This could be used as a Christmas tree decoration. Click here for more Christmas decorations.
Pattern:
Bobbins: 8 pairs + 6 gimps
Style: Bucks Point
Stitches:
half stitch and twist
twist
cloth stitch
cloth stitch and twist
picot
gimp
Details:
Bucks Point net (grey)
bead (green plus gimps)
picots and passives headside (grey plus gimps)
corners
how to start and finish
Description:
Follow the links above for explanation of how to work the different parts of the lace. This is a hexagonal mat with a hole in the centre, in other words, an edge. It is made up of straight pieces of lace (with diagonal starts and ends), and as it is a Bucks Point pattern, this creates a hexagonal shape rather than a square or rectangular one.
The start is along a diagonal, so one pair starts at each pin, and two at the edge, with extra for the passives. Above, I have marked the position of the false pins.
Click here for how to finish an edge. Remember to leave the first two rows of pins in the pattern in place, and push them up to their heads. Remove other pins to reuse at the end as usual. You will find that if you don't, the threads will catch on the pins as you turn the pillow.
This type of shape is made up of 6 straight pieces. You work down to a dark grey line, then turn the pillow to work the next straight piece. However, since it is a Bucks Point pattern, you turn the pillow through 60° rather than 90°. So you must use a pillow that you can turn and work from any angle, such as a cookie pillow.
I have described this pattern as having 6 gimps. This is not strictly true as far as the working of the lace is concerned. That would make the count 2 gimps, framing the beads. However, I also used the same thick gimp-type threads for the passives for the picots and passives headside. There is one pair of 'gimps' used on each lace edge, and they are worked as normal passives, in cloth stitch. So strictly speaking, the bobbin count is 10 pairs + 2 gimps. But I wanted to point out that I am using these thick threads as passives. I think it gives a good effect, that both the beads and the whole wreath is framed with the same style of thread (even though with a different stitch!) The normal threads are plain dark green, here, and the gimps are iridescent dark green. This was to make it look like an ever-green wreath. But you could use bright colours instead, perhaps with gold gimps, to good effect. Perhaps the beads would look like Christmas baubles, or lights.
© Jo Edkins 2017 - return to lace index