more than a butterfly

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I have finally completed the pattern for Butterfly Bandhan in pdf. But it is so much more than a butterfly as you shall see, scrolling down .... 

Butterfly Bandhan 

jointly designed by  muskaan  &  Harsha Creations

Butterfly Bandhan Pattern pdf - click to download

Pattern is for a single colour, one-pass pattern. Hence there is a bit of mindfulness required, especially for first try. I tried to break the pattern into blocks with respective diagrams, to make it easy to follow. Not too happy with my diagrams (hand-sketched), but will have to do for now. I was going to get it test-tatted, but life got in the way and instead of delaying further, I went on a roll working non-stop since yesterday. 

This is the 2-colour model by Bandini, worked in separate pieces. A much easier option if you don't mind hiding tails, or find the one-pass method confusing. With this method, one can make all 4 rings a different colour!

Above is yet another working alternative. This 2-colour version is worked in one-pass, using 2 shuttles. It uses lots of Lock Join Plus techniques (SLT, reposition/TwW, RJ, etc) to position colour as desired.

This was one of my trials, hence not exact.

If the instructions are followed, threads/shuttles will be in the correct position for next element. However, tatter is free to choose their own method and techniques.

As detailed in this post, the butterfly would have remained cocooned as a potential idea if Bandini of Harsha Creations hadn't taken it upon herself to start with the early trials of converting 4 separate motifs into a proper butterfly! I cannot thank her enough <3

Future Ideas !

So how is this motif more than merely a butterfly? 

Check out how well these motifs work, creating different shapes, depending on where adjacent motifs are joined.

A broad Straight Border or edging if top wings are joined at 2 picots.

A Bookmark when adjacent butterflies are joined at single picot between top wing of one and bottom wing of other.

A Circular Collar or Doily when top wing and bottom wing of adjacent motifs are joined at single picot.

A Square Motif or Coaster when 2 picots of bottom wings are joined. Of course, we need a fourth butterfly to complete the square, but notice the interesting negative design it will create in the center? A few smaller motifs can fill in any spaces for a larger square and fabric.

 

• Adaptation into a Maple Leaf - in the earlier post Linda Reiff saw a possible leaf and this is my first trial adding a motif in the center of the same purple butterfly. (the green is merely playing around with the photo effects ;-D)

Although it all lays flat, I feel the 3 chains are incongruent with the 4-chain 'wings'. I received some valuable feedback from experienced friends, and will try it again with 5 chains.

Meanwhile Bandini tells me she will be finishing her leaf version in a couple of days - eager to see what she does again!

• Adaptation into a Peacock - When viewed from this side, does it not look like it could become a dancing peacock?! Of course, a lot more work is required, including shortening the 'legs'.
• A Tree - And with a tiny bit of adjustment, the antennae could become the trunk of a tree, obviously in the right colours!!!
• Angel Wings! - Grace Tan noticed these.

Butterfly Bandhan Pattern pdf - click to download

I invite you to work the butterfly alone, or to make any of the ideas displayed here. Please don't forget to show me what you've done - I could add your model as part of the pattern instead of working them all myself ;-P

silver linings playbook

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Snowflake #18 in Land of Laces’ 25 Snowflake Project

The playbook contained strategies for a different game. I tried to convert a square motif into a snowflake but the punch was missing, the huddle too wide. I asked on facebook and received many good responses. Linda Reiff suggested lengthening the inner chain, which led to the following versions (thank you, Linda!). And when even beads have ‘silverline’ in their title, there is no other name better suited than ….

Silver Linings snowflakes.

download pattern pdf here

UPDATE : this is now a single-page pdf with legend

The brown models are tatted in Anchor size 20, without beads.

The short chain can be worked with reverse/unflipped stitches. In such case, the 2^nd shuttle can be replaced with a ball. See options on how to change chain curves here.

I thought both these designs look fairly basic. But I’d like to stress that I did not copy anybody’s pattern. It emerged from my motif to snowflake conversion (to be shared next) and the ensuing discussion.

The beaded models are worked in Anchor Pearl cotton size 8. I used size 13/0 Miyuki Transparent Silverline Round Seed Beads.

Beads are pre-strung on both shuttles, and the colour of beads tells you from which thread/shuttle the bead comes.

Beads on the line indicate ‘down beads’ ie. they are moved on the core thread from the shuttle in hand.

Beads above the line indicate ‘up beads’ which are already in the ring loop or on the chain thread.

For right-handers, the former come from the right hand thread, while the latter from the left hand thread.

The snowflakes range from about 1¼” to 1 ¾”.

 

I have used a different format for the pattern in order to save time - I have 7 more patterns to create in this project! Feel free to ask in case of any doubts. Only the first motif/repeat pattern is diagrammed. Remember to join the inner chain to it’s previous counterpart, and also the last to the first.

I was inspired to use this placement of beads from some of Teri Dusenbury’s models here.

click to download Silver Linings snowflakes pattern