Tatting for Holi
It’s Holi time – a festival
of colours, of advent of Spring, of start of lunar New Year (for some Hindu
communities), a washing away of the past & starting afresh, ….
A while back when I searched
for tatting related to Holi, I couldn’t find anything; so decided to try
something myself.
This doodle composition, which makes a nice greeting card, too, gradually took shape as well as
symbolic meaning.
I visualized 2 pichkaris
(pronounced as pitch-kaa-ree), the quintessential image of Holi with water
curlicues in Spectrum colours. I have deliberately not used the term ‘water
pistols’ or ‘water guns’…. Later I added a 3rd pichkari doodle.
Made with Bliss variegated threads, perhaps a size 3 or 7. Main body of each measures approx 1½” x ½”
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| Floating Chain, Block tatting |
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| Floating Chain, Block tatting. The longer piston has picots for attachment |
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Lock Chain piston,
Twisted picot handle,
Lock Chain Block tatting |
Techniques used & Tutorials referred
(click on each for link to page)
Lock Chain
BlockTatting (although
I did it a bit differently, using 2 shuttles & switching at each row)
Twisted Picot for
handle bar of 3rd pichkari
doodle
Each pichkari spouts a different colour of
water, one each of the 3 basic colours, red, blue, yellow.
I used fine Rayon &/or silk threads
& worked almost blind (stitches based mainly on experience & tactile
decisions).
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| Floating chains (SSSCh) for water |
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| The tiny ring in some chains is a water droplet |
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| Yellow thread kept breaking ;-( |
In a later post, I
will detail out the process & stitchcounts (wherever possible). It was a
continuous process of learning & tweaking & adapting. Not happy with
the Lock Chain Block Tatting in this instance, but persisted because I wanted
to add to my ‘new technique learned’ list.
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| A little cheating here. Simply tied a secure knot & snipped. |
A greeting card for Holi,
using
tatted doodles & symbolism
So, what do you think this composition, and it’s elements,
signifies ?
Happy Tatting :-)
Motif # 15 / II for 25 Motif Challenge
I saw pictures on tv of Holi festivities - such vibrant colours, wonderful. There were coloured powders being thrown, but also the people were wearing clothes in magnificent bright colours.
ReplyDeleteIt IS a very colourful festival ! But generally people tend to wear 'old' clothes that can be discarded later, because the colors don't always wash off completely ;-P
DeleteIn one of y'day's newspapers, was an item on how this is beginning to be celebrated in many places globally, along with a pic of a huge group playing & celebrating in South Africa !
Thanks, Jane :-)
Beautiful card. Thank you for sharing your new techniques and especially the cultural significance of your card.
ReplyDeleteThanks M ! I have tried to add a more global perspective to the card.
DeleteUsing basic colours for water, which when mixed, takes the form of myriad flowers in all colours, representing a co-mingling & coming together of ideas, cultures, knowledge, isms, & so on …. flourishing & prospering together in peace & harmony.
Love the way you have portrayed the color being sprayed out. Your little rayon splashes of color are perfect for the card. Happy Holi.
ReplyDeleteThank you Bernice :-) I love the effect, too. But it was all working blind with only tactile & experiential instinct. I will be writing about my thoughts/observations on working with rayon for long chains, etc. in a later post.
DeleteThis is very nice and love the colors like the festival just beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, C :-) Glad you like the splash of colours !
DeleteBeautiful!! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so very much :-)))
DeleteI don't know how this comment slipped by ... hence the delay
I LOVE this work ! Such brightful colors, happiness !
ReplyDeleteThat reminds me that I have to try block tatting ^^
Thank you so much, Julie! So glad you liked this :-) It IS the festival of colours .
DeleteWill be looking to see how you apply your block tatting :-)