From Jane Austen’s World
Jane Austen fans are familiar with the high-waisted muslin dresses popular during her adulthood. How many are aware that machine-made net or gauze became a “hot” item from 1810 and on?
“Net dresses were very fashionable and their popularity was spurred by new inventions. The development of machine-made net in the late 18th and early 19th centuries meant that gauzy lace effects were increasingly affordable either as trimmings or garments. The bobbin-net machine was patented by the Englishman John Heathcoat in 1808 and produced a superior net identical to the twist-net grounds of hand-made bobbin lace. It was so successful that women in the highest ranks of society, including the Emperor Napoleon’s first wife, Josephine, wore machine-net dresses. Initially, however, all machine nets were plain and had to be embroidered by hand.” – Victoria and Albert
Machine-made bobbin net was first made in France in 1818. Until this date, lace…
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Ella Quinn ~ Author 
So eloquent and beautiful. Look at the tiny waist and trimmings. Incredible. Thanks for sharing, Ella!
You’re welcome. The netting is just fantastic.
I was absolutely not aware of machine netting that early on. Thanks, Ella.
No, neither was I. The netting is just beautiful.
What material was the net made from? I didn’t remember that the netting came that early either. Are there period samples that have survived? These are the most interesting research topics.
I did some checking and it appears that originally, gold and silver thread was used as well as linen and silk.
So feminine. Dresses like that made women feel pretty. The netting is an interesting tidbit I didn’t know about.
Neither did I. I love the site it appeared on, but I’d re-bloged it and now that option has been removed.