The Young Ladies' Journal Complete Guide (2nd edition) by E. Harrison

There are two sections on netting in The Young Ladies' Journal Complete Guide (2nd edition) by E. Harrison.  The first section is about how to net; the second section has netting stitches and patterns.  There is also a section on Guipure netting, also known as net embroidery, net darning, or lacis.  The illustrations of this book, which was published in 1885, are very clear and detailed.

1. Implements Required - with illustration (page 19)
2. To Fill a Netting-Needle - with illustration (page 19)
3. Netting Mesh - with illustration (page 19)
4. Stirrup (page 19)
5. Knot for Joining - with illustration (page 20)
6. Directions for Netting - with illustration (page 20)
7. Square Netting - with illustration (page 20)
8. Square Foundation of Two Sizes - with illustration (page 20)
9. Oblong Netting - with illustration (page 20)
10. Slanting Netting - with illustration (page 20)
11. Wire Frame for Guipure Netting (page 20)
12. Introduction (page 123)
13. Common Netting  - with illustration (page 123)
14. Mode of working a Netted Foundation with Holes for Embroidering Trefoils in - with illustration (page 123)
15. Round Netting - with illustration (page 123)
16. Loop Netting - with illustration (page 123)
17. Diamond Pattern in Round Netting - with illustration (page 123)
18. Square Pattern - with illustration (page 126)
19. Cross-Netting - with illustration (page 126)
20. Rose-Netting in Plain and Striped Varieties - with illustration (page 126)
21. Star-Netting - with illustration (page 126)
22. Stripe Netting - with illustration (page 126)
23. Honeycomb-Netting - with illustration (page 126)
24. Diagonal-Netting  - with illustration (page 126)
25. Border: Plain, Honeycomb, and Rose Netting - with illustration (page 126)
26. Insertion: Rose and Plain Netting edged with Crochet  - with illustration (page 126)
27. Netting Foundation Interlaced with a Needle and Thread - with illustration (page 127)
28. Trimmings - with illustration (page 127)
29. Trimming: Netting - with illustration (page 127)
30. Doily: Netting (with illlustrations) (page 127)
31. Mode of Beginning a Circle - with illustration (page 127)
32. Foundation with Needlework Pattern - with illustration (page 127)
33. Open-Work and Darned Stripe - with illustration (page 127)
34. Trimming, with Thick Loops and Fan Edge - with illustration (page 127)
35. Loose Loop Pattern - with illustration (page 127)
36. Lappet for Caps - with illustration (page 130)
37. Scallop - with illustration (page 131)
38. Border with Double Loose Loops - with illustration (page 131)
39. Fan Netting - with illustration (page 131)
40. Border with Bunches of Loops (page 131)
41. Edging: Double Fan or Sheaf (page 131)
42. Border with Round-Loop Heading (page 134)
43. Diamond Pattern  - with illustration (page 134)
44. Design with Twisted Loops  - with illustration (page 134)
45. Stripe for Shawls - with illustration (page 134)
46. Border: Rose and Sheaf Pattern - with illustration (page 134)
47. Border with Tufts and Scalloped Edge - with illustration (page 134)
48. Design: Long and Crossed Loops - with illustration (page 134)
49. Border: Cross Netting and Twisted Loops - with illustration (page 135)
50. Neckerchief - with illustration (page 135)
51. Fringe - with illustration (page 135)
52. Design for Antimacassars, Fichus, &c.: Darned Netting - with illustration (page 135)
53. Tassel Fringe - with illustration (page 135)
54. Netted Mitten - with illustration (page 135)
55. Netted Night-net - with illustration (page 135)
56. Netted Curtains - with illustration (page 136)

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This week my son helped me add photos to my website.  They included net belts, bookmarks, dishcloths, and suncatchers.

Ward and Lock’s Home Book

Both this book, Ward and Lock's Home Book, and the one from last week were published by Ward, Lock, and Co.  Since both books were published in 1882, it makes sense that the patterns would be similar.  Or in this case, all the netting information in this book is identical to what is found in the Handbook of Plain and Fancy Needlework.

1. Netting, or Knotting (page 829, items 1499, 1500)
2. The Implements Required - with illustration (page 829, item 1501)
3. Netting (page 829, item 1502)
4. Square Netting (page 830)
5. Round Netting (page 830)
6. English Netting (page 830)
7. Netted Mitten (page 831, item 1503)

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Several months ago I converted my website from one format to another.  When I made the change, I did not have the time to get all the netting photos on the original format changed to the new format.  My youngest son has graciously consented to help me make those changes now.  This week he was able to get all the doilies, mine and my grandmother's, posted.  To view the results, you can go to either my doilies or my grandmother's doilies.  

Handbook of Plain and Fancy Needlework

There is no author, editor, or compiler given for this book.   Handbook of Plain and Fancy Needlework was published in 1882 by Ward, Lock, & Co.  The first part of the book endeavors "to supply the teacher with a manual which has been arranged in accordance with the new code of regulations issued by the Government for the Education Department."  I found it interesting that on page six, netting is described as an alternative to knitting for the boys to learn.  "They will be likely to prefer this as distinct from the 'girl's work' going on around them, and it will increase their interest in it to be told of the various uses to which netting can be put."

1. Netting - with illustration (page 6)
2. Netting, or Knotting (page 108)
3. The Implements Required - with illustration (page 108)
4. Netting (page 108)
5. Square Netting (page 109)
6. Round Netting (page 109)
7. English Netting (page 109)
8. Netted Mitten (page 110)  

The mitten described seems to be decorative and finger-less.

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I have not even thought of trying to find all the on-line netting patterns given in magazines.  However, this week I was made aware of an "Invisible Hair-Net" found in an 1861 issue of Godey's Magazine and Lady's Book.

Here is what I think the instructions meant.

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)

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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 Englishwoman by Isabella May Beeton

Three weeks ago I commented on another book by Isabella Beeton, which also contained netting patterns and instructions.  The Young Englishwoman was published in 1875, five years after Beeton's Book of Needlework.  Her earlier book covers the basics of netting and has a couple of patterns. This later book assumes that the reader knows how to net and does not include any basic information.  There are some netting patterns (no duplication between the two books), as well as designs for net embroidery, darning, or lacis.  She also includes one pattern that combines netting, knitting, and crochet in making a hood.

1. Clothes Bag - with illustration (page 107, item 100)
2. Design in Netting and Darning for Antimacassars, etc.  - with illustration (page 110, item 118)
3. Designs in Netting and Darning - with illustration (page 166, item 150)
4. Designs in Netting and Darning - with illustration (page 166, item 151)
5. Lady's Hood in Netting, Knitting and Crochet - with illustration (page 226, item 193)
6. Lambrequin Darning on Netting - with illustration (page 527, item 538)
7. Swinging Hammock - with illustration (page 646, item 651)

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Many years ago a son-in-law approached me with an interesting idea.  He wondered if I could make a doily that resembled an eye.  Using the stitches and colors he wanted, we designed it.  

Since I forgot to record how much thread I used, I decided to make it again.  This time I did it all in one color.  I discovered it takes 33 yards of size 20 crochet thread.  It measures 13.75 inches in diameter.

 I call it Hurricane.

    

Take My Advice by The Late Editor of "The Family Friend"

According to the title page, the full title of this book, published in 1872, is given as Take My Advice: A Book for Every Home: Giving Complete and Trustworthy Information on Everything Pertaining to Daily Life: Household Management; Domestic Cookery; Brewing, Distilling; Domestic Chemistry, Medicine; Clothing; Gardening; Law; Trade and Scientific Facts; In-door and Out-door Games; Domestic Pets and Pests; Etiquette and Manners; Ladies’ Work; and Something for Everybody, Etc.  I've referred to it as Take My Advice.

The section on netting is found in "Ladies' Work" and includes the following:

1. Netting ( page 327)
2. Plain Netting ( page 328)
3. Square Netting ( page 328)
4. Round Netting ( page 328)
5. Honeycomb Netting ( page 328)
6. Long Twisted Stitch ( page 328)
7. Embroidery on Netting ( page 328)
8. Netted Neck-tie ( page 328)

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Back in 2006 some of my children started juggling.  One of my daughters took her juggling balls to school so she could practice during her lunch time.  To make it easy to transport them, I net her a bag out of parachute cord.

I actually made two different bags.  One had 100 knots; the other, 96 knots.  Recently, when I went to post the photos, I could not tell which photo was the bag with 10 rows and which was the one with 8.  To solve that problem, I decided remake the two patterns using different cords so they would not look the same.  These are the two bags.

The one on the left has 10 loops in a row and 10 rows for 100 knots.  The bag on the right has 12 loops and 8 rows for 96 knots.

Looking at them, I would not have guessed that they had just a four-knot difference between them.  The one on the right looks much smaller.  I wondered if those four knots really made a difference. 

To test my theory, I packed as many spools of thread into the bag with 100 knots (the bag on the left).

Then I took the same spools and packed them into the bag with 96 knots.  I could not close the bag as tightly this time.   You can see that there is an circular opening below and to the right of the cord-lock.

In a bag this small, four additional loops make a difference.

At least now I can tell the difference in the bags and in the photos.

Best of Everything by Robert Kemp Philp

Although he is not listed by name on the title page of Best of Everything, many sources indicate that Robert Kemp Philp is the author.  The title page states the book is "by the author of 'Enquire Within.'"  Best of Everything, published in 1870, contains only one page on netting.  While the descriptions are brief, if you know what you are doing, the instructions make sense.  Another digitized copy can be found here.

1. Hints on Netting (page 278)
2. Implements (page 278)
3. Diamond Netting (page 278)
4. Square Netting (page 278)
5. Honeycomb Netting (page 278)
6. Herring-bone Netting (page 278)

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I created this doily pattern several years ago. Since I did not have a digital camera then and had to rely on a photocopy machine to let me record what a doily looked like, I could only record part of the doily.  I recently made it again so I could get a photo of the entire doily.  

I must have been watching Star Trek or Star Wars when I finished it since it reminded me of a wormhole or star gate.  I called it Stargate.