Netted Lace from Tatting and Netting; Netting at the Big E

A picture makes it so much easier to understand the printed directions. Today I made a sample of Netted Lace from instructions found on page 111 of Tatting and Netting, by Butterick Publishing Company.  Either they forgot to mention a repeat of a three-row pattern, or they thought anyone could see in the photograph that it was repeated and so did not mention it.  They also did not mention the size of the three netting needles used.  I measured the photo and decided to try a 1/8", 1/4", and 3/8" mesh sticks.

The instructions called for a netting needle filled with single thread and one filled with double thread. I did it the way they suggested. The double thread is quite noticeable on the edging.

Then I wondered what it would look like if the pattern was done just using a single thread. So I made it that way. It looks a little different, but I like it.  Which one I use will depend on where I'm using it.

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

The Eastern States Exposition (The Big E) ended last Sunday. Last year the only netting were the three pieces I submitted.  This year there were six.  I submitted three: a doily (first place and a sponsor award),  an ornament (first place), and a shawl (first place and a sponsor award for best technical proficiency).

Two of my granddaughters submitted the rest. The twelve-year-old submitted a net bag and received a first-place ribbon and best in the youth division.

The ten-year-old submitted a long-handle net bag which received a third-place ribbon and a net headband which received a second-place ribbon.  She designed the headband and the flower on it.

I appreciate that the items submitted to the Big E are not in competition with others.  Each item is judged on its own merits.  Does it meet the standards for first, second, or third place?  If yes, then it receives that award. I also like the fact that the youth have their own division.  The beginners also have their own division.  Maybe next year I can get my daughter to enter something she has net.

Netmaking by P. W. Blandford

In 1941 the first edition of Percy W. Blandford's book, Netmaking, was published.  It includes netting instructions for heavier cord.  There are many illustrations throughout the book.  According to the preface to the fourth edition, "the first edition of this book was written during uncomfortable evenings in an air-raid shelter in 1940."

The digitized version is located at http://pachamamatrust.org/.  Once you arrive at the website, click on the portion of the side menu labeled CORE and a new side menu will appear.  Click on Net & Rope (which is under Craft & Trade, which is under Employment).  The text and photos will appear on the right of the screen.

A special thanks to Anthony Emery for the link to this book.

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

The Eastern States Exposition (Big E) is held in September in West Springfield, Massachusetts.  This year I decided to go demonstrate netting.  During the 17 days it is open, I have been there netting for 7 days (about 4 hours each day).  It has been fun and exciting to introduce netting to those who stopped by while I was there.  Today was my last day, so I decided to take some photos of the lace demonstration area.





This case contains all the lace entries for this year, with the exception of the Best in Division.  There are examples of tatting, netting, and various types of bobbin lace.


















The picket fence was decorated with net sun catchers I made during the last two weeks.  Some of them were made at the Big E while I was demonstrating, and others were made elsewhere.  I will try to post them on my website with the other sun catchers as soon as possible.

On the table are net bags, net scarves, a net shawl, and stitch samples, as well as two small pieces of tatting.   I included the tatting because people tend to ask me if I am tatting, and I wanted to show them the difference between the two.













This is also the first year I have submitted something to the Big E.  I submitted two doilies, Pineapple and Crystalline, and Lantern, a small net covered ornament ball.  The large white doily on the left of the lace case is one of the two doilies.  The red ornament ball is in the lower right corner.

With all the beautiful lace displayed in the lace case, I was surprised to learn that Crystalline had been selected as Best in Division for Lace.  It was displayed with the other Best in Division Winners.











I'm already wondering what I will enter next year.

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)

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

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.

Tatting and Netting by Butterick Publishing Company

In 1895,  Butterick Publishing Company added a lace-making book to their list of publications.  Tatting and Netting, as its title indicates, covers the topics of tatting and netting.  The first half of the book is devoted to tatting; the last half, to netting.  Rather than describing the netting information included in this book, I've listed the descriptive headings used in the book:

1. Method of Making a Hammock or a Tennis-net - with illustrations (page 77)
2. Square Netting - with illustrations (page 81)
3. Oblong Netting - with illustration (page 81)
4. Square in Meshes of Two Sizes - with illustration (page 82)
5. Square of Netting Begun at the Middle - with illustrations (page 82)
6. Strips of Straight Netting - with illustrations (page 82)
7. Straight Netting with a Pointed Edge - with illustration (page 82)
8. Angular Edge for Handkerchief Borders, Etc.  - with illustrations (page 83)
9. Wire Frame for Embroidering Netting  - with illustrations (page 84)
10. Circular Netting of Long and Short Loops   - with illustration (page 85)
11. Circular Netting Formed by Increases or Widenings - with illustration (page 85)
12. Loose Loops in Clusters  - with illustrations (page 85)
13. Swiss Diamond Netting  - with illustration (page 86)
14. Diamond Netting  - with illustration (page 87)
15. Square Diamond Netting  - with illustrations (page 87)
16. Diagonal Netting with Crossed Loops  - with illustration (page 87)
17. Rose Netting in Stripes  - with illustrations (page 88)
18. Diamond Pattern  - with illustrations (page 88)
19. Diagonal Netting   - with illustration (page 89)
20. Star-Netting - with illustration (page 89)
21. Round Netting  - with illustrations (page 90)
22. Open Twisted Netting  - with illustrations (page 90)
23. Bunch Netting  - with illustration (page 91)
24. Grecian Netting   - with illustration (page 91)
25. Looped Netting  - with illustration (page 92)
26. Loose-Loop Pattern  - with illustration (page 92)
27. Design in Long and Crossed Loops (page 92)
28. Oriel Netting  - with illustration (page 93)
29. Fancy Netting  - with illustration (page 93)
30. Stripe Netting - with illustration (page 93)
31. Honeycomb Netting  - with illustration (page 93)
32. Leaf Netting   - with illustration (page 94)
33. Spike Netting   - with illustrations (page 94)
34. Spider Netting   - with illustrations (page 95)
35. Double Leaf Netting  - with illustrations (page 95)
36. Beaded Netting (page 95)
37. Mosaic Netting  - with illustration (page 96)
38. Stripe for Shawls, etc - with illustration (page 96)
39. Stitches and Designs for Darning Netting (page 97)
40. Netted Scollop - with illustration (page 107)
41. Netted Lace  - with illustration (page 107)
42. Pointed Edging - with illustration (page 108)
43. Trimming, with Thick Loops and Fan Edge - with illustration (page 108)
44. Netted Insertion - with illustration (page 108)
45. Netted Edging - with illustration (page 109)
46. Netted Fringe  - with illustration (page 109)
47. Netted Trimming - with illustration (page 109)
48. Netted Scollop - with illustration (page 110)
49. Pointed, Net Edging - with illustration (page 110)
50. Netted Lace - with illustration (page 111)
51. Netted Insertion - with illustration (page 111)
52. Netted Edging - with illustration (page 111)
53. Netted Border, with Fringe - with illustration (page 112)
54. Edging in Double Fan or Sheaf Design - with illustration (page 112)
55. Netted Fringe - with illustration (page 112)
56. Border in Rose and Sheaf Pattern  - with illustration (page 113)
57. Tassel Fringe - with illustration (page 113)
58. Netted Scollop for Borders - with illustration (page 113)
59. Netted Edging - with illustration (page 114)
60. Netted Edging - with illustration (page 115)
61. Netted Pointed Lace - with illustration (page 115)
62. Netted Border, with Fringe - with illustration (page 116)
63. Netted Lace - with illustration (page 116)
64. Netted Edging - with illustration (page 116)
65. Netted Guipure Insertion (pages 114, 115, 117, 118, 154)  - with illustrations
66. Netted Guipure Lace (pages 110, 111, 114, 115, 117, 118) - with illustrations
67. Bureau Toilet-Set - with illustration (page 119)
68. Cracker Doily - with illustration (page 119)
69. Finger-Bowl, Doily, with Netted Border - with illustration (page 120)
70. Doily, with Nbetted Border and Embroidered Center - with illustration (page 121)
71. Netted Tumbler Doily - with illustration (page 121)
72. Platter Doily, with Netted Border - with illustrations (page 122)
73. Table-Mat or Center-piece with Netted, Fluted Edge - with illustration (page 123)
74. Netted Mat - with illustrations (page 124)
75. Netted Wheel, for Decorating Scarfs (page 124)
76. Netted Mat  - with illustrations (page 125)
77. Platter Doily, with Netted Border - with illustrations (page 125)
78. Netted Finger-Bowl Doily - with illustrations (page 127)
79. Netted Mat  - with illustrations (page 127)
80. Plate Doily, with Netted Border - with illustrations (page 128)
81. Plate Doily, with Netted Border - with illustrations (page 129)
82. Plate Doileys, with Netted Borders - with illustrations (page 130)
83. Round Doily - with illustrations (page 131)
84. Netted Doileys - square with rose netting edging - with illustrations (pages 131, 132)
85. Rond Center-piece for table (page 132)
86. Netted Tumbler Doily - with illustration (page 133)
87. Netted Doileys - square with different edgings  - with illustrations (page 133)
88. Doileys with Netted Borders - with illustrations (page 134)
89. Netted Doily - with illustrations (page 135)
90. Netted Doily - with illustrations (page 135)
91. Carving Cloth with Netted Border  - with illustrations (page 135)
92. Netted Doily - with illustration (page 135)
93. Netted Doily, with Linen Center - with illustration (page 136)
94. Netted Doily - with illustration (page 136)
95. Finger-Bowl Doily - with illustration (page 137)
96. Square Center-Piece for Table - with illustration (page 137)
97. Netted Square - with illustrations  (pages 137-142)
98. Netted Scarf or Throw - with illustrations (page 143)
99. Infant's Netted Cap - with illustrations (page 144)
100. Work-bag, with Netted Cover - with illustrations (page 144)
101. Corner of a Netted Shawl - with illustrations (page 145)
102. Netted Mouchoir or Photograph Case - with illustrations (page 146)
103. Netted Border for Handkerchief - with illustrations (page 146)
104. Letter Box - with illustrations (page 147)
105. Directions for Netting a Seine  (page 147)
106. Netted Shawl - with illustration (page 148)
107. Netted Book Cover - with illustrations (page 148)
108. Netted Tab - with illustration (page 149)
109. Netted Lappet for Caps, etc - with illustration (page 149)
110. Directions for Half of Netted Collar - with illustration (page 150)
111. Netted Cover for Bon-Bon Dish - with illustration (page 151)
112. Directions for Making Netted Curtains (page 151)
113. Netted Tie - with illustration (page 152)
114. Netted Scollop for Scarfs - with illustration (page 152)
115. Bag for Holding Tennis Balls (page 152)
116. Netted Neckerchief - with illustration (page 153)
117. Netted Seine - with illustration (page 153)
118. Plum Basket - with illustration (page 153)
119. Netted Silk Purse (page 153)

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

Many years ago, when I was trying to discover uses for netting other than doilies, I saw some satin ornament balls that were covered in crochet.  Each ball was beautiful.  I decided to try the same thing with netting.  

This week, as I looked at the balls I had not given away as Christmas gifts, I realized that I needed better pictures.  In taking the photos, I noticed that not all the patterns I had created were represented.  So I've been netting the missing ball covers, while my son has been posting the ones I photographed.  

I still need to make one more and then photograph them; he still has more to post, but while we're doing what we need to do, you can look at the ornaments that are posted.