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Pattern 384 - Leaves

Picture of lace

Here are two attempts to make simple lace leaves, one more successful than the other. I consider them to be tape lace as they are really just a simple strip of cloth stitch.

Pattern:
   Pattern of lace

Bobbins: 9 pairs

Style: Tape

Stitches:
   cloth stitch
   twist

Details:
   cloth stitch solid area

Description:

Follow the links above for explanation of how to work the different parts of the lace.

Most of the leaf is just cloth stitch. You do need to take care that the passives don't bunch in the centre too much. There is one worker pair and 8 passive pairs. The bottom leaf has the worker pair twisted in each row, that is, after having worked the first 4 pairs before doing the second 4 pairs. I found it easier to have the middle two pairs obvious (through their spangles or wood), to remind me to twist the workers between them! The reason for these twists is partly to make a nice pattern, as it looks like the centre of the leaf. But it also has a practical effect. It pushes the passives outwards, and also makes it obvious which half every passive pair is in, which I found helped when I tugged the passives to position them correctly.

The start of each leaf is the same. I got the proportions wrong for the top leaf! I also found that it wasn't necessary to mark exactly where the worker pair went. For the second leaf, you start with three pairs at the top pin, choose one as worker pair, and work it to one edge. Put a pin in the centre of the pairs and hang another pair on that. Do two rows. Put another pin in the centre, two more rows, and so on. The centre of the pairs means half way through the passives if there is an even number (e.g. if 4 passives, then put the pin so there are 2 pairs either side). If there is an odd number of passives, then add the worker in as well (which will make it an even number) and choose half way. I didn't twist the worker pair during the start as too much else was going on! The first leaf hung a pair for each row (rather than two rows) and the proportions are different, which made it too dense.

The end is easier. Work each row with the same number of passives, even though the ends of the rows are getting closer and closer together. At the bottom, put one thread of the worker pair over all other pairs, and the other underneath all pairs, then tie them round all pairs with a reef knot. Nice and quick!

Picture of lace
Close up of the lace, so you can see the working in more detail