Needlelace Tutorial - Leaf 10 - Part 1 - Laying the outline threads

[Lorelei Halley]

Needlelace tutorial -- a simple leaf.  In the text, all words in large type are links to photos, diagrams or websites.

SUPPLIES

Medium size sharp needle and ordinary sewing thread for couching.

Thimble (for couching)

Tapestry needles (or other blunt pointed needles) for the actual lace work.  Have sizes 20-26 on hand and you will always have something that will fit your chosen thread.

2 pieces cloth about 6 x 8 inches (15 x 20 cm) for temporary backing.

Plastic film to stick over the pattern.

Print the pattern on colored paper if you plan to use white or ecru thread.

THREADS AND PATTERN SIZES

Large size:  I printed Lenore's leaf 10 enlarged to 170% of its original size so it is approximately 6.75 inches or 17 cm wide.  For this size I used pearl 5 as the outline thread and crochet cotton size 30 ecru, pearl 12 dark ecru, and Egyptian cotton 24/3 as the lace threads. You will need a cordonnet thread about 6 feet long (2 meters), folded at about 1/3 of its length.

Small size: If you prefer to work on a fine scale, print the pattern at the original size.  I think DMC crochet cotton #10 would work as outline thread and tatting cotton as the lace thread.

LAYING THE CORDONNET/OUTLINE

For the enlarged pattern I used, I cut a length about 6 feet long, and folded it at about 1/3 of its length.  The long side will be the inner thread of the pair, the short side will be the outer of the 2 threads.  Print a copy of the map, leaf 10a for reference.

Place the fold at the bottom of the stem and place couching stitches, spaced about 2mm apart, up to the tip of the leaf.   You can use  leaf10adiag.   In the diagram I changed colors when the threads took on separate paths, so it would be easy to see which thread did what.  But the cordonnet is one continuous thread, folded.  Below are photos showing the stages of laying the cordonnet. Map.

1. Start at the bottom of the stem - a - and follow the path a-b-c-d-e-f-g.  At g, take the inner thread to the central vein and hook it around the central vein at e.  Then take it back through the couching stitches towards g, where it rejoins its mate.

2. The junctions at d and c are made similarly.  Follow the diagram for the junction at b.  Then make junctions at c and d from the other side.  Here is a photo of all the junctions onto the central vein.

3. The last 2 junctions from j to e and from j to f to e are a little odd.  I did them that way to avoide creating a bulky lump at the leaf tip where it would be too visible.    See this diagram. 

For j to e take the inner thread to e and hook it onto the center vein, then take it back the way it came and drop it.

For j to f take the outer thread to f, hook it onto the central vein, take it back down to j.  

Then take it to e and slip it between the pair of central vein threads.     I then laid it between those threads toward f. You can now cut the two tails, leaving about an inch or a little more.

 

Photos and diagrams for this pattern are all in this album.  

 

Part 2 will cover  the fillings and working the cordonnette (buttonholing the outline threads).

 

 

[Lorelei Halley]

This tutorial/workshop will remain up permanently, although I may revise it from time to time.  Any member can jump in at any time.  Post any photos, questions or comments about laying the cordonnet here.