Friday 31 March 2017

fresh fragrance of jasmines

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second of the 3 spring garland patterns ...
(the 1st can be found here)
UPDATES (April 2017) : part 3 shared here  ;  compete spring garland shared here ; and
Jasmine braid diagrammed pattern pdf

Spring Garland 2 –
Jasmine Braid/‘Gajra’

Many Indian women love to wear a string of fragrant flowers in their hair. The most common and refreshing ‘gajra’ is made with white mogra buds or jasmines.
This tatted version is a split ring braid where each ring is folded inwards at the base to represent sepals.
The braid tats up straight, but can turn corners with minor adjustments (this will be shared in a later post).

Size 50 Anchor white. For the calyx, I used 2 strands of Anchor embroidery thread. Besides the right shade, the 2 strands also give a fuller look.

Materials : 2 shuttles; white in shuttle 1 & sap green in shuttle 2
Techniques : Folded split ring, long picots, very small picot, lock join, turn work
Measurement : ½ inch wide in size 50 thread
Abbreviations :
SR
split ring

p
picot

LJ
lock join
ushs
unflipped 2nd half stitch

vsp
very small picot

+
picot join
TW
turn work

fs/bs tatting for even rings optional

Important Notes :

1.  When working the next ring, do not start the shuttle 2 stitch very close to base. Leave some bare thread space allowing the segment to fold inward.

2.  Post shuttle 2 from front to back, through the ring, before closing it. It defines the fold and brings shuttle in position.

3.  Keep the green thread at the back/wrong side of the braid throughout.



Basic Pattern :

Join both threads and start with shuttle 1 :
SR1: 10 p 6 vsp 2 / 2ushs (p,1)twice . TW
SR2: 10 p 6 vsp 2 / 2ushs (p,1)twice . TW LJ to vsp of previous ring

Repeat SR2 for desired length, following all instructions.

Optional :

fs/bs tatting: I tatted the even-numbered rings using reverse order of stitches (RODS or backside tatting) only for the white segment. The green segment was tatted same throughout. And I posted both shuttles through the ring before closing it.

Blocking : While the braid lies flat, I did block it in order to pull the rings into a longish shape.


Pictorial :

Starting the first split ring .
In order for the green segment to fold easily, leave some slack at beginning, and ....

... post shuttle 2 through the ring before closing it. If required, turn the green picots inwards with fingers before closing ring.
1st jasmine bud made. Turn work as in turning the pages of a book (see next pic)
Related post : about folded rings


TW. Start 2nd split ring. Before starting the green segment, leave bare thread space. Post shuttle. Close, lock or shuttle join to previous ring and turn work again.

3rd split ring made and lock join being made. Ensure that the green thread stays at back of work.

TW, and repeat ....
Odd numbered rings (along left of braid) are worked from front. Above pic shows a close-up of the braid from front.
Even numbered rings (along right of braid) are worked from the back. As mentioned above, these rings can be worked with backside tatting. Always remember to post shuttle.
This backside close-up shows the zig-zag of green bare thread between rings.

UPDATE (Apr 10): There was some confusion about the direction in which 3rd ring was formed, and a suggestion to add a diagram or arrows showing direction. In response, I have diagrammed the pattern, along with main instructions. This one-page pdf is a complete pattern.

Yet again, this is a basic braid pattern and playing with beads, colours, and sizes, can broaden the scope & effect.
Ideas for 3D
One idea is to add a very short Josephine/spiral chain between rings and twist the ‘buds’ around. 
Another idea is to use 3D Josephine rings for buds as used here, and maybe a curled ring for calyx. I would love to give this a go sometime!


Wishing everyone a fun-filled, fragrant, fabulous

International Tatting Day 2017 (April 1)

This pattern was shared with the Online Tatting Class on April 3, 2017


12 comments:

  1. Beautiful! That's something I would enjoy tatting.

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  2. Lovely braid I hope to try it adding it to my to do list

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  3. This is very pretty muskaan. I'm glad you included a pictorial because I couldn't quite tell how you made this one. Clever, and very well done!

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  4. Thank you so much everybody ! Love to disperse the gorgeous fragrance of these flowers :-D
    Robin, it is sometimes difficult to explain in words or diagrams; so I am very happy the pictorial has done it's job.
    Diane, I'll be waiting, but not with bated breath - I want to fragrance to waft in ;-P

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  5. Beautiful braid with flowers of jasmine :) Happy Tatting Day!

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  6. Makes me want to sit and tat this right now! This is beautiful!
    Have a wonderful Tatting Day and a great weekend.
    StephanieW

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  7. Oh such pretty flowers!!!!! Surely you there will be mogra fragrance in tatted gajra. Muskaan you made lot of efforts to explain in pictorial form. Thank you so much.

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  8. Hope you all had a wonderful day of tatting, too :-)
    Steph, I think this braid can be done with alternate SR & HMSR, too!

    Well, Usha, I did have to tat a sampler separately for the pictorial when I realised that perhaps a simple diagram & written explanation may not bring out the nuances (and now there is a choice for every tatter!) but I enjoyed every second of it :-D

    Thanks Anetta, Stephanie & Usha :-)

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  9. Lovely garland! Deceptively simple... ;-)

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    Replies
    1. You nailed it, Grace :-D But really, many Indian tatters have already made and sent me pics of their work so it might not be that difficult. I know that it is addictive for sure once you get into the rhythm - the freshness of white & sap, too !

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