finger as in fig. 20, A. The lower part of loop 1 is seized between the left thumb and forefinger, and the netting-strip where it crosses is pinched, as it were, between the two limbs of the loop. This is held securely so as to maintain the size of the mesh whilst the netting-knot is made with the right hand. The right hand makes a bight to the right with the netting-strip (fig. 21). The strip is then carried over both limbs of loop 1, passed behind them, and brought up through the bight (fig. 22). The left hand continues its hold until the knot is drawn taut and the netting-knot is completed (fig. 23). See also Plate 105, fig. 2.

The movements of the netting-strip are thus similar to those in the closed-loop commencement—a loop or bight to the right, over, under, and up through the bight. The difference is that in one case the netting-strip, being turned back on itself, forms an overhand knot, and in the other case, through being made over a loop, it results in the netting-knot. The netting-knot is similar to the weaver's knot, but is tied in a different way. The Maori netting-knot is the same as the usual European one except that in the latter the netting-cord is passed through the loop from below and the bight is made to the left. This is the opposite to the Maori method, but the results are the same.

The first full mesh being completed, the netting-strip is carried over the next loop, and the resulting loop is gauged with the left ring-finger to the same lower level as the first completed mesh, which is still stretched by the left middle finger. The netting-knot is made as described above, and completes a second full-sized mesh. So the process goes on, the half-loops, as it were, completing the lower halves of full-sized meshes, whilst the intervals provide the upper halves for the meshes of the next row. At the end the supporting-strand is turned, and the next row commenced with a full-sized mesh from the left. Owing to the turning of the supporting-strand, the commencing full-sized meshes are alternately at either end or side of the piece of netting. Furthermore, except for the first and last rows of meshes, each mesh has a knot at each of its four angles. The alternate commencing mesh has only three knots, and the outer sides are free. This is important, as we shall see later.

Owing to the turning of the work at the end of each row, one set of alternate rows of knots will show the front aspect of the knots, whilst the other set will show the back.