Hug of Hearts 2 Firework Heart

 2 Firework Heart

Start in two directions as shown in the Border Heart video.  Twist the worker once between the two passive pairs. 

 Add two pairs at the pins shown on the valley point, one at each of the top curves and one half way down (either side).  Make picots on both sides of the plaits as shown, you can use one, or two pair picots, or simply plait without the picots. 

Plait the two pairs coming from the valley point and pin at the top of the bud, half stitch one through the other.  Half stitch each pair in turn to make the center bud.  After working around the 5th pin, where no more can be added, leave out two ground pairs to make the plait to return to the edge. Repeat this until the worker and one pair will make the final plait. 

To remove the plaits, either tie into the edge pin, or take them into the passives and throw out as you work, being careful to leave enough 'tail' in the edge to secure the plait pairs. If using colour, you may wish to whip backwards along the plait to remove pairs. 

You can make the outline first, then add the firework afterwards by using sewings.

Hug of Hearts 1 Border Heart

1. Border Heart 

I have been using up end threads on little projects for a while and realized I had built up quite a few of these little hearts, each one having different techniques.  When I got to 24, I thought it would be fun to release one a day during the run up to Christmas day on the 25th of December when my online bobbin lace group holds a 24 hour lace making and chat zoom with lacemakers from all around the world. 

This first pattern, Border Heart, is the basis for all the others to follow.  A simple shape, which can be used on its own as a little feature in a photo frame, ideal for greetings cards or gift tags, or even stiffened as earrings!

The Youtube video which accompanies this heart shows several different edge treatments to vary the look of the Border Heart.  I am always eager to see how people can adapt my patterns, so please do post your results, or questions on my Facebook page.

Video on making the Border Heart here-

https://youtu.be/JSZQpS1I3wA

.pdf pattern from the Files tab here

https://www.facebook.com/lesleyfw

Join Lesley's Lace facebook group here

https://www.facebook.com/groups/907516516997481

My patterns are often non traditional, or 'Adventurous' as I like to call them. They give lace makers a chance to play about with a design, with threads and styles.  My designs are not held to one particular style of bobbin lace, so I call them 'Muaiga' style - Made Up As I Go Along!   These little hearts will have a mixture of different lace styles to achieve the finished result, do use other techniques if you are more comfortable with what you have been used to making, that is the fun of making these Muaiga patterns. 

These hearts are ideal for using all those thread ends on this simple heart outline, with lots of different options for edgings and fillings.  These are 4 cm across at the widest point, a bit wider if you add the frilly border.  These suit a 28 to 34 wpc cotton thread, you can add more passives for finer thread, add some thicker sparkle thread or even seed beads. 

Use a simple winkie pin, picot or a pin under 4 edge, The frill can be added afterwards as a scallop, or pop a picot in half way and change the frill to a zig zag border.  Pairs vary from 5 to 36 depending on the filling and edging you choose. 

There are some empty hearts, don’t be upset for them, they are just waiting for you to fill them with your choice of stitches. 

These versatile little hearts can also be joined together.  They have a flat, right angled corner at the base.  The enables them to be sewn together, either on the pillow, or afterwards to make little 4 heart mats, alternating hearts for bookmarks or simply catch the widest edge to link them for tiny bunting.