Netting around the Net

About a year ago I found a marvelous netting needle.  I mentioned it in a post.  Then one day I went to look at it again and it was gone.  Today I learned that the shop is back up, including the English version.  It was great to see the netting needle again.  Now I get to start saving my pennies again.

Today I also found that Barry Brown has updated his blog.  While browsing in his net making section I found a wonderful looking hammock.  Now, to get him to share his pattern.

I've been working on the videos for Netting, More or Less.  I'm got two left to finish and they are both partially done. I would love to finish them up on Monday and Tuesday, but I've promised my son to work on a Mistborn cloak for Halloween on Monday.  He doesn't think I can get it done in a day.  We'll see.

Third Spiral Gift Bag for a Baby

With three baby showers within a month, it's a good thing all the rectangular bags are done for Netting, More or Less.   I am ready to move from rectangular bags to spiral bags for a little variety.

This one is similar in size to the two I finished last week.






 

The handles are the same straight design as the other blue bag, however the mesh stick used was smaller.  This creates a firmer, easier-to-find handle.





 

The increases and grommet are also different.

In this bag all the increases are added in just two locations.  The two loops between the handles - that were created when the handles were joined together.  

There was no decreasing before the grommet was made.  While the grommet is bigger than the other spiral net bags, the hole is still smaller than the meshes.

A Second Net Spiral Bag

This week I finished the second net bag for the double baby shower.

It is also done as a spiral from the top, so it does look similar to the bag I finished last week.














However, since I have a hard time repeating the same pattern over and over unless I have a good reason, there are some differences.

First, the handles.  They look different because of where the increases are placed.

Beginning about half way down the handle, the pink bag, made last week, has increases placed along the edges of the handle.  This creates a triangular shaped as the handle nears the bag.



The blue bag has a straight handle.  The increases are all added in the same row, just after the size of the mesh stick changes. 










Another way the bags differ is in how the decreases that form the bottom of the bag are placed and the number of loops that are pulled together for the decreases.

The pink bag pulls the loops together in groups of three on one row.  The grommet is formed in the next row.   The blue bag decrease only 5 times on one row and then decreases directly below those decreases on two more rows.  After those three decrease rows a grommet in the following row.  This formed a five-sided shape on the bottom of the blue bag.

Both bags were filled with my favorite baby bibs and the net handles were tied into a bow.

Spiral Net Gift Bag

Next Saturday I have a double baby shower to attend.  This week I was able to finish the bag for the expected girl.  The photos show the bag both with and without the bibs that will accompany it.

This bag is made from the top down.  The handle is made in two pieces.  After each piece is made they are joined together on one end to form the circular mouth of the bag.  The other ends of the handle sections are tied together in a square knot.  Once the mouth of the bag is created, I just net around and around the circle until it is as long as I want it to be. Then I formed a grommet at the bottom of the bag.

Net Gift Bag

Several years ago I decided to net a small gift bag to hold the bibs I was giving as a baby shower gift.  The bag could be used to hold the bibs or whatever the mother wanted to put in it.

This month I have three baby showers to attend.  So I net this Small Rectangular Bag for the one tonight.

Once the bag was done, I added the bibs.

This will be the last Small Rectangular Net Bag I will make for a while.  I need to make some circular and spiral ones so I can have some photos for those classes.

A Netting Riddle

What do these two pictures have in common?

Post your answers in the comments section below.

To see my answer, click here.

New Netting Tools

Recently I acquired some new netting toys tools from Marie-Jo at FILET LACE BY THE SEA.  I have enjoyed looking at them and playing with using them.

They feel so smooth I could just keep rubbing them all day.  I have not yet tried the two smaller ones, but I have used the largest.  It's narrower than my white plastic one, but since it is thicker, it produces the same size meshes.

Along with the mesh sticks came the needle on the left.

I got the needle on the right after Marie-Jo showed me some photos of a few handmade netting needles she had.  I am so glad I ordered one.  It is so much sturdier than the other needles I have seen (like the one next to it in the photo).  So, if you are looking for small netting needles for fine netting, contact her.