Needle Lace Sea Shell

This one went quickly, and this is my first picture of Lesson 3 from the Guild of Needle Lace's Basic Booklet.

There are no new stitches, everything is corded single brussels, with a section of pea stitch variation.

I'm using DMC tatting thread, and found some colors in my stash. From left to right, I used #3773, #738, ecru and #353.

Next is the top stitching. I can use the practice, so I'll take it slow and easy and try to make it look good.

Top Stitching on the Blue Flower - Done!

It's been snowing here, so J and I spent a quiet weekend at home, relaxing and indulging in our hobbies. J is building a new acoustic guitar, and I worked on my blue flower.

The top stitching on this flower was harder than I expected, but I managed to get it off the base intact. I'm glad it's done, and I've already which pattern I'll do next.

The flower was pattern 4, and I'm going to back track and do pattern 3. It's a sea shell, and there are no new stitches, but lots of top stitching at the end. I think I can benefit from that lesson.

The top stitching is done in this picture, and I haven't yet begun to remove the couching threads. I try to remember to throw it on the scanner at this point, just in case my scissors snip a bit more than I intend.

One last roundup of the details: the flower measures about 3" x 3", DMC #80, color 3325. Pattern 4 from the Guild of Needle Laces' Basic Instruction Book.

I learned Genoa Stitch and whipped single Brussels Stitch. I still need work on Venetian and Alencon bars, but pattern 5 will remedy that.

Ready to Top Stitch the Blue Flower

I finished the stem with whipped Brussels stitch. The leaf started with whipped Brussels and changed to double Brussels. I could have done better with the leaf, I guess, but I'm ready to move forward!

My DH took my Christmas wish list to heart, and bought 3 Nenia Lovesey titles - Technique of, Creative Design in and Introduction to Needlepoint Lace. All from the 80s, very much out of print, and none of them priced for more than $15.

I saw them on Amazon in November, and emailed him with a note - Please, please, please buy me one or two of these for Christmas.

Since J is the best husband in the world - no, best in the Universe - he bought all 3 books. I raced through them yesterday before we left for Diametrag's house. Now I'm itching to start a new project. Haven't decided which one yet, but I am ready to trace a pattern and lay the cordonnet. I'll consider all my options while I topstitch the flower.

I am glad to have Christmas knitting done - I am assured that my loved ones are warmer than before. Next I'll be working in the evenings on baby hats for the hospital, but I'll save some daylight hours for needlelace.

I remembered my reality check. I really like this little flower, and maybe I can find a way to display it.

Blue Flower - last petal done

The last petal is filled with Genoa Stitch. I hadn't tried that stitch before, so I did a trial section on my sampler. I'm glad I did, because Genoa Stitch was hard for me. It never became intuitive, I had to count the loops for each row to be sure I started in the right place.

I'm pleased with the results, and glad I took the time to be careful. I'm not sure how often I'll use Genoa Stitch, but this last petal looks pretty good to me.

I also couched the leaf, so all I have left is the stem and the leaf, and then I can begin my topstitching.

I realized I have not included a reality check in any of my earlier pictures, and I'll be sure to include a ruler next time. I can tell you that from the tip of the stem to the top of the middle petal is 3 1/2", and from side to side the flower is 3". I'm using #80 tatting thread, #3325 blue.

Blue Flower in Needle Lace - Progress

One more petal left to fill. I did the second set of bars, with some trouble. I thought about cutting them out and doing them again, but I decided to leave them as they are. I know what I did wrong and how to fix it, and perhaps they will lay flat when I do my top stitching.

The last petal is filled with Genoa stitch, which I have not yet attempted. I will fill a spot on my sampler with the stitch, then fill the petal.

My next decision is if I want to do the leaf. I think I will, and I'll have to couch the cordonnet before I can fill the leaf.

I am making progress on Christmas knitting, I may get those black socks done after all. I've turned the heels, and finished the heel flap on the first sock. I hope to finish the second heel flap tonight. Then I have the endless stretch of k2p2 cuff (toe up socks) before I can finally bind off. I'd much rather do needle lace, but my son will appreciate wool socks much more than a blue flower.

Progress on My Blue Flower

I finished the section with Alencon bars and moved on to a petal with Pea Stitch Variation.

I've done a few bars when I dabbled in Romanian Point Lace, but that was #20 or #30 thread. This is #80, and a bit of a challenge.

The bars are tilted and look a bit tipsy to me! But my plan is to straighten them up when I do my button hole stitches all around. I have another section of Venetian bars to do, but I skipped that for now and moved to the petal filled with Pea Stitch variation.

I haven't done much Pea Stitch variation, and had to carefully count each row to make sure I was spacing correctly. I think I did it properly, and it looks good to my eye.

We're getting a blizzard through here for the next 2 or 3 days. I've got beans soaking for ham and bean soup tonight. After I knit a few rounds on those socks, I'll be back at my needle lace. I may do the Venetian bars next.

Next Project is Underway

Just a quick post today. I've started another needle lace project - a flower which is the fourth pattern from the Guild of Needle Laces Basic Instruction Book.

I'm using #80 DMC tatting thread, color 3325. It's a very pretty blue, and I'm enjoying the change from the autumn leaves I did earlier.

The center is filled with Corded Double Brussels, and the second section is Whipped Brussels. This picture is a few days old, and I've already done another section in Whipped Brussels and have started a section with Alencon Bars.

That stitch is new to me, and it's slow going. If you notice, there is also a leaf in this pattern, but I haven't couched it yet. I can't decide if I want the leaf to be green or blue. It depends on what I do when it's finished. I'm still thinking. There's no rush.

I should be knitting - the socks are up to the gussets, but not to the heels. I have started a sweater for the Sprout, but it looks too big and I've lost my enthusiasm. He would wear a hat to match his mittens, but I hate to put the sweater down.

Now that the Thanksgiving Holiday is done, I feel like the days are racing toward Christmas. Fortunately we're not buying lots of presents this year, but I still have a few things I need to get.