Braid

Braid takes its cue from the pleasure of fabric trimmings. Passementerie, woven borders and decorative braids all share an ability to embellish without taking over. A narrow strip of pattern can completely change the character of a textile. Braid brings some of that thinking to mosaic.

The stripe provides the structure. Strong vertical bands run through the design, giving it an immediate sense of order. Within them, smaller geometric details appear like woven threads or stitched decoration. They interrupt the regularity just enough, turning a simple striped surface into something richer.

There is something rather joyful about this kind of embellishment. Passementerie has rarely been shy about decoration, yet its detail often remains contained within a border or braid. Here, that same idea becomes part of the entire surface. The ornament sits within the stripe rather than being applied on top of it.

The 10mm glass suits this particularly well. Small tesserae allow the braided details to remain crisp, while glossy colour gives them the brightness of silk thread. Contrasting colours make the woven elements more pronounced. Closer tonal combinations soften them, allowing the stripe to come forward instead.

Braid is ultimately a celebration of the stripe, but one that cannot resist dressing it up a little. The underlying order remains simple and familiar. It is the embellishment that gives the pattern its charm.

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