For Squares and Rectangles
This is the kind of netting that you see in large-scale as tennis and volleyball nets, and in small scale as the base fabric for lacis embroidery. Square mesh netting imparts a more structured, formal look to projects that use it.
![square mesh net, step one](http://www.nightshaderose.com/netting/illustrations/square-mesh-1.jpg)
To begin your square mesh netting:
Row 1: Net 2 loops onto your foundation.
![square mesh net, step two](http://www.nightshaderose.com/netting/illustrations/square-mesh-2.jpg)
Rows 2+: Net one regular knot in the first loop. Increase with a double-stitch in the last loop. continue adding rows, increasing at the end of EVERY row, until the piece is as wide as you want it to be.
![square mesh net, step three](http://www.nightshaderose.com/netting/illustrations/square-mesh-3.jpg)
When the piece has reached the desired width, net one row across with no increases or decreases.
![square mesh net, step four](http://www.nightshaderose.com/netting/illustrations/square-mesh-4s.jpg)
To finish your netting with a square shape
On the next row, net across the piece until the last 2 loops. Net these together in a decrease stitch.
![square mesh net, step five](http://www.nightshaderose.com/netting/illustrations/square-mesh-5s.jpg)
On the following row, again, decrease at the end of the row.
![square mesh net, step six](http://www.nightshaderose.com/netting/illustrations/square-mesh-6s.jpg)
Decrease at the end of each following row until you are down to just 2 loops.
![square mesh net, step seven](http://www.nightshaderose.com/netting/illustrations/square-mesh-7s.jpg)
Net the remaining 2 loops together with your working string. Keep the loops and working string close together, and do not make a loop over your mesh stick for this knot.
![square mesh net, step eight](http://www.nightshaderose.com/netting/illustrations/square-mesh-8s.jpg)
Knot your working string through the final loop a few more times to secure it.
![square mesh net, step nine](http://www.nightshaderose.com/netting/illustrations/square-mesh-9s.jpg)
Back at the top of the piece, remove the foundation from the top row and straighten the loops out.
![square mesh net, step ten](http://www.nightshaderose.com/netting/illustrations/square-mesh-10s.jpg)
Knot the top 2 loops together with the tail of the string on that end like you did on the bottom corner.
![square mesh net, step eleven](http://www.nightshaderose.com/netting/illustrations/square-mesh-11s.jpg)
Stretch the piece out a bit, and you have a square piece of square-mesh netting.
![square mesh net, step four](http://www.nightshaderose.com/netting/illustrations/square-mesh-4r.jpg)
To finish your netting with a rectangular shape:
Net one row across and INCREASE (double-stitch)at the end or the row.
![square mesh net, step five](http://www.nightshaderose.com/netting/illustrations/square-mesh-5r.jpg)
On the next row, net one row across but DECREASE at the end of the row.
![square mesh net, step six](http://www.nightshaderose.com/netting/illustrations/square-mesh-7r.jpg)
Continue netting rows, alternating increasing and decreasing at the end of each row. Be sure to keep all of your increases on one edge of the piece, and all of your decreases on the other edge.
![square mesh net, step seven](http://www.nightshaderose.com/netting/illustrations/square-mesh-8r.jpg)
When your piece has reached the desired length, net one row plain with no increases or decreases, and finish as the square net, decreasing on all further rows.