More on the Oak Leaf Wreath

My first oak leaf is pleasing, but a bit too chunky, I think. Regular readers are familiar with my near-obsession with scale of thread, fabric, and stitch, and the interesting effects they have on each other. In this case, I like the rather “mossy” effect, but considering the final piece, I’m afraid that by the time I’ve wired the edge, which will involved buttonhole stitching the wire in place, the whole thing will appear clumsy and out of whack. I will finish it in due course, because it might still work. The mirror it would be part of a frame for is quite a large one, so I may decide that large and quite chunky leaves are the way to go.

I have already decided, however, that a frame held in a mount is Definitely the way to go.

The first leaf is the first success of several attempts when I was simply holding my frame in my hand, and to be honest, I wasn’t enjoying the needlelace as much as I remembered.

Aethelflaed and others occupy my floor frame in the window, but this arrangement is working well for needlelace. The strong working light isn’t as variable as natural light, the magnifier allows me more variation in thread thickness (so I can Experiment!!), and having the frame under control means I can use both hands to control the thread, which makes things much easier!

At the moment, my imagining of the Oak Leaf Wreath is of groups of three oak leaves wired into a circlet, which can be mounted around the mirror, rather than actually attached to it, so it will be a while before you see this project again. I will do three oak leaves, wire them, and then play with arrangements and offer them up to the mirror to see whether I have something that works.

If I do, good – all I need to do then is work out the colour progression and then start making oak leaves.

If not, you will all be witnesses to my rending of hair and rethinking Everything!