Progress on the Bell and a Reality Check

I am excited to see how the bell turns out, and spent a lot of time on this project yesterday.

I am keeping to the KISS principle, and used single corded Brussels on the tops, and double corded Brussels on the bottom. I'm especially pleased with the last bit, it looks very well spaced, even with my Mag Eyes.

I plan to fill in the middle with a Pea Stitch, or maybe Treble Brussels. I really like the way the different stitches create texture and interest in your work, without changing color. The yellow leaf below shows that very well.


Not much to say here, except my good friend reminded that I had not shown my leaves with a reality check - a ruler to give you the proper perspective. The spines of the oak leaf and the yellow leaf measure at least 3" (8 cm). The little leaves are only 1 1/2" (4 cm).

My first needle lace projects were worked with pearl cotton, first #8 then #12. If I were starting again, I'd do one leaf with #8, then move right to #80 tatting thread, or even the Gutterman 100/3 silk, if you have a selection of that handy.

Since I'm a tatt3r, I have an embarrassment of tatting thread, and I will keep using #80 while I learn my stitches. (Similar to a murder of crows, or a school of fish, I'm sure the proper term is an embarrassment of thread.)

I'd like to do a few more leaves, reds and oranges. It would make a pretty display, and show my progress as a sampler would.