Just starting needlepoint lace?

This pretty yellow daffodil is an ideal project for anyone starting needlepoint lace (needlelace). Using just two needlepoint lace stitches and a little surface embroidery you can create a beautiful daffodil.

You will need:

Firm background fabric
Crewel and tapestry needles
Tatting thread (DMC Special dentelles no 80) in whites, lemons, yellows or oranges plus greens
Fabric scraps and blue sticky backed film

You will need to download and print the starting needlepoint lace pattern.

You will need Adobe Reader (the latest version is recommended) installed on your computer in order to open and read this chart. You can get Adobe Reader here (a new window will open so you can download without leaving this page).

If you want to open the file in your browser window, you can just click on the link. However, if you want to download the file to view later, then right click on the link and choose "Save Target As" or "Save File As." Then select where you want to save the file on your hard drive.

Once you have saved the file, locate where you saved it, and double click to open.

In order to print, open the downloaded file, and select the "Print" option from the menu.

Surface Embroidery

Although this is a lesson in starting needlepoint lace, we will start by preparing our background. Trace the stem and a leaf onto your background fabric lightly with a thin pencil line. Using the crewel needle work two rows of stem stitch close together over the stem, using green. Next, work the leaf in split stitch rows, again using green.

Petal “Cordonnet”

When starting a needlepoint lace project you always need to begin with the cordonnet. This is a couched thread that you work over with your needlepoint lace stitches.

Trace the petal shape onto scrap fabric with a firm outline (this piece of fabric will not be used in the final piece of work and will be discarded).

Cover this drawing with a piece of blue film. Place two or three layers of scrap fabric together with the drawing on top. This is an essential part of the process when you are starting a needlepoint lace design.

Cut a length of yellow thread (or the colour you wish to use for your petals) and fold in in half. Thread the crewel needle with similar coloured, scrap embroidery cotton and knot the end.

Bring the needle through the fabric on the drawn line. Pass it through the folded loop in the thicker thread and go back through the three layers of fabric and film through the same hole as before. Couch this thread along the drawn outline, taking stitches about 1/2cm apart. When you reach half way, separate the doubled thicker thread and pass one strand through the original loop. Bend it back and lay it beside itself until it joins the doubled thread and continue couching it down. Cut the thread off close to the line.

Corded brussels stitch

This stitch is the easiest to learn when you are starting needlepoint lace.

Thread the tapestry needle with your petal colour and fasten it to the “cordonnet” i.e. the couched thread. Lay a thread across the petal where the line is shown on the pattern and split the double couched thread on the other side of the shape.

Work buttonhole stitches over both the outer cordonnet and the thread stretched across the petal. DO NOT go through the fabric, just lay the stitches on the surface of the film. Do not pull tightly, you will need to see the loops in order to work the second row. Regularly let your needle drop so that the thread untwists to avoid knots and tangles.

needlelace daffodil petals

When you reach the outside edge take the thread under the cordonnet and then pass it back in between the doubled thread. Take it across the petal again just below the first line of buttonhole stitches. Take your first stitch of the second row through the outline and under the carried thread. Then work buttonhole stitches into the loops of the first row, taking the needle under the carried thread each time. When you reach the point where the petal narrows (half way) take your first stitch as before then miss out one or two loops from the previous row before continuing as before to fill the petal with "corded brussells stitch".

When you reach the bottom (or final edge) of the petal slip stitch the corded brussels to the outer cordonnet. If you have a long enough piece of thread you can use this to work buttonhole stitches (corded edge outwards) over the cordonnet all around the petal. Otherwise begin with a new length.

Work five more petals in the same manner. To remove the petals from the backing pad, lift the top layer of fabric and cut the couching stitches. Gently lift the work off the top of the film and pick off any remaining couching threads with tweezers.

Attach three of the petals to the background fabric at the top of the stem. Just catch down the inner points around the stem stitches at the top of the stem (leave most of the petal free). Leave the other three petals to attach later.

The trumpet in double brussells stitch

Trace the small or large trumpet shape as before, and using the colour of your choice lay the cordonnet. We will use a lacier stitch to fill this shape, double brussells.

Tension is important here as we are not using a laid thread. Attach the working thread to the cordonnet and start by taking two buttonhole stitches into the outline, then leave a gap before working another group of two. Continue in this manner across the row.

The second row is worked in the opposite direction, making two stitches into each long loop and missing out the small loops. Continue working back and forth to fill the area. Again decrease where the shape narrows by missing out loops from the previous row.

When the shape is completed, buttonhole just the curvy edges at the end of the trumpet. Fold the trumpet in half and join the straight edges with slip stitch. Then attach the trumpet to the background so it lays on top of the first three petals. Just catch the point of the trumpet to the fabric leaving the rest unattached.

Then stitch the remaining three petals in place so that they cover the first layer.

Stitching the loose leaf

Work a loose leaf in corded brussels as for the petals. Anchor it to the background at the top and bottom in the position of your choice, allowing the leaf to "turn over" in between anchor points.

I hope you have enjoyed this introduction to starting needlepoint lace.