"17 years in the making"

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I sat down to tat a snowflake. Little did I know that hidden in a cocoon in the central flower, there was a butterfly waiting to spring out ! The snowflake was Georgia Seitz’ SuperBowl Sunday Snowflake 1999. 

When I shared my first pic in the Tatting Design Class, it was received enthusiastically & the pattern was cleverly dissected (no harm came to the butterfly :-) !). At the time I had named it after the snowflake (one of my ways of giving credit to the original) - quite a mouthful, though.

However, after talking to Georgia, it became Super 17 Butterfly for two reasons – it had taken 17 years for the snowflake to become a butterfly, & my date of birth is 17.

Recently I remembered two more important reasons ! This is the 17^th year of her Online Tatting Class, And she celebrates her 17^th birthday today – yes, forever young our GS !!!

This little butterfly is dedicated to Georgia Seitz 

& her immense contribution to the tatting art & community.

Happy Birthday, shuttle sister :-)

I am sharing 3 main versions of the butterfly – a simple 2D basic pattern & two 3D versions, with a few little options thrown in. All the butterflies can be tatted in one continuous pass.

THREADS USED & FINAL MEASUREMENTS

Yellow Butterflies : Anchor size 20 Art 4054 (0293 lemony yellow  & 0302 dark yellow)

Black Butterflies : 2 strands of Anchor variegated embroidery thread (1325), & Anchor Mercer size 40 black.

3D Peach Butterfly : 3 strands of Anchor variegated embroidery thread (1315) & Red Heart 0328)

In size 20, they measure 1¼”x1” & in size 40 1”x ¾”.

Super 17 Butterfly  
Basic Pattern

There are times when one is looking for a simple or beginner pattern. This 2-page pdf contains only the basic pattern in the form of written notations & diagram. It can be worked with single shuttle & ball & thread size of choice.

DOWNLOAD BASIC (2D) PATTERN HERE.

showing folded chain & inward picots

Options for antennae/feelers

in size 40 threads

Super 17 Butterflies 

                                      2D & 3D patterns 

This 5 page pdf contains both the basic pattern with diagram, as well as two 3D versions with some process pictures.

3D  VERSION 1

If, while tatting, one decides to convert the basic 2D butterfly into a 3D version, simply follow along without cutting & tying! The 2^nd wing is winged after completion of body with one minor change. And one can still work with single shuttle & ball.

In this version, the basic 2D pattern is followed till the end where instead of 1ds, a Mock Ring (or SCMR or chain joined back on itself) of 2ds is made. Continue without reversing work. The 2^nd wing is worked from behind/back side of the previous wing and is a mirror image of the 1^st wing. The wing is joined back at the base of the head to complete a 3D butterfly.

3D  VERSION 2

I got the feeling while photographing, that the head got hidden in the 1^st version. My very first visualization had been to make the body 3D by coiling a chain around, as I had once done back in 2014 for a freeform pond reed (see pic). But that will have to wait for another butterfly.

Instead I added texture & bulk to the body by using a combination of variable padded ds & Josephine chain. To make the head more prominent I applied my perpendicular arrangement of concentric/onion JosephineRings.

So here’s version 2 of the 3D butterfly for those who like a bit of a challenge.
This version requires 2 shuttles. 

The antennae/feelers were kept simple with a long picot snipped in half later.

The peach thread is perle cotton which was a mistake! It appears bulky but loose & the stitches are never as neat as one wants them. Nevertheless, in order to show the head & torso, I had chosen a lighter shade .

DOWNLOAD ALL (2D & 3D) PATTERNS HERE. 

I hope nothing has been left out. In case of any questions, mistakes, etc. feel free to talk to me. You know where to reach me :-))) 

happy tatting :-)

Related Posts/Tutorials : twisted picots (floating)

pds (padded ds) & notations

3D Josephine Rings

Motif #24 of III for 25 Motif Challenge