The Ladies' Knitting and Netting Book (2nd edition)

There is no author listed for The Ladies' Knitting and Netting Book (2nd edition).  The book was published in 1838.  This makes it one of the oldest knitting and netting books I've seen digitized.

There are six netting patterns included in the book.

1. Netted Curtain (page 66)
2. A Net Purse in Points (page 67)
3. Pattern of a Net Scarf (page 67)
4. Another Scarf (page 68)
5. Netted Baby's Cap (page 98)
6. Corkscrew Netting for a Purse (page 107)

There are also three netting stitches described.

1. Diamond Netting (page 68)
2. Single Diamond Netting (page 69)
3. Tuft Netting (page 70)

I finished one more net laundry bag.  

This time I made it of #24 cotton cord.  

Because it was made of cotton, there was no problem tying the knots - and keeping them tied.  

bottom of the bag

top of the bag

This bag also has cord locks attached to both the top and bottom of the bag.

The meshes are smaller than the ones for the pink laundry bag, but bigger than the ones for the brown bag.  One of these days I will have to see which bag holds more.  They are all the same length when pulled from end to end.

Even though I'm really not sure what I'm going to do with all these bags, at least I know that my instructions are written down correctly.  

The Drawing-Room Magazine or Ladies Book of Fancy Needlework and Choice Literature

Published in 1848, The Drawing-Room Magazine or Ladies Book of Fancy Needlework and Choice Literature, Vol. 1, does not list an author.  I did notice that all of the netting patterns listed below, except for the first Netted Doily on page 6, were designed by Mrs. Warren.

Volume 1 includes six netting patterns.  The digitized copy does not stop at the end of Volume 1.  Instead it continues and includes Volume 2.  Volume 2 includes two more netting patterns.  There is also an illustration of the completed item for most of those patterns.

Volume 1

1. Netted Doily (page 6)
2. Netted Under Sleeve And Cuff (page 33)
3. Knitted Opera Cap with Netted Border (page 34)
4. Neck Tie in Grecian Netting (page 69)
5. Pattern for Darning a Netted Bread Cloth, Netted Square (page 99)
6. Piece of Netted Lace (page 202)

Volume 2

1. Netted Doyley for a Center, or a Top Dessert Dish (page 2)
2. Netted Dessert Doyley or Bread Cloth (page 38)

I'm still trying out different patterns and different types of cord for a laundry bag. This week I tried some type 1 parachute cord. Just like the Twisted Polypropylene Rope from last week, this type of parachute cord did not hold the netting knot very well. I finally had to resort to heating each knot to make it hold its shape. I used a heat gun, but an iron would have worked just as well.
This laundry bag could hang permanently from a rod or hook; therefore, the bottom of the bag is made to open and close so the clothes can drop out of the bag when it is time to empty it.  I originally made this bag for one of my young sons.  Space in his room was at a premium, so I hung his laundry bag on the back of his bedroom door.

This time when I made the bag I attached a drawstring and cord lock to both the top and bottom openings.

Bag with top up

Closeup of bag top

Closeup of bottom of bag

Bag with bottom up

On a more seasonal note, I received an email today from someone in Brazil who also makes netting.  She sent me a link to some beautiful Christmas netting done by Enza in Italy.  Netting is truly world-wide.

The Lady's Album of Fancy Work

This week I've chosen to list the netting patterns found in The Lady's Album of Fancy Work.  This book has no author listed.  It was published in 1849.  Another digitized copy of this book with a publication date of 1850 is available through Project Gutenberg.  This book also includes a sketch for each of the netting patterns.

The netting patterns include:

1. Cover for Music Stool (page 10, item 9)
2. Net for the Hair (page 15, item 16)
3. Lady's Silk Mitten (page 24, item 28)
4. Opera Hood (page 25, item 31)
5. Cover for Fruit-Dish (page 30, item 37)

A few weeks ago I was asked about making a net laundry bag.  I've made a few over the years, but not recently.  I had used medium weight household string for the one I made for my oldest son when he went to college.  That was back in the days before I had a digital camera, so I did not have a photo of that pattern. I needed to make another one so I could get a photo of that pattern.  I tried to find some 1/16" cord.  At a local hardware store I located some Twisted Polypropylene Rope that was the right diameter. The only color they had was pink. The cord was even "specially treated to knot securely." I guess the sheet bend does not qualify as a knot since, after the netting sat for a few minutes, the sheet bends would start to slide apart. I finally took the suggestion of a friend and ironed the knots, after pulling them tight one more time. The heat from the iron melted the knots just enough to hold them in place.

net laundry bag with grommet at the bottom of the bag

The bag was made using circular netting.  The photo on the left shows the grommet at the bottom of the bag.

The photo on the right shows the top of the bag, which is fastened with a black cord lock.  I used  brown type I parachute cord to go through the final round of loops and attach to the cord lock.

Parlour Recreations for Ladies

When I went to the shelf where I keep my netting books I picked Parlour Recreations for Ladies at random. This book does not have an author or compiler listed.  It was published in London in 1848 by Wm. S. Orr and Co.   Parlour Recreations for Ladies has a wide range of netting instructions including several stitches and directions for adding beads to netting.  It contains a variety of patterns for net purses, shawls, and mittens as well as unique items like a netted toilet cover, sofa guard, mat, curtains, and  vase stand.

1. Remarks on Netting (page 77)
2. Bead Stitch (page 77)
3. Patterns for purses (page 78)
4. Another Pretty Pattern (page 78)
5. Stitch adapted for Curtain (page 78)
6. Netted Toilet Cover (page 79)
7. Sofa Guard (page 79)
8. Puff Netting (page 79)
9. Netted Bag in Shaded Silk (page 79)
10. Best Method of Closing a Purse (page 80)
11. Honeycomb Netting (page 80)
12. Mitten (page 85)
13. Another Pattern, Suitable for a Purse or Mitten (page 85)
14. A Pattern Suited for Mittens (page 85)
15. Netted Bag (page 86)
16. Strong Netting for Purses (page 87)
17. Netted Sovereign Purse - Albert Blue Twist and Good Beads (page 87)
18. Splendid Purse Netted (page 87)
19. Lady's Netted Plain Purse (page 88)
20. Seam Purse, with Beads (page 88)
21. Netted Purse in Squares, Beads in the Center of Each Square (page 89)
22. Netted Mat (page 91)
23. Netted Shawl (page 92)
24. Netted Vase Stand (page 94)
25. Netted Shawl in Stripes (page 94)

Today someone asked me about a pattern for a net laundry bag.  When I went looking for my instructions I realized that I had not yet displayed that particular feature of netting.  Eventually I found three patterns (written so I would be the only person to understand what was meant).  

Here are old pictures for two of the bags.  The one on the left is supported from the door by a plastic circular hoop.

The one on the right is supported from the door by a system of double bars.

Either one would work with the top fastened around the top of a plastic laundry hamper or just tossed on the floor in a corner.

Now I'm off to a local hardware store for cord to make them again to be sure my directions are correct.  I know that they are all three done in circular netting.  I hope before I have these patterns ready, my Circular Netting Class will be available for people to learn how to net rounds instead of rows.