Net (textile) facts for kids

Dress made of netting fabric.

Net or netting is a special kind of textile with open spaces between its strands. People make this airy fabric by knotting, looping, or fusing pieces of yarn together wherever they cross. Because it has so many holes, netting is very light and lets fresh air pass straight through.

Depending on the fibers used, netting can feel super soft, or it can be tough and scratchy. Some kinds are made with natural threads, while others use strong human-made strands. People have used netting for thousands of years to catch food, make fancy clothing, and build handy gear for everyday life.

How People Use Netting Every Day

Netting is one of the most useful materials in the world. It works well whenever people need a fabric that is strong, stretchy, and easy to see through.

Catching Fish in the Ocean

Long ago, fishers realized that nets were perfect for catching seafood in large amounts. Today, large fishing boats use huge nets when trawling deep in the ocean water. These tools must be tough enough to hold heavy loads without snapping. At the same time, they need to fold up easily on a boat deck.

To make fishing nets even stronger, workers often coat the strands in wax or plastic. This extra layer keeps the cords waterproof. It prevents sea water from soaking in and rotting the net fibers over time.

Fancy Dresses and Ballet Costumes

Netting plays a huge role in the world of fashion. Designers love using it because it adds puffiness and shape to clothes without making them heavy to wear.

A famous light netting called tulle has tiny, six-sided openings shaped like a honeycomb. Makers often add starch to tulle to make it stand up straight and hold its shape. A bride often wears a pretty white tulle veil over her hair during a wedding with her bridal gown.

Dancers also rely on netting whenever they step onto the stage. A traditional ballet tutu uses many fluffy layers of tulle piled together. This creates a wide, bouncy skirt that stays light while the dancer spins and leaps through the air.

First Aid and Medical Care

Netting serves an important purpose in hospitals and doctor offices. Medics use stretchy netting bands as cushions and protective covers under an arm sling.

Layered netting holds bandages snugly against the body without sticking painfully to scrapes or cuts. Because the material is full of holes, it lets skin breathe and keeps wounds cool and dry as they heal.

Outdoor Gear and Bug Protection

Netting is great for outdoor adventures like camping in the woods. Modern tents feature netting windows that keep the inside cool and airy.

The tiny holes allow cool breezes inside while keeping pesky critters outdoors. When hung over a bed, a fine mosquito net protects sleeping people from insect bites without trapping hot, stuffy air inside. Netting is also sewn into travel backpacks and sports bags so you can see your gear without opening every pocket.

Different Styles of Netting

People make nets using several clever methods. Some nets are woven entirely by hand, while modern factories make others using big machines.

Hand-Made Netting Crafts

Long before factories existed, people tied netting entirely by hand. Hand-made nets often serve as the base for delicate needlework, including ancient crafts like tambour lace and Filet lace. People use simple tools to tie knots in different directions:

• Diamond mesh netting moves back and forth in wide rows. People use this bouncy pattern to make hammocks, carrying bags, scarves, and headbands.
• Square mesh netting works back and forth in diagonal lines, starting at one corner and finishing at the opposite side. It is often used for fishing or fancy stitch work.
• Spiral netting goes around and around in circles, similar to crochet. It forms a seamless tube that keeps going without any obvious stopping point.

Crafters still use hand-tied netting today to make playful fairy wings, party outfits, and colorful costume trim.

Knotless Netting Fabrics

Not all netting uses knots to hold its threads together. In knotless netting, machines weave or fuse the strands across one another cleanly.

Without bulky knots, this netting feels flatter, smoother, and much lighter against the skin. However, untreated knotless net can sometimes shift around more easily. To solve this problem, manufacturers coat the strands with resin or melted plastic before or after weaving. This coating locks every crossing strand in place so the fabric holds up under tough pressure, heat, and rough weather.

See Also

• Bobbinet
• Mosquito net
• Needlerun net