Saturday 15 June 2024

picot me roundup 3

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 I had shifted Ninetta's entries to this Part 3 in order to equalise all 3 posts. And then I got caught up in a lot of other stuff and this post got delayed. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise 'coz a few more butterflies fluttered in! 
Game - #PicotMeEndrucks April2024
Pattern - Antonia Lai's E32 adaptation 'Life is Bliss butterfly' 
Objective - Use ornamental picots to embellish the butterfly motif. 
Roundups and details - Part 1  ; Part 2

21. Ninetta Caruso - started a virtual butterfly effect when she used Celtic Knotted Picots! Many members used the CKP, albeit in different ways, as you would've seen in previous roundups.
Calling it her Frilly Butterfly, she says, "This is the frilly butterfly that I got, ....  I tried for my first time the "Celtic knotted picot", developed by Sabina Carden-Madden, I followed her tutorial shared years ago, that luckily can be reached again using the wayback machine:
https://web.archive.org/web/20190108165755/http://www.paradisetreasures.com/ckp.html. Thank you for the fun! It's wonderful that in tatting we never stop learning!"
To me, her CKPs themselves looked like tiny butterflies!
Her 2nd entry was even frillier than the first one and she called it the Fluffy Butterfly.
She says "This is my fluffy butterfly, ... these are "layered picots", they are called also floral picots or ruffled picots, it is like the Victorian set but with picots between sections of half stitches, it's a technique already found in Priscilla's patterns."
The top view is in the inset.

22. Reiko Akamatsu - started this circular edging with a series of butterflies.
It's still a WIP and the amazing part is that she does not seem to have altered the stitch count at all. A truly versatile motif!

23. Sabine Robert - joined us for the first time with 3 versions!
She says, " - I start tatting with this Life is Bliss Butterfly pattern (2nd project, after some trainings). Not so easy, I need to do more and more"
One can already see her progress and improvement! And adding beads is not always easy for a new tatter.

24. Sara Dougan - is a new member, too. 
She used a combination of long decorative picots, double picots, and butterfly picots!

25. Silvana Buonvino - sent in these delightfully coloured versions!
Besides the pearls and beads, she used double picots, triple picots, and Josephine Picots. She asked whether the JPs could be made on rings and tried out the suggestions for her 4th butterfly! 

Voila, her 4th entry has Josephine Picots on rings as well as on chains! 
Silvana embellished her own skills along with the butterfly! 

26. Stephanie Mc (Tattimic) - shared her ideation and design process and has promised us the pattern, too!
Her 3 idea sketches (which inspired Lauretta Tondelli to learn the CKP) for which she asked for feedback.
The 3 versions that finally emerged. The one on the right uses balanced double stitches to stabilise the long "wobbly" chains and a scroll of rings and chains for the bottom wings.
She says, "But then, I still didn't have any picots, which wouldn't do for a #picotmeendrucks, right? So I asked myself how I could add a shape inside the largest loop and still use the crocheted picots suggested in the list of ideas (I like it! It's so super cute!). That's when all hell broke loose, because it meant to rethink again the initial pattern (so no real onion rings, for exemple), and I ended up with the design you see on the left. 
That being said, thank you for the initial challenge, haha. It sparked my imagination!"
And what a spark it is! 

The metamorphosis process in thread!
She says, "And here are a couple of tests I made along the way. I often see people wondering how to create new design. That's one way to go : trial and error, haha."
This is proof that designing is not always easy, despite the numerous paths one can take to convert an idea into thread.

27. Vani Kattoju - heeded my request and shared her 3 versions though she was not fully satisfied with her working. Appreciate it, Vani!
She says, "My first attempt at using vapor picots, Mrs Mee picots and tuft picots. A little Not so perfect butterfly.
She used a mix of double picots, "...layered picots and twisted picots."
 
For her 3rd version,  "I tried daisy picots as the highlight along with few double picots."
This motif has been the vehicle for a lot of first learnings and practice makes perfect.

28. Wanda Salmans - created 5 versions and blogged about each of them.
She says, "My first try at the Picot Me Endrucks April 2024 Game of the Month. The one on the left is the pattern adaption by Antonia Lai. I started it several times - it helps not to be tired or distracted when starting something new. For the second one, I played around with picots. I used HH20-126 Purple Splendor."
Her 2nd version has overlapping double picots and twisted picots. 
Her post - https://www.wandasknottythoughts.com/2024/04/playing-with-butterflies/
3rd version is decorated with chains on long picots, giving a scalloped edge to the wings. She has used several bits and pieces on her 'Safety Pin Brooch'.  
Read all about it here: https://www.wandasknottythoughts.com/2024/04/safety-pin-brooch/
Both 4th and 5th versions use what Mark Myers' called the Picot Lock Join. It is basically a lock join made with the 2nd shuttle to a picot and the basic join in inverted tatting. 

29. Lou Bunker - made sure her butterflies fluttered around in June.
She says, "Fun little pattern works up fast, very addictive.
Some of her cuties have beads and double picots.

30. Manju Talekar - has this beaded beauty to share, sent in June.

She says, "I tatted it with Lizbeth variegated thread #20 color 123. The transparent glass bead in the center reflects light but cannot be seen in the picture. Wings can move up and down by the side of glass bead. Enjoyed making it."
A tatted butterfly that can actually fly - wonderful!

So this brings us to the end of the Picot Me Endrucks roundup. Ninetta and I are so grateful for this huge interest and the beauties that emerged from the game, besides the learning, exploration and experimentation. 

At final count we have an exciting 30 participants and 75 butterflies!!! Remember, if you have made any Endrucksian pattern you are free to send it to either Ninetta or to me at any time. Leave a comment in our respective blogs if you wish. (all relevant links on the right panel of this blog)

Many many thanks to all our participants for sharing your work and thoughts and brightening up the tatting skies with these lovely creations! 

Related Posts -

Friday 7 June 2024

picot me roundup 2

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 Continuing from my previous post showcasing the first batch of zhuzhed butterflies, there are plenty more effects to see here. Antonia Lai's Life is Bliss butterfly derived from Endrucks' pattern #32 with decorative picots for #PicotMeEndrucks April 2024.

11. Katie Verna - tatted her first two on International Tatting Day and found them "cute and fun to tat". Such an honour.
She also tried the CWJ. These two-toned motifs show a reversal of colour.

For her next attempt, Katie says, "This time I added beads to picots and attempted twisted picots with a bead. Those twisted picots were devilish--the twists liked to escape as I tried to make the following double knot! Still, a very fun project! Thank you!"
They came out looking pretty despite being troublesome :-)

12. Lauretta Tondelli - in an attempt to recreate a sketch shared by Stephanie Mc, learned to make the Celtic Knotted Picot and though she did not use it in her model below, she did tat a beautiful little butterfly with it.
Here, bullion knots decorate the chains. Notice her onion ring? That's the way she usually makes them - a continuous chain curling on itself.

13. Lella Loops - two models in needle tatting
In the first (lower) one double picots adorn the wings.
In the second (upper) model she used a cluster of 3 picots and Daniela Ambrosini's "cerchi rigati" or Ribbed Rings - something that was completely new to us! I enjoyed learning this effect with shuttle (links in the Tatting Tutorials page).

14. Maria Renee Contretras de Andretta - sent in 3 models saying "I present you my Monarch butterflies, From Guatemala."
The top one has double picots, while the lower two have adjoining picots in this lovely colourway.

15. Martha Ess - It was such a thrill to see her participating! If you are new to my blog, Martha is the one who uploaded Frau Endrucks' book to the APL and opened up a whole new world to us.
She asked, "Has anyone yet submitted Mrs. Mee's Pearl Stitch, shown here with regular and extra long twisty versions.
Martha first brought these antique (1862) picots to light here - https://marthas-tatting-blog.blogspot.com/2011/06/amazing-mrs-mee.html

16. Martina Reinhold - also sent in two, the first being from the original itself.
In the 2nd one she used double, triple, and twisted picots. Notice how she has lengthened the pair of picots between rings and also twisted them before joining. 

17. Michelle Forclaz - sent in her lovely 2-colour version
using Josephine Rings/Picots.

18. Muskaan - made just one using
9 types (or variations) of decorative picots. The main objective was to use gathered picots to enhance the shape of the top wings and I was pleased with the effect. In addition, there are twisted picots with JR, twisted double picot, double picots (with variaitons), chain picot, graduated picots, JR, etc.
 
19. Pam Bray - sent in four and kindly shared details. In her own words .....
"First attempt making a “Life is Bliss Butterfly” two colors and beads. Thread size 10 (I think)"
I like the 2 beads on the core thread of the ring topped with long picots that widen at the base because of the beads. Now this is one easy way to make a wide picot without any hassle!
2nd version - "There are four types of picots on this butterfly. It was fun to learn different kinds of picots."
Absolutely love the way her CKP antennae turned out! The other 3 picots include normal free picots, triple picots, and wide picots.
3rd version - "There are four -five types of picots on this butterfly. It was fun to learn different kinds of picots. Designing it is challenging and it is not perfect…"
I can identify loop-over picots, long picots, broomstick picots, crossed picots, and Josephine rings/picots. The antennae are quite cleverly, organically constructed.

4th version with "1. overlapping double picots, 2. Josephine ring downward picot (inside a ring), 3. twisted picot antennas , 4. daisy picots on bottom wings 5. as usual joined picots"
Now that is quite a learning curve, and so gratifying that Pam has added so many new effects to her skill set.

20. Paola Bevilacqua - has a  penchant for creating something new! And she has kindly shared her notes.
Her bookmark version tatted in plain cotton Babylo Sky in continuous tatting, butterflies facing opposite directions alternately. She explains .... "Anyway, after making the first butterfly, I turned the work around and made the second, let’s say upside down, to get the arches in the opposite position, and I went ahead rotating the work at each end of the butterfly."
It would make a nice trim, too.
In the same thread, she decorated the butterfly with small Celtic Knotted Picots alternating with treble stitch picots, and triple picots for the lower wings.

Star Circle - Here's another arrangement of the butterfly motifs in a circle with a perfect pentagon inside! It was a deliberate design decision. Graduated picots and cut picots adorn the inner space without altering the stitch count of the rings, while the periphery is enhanced with treble tatting. In these arches, she did [ch:3ds, 10tds, 3ds]. It makes a beautifully defined outline!
Her 4th version is "A butterfly perched on a poppy" and has inward facing/drop double picot (or more likely a triple picot, though not clearly visible) inside the rings; long picots; adjoining picots; and a Josephine ring on the onion ring body. She tatted the antennae at the end, inserting thread through the joining picot. It is a lock chain with a very long picot, tied back at the base. The picot is cut in the middle.
The inward-facing double/triple picots were made using what Elgiva Nicholls called 'drop' picot. This is what Paola says - "I made the reverse picot ( AA long picot BB, AA small picot BB, ) to close I took the LP with BB."
Basically, --- 2fhs, long picot, 2shs, 2fhs, small picot, 2shs joining the long picot with the 2shs. 

And again our game has thrown up new effects techniques, derivations, ..... These are opportunities to learn something new, dip your toe into designing, practice rarely used techniques, ....
For more such creativity, join me in Part 3 of this roundup, coming soon.
And if you are wondering about numbers, so far 47 models/versions have been shared by 20 members!

..... to be continued

Many many thanks to all our wonderful participants for such inspiring beauties! 

Wednesday 5 June 2024

picot me roundup 1

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 Zhuzhing the butterfly - that's what it was all about and boy did our participants rise to the occasion! 

This is where it all started #PicotMeEndrucks 

pattern: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1F_2y-JQn-noKF2AvegujNQIP4IYXRqWZ/view . Our April game was about adding ornamental/decorative picots to Antonia Lai's Life is Bliss butterfly, a pattern derived from Frau Endrucks' pattern #32 (E32). We even compiled a pdf showcasing several decorative picotshttps://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2024/04/no-excuse-to.html 

Many of our participants first tatted the butterfly so as to get a feel of the motif, and then went on to embellish it in their 2nd or more versions. Let's see all the entries that were shared and as usual a few new offshoots emerged as well  (entries listed alphabetically).

1. Anita Barry - sent in 3 versions. She wasn't happy with her first two attempts but graciously shared them - we all learn from experience.
The top model contains twisted picots, knot ring picot, and several bead effects.
The 2nd model has tuft picots.
This 3rd version sports several double picot effects such as overlapping double picots, triple picots, and broomstick picots.

2. Antonia Lai - also participated despite her life engagements.
Her version has adjoining and graduated picots.

3. Brookie Heightsmen - tatted two models. 
She went for a steam punk look, using tiny gears inside the rings and seed beads in her first model.
Her 2nd version is quite a rainbowish colourway.

4. Carol Parry - shared her notes here - https://lelia-stitchesoflife.blogspot.com/2024/05/endrucks-1920-project-picot-me-endrucks.html
A beautiful colourway, she embellished with beads and beaded dots.

5. Claudia Mahnke - returned to tatting after 40 years and is in a relearning phase. 
She did get it right, in her 2nd attempt, and identified areas that needed improvement and practice. 
We love that our group has such an eclectic mix of skills, talents and enthusiasm.

6. Cynthia Dooley - sent in two models in needle tatting.
Her first 'flight attempt' was the original.
This is what she says about her 2nd model - "A combo of picots. Looks like a hot mess. Loop over picots on ring and chain. Then ribbed ring in lower quad. Kind of reminds me of Fraggle Rock Butterfly"

7. Cynthia Mullinax - used her butterfly at the end of a bookmark. 
Her adjoining picots outline the wings on top.
She says - "I made the butterfly with thread I was playing with. I didn't have a pattern or plan at the start so I picked it up again and put a butterfly on the end."

8. Jacqueline Roth - made three!
Her top two versions are weighted down with large crystal beads and Celtic knot picot for antennae. 

9. Julie S Villegas - was at a non-tatting phase when she spotted this game and was immediately energized and inspired to pick up her shuttles again!
The first butterfly tatted as per pattern.
2nd version with double picots and additional free picots on the rings.
3rd version with broomstick picots, Josephine rings, and graduated picots.

And what a flutter of butterflies! 

10. Katherine Calvey-Steward - sent in two. 
In her first regular version, she learned the Catherine wheel join.
Our games are often the source for new learning!

Her 2nd version with lots of long double picots is a lovely shade.

This is the first batch with two more batches to fly in! So stay tuned....
..... to be continued

Many many thanks to all our participants for their enthusiastic beauties!