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Friday 5 September 2014

Tatting Pattern: Tiny Heart Poppy part 2

Tiny Heart Poppy
 A  3D  Tatted  Flower (contd.)
Tiny Heart Poppy - spot the difference ;-)))
The 2nd and final part of the Tiny Heart Poppy pattern. The first part of Flower (petals) pattern is here. 

We’ve completed the 3 red petals. Now to add ‘embellishments’ to bring it to life ;-) : the flower centre made of yellow & black, a couple of free-standing buds, a leaf sprig, & then the main stem. 

Poppy Flower Centre :

Materials
AMC Size 20 , Yellow 0289 , Black
2 shuttles OR 1 shuttle with yellow tied to black ball

Techniques & abbreviations :
JR – Josephine Ring , with Perpendicular arrangement of Rings
Floral Picot   (click for tut)
Ch – chain
fhs –  1st half stitch of ds
shs – 2nd half stitch of ds
Wind yellow thread in one shuttle & black in 2nd shuttle/ball & tie together. No need to hide the tail ends as these will be required to provide stiffness to encapsulated stem later.

Yellow Pistil/Carpel :
With shuttle 1 (yellow) :
JR 1 : 10 hitches / half stitches

Perpendicular Arrangement of Rings : (click for detailed tutorial)
Before starting JR2, try to turn JR1 at a 90° angle on Y axis. So instead of making a concentric, onion-ring type of overlap, we will get an overlap Across the 1st JR, vertically, at right angles. Hopefully the image & diagrammatic representation below, will give a clearer idea.

JR 2 : 15 hitches …
Before closing, adjust this ring over the 1st JR so as to snug neatly over & around the latter. If required, add or subtract the half stitches. Since there is no picot in JR1 to which JR2 can be joined, one needs JR2 to fit snugly over, yet without distorting, JR1, Nor falling over itself !
I kept positioning the open ring stitches over JR1 till I felt the length was just right, then close JR2, keeping it positioned perpendicular to JR1.
Yellow Pistil in center
 
Black Stamens :

Place/position the yellow centre over the space between the 3 petals. (Pass the tail ends through this open centre, so that they are now Under the flower). 
Working from top, join to picot at the base of any petal, keeping the yellow JRs centred.
Now start a chain made up of medium length Floral Picots (I have used the term described by Ring of Tatters)
Ch : ** ( 2FHS , p , 2 SHS , p ) …. Repeat ** for desired length, joining to the picots at the base of each petal at regular intervals. The chain should be long enough to go all around the yellow core. Lock join into place.
I made the length slightly longer so that it overlapped a bit, before ending. If you look very carefully, this overlap of picots can be seen towards the right side in image. Overlap ensures that the black picots will never show any gap.
Pass all the tails through the center, to the back of the flower, to be encapsulated later.

The Poppy Flower is now complete ! 
If one is looking for only a flower, one can stop here (hiding all tails). This can be sewn on to decorate or adorn headbands, bracelets, rakhi, gifts, etc. etc. Add a green calyx, if desired.
I decided to add some stem, leaves, & buds to the flower to make it a stand-alone entity such as a nosegay (spritz your favourite perfume ;-) ), a lapel flower, brooch, or a boutonniere for men. Add a couple more flowers & paraphernalia to make a cute spray !


Buds, Stems, Leaf Sprig
AMC Dark Green : 0844
2 shuttles, wound CTM

Buds :
JR 1 – Josephine Ring with auxiliary thread
JR 2 – Josephine Ring using Jane Eborall’s alternative technique
Perpendicular Rings arrangement
JC – Josephine Chain or Spiral chain
Encapsulation with JC / spiral tatting

UPDATE : For detailed tutorials click : Starting with Auxiliary Thread & Ending with Auxiliary Thread

2 Shuttles wound CTM.
Here is something I hadn’t tried before, hence a detailed log :
  1. Wind an extra (auxiliary) piece of green thread along with the thread in shuttle, just enough for the 2 JRs.
  2. Make JR1 (15 half stitches) using this double thread, for added thickness.
  3. JR2 (20-22 half stitches) made with Jane Eborall’s method of Josephine Rings   
  4. JR2 is made perpendicular to JR1. Before closing the ring, make sure it sits over the 1st ring just right, without falling over.
  5. Cut the extra length of auxiliary thread & hide it in the JC that follows, or keep it for encapsulation.
  6. JC for about 5½ cms (or as desired).
  7. Note : Since one is encapsulating, the half stitch of JC/spiral chain will remain unflipped.
  8. End JC with a small picot with which to join to main stem later. Do not cut. (This step can be skipped. After leaving a short tail, cut threads. Repeat from Step 1 for 2nd bud).
  9. JC going back up for 2nd bud. This stem is shorter ~ 4 cms long.
  10. Unwind shuttle & double up the remaining thread (or wind another auxiliary thread).
  11. Use this doubled thread to make the 2 perpendicular JRs as before.
  12. Tie, cut & hide the tail or sew it in.

Note : The 2 buds have been made in one pass. But looking back, it is better to make them separately, each one starting from the bud end & moving down to the stem. Threads can be encapsulated later.

TIP : JCs can be done with 1 shuttle & ball. But the ball (working) thread tends to twist a great deal & untwisting the ball after every few stitches, becomes cumbersome. Hence it is advisable to use 2 shuttles. I speak from experience ;-((





Leaf Sprig :
Twisted Picots (unjoined)
JC – Josephine Chain / Spiral tatting
3½ cm stem which is again a JC
Twisted picots at regular intervals (2½ - 3 cms long each)

Start with a twisted picot on a JC. The picots are closer initially, then the spacing increases slightly. Do as many as you want. When desired length is reached, stop & cut threads, leaving a tail of 2-3 inches.

TIP : JC stem spirals around, so the twisted picots spiral around too, instead of sitting flat on a single plain.
Another reason I used a JC chain, is to replicate in an abstract fashion, the fuzziness of a real poppy stem.

UPDATE : Refer to Tutorial for Twisted Picots (Floating) 

Main Stem :
Encapsulation using JC ( spiral chain)
< 5 cm long.

Preferably 2 shuttles, CTM
Hook the green thread to any one picot at base of petal. Then make JC, encapsulating all the floral thread tails.
Note : Since one is encapsulating, the half stitch of JC/spiral chain will remain unflipped.

After about 2 cms from base of flower, start attaching the buds’ stem & the leaf sprig. Make sure to encapsulate these from a little higher than the point at which the tails start; this will ensure free-standing stems that hold the buds & leaves.
Also start cutting off tails, at different stages but After at least 1 inch of encapsulated main stem, for a tapering kind of stem. If an evenly thick stem is desired, then encapsulate all tails right till the end.
Continue the stem further to desired length. Tie & cut.

When encapsulated with all the tails, the stems remain stiff enough & no extra stiffening is required. It is also essential that a short part of the buds & leaf sprig stems be encapsulated within the main stem from the point where they are joined, so that they stay erect & in place without any support.

NOTE : Each element holds it's shape. However,  in case thread specifications demand, one can add an extra/auxiliary thread for encapsulation of stems.


Final Dimensions : ( ” – cms ; ’ – inches )
Flower : ~ 4”/ 1½’ across
Yellow centre : ~ ½” x ½”
Black centre : picots are ~ ½ cm long each, with slight variation if desired.
Buds & Stem : 1st pair : 1”x 1”, on a 4”/ 1½’  long stem.
2nd pair : >1”x 1”, on a 5½”/ 2’ long stem.
Leaf Sprig : Twisted picots vary between 2½”-3”/ ~1’-1’+ in length, along a 3½”/ 1½’  long stem. The total length from tip to base, comes to about 6”/ 2½’ .
Main Stem : <5”/ <2½’ long, from base of flower to end.

Total length of entire Spray : 9”/ 3½’


Some Variations :

For a fuller, more ROSE-like look, add another layer of 3 petals below the 1st three, before starting with the stem, etc. (in pic below)

One can add a calyx at base of flower. A set of long twisted picots, joined to the free picots at base of flower, might look good.  It will also make the flower “complete” in case one does not want to follow up with a stem, etc. Once the sepals are in place, start with encapsulation for stem.
A potential ROSE ?!  2 layers of petals.

In Remembrance of all those from whom I have learned,  & am learning, 
all who have graciously shared their knowledge, patience, & skills .... 

18 comments:

  1. Muskaan

    I love the leaf sprigs.. those are really novel ..
    To me the flower looks complex..that is because I'm out of tatting for a while,,,
    I think you need to turn the flower to show us the real beauty.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks a heap, Usha :-))
      I'm pretty happy with the leaf sprig myself, and it holds it's shape very well.
      I hope you get back to tatting soon - you've been MIA for quite a while now :-)

      The flower is all pretty basic, simple stitches. The description, though, is long & some of it is redundant ... but I wanted it to be accesible to every level & kind of learner, hence, ....

      Thanks again & hope to see you around more often :-)

      Delete
  2. Replies
    1. You are too kind, Michelle :-)
      Thank you for your appreciation, support & kind words ... have a great day !

      Delete
  3. I love this poppy, and the sprig making is a great an wonderful challenge that you did so well. It is amazing to see what can be done with a piece of thread :)
    I forgot about my flower of the month till you mentioned it on my blog oooops, I got side tracked looks like you unknowingly got it :) I think you could so frame this one

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Carollyn :-D
      I kind of like the buds, too (although I was unsuccessful at capturing it at the right angle) - haven't yet seen this anywhere ... 2 perpendicular rings, one inside the other ?

      I will be looking forward to your belated flower of the month ;-)))
      Thanks again for stopping by & adding your thoughts ....

      Delete
  4. Gorgeous 3D poppy and rose! Thanks for sharing this tut and pattern :).

    ReplyDelete
  5. The stem holding up the buds, and the little sprigs are really lovely! The flower, too, is great, with all its layers and precise colours. My sister loves poppies, so maybe I should make her one of these. She will be delighted!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'd be delighted as well, Manisha, if you made it ;-)))
      The sprigs & the perpendicularly arranged JRs (buds, & flower centre) are my favorite, although it was not captured at an appealing angle in photograph.
      Feel free to write to me if you have any questions when you tat it ... always happy to help :-)
      Thanks for your kind words.

      Delete
  6. Very lovely tatted poppy, poppy is one of my favourite flowers to tat, i must try tatting this when i finish my swaps for this month! Thanks for the pattern!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Ellen, thank you for your kind words :-)
      I'd be thrilled if you tried out the pattern ! Would love your feedback on the working, too :-)

      Delete
  7. This is looking fabulous Muskaan! I particularly like the buds and sprig. At the moment, I can't quite get my head around how they are made even after reading your explanation! But I would like to try them. You've got lots of interesting techniques going on there!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, thank you so much for your kind words, Frivole ! Means a lot ....
      The sprig & buds/poppy centre are my favorite too :-)
      It is my shortcoming that the explanations are inadequate. I re-read & can realise where the confusion can creep in, especially if one is simply reading & not doing.
      In order to remedy that, I have taken a break from the current series on patterns from Magic square , and will soon post more detailed pictorials for these techniques.
      Will update & link ....
      Thanks for this pointer - feedback is Always welcome & helpful in improving .... :-)

      Delete
  8. Tutorial on how to make Perpendicular Concentric Rings (for center of flower & buds) is now posted : http://www.tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.in/2014/11/perpendicular-concentriconion-rings.html

    ReplyDelete
  9. Detailed tutorials on how to make the buds, along with 2 methods of adding auxiliary thread, are now posted & links updated in pattern above.
    Starting with auxiliary thread for buds : http://www.tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.in/2014/11/padded-tatting-solutions-part-1.html
    Ending with auxiliary thread : http://www.tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.in/2014/11/padded-tatting-solutions-part-2.html

    Please feel free to ask in case of any difficulties or doubts.
    Happy tatting :-)

    ReplyDelete
  10. I have wanted to try this for a few years. Finally got around to it this year, not under the best conditions but It turned out all right in the end. You can see my efforts at https://corettadeesign.blogspot.com/. Thanks so much for putting this together. Nicely imagined and executed as always.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Coretta, your execution is perfect and thanks for sharing your tweaked count and process :-))) I love it! (((hugs)))

      Delete