches. I used some patterns from The Techniques of Filet Lace by Pauline Knight found on pages 94 and 95 to design some bookmarks.

The bookmarks can be made with any mesh stick. The size of the bookmark will vary depending on which mesh stick is used.

Here is one of the examples I made.

Square Mesh Instructions

Begin the Bookmark by Increasing

Row 1:  Leaving an 8" tail, net 2 knots into the foundation loop.  (2 loops)

Row 2:  Net into the first loop and increase by netting twice into the second loop.  (3 loops)

Row 3:  Net 1 knot in each loop except for the last loop, net 2 knots into that loop.  (4 loops)

Row 4:  Net 1 knot in each loop except for the last loop, net 2 knots into that loop.   (5 loops)

Row 5:  Net 1 knot in each loop except for the last loop, net 2 knots into that loop.   (6 loops)

Row 6:  Net 1 knot in each loop except for the last loop, net 2 knots into that loop.   (7 loops)

Row 7:  Net 1 knot in each loop except for the last loop, net 2 knots into that loop.   (8 loops)

Turn One Corner

Row 8:  Net 1 knot in each loop until there are 2 loops left.  Net the last 2 loops together. (7 loops)

Lengthen Bookmark by Increasing and Decreasing

Row 9:  Net 1 knot in each loop, net 2 knots in the last loop. (8 loops)

Row 10:  Net 1 knot in each loop until there are 2 loops left.  Net the last 2 loops together. (7 loops)

Rows 11 - 26:  Alternate between instructions for row 9 and for row 10.

Turn a Corner and Complete the Bookmark by Decreasing

Row 27: Net 1 knot in each loop.

Rows 28-32:  Net 1 knot in each loop until there are 2 loops left.  Net the last 2 loops together.

Create Last Corner

Row 33:   Net the last 2 loops together without using a mesh stick.  Cut the thread.  Fasten loose end of thread into the net bookmark, or cut it leaving a small tail.

Complete the First Corner of the Bookmark

1.       Remove the beginning of the netting from the foundation loop and, with the 6"-8" tail. 

2.       Two loops will be visible. Net the first two loops of the bookmark together without using a mesh stick.

3.       Fasten loose ends of the thread in the same manner you did for Row 33.

Netting in Magazines - Peterson's Magazine (1880-1898)

Even though I found all the issues between 1880 and 1889 available on-line, there were several issues of Peterson's Magazine that did not have any netting patterns or projects.  Those were:

• 1882 (Vol. 81-82)
• 1883 (Vol. 83-84)
• 1884 (Vol. 85-86)
• 1885 (Vol. 87-88)
• 1889 (Vol. 95-96)

I decided to also include 1890-1898, when the magazine was no longer published, since there were only two issues I was able to find online for that time period.  I could not find following years and volumes:

• 1890 (Vol. 97-98)
• 1892 (Vol. 102)
• 1893 (Vol. 103-104)
• 1894 (Vol. 105-106)
• 1895 (Vol. 107-108)
• 1896 (Vol. 109-110)
• 1897 (Vol. 111-112)
• 1898 (Vol. 113-114) 

The issues that had netting between 1880 and 1898 are:

1880 (Vol. 77-78)

1. page 76 For the Little Folk [a watch pocket for a boy] 
2. page 466 Squares in Guipure d'Art 

1881 (Vol. 79-80)

1. page 243 Ladies' Night-cap: In Netting  
2. page 230 Tunbridge Design  
3. page 471 Squares in Guipure d'Art  
4. page 470 Stripe for Darning or Beading  

1886 (Vol. 89-90)

1. page 107 Tidy in Crochet and Bead-work  
2. page 170 Pattern in Cross-stitch  

1887 (Vol. 91-92)

1. page 28 Wallet-shaped Work Bag - illustration 
2. page 97 Wallet-shaped Work Bag 

1888 (Vol. 93-94)

1. page 183 Stripe for Crochet, Netting, Cross-stitch  

1891 (Vol. 99-100)

1. page 363 Netted Design for Valance Border  

1892 (Vol. 101)

1. page 360 Border or Insertion in Darned Netting or Crochet  

This is the last of the magazines I know of that contain netting and are available on-line.  I am very grateful to those libraries and organizations that have made these older books and magazines accessible to the public.  

I was recently reminded that KnitHeaven has several vintage netting patterns listed.

If you know of a source for other books or magazines that are available on-line, please let me know in the comments below.

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I finally found time to do some netting this week and was able to finish the doily I started several weeks ago.  I called it Swan and made the original back in 1987 for one of my brothers-in-law and his wife when they got married.  Back then I did not have a digital camera and so was only able to get a photocopy of part of the doily.

Now I have a view of the entire doily.  It is about 16 inches in diameter.

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 - Godey's Lady's Book (1870-1898)

I was going to group the remaining netting entries which I found in Godey's Lady's Book by decades: 1870-1879, 1880-1889, and 1890-1898.  The only problem with that was that the years from 1881 to 1898 (when the magazine ended publication) either had no articles on netting or I could not find them digitized and posted on-line.

Here are the volumes I could not locate on-line:  Volumes 102 (1881), 103 (1881), 104 (1882), 105 (1882), 106 (1883), 108 (1884), 109 (1884), 110 (1885), 111 (1885), 112 (1886), 113 (1886), 114 (1887), 115 (1887), 121 (1890), 122 (1891), 123 (1891), 124 (1892), 126 (1893), 127 (1893), 131 (1895).

Here are links to the articles I did find:

1870 (Vol. 80-81)

1. page 468 Instructions in Netting
2. page 469 Round Netting
3. page 469 Square Netting 
4. page 470 Grecian Netting
5. page 213 Oriental Table-Cover [illustration]
6. page 280 Oriental Table-Cover
7. page   73 Lady's Watch-Pocket in Netted Embroidery
8. page 466  Weaver's Knot

1871 (Vol. 82-83)

1. page 182 Cover to be Placed Over Dishes
2. page 563 Spool Basket
3. page 467 Netted Sponge Bag     

1872 (Vol. 84-85)

1. page 413 Square in Darned Netting [illustration]
2. page 490 Square in Darned Netting
3. page 280 Casket Pincushion  

1873 (Vol. 86-87)

1. page   74 Ornamental Bag
2. page   79 Work-Basket of Netting and Beads
3. page  464 Net for Boiling Eggs, in netting and crochet

   
1874 (Vol. 88) -  Jan-Jun

1. page 77 Netted Nightcap
2. page 78 Netted Nightcap [illustration]    

1874 (Vol. 89) -  Jul-Dec

1. page 370 Fringe   

1875 (Vol. 90) -  Jun

1. page 561 Clothes Bag

1876 (Vol. 92)

1. page  557 Swing Hammock (Netting)
2. page 466 Bag: Crochet and Netting 

1877 (Vol. 94)

1. page 82 Netted Piece-Bag

1877 (Vol. 95)

1. page 516 Fringe for Dresses, Etc.    

1878 (Vol. 96)

1. page 514 Netted Purses
2. page 163 Fringe for Trimming Dresses, Etc.    

1879 (Vol. 98-99)

1. page 86 Round Hairnets

1880 (Vol. 101) - Jul-Dec

1. page 193 Fichu with Jet Necklet
2. page 385 Hammock
3. page 481 Hints for Articles for Fairs (small net bags)

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I've been experimenting with some simple netting patterns.  They are mostly in plain netting, or increase and decrease stitches.  I finally finished the dishcloths.  My husband has large hands and he wanted a big dishcloth, while I have smaller hands and so needed a smaller one.  Here are the ones I've finished.

Three of them are large, three are medium size, and three are a small size that would work for a child.  The patterns for them will be included in my upcoming basic netting book, The Lost Art of Netting.

Netting in Magazines - Godey's Lady's Book (1860-1869)

I was able to find all the Godey's Lady's Book between 1860 and 1869 on-line.  Of those 20 volumes, only one did not have any netting information.  I included several lacis or darning patterns.

1860 (Vol. 60-61)

1. page 162 Netted Tidy
2. page 449 Long Black Silk Mitten

1861 (Vol. 62-63)

1. page  466 Netted Tidy
2. page  544 Invisible Hair-nets

1862 - Jan-Jun (Vol.64)

1. page 284 Sprigs for Window Curtains in Netting and Darning
2. page 285 AntiMacassar in Diamond Netting
3. page 331 Sponge-Bag [illustration]
4. page 393  Sponge-Bag
5. page 497 Netted Hand Screens

1862 - Jul-Dec (Vol. 65) alternative location  - no netting information

1863 (Vol. 66-67)

1. page 390 Double Netting in Two Colors
2. page 391 Grecian Netting
3. page 25 Netted Border [illustration]
4. page 87 Netted Border
5. page 177 Patterns for Netting or Crochet [darning]
6. page 179 A Netted Tidy
7. page 180 Tuft Netting in Wool and Cotton
8. page 270 Patterns for Netting or Crochet [darning]
9. page 468 Pattern for Netting or Crochet [darning]

1864 (Vol. 68-69)

1. page 82 Marie Louise Hair Net
2. page 83 Simple Sleeping Net
3. page 83 Invisible Net
4. page 436 Darning Pattern for Netting Work
5. page 481 A Netted Opera or Useful Cap
6. page 128 Geometrical or Honeycomb Netting [illustration]
7. page 187 Geometrical or Honeycomb Netting
8. page 188 Netted Pincushion
9. page 190 Netted Cover for Horses' Ears
10. page 75 Hair Net with Ribbon Coronet
11. page 11 Netted Mitten [illustration]
12. page 75 Netted Mitten
13. page 23 Netted Window Curtains [illustration]
14. page 76 Netted Window Curtains

1865 (Vol. 70-71)

1. page 10 Netted Tidy [illustration]
2. page 89 Netted Tidy
3. page 125 German Cushion Cover [illustration]
4. page 178 German Cushion Cover
5. page 177 Lady's Netted Nightcap
6. page 270 Designs for Pincushions
7. page 300 Flower Vase Mat in Tufted Netting [illustration]
8. page 361 Flower Vase Mat in Tufted Netting
9. page 492 Sleeve-Trimming, in Flanders lace [illustration]
10. page 547 Sleeve-Trimming, in Flanders lace

1866 - Jan-Jun (Vol. 72)  an alternate location

1. page 18 Bread-Cloth [illustration]
2. page 81 Bread-Cloth
3. page 126 Opera Hood [illustration]
4. page 174 Opera Hood
5. page 401 Design for Crochet, Netting, or Berlin Work
6. page 490 Netted Tassel Cover

1866 - Jul-Dec (Vol. 73)

1. page 438 Watch-Pocket in the Shape of a Game-Bag

1867 - Jan-Jun (Vol. 74)

1. page 365 Netted Nightcap

1867 - Jul-Dec (Vol.75)

1. page 99 Hanging Basket Pattern [darning]

1868 (Vol.76-77) an alternative location

1. page 269 Netted Kerchief
2. page 450 Invalid's Bed Support
3. page 455 Crochet, or Netting and Darning for Tidies, Quilts, Etc.
4. page 545 Border - Crochet or Netting and Darning
5. page 353 Crochet or Netting and Darning

1869 (Vol. 78-79)

1. page 86 Square in Guipure Netting
2. page 88 Netting Case for a Ball
3. page 395 Circular Cushion in Crochet [net trimming] [illustration]
4. page 449 Circular Cushion in Crochet [net trimming]
5. page 167 Netted Neckerchief
6. page 255 Baby's Boot (knitting) [net edging on cuff]
7. page 353 Border - Crochet or Netting and Darning
8. page 490 Satin Sofa Cushio, with Embroidery on Netting
9. page 531 Sachet in Darned Netting

It's become a family tradition to write our own Christmas poem expressing our feelings for that time of the year.  My husband deserves most of the credit for this year's poem.


That They Might Have Life
(John 10:10)


Happy news is welcome any season of the year.
Silence, even static, can be pleasant to the ear
When compared with bulletins of earthquakes, floods, and war.
Does tumult define our era? Is this who we are?


What if we awoke to see a new star in the sky
Shining over Boston or Detroit or old Shanghai?
On the Web it would go viral and be center stage
On the news shows. In the papers it would be front page.


What response would follow when the story was conveyed
Of a baby humbly born and in a manger laid?
Would we join the wise men in their long and earnest quest,
Kneeling down before this king and giving of our best?


Would a song of peace on earth gain traction in my heart?
Would it factor in the gifts that fill my shopping cart?
Like the shepherds, will I hear what angel voices sing?
Let mine be the joy of truly worshiping my king.


As we do to others, even so we serve our Lord.
He stayed calm and kept his peace when others sowed discord.
With the poor and lowly he shared healing balm and leaven.
For us all he gave his life and showed the way to heaven.

Merry Christmas.

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 In Magazines - The Ladies’ Companion

I was able to find three issues of The Ladies' Companion online that contained netting.  The years were Vol. 20 (published in 1861), Vol. 23 (published in 1863), and Vol. 27 (published in 1865).  The netting patterns were as follows:

1. 1861
1. Netting for Window-Curtains and Fire-Grate Veil (page 317)
2. 1863
1. Netted Cheese or Cake D'Oyley (page 336)
2. Long Black Silk Mitten - Netting (page 336)
3. 1865
1. Netted Border (page 55)
2. Raised Embroidery on Netting (page 107)
3. A Fly-Catch (page 166)

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Last week I showed the Plain Star I made.  This week I finished another star.

The center for this Fancy Star began as a circle.  It measures five inches from the center to the end of a point.

Encyclopedia of Needlework by Therese de Dillmont

Therese de Dillmont authored many books on needlework.  I recently learned that her Encyclopedia of Needlework, published in 1886,  is available in digitized format. Among the types of needlework, she includes a section on netting, which includes the following:

1. Netting (page 395)
2. Implements and Materials (page 395; illustrations 611-613)
3. Stitches (page 397; illustrations 614-116)
4. Patterns Produced in Netting (page 400; illustrations 617-633)
5. Embroidered Netting (page 410; illustrations 634-691)

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I've been promising to post the photos of the sun catchers I net during the last two weeks of September.  So here they are.  There are some 4", 5", and 6" ones.  If you want to see all the sun catchers I have designed, click here.

Chrysalis 

Flame

Ferris Wheel

Masaka

Jellyfish

Merry-Go-Round

Mum

Waves

Winter Festival

Glisten

Scallops

Music

Zinnia

Sand Dollar

Peony

Pompom

Moonlight

Poinsettia

Ferris Wheel, Poinsettia, and Zinnia are in 6" rings.  Glisten and Waves are in 4" rings.  All the others are in 5" rings.

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!

The Priscilla Netting Book

In 1914 The Priscilla Publishing Company added The Priscilla Netting Book to their list of craft publications.  It was edited by Belle Robinson.  There are several locations where this book may be found on-line;  The Hathi Trust Digital Library, The Open Library, On-Line Digital Archive of Documents on Weaving and Related Topics, and Internet Archive, to name four.  While much of the information is related to lacis or net embroidery, both on square-mesh as well as diamond-mesh, some patterns and stitches are not.  Most of the patterns and stitches include illustrations.

1. Netting (page 3)
2. Equipment - with illustration (page 3)
3. To Work Netting - with illustration (page 4)
4. Figures 6 and 9 - To make circular netting - with illustration (page 5)
5. Figure 10 - To make a circular netting by increases - with illustration (page 6)
6. Lace - with illustration on page 10, 37 - fig 85 (page 10, item 601)
7. Centerpiece - with illustration (page 11, item 602)
8. Doily - with illustration (page 11, item 603)
9. Doily - with illustration (page 12, item 604)
10. Netted Cape Collar - with illustration (page 14, item 608)
11. Netted Round Yoke - with illustration (page 15, item 609)
12. Centerpiece of Square and Circular Netting - with illustration (page 19, item 613)
13. Centerpiece - with illustration (page 20, item 615)
14. Netted Centerpiece - with illustration (page 25, item 620)
15. Netted and Embroidered Doily - with illustration (page 26, item 621)
16. Netted and Embroidered Doily - with illustration (page 26, item 622)
17. Wide Netted Edging - with illustration (page 27)
18. Netted Edging - with illustration (page 27)
19. Doily - with illustration (page 28, item 623)
20. Doily - with illustration (page 30, item 624)
21. Doily - with illustration (page 30, item 625)
22. Doily - with illustration (page 30, item 627)
23. Netted Bow - with illustration (page 32, item 626)
24. Centrepiece in Gros Filet - with illustrations (page 32, item 628)
25. Doily - with illustration (page 33, item 629)
26. Doily - with illustration (page 34, item 630)
27. Netted Scallop - with illustration on page 32 (page 37, item 631)
28. Insertion - figure 64 - with illustration on page 32 (page 48)
29. Insertion - figure 65 - with illustration on page 32 (page 48)
30. Insertion - figure 66 - with illustration on page 32 (page 48)
31. Insertion - figure 67  - with illustration on page 32 (page 48)
32. Edging - figure 68 - with illustration on page 33 (page 48)
33. Netted Scallop - with illustration on page 33 (page 48, item 632)

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Last week I mentioned that I had five more ornament ball covers to photograph.  By the time the week was over and I had finished the netting and photography, there were a few more than five.  My son made quick work of posting them online, and there are now 31 unique net ornament ball covers for you to look at.