Lay/Laying/Laid Threads

Whatever! Just want to get this little controversial grammatical point out of the way before I get started. For our purposes here and in the interest of the PG rating of my blog, it's laid. I referred to dictionary.com for confirmation and I'm still not positive. Lay, laying, laid? Why? Just wondering.

I've finished most of the beading on the black corner sections but cannot proceed placing the green beads because I don't have them. The vial has gone missing. I'm sure I purchased it with the other supplies; surely I didn't start this project without everything necessary to complete it. Surely not. Oh, now I remember. I was going to substitute the Sundance green #14's for a green I had in my stash because my LNS didn't have what I needed. Well green is green, I must have something I can use. Nope, not this green because it's Cactus Green, nothing at all like my Kelly or Christmas greens. Figures.

Back to the beads later. Moving on to the next step: couching braid around the Ying and the Yang circle. Basically working with a needle of #12 Kreinik gold braid, a separate needle of Kreinik gold blending filament and 3 magnets, I found the best place to start ( far left side of the photo-beginning 2 strands of the braid). Couching is a good thing. It's very easy to manipulate the outline of a design as long as you take your time. You can make a circle more round just by moving around the laid thread with your needle and couching it down at regular intervals. Couching and neatening, couching and neatening theoretically makes for a spiffy circle.

When there are two or more strands being laid, it's even easier because you can push the second strand close to the first moving it into the ideal position. This is where the magnets come in handy. Park your laying thread in the direction it's to go, the after couching, park the needle with the blending filament and repeat the process. The magnets do a good job of keeping your loose strands in place. I also work with a stand for this type of work keeping both hands busy.

Here is where I introduced a third needle of braid and then later separated it (on the right) sending it on it's merry way around the inner circle where additional rows of braid will be laid and couched to fill in.

I'm on my way, next stop-the either the outside border or dragonfly. But for now I think it's time for a siesta....I'll be lying (to be in a horizontal, recumbent, or prostrate position, as on a bed) down for a while and I'm not lying ( to speak falsely or utter untruth knowingly, as with intent to deceive) either. Just saying.