Netting

in the manufacture of fabrics, the process of knotting cords into regular meshes to form nets. The handicraft of netting is so ancient that it is impossible to trace its origin. Originally, it was employed to furnish nets for catching fish and animals for food. As the ornamental arts developed netting of finer material was made to serve as foundation for lace and embroidery and for various articles of dress. Hand netting is in itself a simple process readily learned. The thread is wound lengthwise upon a flat wooden needle; the meshes are formed over a round stick, called the spool or mesh pin. The form of the knot having been learned, a little practice only is needful to the acquiring of dexterity. Machines for netting have been in use since about 1778. They are used with steam power, and for ordinary work require but one attendant. The word netting is at present in use to designate a large class of open work fabrics, not all of which are produced by the knotting of the threads. In bobbinet, or Brussel's net, for instance, two systems of thread are used, and are twisted about each other, instead of knotted, to form the mesh. Mosquito netting is a woven fabric, the threads in which are far apart.