On July 1st, I’ll post our Bits of Lace project for the month of July. It is a lovely Victorian-style ornament with a dainty lace edging and knitted-in beads.
Even if you have not used tiny thread and tiny needles, this bit-sized project is just large enough to give you practice while not being intimidating. The beads are optional embellishment, but it’s an easy project for stringing and knitting with beads if you’ve been wanting to try this.
Here is the Christmas in July project materials list so you can shop or stash-dive ahead of time to be ready to start the project as soon as possible after the July free membership pattern goes live.
Shopping and/or Stash-diving List for Bits of Lace Christmas in July
- Approximately 12 yards of fine thread in your choice of color, e.g. size 20 crochet thread, size 8 pearl cotton, etc.
- 36 size 10/0 or 11/0 (2 mm) seed beads.
- If you are using loose seed beads, some beeswax or paraffin will help in stringing the beads.
- Size 1 US (2.25 – 2.5 mm) knitting needles.
- 1 ornament ball, 7.5” circumference. If you have trouble finding a satin ornament, you may need to substitute a more readily available glass ball.
- Small tapestry needle for joining and finishing ends.
- 3 or 4 fine gauge sewing pins (if using a satin ball) or clear craft glue (if using a glass ball).
HeartStrings FiberArts
Knitting Bits of Lace on Facebook
Ravelry Store
I just joined now, in August. how can I get this pattern? It’s gorgeous and would make wonderful Christmas gifts!
Hi Karen, Glad to have you join us. Patterns for previous month’s projects are now available for sale.
Bits of Lace for other months
The bit-sized tutorials, tips & techniques for the projects are still available for free with your membership here at KnitHeartStrings.com
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Important, For your information:
Since I was having trouble finding a satin ornament I went to the link that Gail kindly provided and was very pleased with all I found there. Yesterday I placed an order on that site. This morning the following note was waiting in my in-box:
Thank you for your order below for the beaded ornament supplies you placed with Silk Rainbow. Silk Rainbow has gone out of business and will not be able to fill your order. Im sorry for any inconvience this has caused you.
Sincerely
Karen Simon
Silk Rainbow
Since the site owners have not taken the site down I thought anyone else contemplating an order with them ought to be made aware.
Sincerely,
Joy
Thanks Gail and Joy for sharing what you’ve been finding out about sources for satin ornament balls. Later today I’m going to post about Ornament Tips for the Christmas in July project. Some of the alternative suggestions should help those who are having trouble.
Sure wish this sweet little edging was charted.
After all the discussion about reading charts,
this would be a perfect project for practicing.
You had practice reading charts the last 2 months. For this month, I am now giving you a chance to practice writing out your own chart!
I’ll have the chart for this edging posted next Sunday to give you some time to see if you can come up with your own chart first. Then you can compare what you have to what is posted.
Are you up for this? This might be too big of a bit-size step for some of you, but please try to take a stab at it because you might surprise yourself that it is easier than you thought.
p.s. Sorry, I meant to make a statement to this effect on the pattern page so that you would know about what was expected re. a chart. I have updated the page with that now. If you have any other questions or comments, don’t hesitate to let me know and I will get back you’all asap.
Try beadornaments.com They sell satin bead ornament kits, but also sell 2 or 3 different size satin balls in different colors.
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our local church thrift store has a ” christmas room”.
i’m hoping to find a stray ornament ball there.
Hi, I found 3″ balls here in many colors. They are $1.10 a piece. Shipping is about $6.00 so I am buying a few more than needed. Maybe presents come Christmas time.
http://prosites-celorenz.homestead.com/ornamentsassortedsatin.html
Susan
PS They have other shapes too if desired.
I would think that in a few days that the big box craft stores (Hobby Lobby, Michael’s etc.) will be putting out Christmas items. They are usually putting out Halloween and Christmas crafting items right around the 4th of July.
Be sure that you are checking for a 7.5” circumference ornament (i.e. about 2.375″ diameter). The circumference is the length of lace edging that you will be making and that can be adjusted. So anything in the range of a 2.25″ – 3″ ball will be large enough to show off your lace.
Well now, I’ve looked at about a dozen shops online and am not having any luck finding an ornament that big. Has anyone found any and could you share the link with us, please?