Tiny 3-d Needle Lace Daisy & a crocheted choker

I think I might be coming down with some kind of chill?  My throat feels a little dry, and my forehead is getting clammy but - who cares !!

Finally, here’s a little ‘on topic’ creation for you…

Because, very close after my (total obsession) liking for Roses, comes tiny, unassuming daisies.  I’ve wanted to make a 3-d needle lace daisy for ages, so I’m pleased this little try-out worked.  Its 1 1/2 inches. 

If you’d like to make one, first you’ll need to understand how to create stable, miniature 3-d fabric in this way, so you could perhaps, think about buying my research file? that you can find here.    *wink*

Here’s the reverse...

Its totally 3-d, by that I mean its made in the hand and I learnt a lot from trying it out.  Like for instance, there is no need to knot the thread for each new petal, you simply stitch over its tail, as you would stitch over the standard Cording, for the rest of the shape. 

How did I make it?  First off, remember those needle lace brooches I took photos of at the Ashmolean Museum?  Well I made the centre of this flower in the same way, that is, by Cording Buttonhole in a spiral journey. 

Let me tell you, starting the shape off took some thinking through.  That turned out to be the easy part!  In the end I worked out that its far easier to control the emerging shape if you place some kind of weight on the Cord row and tension it vertically, by dangling it under your work as you stitch.  You end up stitching a little sideways, perhaps, but that’s when the stitching gets a lot faster! 

For the tiny petals I used Corded Detached Buttonhole with a blunt tapestry needle, snaking upwards from 3 loops off the yellow centre.  I made a couple of little mistakes, as its so hard to see where your next loop is at times, but not to worry, because the overall effect makes it look more handmade – which is what I was after! (That’s my story and I’m sticking to it !!)

I hope to make a little daisy brooch with this, eventually.  I’m still working out the design part. 

I didn’t just make the daisy from ‘nowhere’, first I took a trip down memory lane... 

And I ended-up making this very clever (free) crocheted choker pattern that you can find here.

 

As roses go, this Briar Rose pattern ticks virtually all of my, personal boxes.  The central area is complex, the overall design is balanced and the 5 petal formula is a classic.  I used Baby Bamboo in Toybox Red for the rose and DMC Petra crochet cotton No.3 for the choker in Forest Green.  Do I love that colour! 

The red is much better in the flesh because its always really hard to photograph.

The green is also far richer than the image and a very natural, unbiased colour green too.

Then I made up one of Astri’s fabulous Rose Granny Squares – can you believe this pattern, it simply has to be the best rose granny I’ve ever seen!

Its so deliciously complex and yet really easy to make.  (The wonderful) Astri has even made a video about how to do this, that you can find here.   You can also watch the little video on her blog page, in a smaller format.  

 

Must dash ppl!

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