I designed this geometric pattern to practice sewing trails crossing trails and to fill widening points with twisted workers in trails. This piece was worked front side down.
The coloured leaf and plait centre detail was added at the end using the thread left at the final 8 joins of the inner points. These were worked across the centre circle and then sewn into the opposite points. The end threads from the leaf tallies were sewn into the back of the tally, and the plaits were sewn , then woven a little way back into the trails.
I sewed the four corners on each crossing. There are 4 crossings on each side of each point, varying in size. The wider crossings needed extra passes in the trail.
Work the first corner pin 1 of the crossing with the workers of the upper and lower trails with a ctct pin.
Work the underneath trail across to pin 2 and pin 3 being careful to use the right workers.
Change to upper trail and work across to pin 3. Ctc the two worker pairs and place the pin inside both pairs at 3
Work the lower trail across to pin 4.
Work the upper trail across to pin 2 and sew in. Work across to pin 4, ctct with other worker pair at the pin and continue working each trail.
I used my bobbin holders to keep the two trails and their workers separate as they were moved over each other. After I had done this a few times, the pattern emerged and it became easier to see where the top and the bottom trail needed to go. The trails cross the same way every time.
This pattern used about 35 pairs, measured 14 cm and was worked in a 28 wraps per centimeter cotton thread. There were several trails all being worked at the same time so bobbin holders were a necessity. Threads were thrown out as they approach the centre, and laid back in as the trail thickened again each time.
