Shawl Pin

For the past several years I have spent the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend at the Massachusetts Sheep and Woolcraft Fair in Cummington, Massachusetts. This year was no exception. I spent most of my time in the fiber tent demonstrating netting. Before we headed for home, my youngest daughter, who had also been demonstrating netting, suggested we take a look at the booth that was labeled "Shawl Pins." So we did.

Leslie Wind had never seen a net shawl, but within minutes she had created a pin which  prevents my net shawls from sliding off my shoulders. She tried to get me to create one, but my creative juices had all been used up with 6 hours of demonstrating.

Here is the pin with the shawl I wore to church on Sunday. The shawl, made of ribbon yarn, did not slide off my shoulders at all.

Check out her website to see other creative shawl pins and a wide variety of different types of jewelry: http://www.lesliewind.com.

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)

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

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.

Aunt Ellen's How-To Book on Needlework

In 1954, Workbasket published Aunt Ellen's How-To Book on Needlework.  The netting portion of that book, with the exception of the Pineapple Handkerchief Edging, can be found on-line.  While many of the same stitches found in the 1800's are found here, this booklet is one of the few places that show both methods of netting.

1. How to Net (page 34)
2. Method I (page 35)
3. Method II (page 36)
4. Helpful Information (page 37)
5. Terms (page 37)
6. Knot Stitch (page 37)
7. Rose Stitch (page 37)
8. Crisscross Stitch (page 37)
9. Spider Stitch (page 37)
10. Fan Stitch (page 38)
11. Cluster Stitch (page 38)
12. Circular Netting (page 38)
13. Pineapple Handkerchief Edging (page 39)

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

The first two days I demonstrated netting at the Big E, I worked on a doily that needed to be redone so I could check the instructions and also get a digitized photograph.  Here is the photograph of Jasmine.

The rest of the time I demonstrated netting this week, I worked on sun catchers.  I'll post photos of them next week.  So far I have been able to get 3 done in 4 hours.  I might just finish all I want to get made by the time the Big E ends - I have about 16 hours and 13 sun catchers left.

The Young Woman's Book by Mrs. Valentine

Although the netting section is only two pages long, The Young Woman's Book by Mrs. Valentine, published in 1877,  includes four stitches and three edgings.

1. Netting (page 58)
2. Edgings in Netting (page 59)
3. Another and Wider Edging (page 59)
4. Mignotte Netting (page 59)
5. A Pretty Edging or Frill in Netting (page 59)
6. Diamond Netting (page 59)
7. Square Netting (page 59)
8. Honeycomb Netting (page 59)

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

This past week a friend and fellow netter from Brazil sent me some wonderful lace photos.  When I asked her if I could post the photos here, she responded that they were not hers.  Then she included the links.

I looked and saw that the 12 photos she had e-mailed me were only the beginning.  Here are the links she sent me:

1. https://www.facebook.com/pages/%C4%B0%C4%9Fne-Oyas%C4%B1-Sepeti/477868732268669
2. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=293980507377764&set=a.291874304255051.63111.291871524255329&type=1&theater
3. http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.521683507874315.1073741830.201839819858687&type=3
4. http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.307750932600908.70414.201839819858687&type=3
5. http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.568687576507241.1073741879.201839819858687&type=3
6. http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.531824090193590.1073741842.201839819858687&type=1
7. https://www.facebook.com/pages/%C3%96rnekler%C4%B1m/194650960637206
8. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hanimeli-konfeksiyon-i%C4%9Fne-oyalar%C4%B1/322490581206101

When I first started looking at the links, I thought that much of the lace was netting.  Then I noticed, with the help of translate.google.com, some of the sites were about needle lace.  I know the two laces are different in the way that they are made.  What I want to know is how to tell the difference between needle lace and netting when looking at photos or the real items.

The Young Housekeeper as Daughter, Wife, and Mother: Forming a Perfect “Young Woman's Companion"

Compiled by the Ed. of “The Family Friend,” The Young Housekeeper as Daughter, Wife, and Mother: Forming a Perfect “Young Woman's Companion" contains information on a wide variety of topics.  It was published in 1869 and has an illustration for almost every netting stitch it mentions.

1. Preparation for Netting (page 182)
2. Plain Netting - with illustration (page 182)
3. Square Netting - with illustration (page 182)
4. Oblong Netting - with illustration (page 182)
5. To Make a Piece of Netting of Six, Eight, or Ten Sides, Working from the Centre (page 183)
6. Round Netting - with illustration (page 183)
7. Honeycomb Netting - with illustration (page 183)
8. Long Twisted Stitch - with illustration (page 183)
9. Grecian Netting - with illustration (page 183)
10. Ground Net - with illustration (page 183)
11. Spotted Netting - with illustration (page 184)
12. Diamond Netting  - with illustration (page 184)
13. Large Diamond Netting - with illustration (page 184)
14. Spotted Diamond Netting - with illustration (page 184)
15. Leaf Netting  - with illustration (page 184)
16. Double Stitch (page 184)
17. Long Stitch (page 184)
18. To Work with Beads (page 184)
19. Mesh (page 184)
20. Embroidery on Netting (page 184)
21. Instructions in Netting - with illustrations (page 235)
22. Diamond Netting (page 236)
23. Round Netting (page 236)
24. Square Netting (page 237)
25. Grecian Netting (page 237)
26. Honeycomb Netting (page 237)
27. Herringbone Netting - with illustration (page 237)

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

I have made a variety of net bags over the years, including several that were sized to hold a water bottle.  I think my favorite is made from the bottom up, using circular netting.  Because it is made from the bottom up, the bag can be adjusted to be just the right height for the water bottle being used.  Since the handles are net last, they can be made into whatever length is best.

I recently made one again, not because I needed it, but because the last time I made it, I forgot to record how much string I used.

Now I know that it takes 31 yards of size 4 cotton crochet thread to make this bag according to the instructions.

The Ladies’ Complete Guide to Needle-work and Embroidery by Miss Lambert

In 1859, Miss Lambert published another needlework book, The Ladies’ Complete Guide to Needle-work and Embroidery.  While items 1-28 listed below appear in her earlier books, items 29- 41 are not included in either of her other books.

1. Netting (page 15)
2. Plain Netted Gentleman's Purse (page 228)
3. A Lady's Purse (page 229)
4. A Gentleman's Purse with Ends of Different Colours (page 229)
5. A Lady's Purse with Points (page 229)
6. A Pretty Purse with Chine Silk (page 230)
7. Netting With Beads (page 230)
8. A Plain Netted Purse with a Bead Mouth (page 230)
9. A Pretty Seme purse with steel or gold beads (page 231)
10. An Elegant Netted Purse with Steel Beads (page 231)
11. Plain Netted Mittens (page 232)
12. A Knitter's Bag with Ring (page 232)
13. A Checked or Dice Pattern Purse (page 233)
14. Grecian Netting, or Filet Rose (with illustration) (page 233)
15. A Purse in Grecian Netting (page 234)
16. Mittens in Grecian Netting (page 234)
17. Netted Fringe (page 235)
18. Single Diamond Netting (with illustration) (page 235)
19. Treble Diamond Netting (page 236)
20. Diamond Netting of Five Stitches (with illustration) (page 236)
21. Seme Purse, Diamond Pattern (page 238)
22. Plain Open Netting, or Filet a Baguette (page 239)
23. Fond de Berlin (in French) (page 239)
24. Filet Rose (in French) (page 240)
25. Filet a Baton Rompu (in French) (page 240)
26. Filet Rond (in French) (page 241)
27. Netted Mittens with Silk and Wool (page 241)
28. Netted Cuff with Silk and Wool (page 242)
29. Long Net Purse for a Lady (page 301)
30. Long Net Purse for a Lady (different pattern) (page 301)
31. Round Netting for a Gentleman's Long Purse (page 302)
32. Honeycomb Netting for Veil (page 303)
33. Very Pretty Long Grecian Net Purse for a Lady (page 304)
34. Grecian Net for a Veil (page 305)
35. Single Diamond Netting (page 306)
36. Diamond of Five Stitches for a Long Purse (page 306)
37. Dotted Net (page 308)
38. French Ground Net (page 309)
39. Scollop for Borders of Veils, Collars, Caps, Etc. (page 310)
40. Another Scallop for Border (page 310)
41. Scollop (page 310)

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

Since I  have only one of my grandmother's patterns left to make, and that one is over 38 inches in diameter, I decided to make some smaller doilies for a few weeks.  There are still many doilies I designed that need to be made again so I can photograph the entire doily instead of photocopy just a rectangular portion.

I started this one, Double Star, during the afternoon I was demonstrating at the Connecticut Sheep, Wool, and Fiber Festival.  

This doily was originally the result of two questions:

1. How would a 5-pointed star look in the center of a doily? 
2. Can I make a doily with only 5 points for its edge?

Many of my grandmother's doilies had centers with multiple points.  Those centers all had more than 5 points.  She had also made several doilies with multiple points along the edge, but none with only 5 points.  The answer was this 13 inch doily.

Net Hat

When I saw the hat several women I know were crocheting, the look reminded me of  netting.   I couldn't help myself.  I had to pull out my trusty, ever-present tape measure and measure the crocheted mesh.

I had never thought of netting a hat until I saw this one, and then I could not stop thinking about it.  Finally I gave in. I wrote down a basic pattern and produced my first net hat.  I even net a small flower to attach to the side with a small bead.

I think I need to use a thicker thread for this hat pattern.  What do you think?

A net hat is different from a snood.  The hat sits on the head, covering only part of the hair.

A net snood can also sit on the head . . .

or attach to a barrette.

Either way,  the snood encloses the hair and pulls the hair together.

Of course, one hat was not enough.  I no sooner finished the first hat when another pattern began to occupy my mind.  I kept thinking of the Diagonal Netting Stitch, even when I had problems converting that stitch from diamond mesh netting to circular netting.  And even before the second one was finished, a third pattern (a variation on the second hat pattern) began presenting itself for consideration.   If I have enough time this week, I might finish one or both of the additional net hat patterns.

Net Produce Bags

Recently I was asked if I could net a small bag to hold garlic bulbs and a larger bag to hold 5 pounds of potatoes.  Here are the results of my efforts.  Both of the bags are made of household string.

Three garlic bulbs are in the bag.  

Five pounds of potatoes are in this bag.

This week I was also able to give Knots Indeed a new look.  I tried to make sure everything got moved.  If I forgot something, please let me know.  It's not finished by any means -- I still have add more photos, links to patterns, and eventually a shopping cart.

I was also able to get the projects and syllabus listing up for the Circular Netting class.

Updating netting websites

I have been working on several small netting projects, but have not found the time to photograph them.  I have also been working on a couple of larger projects.  One of them, up-dating Knots Indeed, is almost done.  As part of that process, I also needed to give the home page of Rita's Netting Nook a face lift.  I did get that completed.  It's up and ready to look at.

Next week I should have some more circular netting photos ready to look at.

I might also have a new look for Knots Indeed up and ready to use.

Circular netting and bookmarks

Circular netting and bookmarks usually don't go together in my mind.

Eyelet Stitch

Cross Stitch

Cube Stitch

Fan Stitch

Heart 

I usually think of bookmarks as long and rectangular, like these examples. 

But just because circular netting and bookmarks don't usually come to mind together does not mean I can't combine them.  

I have been trying to come up with some easy, quick, and useful circular netting patterns.  

This week bookmarks kept coming to mind.  I finally relented and made Magic.  With positive feedback and suggestions from the ladies at a weekly knitting group, I designed the other two bookmarks.  I will be including these three in my upcoming Circular Netting class along with the dishcloths from last week.

Flower

Magic

Candle

Which is your favorite rectangular bookmark?  Your favorite circular bookmark?  Your favorite bookmark on the page?

Circular Netting, Centers, and Edges

I have been copying the net centers, edges, and stitches from my old netting site and placing them in what will be my updated netting site.  This week I finally got the centers and the edges copied over with a slightly new look.  I also included the instructions to that particular center or edge when the name is clicked.

The increase, decrease, and decorative stitches still have just the name and picture (or in some cases just the name).   Putting the instructions up for these stitches will have to wait for another week.

I am starting to decide which patterns to use for my next netting class.  Since the class will focus on circular netting, I decided to include one of the patterns my grandmother used to teach me.  I've narrowed it down to 3 patterns.

Carnival

Chandelier

Simplicity

Which doily would you like to see included in the class?

Net Miser Purse

A few weeks ago I received an e-mail in which the writer expressed a desire to learn to net to make a net purse like those from Jane Austen's era.    I had not considered making a net purse, but after looking at several websites, they began to intrigue me.

In fact, I went so far as to order one from Trinity Antiques (they still have two left: a green one and a blue one).  After all, it is easier for me to figure out a pattern when the article is in my hand.  It arrived this morning.  It appears to be made from end to end rather than around.  Now I have one more project to add to my collection. 

In the course of my searching for Regency period net purses, I found a couple of links filled with information.


A couple of pages from Candice Hern - one on Miser Purses and one on Georgian Knitted and Netted Sovreign Purses

An article, The Reticule, A Regency Handbag, which gives background information on what a reticule is.

If you get tired waiting for me to finish this project, you could look at the instructions for netted purses in  The lady's assistant for executing useful and fancy designs in knitting, netting, and crochet work by Mrs. Gaugain (Jane) on Google Books. 

One more top-down net shopping bag

The final net bag I made on my recent trip was smaller than the circular one and bigger than the spiral one.  Like the other two, I started with a piece of previously-made netting for the middle of the handle. 

The handle had some wrapped loops in it, but no overhand knot.  The use of wrapped loops and the increased number of loops help the mouth of the bag stay nice and wide.

This bag was made with circular netting.  By tying an overhand knot to join the string from the bag and the string from the netting shuttle, it is easy to know when each round is finished.  That makes it easy to know when to start the decreases for the bottom of the bag.

The grommet at the bottom of the bag is the last thing finished on this style of bag.   This grommet will be one of the techniques taught in the next netting class I record.

I'm still looking on a name for the next class, which will focus on circular netting.  For some reason Circular Netting class seems rather bland.  I'll keep thinking and see what I come up with.

Square-Mesh Netting Class is Completed

If you've been waiting for me to finish the Square-mesh Netting class, I've got good news for you.  It's done!


The class is $35.00 through PayPal and you should be able to start soon after you pay.  If you have problems getting into the classroom, email me and I'll discover where technology went wrong.  There is no ending date for this class, so you can watch the videos over and over.  Print the PDF file handouts to use when you're away from the computer.  Try some or all of the patterns.

What is Square-mesh Netting?   Look at this video to see a brief explanation.

Scroll through the class syllabus to see what information is given and which patterns are included.

Register for this class to learn to make square-mesh netting.

Large Circular Net Bag

Last week, as I returned home from visiting my youngest granddaughter, I finished a circular net bag.  I had started the handle a couple of years ago when I was trying to figure out the size of net handles for my Net Like a Lace-maker class.







Because I had only finished the one long strip of netting, I decided to try a top-down net shoulder bag.

To make it long enough for a shoulder bag I decided to experiment with some wrapped loops at each end of the previously made net strip.

Decreasing the last two rounds brought the number of loops down to an amount that would work for a grommet.  

This bag worked up fairly quickly since I used a 1.5 inch mesh stick for the body of the bag.  The long wrapped-loops made the mouth of the bag larger than the spiral net bag discussed last week.  I finished the bag with only a few yards left from over from one ball of yarn.  

Next week I'll either show the third bag I finished on my trip, or announce that the Square-mesh Netting class is finally ready for students.

I hope it's the class.

Spiral Net Bag Made from the Top Down

This past week I have not had access to my computer since I was visiting a new granddaughter and her family. That meant I was not able to work on finalizing the Square-Mesh Netting class.

Of course there was no way I was willing to stop all netting during that time.  I found three handles I had made back when I was creating the Net Like a Lace-maker class, and  I took them on the trip with me.  I was able to turn all three handles into bags and use up most of each ball of yarn in the process.

I decided to make this first bag using what I call spiral netting instead of circular netting.  With spiral netting there is never an end to a round of netting.  You just keep netting around and around.  Circular netting on the other hand has a definite end to each round of netting.




For the first bag, I started with two rectangular strips of netting.  I net across one end of the first strip and then across the second end of the first strip.  I repeated that process with the second strip.

Here is one of the strips formed into a handle.  Below it is what became the rest of the bag.






Once I had net across all the strip ends, I kept netting around and around and around (spiral netting) until I had finished about 20 rounds.  Then I started decreasing to make the hexagon base of the bag.

Before I knew it, I had a finished a net bag with two handles.

Next week I'll show the second bag I created.

One More Square-mesh Net Bag

I thought I was all done with square-mesh netting for a while.  Then I got an invitation to another baby shower. I remembered that I had a blue rectangle of netting left over from preparations for the square-mesh netting class.  So I thought I would use that.

As I looked at the rectangle I realized why it was still a rectangle and not a bag.  It had a different number of squares in the width than any of my other square-mesh net bags.

That meant that none of the handles I had designed would work for this bag.

No problem.  I took some features I liked from a couple of the square-mesh bag handles and placed the overhand knot in a different location.

There it was.  A new handle.

And a new gift bag.  The tea-towel bibs fit in just fine.

Circular Net Bag

Last week I started netting a new pink bag to hold my favorite baby bibs (tea towel bibs) for my new granddaughter.  This week I finished it.

Unlike many I have made since the fall, this one is not made using square-mesh netting.  It is made with circular netting - from the bottom up.  I also adapted and combined some of my new square-mesh bag handles to work with this bag.

The bibs fit in nicely whether the bag is tied as a gift or a bag.

I've almost finished the last video for the square-mesh netting class.  I really want to have it done by the end of this month.  Then I've promised my youngest daughter I would get started on the circular netting class.

Net Bags for a Walker

Several years ago I had a friend who needed to use a walker for a few weeks.  Her biggest complaint was that there was no way to attach her water bottle to the walker.  I created a net bag that held her water bottle and tied onto the walker.

This week I learned that my husband had been given a walker at church.  When I suggested that he use it at church where there are long halls that he needs to walk, he said that there was no way for him to carry the things he needed, like his scriptures, and still use the walker.  He had a point.  The walker had no basket.

Today I implemented all the ideas that had been percolating in the back of my mind this week and created a net bag for his walker.

It holds everything he thinks he will need.  Now to give it a test run at church.

Teaching Netting and Square-mesh Netting class

Progress has been made on the Square-Mesh Netting class.  Last week I was able to finish each of the four square-mesh net bags to where only one handle part needed to be finished.  This week I recorded myself making those four handles.  And you can see from the bags below that I was able to finish all four of them. 

 <-- tiny square-mesh bag with Delta handle

small square-mesh bag with Waiting handle -->

<-- medium square-mesh bag with Spike Handle

large square-mesh bag with Lumiere handle   -->

 Now I just need to put the 7 videos together and create the handouts for them.  


Today I read an article about teaching children to knit or crochet.  As I read through the tips they gave, I realized that the tips given could also apply to teaching someone to net.  I decided to list them and give my input as to how they apply to netting, especially the netting classes I have available at Rita's Netting Nook.

• Netting is "more about the joy of crafting than how to perform a stitch."  It's fun and relaxing to make things.  Often when people tell me they don't have the patience to learn a craft, I will reply that working on a craft project gives me patience.    I stay calmer and don't get impatient when things don't move as quickly as I would like.  Netting allows me to use my time to create instead of just wait.


• "Set the scene: clear space, plenty of supplies and lots of light."  As an online course instructor, it is not possible for me to do this for my students; however, it is certainly something they can do for themselves.  Light, plenty of room, and having all your tools and supplies close by are necessary requirements to learning how to net without adding more frustration.


• "Start with simple, solid-color yarn & large, durable tools."  This is one of the reasons I use large shuttles and thick yarn or cord in my beginning netting class.  Learning new skills with larger tools that allow you to see what you are doing is much easier than learning while using fine crochet thread and the accompanying small metal netting needles.


• Teaching netting "is also teaching a language; explain what each word means as you use it."  Like any craft, netting has its own vocabulary and definitions.  I have tried to give definitions for netting and also show what I mean through the use of class videos.  This is one of the reasons that the class on square mesh netting is taking extra time before I make it available.  I realized that I had neither clearly explained how to attach and make the handles nor how to finish turning flat netting into the square-mesh bags. 


• "Teach them to start" and start again.  I remember how hard it was for me to remember how to begin a netting project.  The starting was over so soon and I did not come back to it until the project was finished weeks or months later.  I have tried to include netting projects that will be quick to finish in my netting classes so that students will have the opportunity to begin a netting project several times in the class. 


• Allow the students to "be creative with what they have learned."  In my mind, that's a given.  If I teach the basics, of course my creative students will take those basics and apply them in ways I had never imagined.  I've certainly created things with netting that my grandmother never tried.  Eventually I plan to show how to make all of the stitches I know so my students can use them in new and different ways.


• "Show them that you are proud of their work, and they will be proud of it too."  The first thing I want to do when I finish a new project is to run and show it to someone.  Not just any someone.  Someone who will "ooh" and "aah" over what I have finished.  Someone who will validate that what I have created is truly all I thought it was and more.  That's one reason I created the forum on Rita's Netting Nook as a place where you can display your completed projects and get the well-earned praise for your work.  

Are there other things that you feel are important that the teacher or the student should do to make it easier  to learn a new craft?