|
|
 |
Netting is an ancient fiber art
that can be dated back to the days of the dawn of civilization. In order to make a net, the tools needed must be
assembled. These tools come in three different parts, the Fork, the Gauge and the Anchor. |
|
|
The Fork
The first part of Netting is the Fork, which is also called
a shuttle or a needle, and is used to hold the thread and to construct the actual stitches. In the picture below, the top four needles were purchased as a set and are excellent for use in netting lace.
While the fifth one down was Stephen's first fork and was handmade by a blacksmith at a historical re-enactment. The
sixth and bottommost shuttle is wooden and purchased from Finniwig Studios.
|
| Variety of Forks, Shuttles or Needles |
|
|
|
The Gauges or Mesh Sticks
The second part is the Guage, which is also called a Mesh Stick or simply the Stick,
and is used to in maintaining the size of each loop between the stitches. The variety
of mesh sticks depicted below were created through different means. Some are metal knitting needles, some are made from
dowl rods, some are plastic mesh sticks and others are tongue depressors that I stole from the doctor's office.
|
| Variety of Netting Mesh Sticks |
|
|
|
The Anchor: the Netting Pillow
Finally, the last part is the Anchor, which at the Bedford College of Lace Making is almost
always a pillow, but can be anything really. As long as the Anchor maintains a weighted focus for one end of the net
being produced, it can be anything from a safety pin in the arm of the chair or a door knob or anything you have on hand.
|
| Stephen's Current Netting Pillow |
|
|
| Stephen's New Travel Netting Pillow |
|
|
| Stephen's Very First Netting Pillow |
|
|
| Stephen's Second Netting Pillow |
|
|
|
|
| 2012 Independance Days at Spring Mill State Park |
At the 2012 Independance Days held every July in Spring Mill State
Park, Stephen set up to demonstrate the ancient art of Net making. Depicted above is Stephen with his delux anchor
netting an edging on a hanky in a russett colored thread for the tourists to watch.
|
|
Running Naked with Scissors and Plotting World Domination
on a Shoestring Budget
 
|
|
|
|
