Updated September 5, 2020.
I have made dozens of ornaments using the Lee Luggage Tags but often I’ve found myself wanting something a bit bigger. So I was very excited a few years ago when the bigger ornament round came out. This is especially true now because so many ornaments are 4″ rounds.
The leather rounds are available in gold and silver in 3″ and 4″ diameters.
I have finished several ornaments using these Lee ornament rounds. I am disappointed on several counts.
First off, the larger rounds are big, very big. The change from 3″ diameter (luggage tag) to 4″ diameter (ornament) doesn’t sound like much, but if your tree has lots of ornaments, these will look too big. I think 3.5″ diameter would have been a better choice.
Second, the finishing instructions were just weird in the packages I got. The instructions were numbered but started with #5. Although it called for blocking, I kept thinking a page was missing. They also suggested putting a plastic disk over the needlework but it wasn’t included. In addition, they did not include a template for the round so I just had to guess on the shape.
These are defects, and I could live with them if the finished ornament looked good. The leather was so easily distorted, that you cannot fit it without the edge being stretched out of shape all around. The metallic color isn’t forgiving either so if your canvas folds at all, it will show. This has been true of all the metallic leather ornaments I have finished in both sizes.
My finished ornament has a wavy edge that has sat for almost a week and has not relaxed back into shape. It will have to be glued down. Even after weeks of being under weights, the edges still look wavy and distorted,
I’ve made dozens of Lee Leather items of all kinds and never had a problem with a non-metallic color. But these are not well thought out. A good choice for Colonial Needlewould be to make several of the round 4″ coasters as ornaments,
If you cannot use the luggage tags, I would finish them in a more traditional fashion or with Beth Gantz frames rather than buy these.
About Janet M Perry
Janet Perry is the Internet's leading authority on needlepoint. She designs, teaches and writes, getting raves from her fans for her innovative techniques, extensive knowledge and generous teaching style. A leading writer of stitch guides, she blogs here and lives on an island in the northeast corner of the SF Bay with her family
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