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Happy International Lace Day !

Snowflake #4 in Land of Laces’ 25 Snowflake Project on facebook & instagram

Minarets in the Sky Snowflake

click to download free pattern pdf

November 2016 was when I first uploaded a collaged image of a snowflake I was working on.

I had worked a sample that September as part of the This Way of Tat? (TWoT) series – in fact it was meant as the final practice pattern since there can be a lot of directional changes depending on various factors. Well, that series is still in limbo, but I’m gradually sharing the patterns.

What I like best about this design is the dome shape created by changing the direction of chains. However, this is also the biggest ‘flaw’ in the design. It causes ruffling when tatting, and has to be blocked for flatness.

(In Lizbeth 20, this measures 2½” as a hexagon side) 

It is something I tried very hard to rectify, through numerous small tweaks in many trials but was unsuccessful. I will be extremely pleased if you wish to try your hand or leave suggestions.

There is hardly any ruffling in the beaded version where the small base rings are removed. However, the domes tend to overlap slightly.

The beaded version is quicker to tat as well and can be worked with one shuttle and ball if short chain lengths are done with unflipped (reverse) stitches.
UPDATE TIP : Instead of direct tatting, one can make a SLT and reverse work to tat the tapering chain segment, making requisite adjustments to bead, etc.

For the large gold bead on top, I tried using my Floating Beads method, but it does not give a snug and stable finish. After trying a couple of the usual methods, I finally settled on threading the beads as and when required and using the transparent seed bead as an anchoring bead.

I later added this Swarovski crystal in the center, although it can be worked in during tatting by holding it on a long picot in the first ring and joining across later.

While the white one reminds me of marble domes as in the Taj Mahal, the yellow & gold is for the Golden Temple in Amritsar. It is surrounded by water, though here the central blue is for sky with little stars.

Again, patterns for both versions are included in the pdf.

download Minarets in the Sky Snowflake pattern here

UPDATE : An adapted version is shared by Grace Atkinson where the overlap is removed and the flake lays fairly flat. Find the pattern and models in her facebook timeline or here  - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2021/03/minarets-take-time.html