Here is a creative way for kids and grownups to
share
Christmas or winter decorating fun with these "gingerbread"
star lacing ornaments. Select 9 or 12 point designs.
Cut 8-9 layers star shapes from card stock and
stack,
glue and press flat while drying overnight to create
a rigid form sturdy enough for
lacing.
Thread twine or string onto a blunt (tapestry) needle,
then follow the
tutorial stitching guide to produce
the string-art style lacing shown in the
thumbnail images.
Or stitcher can plan and discover their own design.
Add
twine loop or decorative hook at the selected top (#1) hole.
Make this a fun
family activity to prepare ornaments
for a tree or swag or to hang on pegs.
Stars measures approx. 4” in diameter (without hanging loop).
INITIAL PREPARATION & ASSEMBLY:
1. Cut the star shapes for your selected project:
for the 12 point star A, cut 8-9 shapes to layer, glue
for the 9 point star B, cut 8-9 shapes to layer, glue
For either star, it is possible to cut up to 9 shapes
from a single sheet of 12x12 stock.
Also shown is twine.
For 12 point star, cut a length 2.75 to 3 yards long.
For 9 point star, cut a length 2.5 to 2.75 yards long.
NOTE that the stitching order & placement diagrams
are BOTH shown near the beginning of this post.
After that, the12 point project will be described first,
but the process is very similar for both.
2. Layer the cut shapes, one by one, and glue together,taking care that ALL cut shapes align as precisely
as possible, particularly at punch holes. Immediately . . .
. . . press under a heavy flat weight such as this thick book volume, with something else heavy placed on
top of it, and leave in place for several hours or
over night until the glue has completely dried.
Pressing like this is essential to help the liquid-glued
up shape stay flat, to avoid warping or curling.
3. Refer to the diagram during following lacing steps.
NOTE that the green lines indicate lacing that is
on the FRONT of the star, and red dashed lines
indicate lacing that passes across the BACK.
Needle and twine will ALWAYS pass down from
the FRONT of the star and up from the BACK.
STITCHING GUIDE FOR 12 POINT STAR
Once the first run of stitches A-L are completed,
the lacing will end with twine ON TOP of the work.
Complete the lacing by working in reverse order
to complete L-A to finish the star.
STITCHING GUIDE (PART 1 AND PART 2)
FOR 9 POINT STAR
4. Thread up the recommended length twine on a large
eye blunt end tapestry needle.
A) locate the top point of the star (green arrow on diagram)
and insert the needle UP from backside through hole #1;
leave a 7" tail to tie hanging loop while pulling
twine length fully through to front.
B) Pass the needle down through hole #2;
pull twine through until stitch is flat
(here and throughout).
C) Pass needle and twine across to backside to
hole #3 and insert UP to front of work.
D) Insert needle through hole #4 . . .
. . . then across back to #5, then continue in same
manner to complete the remaining stitches . . .
. . . through #12. Twine and needle will be on front
of the work.
E) Now work in reverse order to repeat stitches,
NOTING that for this second run, the green stitches
of the diagram will lie on the back and the red dashed
stitches will lie on the front.
The second run will complete the star shape
on the front and also on the back of star.
5. Trim excess ends even with enough left in place
to tie desired length loop.
6. If desired, thread a small bead onto both ends
and slide down to rest over star top tip. (Otherwise,
tie ends in a knot near top point.) Tie knot near
twine ends.
To minimize twine unraveling, paint tips with clear
fingernail polish and allow to dry.
9 POINT STAR
7. Follow similar procedure as for 12 point star, with
length of twine (model uses double perle cotton)
threaded onto tapestry needle.
Begin at hole #1 to come UP from back, following
Part 1 to complete through stitch #10, then
follow Part 2 to complete the lacing through #19.
8. Trim ends, add bead or tie knots, etc.
to complete the star.
Here are both of the completed star ornaments.
