Two Rakhi Bracelet Patterns

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YES, I wanted to share a rakhi/bracelet pattern for Raksha Bandhan.

One adapted pattern was ready during the Curled Rings phase in May (just didn’t get around to posting it). 2nd pattern was made during the Cluny Tatting phase (the GeomaTATic bracelet). (But haven’t been able to diagram & write it out properly).

Then one evening, while sorting out my tinies, putting them in another compartmentalized box, I began playing around with them. And thus was hatched another quick pattern which could work so well as a rakhi.

NO, I did not think of ‘bonding’ per se. But it was serendipity !!! Both patterns are a bonding of 2 very different patterns . 

Raksha Bandhan is celebrated traditionally by sister tying a rakhi on a brother’s wrist – a symbolic bond/undertaking. Literally, it can translate to ‘protection bond/binding’. Since we didn’t have a brother & Mom didn’t want us to feel ‘left out’, we tied it on our Dad’s wrist – he was, after all, the protector of our family! There are a lot of interesting historical episodes where non-relative bonding was resorted to, as a means of keeping the peace, seeking protection, joining of families/clans, etc. In recent years, the symbolism has extended to tying the band on wrists of soldiers & other protectors of law & order.

I wonder if feminists have a gender perspective on this ? Hmm ….

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“Bonds of Love” Rakhi/Bracelet

Bonding a Snowflake with 2 Hearts (click for pattern)

 

 

A snowflake medallion in centre & a heart on the side looked good & the colours worked too. Quickly tatted up another heart & added the strings. Loved the symbolism of the hearts. And a good way to use up some of the motifs lying around.

Together, the 3 measure 3½” in length & about 1½” in width.

Anchor Mercer Cotton size 20 : Black, Blue – 0131, Variegated Blue – 4054-1210

Techniques Used : Thrown rings (rings on chain), reverse stitch (rs) (unflipped double stitch), Josephine Knot, Long Picot (LP).

Hexagonal Snowflake : a 2-shuttle pattern with thrown rings & 2 colours.

Magic Heart : 1 shuttle & ball, or 2-shuttles with only one small Josephine Knot on chain.

Strings : 2-shuttles [1ds, 1rs] repeat to desired length .

Tassels : optional

ds – double stitch ; rs – reverse stitch or unflipped ds or 2^nd half of split ring stitch.

Depending on the colours one uses, it can be tatted in either 2 or 3 segments, joining as you go.

Version 1 : Make snowflake. Cut & hide ends. Start a heart at the base, climb up left side, join to snowflake at center, continue down right side. End with string to desired length. Repeat for 2^nd heart at opposite end of snowflake.

Version 2 : Make 2 hearts along with the strings. Then start snowflake & join to hearts at opposite ends. Cut & hide ends.

Version 3 : Make one heart with string. Start snowflake & midways join to heart. Complete the snowflake, climbing out with a split thrown ring & mock picot & start the 2^nd heart.

Since 2 of the 3 medallions were already in my stash, I did not add any beads. But beads & pearls would enhance the look, especially if used for Jewelery, either as a bracelet or a choker.

As you can see, it is a versatile combo -- use any motifs that one has lying around.

If one adds the string to only one side, it can be used as a Bookmark.

Choker ?!

Download Pattern here : “ Bonds of Love ”

I have inked the stitch counts on the diagram ;

for written pattern : Hexagonal Snowflake   and   Magic Heart

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“Blossoming Bonds” Rakhi / Bracelet

Bonding a layered flower with a leafy braid ; 

also 2D – 3D bonding & freefrom with regular/symmetry bonding

Flower is >1” across. Length of bracelet/rakhi : 7” (12-13 repeats)

Red Heart Perle Cotton size 20 : Yellow – 0307 ; Rust Brown – 0341

Anchor Mercer Cotton size 20 : Green – 4054-0241

Techniques Used : Split Ring, Floating Chain/Curlicue, Auxiliary Thread tatting, Josephine Ring (optional), Curled Ring (optional)

Bead(s) as required. Findings as required.

Center Flower : I started out by making Jennifer Williams’ “Flower using Two Layered Tatting” here. But didn’t notice that the joining picots were to be very small ! Hence, decided to stop & do some course-correction to limit my losses. 

Instead of 7 repeats for each layer, I made 4 for inner & 5 for outer layers, keeping the original stitch-count .

Add a bead in centre (& wherever required)  (I had to add the bead later)

Thus it was converted into a rakhi or a bracelet.

Braid : The Leaf Braid, here, as modernized by Jane McLellan was on my to-tat list as well & thought it would make a nice foliage-y addition to the flower, instead of the usual strings.

1. Start the braid with a Josephine Ring (or a finding): 30 hs at one end

2. Midway through the braid, attach it to one end of a petal & also add an auxiliary thread to make the buds. Made one bud, with picoted calyx and add a dead-end curlicue.

3. Bud #1 : (3 vsp 4 p 4 vsp 3 ) x 3 . Join to adjacent picot & top picot *.

4. Calyx : A short chain with picots, curled around the base of each bud & joined to base.

5. Tendril : 1 dead-end curlicue till desired curl is obtained.

 

Using Curled Ring for Bracelet Clasp

6. Continue across & under the main flower, anchoring at a couple more points.

7. Make another bud at the other end, diagonally from the first bud.

Bud #2 : (4 vsp 3 p 3 vsp 4 ) x 3 . Join to adjacent picot & top picot *.

8. Tat over auxiliary thread to hide tail, continuing with the braid till desired length.

9. End with a Curled Ring (Option 2) at end (or a finding/clasp) : Ring 12 vsp 12, curl.

10. Cut & hide ends.

 * NOTE : When making the buds, it is easier to make & join the ‘petals’ at the side picot of  previous ring. When making the last ring, pass thread through top picots of earlier rings at same time.

Since this is an adapted pattern, I have not shared the stitchcount here. Please visit the respective sites/blogs for free pattern :

Two Layer Tatting by Jennifer Williams

Leaf Braid by Jane McLellan

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Happy tatting :-)

Motif #3/III for 25 Motif Challenge

Related Posts : Curled Ring Option 2 tutorial

Hexagonal Snowflake

Magic Heart