Step-by-step: Building a window

Eventually, after much cutting and painting of glass, enough pieces are completed to actually begin assembling a stained glass window. The same pattern that was used as a guide for painting the glass pieces, is again used as the pattern for building. The window must be constructed on top of the pattern and precisely matched in size, so that it later fits into the church window opening. Here's the pattern with the wooden stops bracing the top right corner where the building begins. You'll notice that the painted borders are identical in all the windows.


And here is a collection of tools used to assist in that process, which requires precise fitting of the glass into the lead channels that hold the glass pieces together. Lead nippers, various stopping knives, and horseshoe nails are included in the line-up.
More later as we proceed through the step-by-step.

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