Fine lace knitted with unbleached linen and pearl seed beads against
white satin suggests the look of antique ornaments. Use this pattern as
written, or just as a jumping-off point using your favorite lace edging,
to decorate a commercial satin ball ornament. Makes a nice gift and
remembrance for the holidays.
Materials:
35/2 unbleached linen, approximately 12 yards
36 white pearl seed beads, size 10/0
If you are using loose seed beads, some beeswax or paraffin will help
in stringing the beads
Size 1 US needles
White satin ornament (a thread-wrapped styrofoam ball), 7.5" circumference
Small tapestry needle for joining and finishing ends
3 or 4 fine gauge sewing pins
Gauge:
lace edging depth = 1.5" and 12 - 6 row repeats = 7.5" after blocking
and lightly stretched
Note: Any other fine thread in an equivalent antique-looking
color, and
appropriate size needles can be used. The total number of beads you
will
need depends on the number of 6-row repeats it takes to encircle the
ornament - 3 beads per 6-row repeat.
Abbreviations:
[ ]# times - repeat instructions inside the parentheses the number
of times indicated by the #
k - knit
k2tog - knit 2 stitches together
p - purl
p2tog - purl 2 stitches together
rep - repeat
sl - slip
sl 1 wyib - slip 1 stitch as if to purl while keeping yarn to back
of work
slip bead - slip a bead into place next to right hand needle before
making the next stitch; when making the following stitch, take care that
bead is not pulled through loop while making new stitch
st(s) - stitch(es)
tog - together
wyib - with yarn in back of work
yo - yarn over
Pattern:
String 36 seed beads onto linen thread. If you are using pre-strung
beads, just transfer them directly unto the linen thread by making a tiny
knotted loop at the end of the string holding the beads, put the end of
the linen thread through this loop, and slide your beads onto the linen.
If you are using loose seed beads, cut the tip of your linen thread at
an angle and push tip through hole of beads to string. Waxing the tip of
the thread beforehand will make this a little easier.
Cast on 11 sts.
Row 1 (WS): sl 1 wyib, k1, sl bead, k2, yo, p2tog, k4, yo, k1 then p1 in same st. (13 sts)
Row 2: k3, yo, p2tog, k4, yo, p2tog, k2.
Row 3: sl 1 wyib, k1, sl bead, k2, yo, p2tog, k1, p2tog, yo, k4.
Row 4: k5, yo, p2tog, k2, yo, p2tog, k2.
Row 5: sl 1 wyib, k1, sl bead, [k2, yo, p2tog] 2 times, k3.
Row 6: k2tog, [sl st just made back onto working ndl, k2tog] 2 times, yo, k5, yo, p2tog, k2. (11 sts)
Rep these 6 rows 10 more times, then rows 1 - 5 (total of 71 rows), or until length reaches around the middle of the ornament ball when moderately stretched and completing row 5.
Bind off all sts as follows: k2tog, [sl st just made back onto working ndl, k2tog] 12 times.
Cut thread leaving tail for sewing.
Wash and pin out on flat surface so that length is just a fraction under 7.5". Let dry thoroughly.
Using tail of thread, whip together on wrong side the cast on edge and last 11 sts of bound off edge.
Place edging around middle of ornament ball with beads. Secure along straight edge of lace with a few strategically placed sewing pins hidden behind the beads.