LaPaz Home Learning

As promised, here are directions for making your own dip net (aka sock net).

This one cost me nothing.

Superboy used an old sheer curtain from a door removed in remodeling. If you have some sheer fabric laying around YOUR little girl’s dress-up bins, use it. She will get far better use out of it this way, I promise! At least that’s what I’m telling JBug.

Anyway, an old curtain is great because it already has pocket seams on two sides. If you are using a spare piece of sheer fabric that was not a curtain in it’s former life, you will need to sew pocket seams in it along two opposite sides. No need to be pretty, just functional.
Take apart a metal coat hanger and form it into a loop. Then thread said loop through one of the seams like this:

Straighten out about 4 inches of the coat hanger on either end and place them on either side of a good sturdy stick (the stick should be approx. your kid’s shoulder height).

Now duct tape the heck out of it, wrapping the tape very tightly around several times, continuing an inch or so past the wire ends, and over the stick end, too. Then do it again just to be sure. Do it until you can press on the opposite side of the hoop and it doesn’t wobble.

Now thread some good cord through the other seam and tie it tightly.

Then use an embroidery needle and fishing line to sew up the side. Knot it well with a knot that won’t slip. Superboy used fishing line because we had it and it is waterproof and it is more manly than thread. You can use any waterproof thread.

Now our model will show you the finished product:

This net is good for dipping minnows and other small fish, bugs, tadpoles, frogs, etc from water, for coaxing dragonfly and damselfly larvae from aquatic vegetation, and can serve as a butterfly net or a lightweight sweep net in soft grass. I wouldn’t use it for big fish or in heavy brush because it isn’t sturdy enough for that kind of use.

Enjoy!

Friday the big project: the seine net!