Knitter's Friend by Mrs. Hope

I discovered that I have links to two books named The Knitter's Friend.  One is by Mrs. Gaugain and the other is by Mrs. Hope.  They both contain netting patterns.  I wrote about The Knitter's Friend by Mrs. Gaugain almost a month ago.  Today I picked up The Knitter's Friend by Mrs. Hope.  It was published about 1847.

There are instructions for 10 different items related to netting.

1. Stirrup for Netting   (page 44) - This is what I would call a tension device.
2. Plain Netted Purse   (page 78)
3. Rounded Neckerchief   (page 82)
4. Invalid's Supporter   (page 84)
5. Double Netted Shawl   (page 85)
6. Circassian Cap   (page 86 - picture included)
7. Front of an Upright Piano, or A Window Blind   (page 88)
8. Cardinal Cape (page 90)
9. Bottle Stand   (page 93)
10. Round Netted Doyley   (page 94)

I recently made two long snoods with staggered beads.  One was with 6 mm glass beads and brown thread.

The other was made with 6 mm beads that were much lighter than glass.  The red beads were netted with black thread.

If the hair color matches the thread color of the snood, the netting vanishes into the hair and only the beads are left to be seen.  

I finally finished all the projects for my Circular Netting class, photographed them, and put them up on Rita's Netting Nook.  I purposely created many smaller projects so those taking the class would be able to practice starting net circles without getting bored.  

The Work-Table Magazine or Church and Decorative Needlework (vol 1) by Mrs. Mee and Miss Austin

Last week I entered a list of net items contained in Mee's Companion to the Worktable.  Because of that, I thought this week I should look into what was in The Work-Table Magazine or Church and Decorative Needlework (vol 1).  This book is by Mrs. Mee and Miss Austin.  The copy that is online was published in 1847.

1. Doily (page 19)
2. Diamond Netting (page 24)
3. Grecian stitch open (page 33)
4. Curtains, in stripes of small and large diamonds (page 39)
5. Purse - simple and elegant pattern (page 46)
6. Purse, with beads (page 57)
7. Mat (page 64)
8. Shawl - novel and exquisite pattern (page 73)
9. Chair cover (page 123)
10. Necktie (page 133)

This week I finished the last three bookmarks for my circular netting class.  I used tatting thread for these samples, but I could have also used size 30 crochet thread.

When I showed my bookmarks to some friends, I was surprised to learn that they would not use them for bookmarks.  I was told they were too fancy.  Do you agree?

This bookmark has the small tier circle at the top.  The length is done in English Netting or Honeycomb Stitch.

I could have ended in a point, but I decided to use up the last of the thread with a tassel instead.

I love the cubes that are formed.

This bookmark uses the small circle Web at the top.

The length of the bookmark is the same one used earlier for the bookmark Magic.  It combines the Plain Stitch and the Beet Stitch and ends in a point.

I could have put a tassel on this bookmark, but chose not to do so (I had enough thread left to make another one).

This bookmark uses the small circle Well at the top.  It combines the Plain Stitch and the Shield Stitch to create the length.

Here also I could have ended with a point, but again I chose to use up the thread with a tassel.

Mee's Companion to the Worktable by Cornelia Mee

This week I decided to choose another book by Cornelia Mee from my list of online netting books.  Mee's Companion to the Worktable was published in 1845.   Here are the 8 net patterns that she included:

1. For a Netted Cardinal (page 8)
2. Netted Shawl (page 19)
3. Netted Shawl in Crossbars (page 20)
4. Netted Flower Stand (page 35)
5. Pretty and Simple Netted Opera Cap (page 56)
6. Pretty simple Netted Cap for wearing under a Bonnet (page 112)
7. Very Pretty Net Purse (page 126)
8.   Pretty Netted Purse, with Rows of Honeycomb between (page 127)

Again I've come across a word that has a new meaning for me.  The very first pattern listed is a netted cardinal.  Now I know that a bird is a cardinal, as is a high church official in the Roman Catholic Church.  I know it is a color, and that it has a mathematical meaning.  But I did not see how any of these could be involved in a piece of netting.   So I checked the dictionary.  One dictionary also defines it as "a woman's short cloak with a hood, originally made of scarlet cloth and popularly worn in the 18th century," while another dictionary gives the definition as "a woman's hooded shoulder cape worn in the 17th and 18th centuries."  Now that definition makes sense when used in connection with netting.

This week I also starched some net bookmarks.  The patterns to these bookmarks will be included in my Circular Netting class.

Candle small circle is used.

Floweret small circle is used.

I have tried to have some quick and useful patterns included with the Circular Netting class.


You'll notice that this candle bookmark is a different color than the other one I made.

Tops small circle is used.

Plain small circle is used.

The small circles can be used for bookmarks, hot pads, and lacy insets for acrylic coasters.

Manual of Knitting by Mrs. Mee and Miss Austin

I find it strange that a book devoted to knitting would contain a single netting pattern but Manual of Knitting by Mrs. Mee and Miss Austin does just that.  I wonder which woman designed the netting pattern.  This book was published around 1860.

This book contains a pattern (page 10, item 7) for making a Netted Jupon.

Since I had no idea what a jupon is and there is no picture of the finished product, I decided to use a dictionary.

Most of the definitions were similar: "a short close-fitting sleeveless padded garment, used in the late 14th and early 15th centuries with armour"

I liked this one because it included how to pronounce the word.

But somehow I could not see this definition matching something made with netting.  Then I found a dictionary which included a second definition: "A petticoat."  That made more sense.


This week I also took the time to double check netting instructions for making small circles.  The directions will be included in my circular netting class.

I wanted to have something that was small enough that it could be made quickly.  This way the students could practice several times, instead on only once or twice, the techniques that start a piece of circular netting.  I also wanted to include a variety of stitches so the different techniques for starting rounds could be practiced.

These patterns can be used in making hot pads, bookmarks, or inserts into acrylic coasters.  It just depends on the size of the thread and mesh sticks used.

The Knitter's Casket: a new series of receipts in Knitting and Netting

Today I looked down my list of digital books that contained netting patterns and picked one at random.  I chose The Knitter's Casket: a new series of receipts in Knitting and Netting by Mrs Hope.  It was published around 1848.

She included the following netting patterns.

1. Dice-pattern Purse (page 70)
2. Dice-pattern Purse with beads (page 72)
3. Mat (page 73)
4. Purses with Beads No. 1, Pine and Star (page 75)
5. Purses with Beads No. 2, Pointed Pattern (page 78)
6. Purses with Beads No. 3, Simple Bar Pattern (page 79)

I noticed online that she has another book, The Book of the Baby's Wardrobe in Knitting and Netting.  Unfortunately this book does not appear to be available in digital format yet.   

One of these days I'm going to try some of these patterns.

But instead of doing that this week, I have been making a net bag for another baby shower.

This bag is the medium size of the circular bags included in my circular netting class.

I have also been working on the transcripts of the circular netting videos.  I think I am done with everything except one video and its transcript.  But to make that video, I'll have to do some more netting, after I finish the doily I'm making for a nephew and his new wife.

The Knitters' Friend by Mrs. Gaugain

When I saw the title of Mrs. Gaugain's book, The Knitters' Friend,in a list of books that were available online, I almost passed it by.  After all, it was a knitting book and I was looking for netting patterns.

Then I happened to glance at the sub-title: being a selection of receipts for the most useful and saleable articles in knitting, netting and crochet work.  I decided to look at it.  When I clicked on the link, the cover read, "The People's Book" and I wondered if I was in the correct location.  I decided to scroll down a bit, and the title page let me know that I was looking at the correct book.

This is the last of Mrs. Jane Gaugain's books that I have been able to find online.  It was published in 1846.

Here are the netting patterns found in this book.

1. Pretty Netted Flower Mat (page 15)
2. Netted Mat for a Hyacinth Glass, or Round D'Oyley (page 17)
3. Maltese Long Net Mitten (page 157)
4. Very Pretty Grecian Net Long Purse for a Lady (page 168)
5. Maltese Spotting, six stitches apart (stitch on page 170)

This week I also had a chance to record my son using the mesh poi I made.  I wanted him to demonstrate how to use them.

I've been working on the Circular Netting class.  I was able to finish a couple of transcripts and I only have one video left to make.  I can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Mrs Gaugain's Miniature Knitting, Netting, and Crochet Book

Listed below are the netting patterns that are contained in Mrs Gaugain's Miniature Knitting, Netting, and Ckrochet Book.  This book was published around 1843.  The netting patterns appear similar to those in The Lady's Assistant for Executing Useful and Fancy Designs in Knitting, Netting, and Crochet Work which was also by Mrs Gaugain.

1. Long Net Purse for a Lady (page 55)
2. Long Net Purse for a Lady (page 56)
3. Round Netting for a Gentleman's Long Purse (page 57)
4. Honeycomb Netting for Veil (page 58)
5. Very Pretty Long Grecian Net Purse for a Lady (page 60)
6. Grecian Net for a Veil (page 62)
7. Single Diamond Netting (page 63)
8. Diamond of Five Stitches for a Long Purse (page 64)
9. Leaf Netting (page 66)
10. Dotted Net (page 67)
11. French Ground Net (page 68)
12. Scollop for Borders of Veils, Collars, Caps, &c (page 69)
13. Another Scollop for Border (page 70)
14. Scollop (page 71)

Today my 3rd son is getting married.  I let them choose the center, stitches and edge for a doily I created for them.  Here is a photo of the doily I made.  We named it Sun Kissed.