muskaan's T*I*P*S: snowflake adaptation

Showing posts with label snowflake adaptation. Show all posts

Thursday, 23 November 2023

flaky antics

This time I have a snowflake pattern to share. It is a mix of the old with the new; partly derived and partly original; and I thoroughly enjoyed putting it together, though it got entangled in some flakiness midways.

I call it the Antiks Snowflake which is a play on words and techniques; a combo of antique, ANKARS, and the antics involved in getting it just right! At the center is a 6-point adaptation of Endrucks' pattern #42 but the outermost round is all mine.

My first trial and prototype combined. Blogged about it here - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2023/03/antics.html. I was so out of practice with split chains! By this point in the final round, I had decided on which tweaks to keep and was happy that it would lay flat. Ran out of thread but it had done its job.

After a couple of weeks I returned to tat a proper model along with the pattern presentation. Notice anything? Sigh, yes, there are 8 repeats as in the original Endrucks' pattern #42! I had kept wondering why the arms were so squished in and after wasting my precious Lizbeth white, I stopped. Foggy head leads to a flaky flake.

And since I had sent the same pattern to Anita Barry for test tatting, she too, worked an 8-point flake! She used this to decorate a purse and it looks gorgeous against a deep blue background. She displayed it at the IOLI Convention this year.

I chose a different Lizbeth size 20 and went to work again, this time making sure the pattern was for 6 repeats.

Tatted one more, this time in Olympus size 40 to consolidate the pattern and presentation.

And I didn't expect her to, but Anita actually tatted a second model with 6 arms in Lizbeth metallic! Now that's commitment.

Her help was also valuable in arranging the written pattern more systematically and clearly.

I sent an article with this pattern to the IOLI Bulletin for their Summer issue. However, since they ran out of space, it was published in the fall issue above - IOLI Bulletin, Fall 2023 edition (Oct 2023, Vol 44, N.1).

It is a very nicely laid out presentation and Liz, the editor is always very diligent and helpful.

Their back cover carries a pic of the flake, too!

Interestingly, both Lizbeth 20 and Olympus 40 work out to the same size!

Now, now, don't go too far. Thought I'm flaky enough to forget sharing the pattern link?! Ah, see, the saga continues and I will share the link in my next post.

... to be continued...

Many many thanks to Anita and Liz! Excellent collaboration.

Monday, 23 August 2021

more reflections

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Clearly I'm not done with that motif yet! This is the snowflake version from pattern #17 I mentioned here. With this snowflake, we will now have earrings/pendant; 2 square frames/lace (one by Reiko Akamatsu - see below); edging/insertion/etc.; and a hexagonal motif (round 1 of snowflake); all adapted or derived from the same pattern! And yet, it continues to entice me, though I will be holding off for now in order to concentrate on completing the main pattern pdfs for those on my list (there seems to be no end to the admin work on this project) so that we can see the 'completion' of Endrucks 1920 Project in November.

I continue with the name given to the edging by Ninetta - Reflections. Above is both a trial culminating in a prototype for the snowflake adaptation. The 3 arms on the left of the tail ends are the final count. Pattern will be shared for free later.

The snowflake is worked continuously in 2 rounds. Above is the first round and it creates a standalone hexagonal motif! With the right beads, it could be a beautiful pendant.

In Anchor Pearl cotton size 8, each side is 3cms; and across it is 5½ cms.

Techniques used: 2 shuttles, thrown/floating rings, large mock rings, downard/inward facing picots, lock join.

TIP: In order to get the beautifully domed arch as in the topmost arm, it is important to keep the joining picot between chain and end thrown rings longer than usual. This avoids any pull on the chain when the joining picot is small. This same tip works for the earrings, edging, etc.

Unlike the edging, I had deliberately avoided decorative picots in this pattern to gauge the bare look. The picots in the center were there only in case a central ring was needed. So I folded and sewed in the decorative picots in the center.

Now that's a bit too bare, right?! Looks better with those picots around the central space.

Ninetta suggested onion rings for the large empty space - she drew over the pic I sent - and suggested we could have 2 versions with and without the onion rings.

And here are 2 trials on the same flake. I like the one on the right better. 2 picots create an interesting feature, don't you think?

So, what do you think of this snowflake without decorative picots? Should there be more picots as in the Reflections edging here. And what do you think of the onion rings?

💚💙💚

Since I did not post her pic earlier when I shared my Superimposed Squares adaptation, here's how Reiko Akamatsu tweaked the straight lace into a square, adding some points to the originally curved portions and downplaying the smaller points (direct link to her pdf - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JANNY3JWRJb-4BgLV5XEB4unDrrFhNQ7/view). The block chains create a denser curvilinear garland within!

And check out our gratitude post for a few more pics (and links) of this incredible artist from Japan.

Okay, here is my simple adaptation for comparison. Notice the tweaks she made and the effect has has created?

For all updates and details, scroll through the patterns & arrangements in the Endrucks 1920 Project -

https://docs.google.com/document/d/17LEVftXweztBIOWh4sL4BB7bX65ssoOsOn4oXIgCepY/view

Monday, 8 March 2021

minarets take time

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...to build ;-D Well, not so much to tat, but it still took me close to 2 years to get around to it!

Minarets in the Sky was the 4th of 25 patterns uploaded on 7th July 2019.

Within 20 days, Grace Atkinson had shared her non-overlapping adaptation, along with her sketched pattern! And it has taken me 20 months to follow her count and tat it ;-D

Above are Grace's models, with the left being her reworked/adapted version.

My original pattern pdf can be downloaded here (2 versions beaded/plain) - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZUGfdDEBtjH9yUSc71E3OCPF2-63SXMq/view?usp=sharing
And following are all 3 photographed together -

Notice the well-defined curves of adapted model? And none of the rings overlap. Every element has a stable niche - they are made to sit in their place and behave! The decision to post only after I had tatted it has been a good decision since this turned out to be an eye-opening lesson in designing/tweaking!

Design Tweaks by Grace Atkinson :

Unlike the original, the inward rings at the center are joined at their sides as well, thus increasing stability.
She has linked the 2 large rings in the 2nd round, thus deleting all overlap and simultaneously broadening the sides, which is why the curves are more pronounced and the shape more pleasing.
The dots at the sides are increased from 4ds to 5ds. This might enable easier closure of the tiny rings, but I don't think it makes much of a difference otherwise. I might be tempted to go with the original 4ds.
In her diagram, the count for the small ring at base of the arms is given as 4½ which is how I tatted them (4½ + 4½). However, a close look at her model shows the rings are tinier! Did she work them as (2 + 2)? I would love to try it with the latter. (I will update after asking her).
The side chains of the arms are also joined, which is another factor in keeping elements in their place.

Worked in Lizbeth size 20. It needed a bit of shaping and blocking, which I believe would not be required if those base rings had been (2 + 2) instead of (4½ + 4½).

All my snowflake patterns can be found here (along with adaptations) - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1r4OmXX_c5LjFebMN2UbSNiYqXYETLmoridK0X1YIQco/view

Many many thanks, Grace, for taking up the challenge so successfully,

and teaching me more details about designing through your tweaks.

Thursday, 14 January 2021

hidden pathway

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I know many of you must feel that the hidden rose should stay hidden and not be seen so frequently, but what can I do when hidden assets keep surfacing?! How many secrets are hidden in this little snowflake?

This time it is yet another pathway discovered by Melanie Cervi (or Mel as we fondly know her) who was put off by the paperclips required in my original instructions. So she set off into the woods, clearing away the trees in her path (thankfully, not literally) to leave a trail without clips!!!

Sequence notated

When she emailed me a month back, I honestly could not figure out how she did it. Clearly my mind was blocked: any which way I went, at least one clip was required. It was only when she posted her instructions here, that I was amazed and amused ;-D In the above model (tatted by Mel), I have inked the sequence. Tatting progresses in clockwise direction and is made in one serpentine pass.

So this takes the sequence toll to FOUR! We have 4 ways to work this snowflake ... so far ;-P

Counterclockwise starting with inner ring;
Clockwise starting with inner ring;
Inner rings worked as circle of SRs and continued to 'outer' round; (by Natalia S)
Clockwise starting with outer ring, and without paperclip. (by Melanie C)

You can find links to the pdfs and posts, as well as the rose, ice drop, and heart adaptations in my Snowflake doc here.

Don't forget to skip over to Mel's blog to read her instructions as well as ideas for future experiments and trials - http://picotsnkeys.blogspot.com/2020/12/year-muskaan-floated-idea-of-hidden.html . I've put it on my to-tat list.

UPDATE: Mel made a tatted biscornu using the snowflake patttern! Check it out here - http://picotsnkeys.blogspot.com/2021/06/biscornu-finished.html

But before I leave, here's another lovely pair tatted by the talented Anna Tedesco and shared on facebook. Sorry for poaching the image, Anna, but it is just too cute! Anna has a facebook group - Tatting Art where you can scroll through all her gorgeous projects.

Many thanks, Mel and Anna - keep the spring of inspiration alive 💖

Friday, 6 November 2020

hidden addiction

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She's done it again! First earrings, now ice drops - all adaptations of the Hidden Rose snowflake. I'm sure you, too, will find Krystyna Mura's ice drop variations absolutely stunning. Margaret Davies has done an ice drop adaptation earlier and shared her pattern here

In the first ice drop adaptation, she modified the pattern a bit to add the cabochon in the center and beads around it. Hence the front (top pic) and back (next pic) are slightly different.

In her own words - "I am crazy about this pattern and I can't stop tatting it"

Her 2nd adaptation uses 3 shuttles with a rose cabochon in the middle and if she hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't have noticed - there are Seven repeats!

What a cute rose cabochon! Krystyna tells me this flake was gifted and her friend loved it.

I come across several models on facebook, and would've liked to share them all. At least half a dozen tatters have made this particular snowflake multiple times (read 6 or more)! It gladdens my heart so.... But wait there's more ....

If you remember Anita was going to teach her heart adaptation from this snowflake at Palmetto Tat Days this year. On her return, she graciously sent me a copy of the pattern to share with you! So now, you can easily download this single page pdf instead of tracking my blogpost.

Hidden Rose Snowflake Heart pattern pdf by Anita Barry. In fact, she tied a tassel and it is a cute little bookmark.

All related posts, covering references made in this post -

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2019/10/flowers-love-me.html - original

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2019/12/hidden-treasures.html - variations

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2020/03/hidden-directions.html - clockwise pdf

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2020/08/hidden-option.html - a 2-round working method

UPDATE: a 4th method without paperclip is shared by Melanie Cervi. See all updates in the doc below -

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1r4OmXX_c5LjFebMN2UbSNiYqXYETLmoridK0X1YIQco/view

Monday, 17 August 2020

hidden option

Pin It now! With the plethora of techniques available and the keen eye of a tatter, any pattern can be simplified to suit personal skills! Here is one such example; the 2nd will be in my next post.

Natalia showed me her working of the Hidden Rose Snowflake in 2 rounds instead of the original continuous serpentine one-round working. But this, too is made in one pass.

Incidentally there is already a degree of simplification I introduced with a 2nd working by moving in clockwise direction! Now we have a 3rd degree! Options galore - now you don't have an excuse for Not tatting the snowflake ;-P (scroll down for all the links)

Natalia Shakhnova's adaptation -

I Love her insight! She works the 6 inner rings first, as a circle of split rings and then continues on to make each arm! There will be lesser scope for mixing up shuttles and directions, and probably easier to work in 2 colours if desired.

In her own words -

And here is the comparative photo she sent ... notice how compact her 2nd snowflake looks where she works it in her 2-round method?! Like a few other tatters, she has opted out of the lock chains, using only regular chains. The roses look a bit more compact and filled in, though the lock chain texture is missing.

See more adaptations here - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2019/12/hidden-treasures.html and 2 patterns here - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2019/12/open-treasures.html. Incidentally Anita will be teaching the heart motif at Palmetto Tat Days this year.

Original Pattern - counterclockwise - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2019/10/flowers-love-me.html and clockwise - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2020/03/hidden-directions.html

All my snowflake patterns with updates -

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1r4OmXX_c5LjFebMN2UbSNiYqXYETLmoridK0X1YIQco/edit?usp=sharing

Many thanks, Natalia, for sharing your alternate working :-)

Bloggers, does your lead pic show in the blog feed as a thumbnail? I noticed some blogs continue to show the thumbnail in my feed, while others no longer show up. I tried a few different tweaks, but no luck. I got in touch with Jane McLellan & Ninetta, and we've all been sharing notes. So do You have any answers on how to get the thumbnail to show again?

Thanks

Tuesday, 17 December 2019

open treasures

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The treasure chest is open! Krystyna and Anita are sharing lovely patterns of their lovely Hidden Rose adaptations shown here!!!

Actually, there are a few other snowflakes where tweaks have been made. But I’d like to tat those up before sharing. It may take a while, but there’s always next season :-D

Getting right down to it ….

Krystyna Mura’s Earrings adaptation

Now this is a very clever use of thread which she has diagrammed as well. In her own words –

I wanted to make the whole rose bud in the shade of red. It is possible to get such a result with Lisbeth 20 "cranberry bush" (colour 181)

This particular thread colour is excellent for this goal

I wound the thread on two shuttles as it's shown below.
The ring - shuttle 1;
All chains [except lock chains, of course]: the core thread - shuttle 2.

Krystyna has captured the direction, sequence and count, etc. all in a single, easy-to-follow colour-coded diagram!

Since I don’t have any such variegation, my model is made in 2 parts. The yellow rose is made with 2 shuttles, continuous thread and stem/leaves in green ball and shuttle, continuous.

However, I captured the green thread at the base before starting the 1^st lock chain.

For the outer chains in rose, I went clockwise instead of counterclockwise.

I didn’t snip off the yellow tails. These are easy to encapsulate within the green Josephine chain stem to avoid sewing in ends. After carrying them for a distance, I snipped each off at different points.

Krystyna used the magic thread trick to hide tail ends. I struck upon a new (I think) idea to end on a chain. Use the dead end, floating or single shuttle splitchain (SSSCh) method! Yes, it can be used to end, not just start a curlicue!

Here’s how –

Hiding Ends in Floating chain

After bottom leaf, double the shuttle thread and continue the Josephine chain by finger tatting over the other green ball thread. We are encapsulating the other tail.

On reaching the end, pass 2^nd tail through the SSSCh loop, and snip off after about 1cms. Now pull the shuttle thread to close the loop, tugging the 2^nd tail inside the stitches as well. Snip. No sewing in ends for those, like I, who cannot do the MTT.

I might do a stepwise pictorial later if anybody asks.

Related - http://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2016/11/beginning-or-ending.html

Anita Barry’s Heart adaptation

To see a heart in a rose snowflake is something Anita does well!

The rose count is tweaked slightly, however the original count will also work, provided the heart chain is reduced in length proportionately.

count and sequence notated in image

Rose - 2 shuttles, ctm. Use shuttle closest to the next element as core thread.

A: ring: 7 - 7. RW

B,C,D: Lock ch: vsp, 9, lock join, 10, vsp 9 +(ring)

E,F: ch: 18 lj vsp 20. T & C.

Heart - 2 shuttles, ctm. Start with shuttle #2

Chains have thrown rings (TR). Switch shuttle before and after each TR.

A: ring: 5 +(base of rose) 5. Switch shuttle

B: ch : 16, (TR:5), 3 , (TR:8), 3, (TR 14), 3, (TR 8), 3, (TR 5), 3, lj. SS

C: SR : 6/6.

D: SR : 6/6. SS. LJ.

E: Repeat chain going down, with thrown rings... RW

F: SR 5/5.

G: ring: 6-6.

This last can be a single shuttle split ring (SSSR) to hide ends.

UPDATE : Hidden Rose Heart pattern pdf.

I had tremendous fun tatting these pretty quick projects. In fact I used scrap yellow threads for both. Hope you enjoy them as well.

I will see you next with the #23 snowflake ! All photographed ….

Many thanks to Anita & Krystyna :-)))

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2019/12/hidden-treasures.html - variations

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2020/03/hidden-directions.html - clockwise pdf

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2020/08/hidden-option.html - a 2-round working method

Saturday, 7 December 2019

hidden treasures

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I can’t explain the feeling. I have tatted patterns shared online, making coloured versions or with other tweaks/techniques. Some morphed into adaptations. Something similar is now happening with my patterns! It is so gratifying to see tatters enjoying a pattern, a design so much and exploring new avenues through it.

When creating a pattern, one keeps thinking of ‘what if…’, but there are limitations to how much I do myself. Then I get to see those or newer ideas being implemented on the original and I am thrilled!

Of the patterns I've shared so far in 25 snowflake project, Hidden Rose snowflake is one of the more popular ones. Some have attested to becoming ‘addicted’ to it – making more than 4, 5, 6,….! Playing with it!

With due permission, I am posting only a few pics to showcase some of their ideas - some pics were sent privately, others were on facebook. In chronological order -

Anita Barry immediately converted it into a heart!

Elisabetta de Napoli tatted the entire flake with metallic thread.

Jeanie Schekel quickly belted out SIX 2-coloured beauties and even ‘taught’ it to her group. They had some difficulty with the direction, which I can totally understand. When this project is over, I intend to tat the flake again so that it moves in clockwise direction instead of counterclockwise, and post those instructions.

Jean Gordon is on her FOURTH flake, determined to make it perfect and send out as gifts.

And the piece de resistance …

Krystyna Mura made several (and has a half page of notes for tweaks/ideas!). Of those, this one holds a very special place in my heart. She wove in gold thread in the center to reflect the gold-plated rose I showed you!

She went further to make these single rose buds as jewellery for her daughter.

Aren’t they the cutest! I couldn’t have done such a great job.

There are many more tatters who uploaded their beautiful work on facebook (or in respective blogs) – many of them can be found in my timeline or in one of the fb tatting groups, or by typing Hidden Rose Snowflake.

If you have made any of my patterns and wish to have it posted in my blog, please do not hesitate to tell me.

Silver Linings snowflakes

Before I forget yet again, I condensed the 4 pages of Silver Linings snowflakes into 1 single page, and added a legend and some more info. I had already updated the post. But here’s the new link to the single page.

Keep them coming, tatters, and thanks for your interest !

And time for the 21^st snowflake …stay tuned !

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2019/12/open-treasures.html - rose & heart adaptations

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2020/03/hidden-directions.html - clockwise pdf

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2020/08/hidden-option.html - a 2-round working method

Sunday, 20 October 2019

flowers love me

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Snowflake #14 in Land of Laces’ 25 Snowflake Project

Which is why they keep popping up in my snowflakes! Don't blame me if you don't like flower flakes ;-P

Hidden Rose Snowflake

Download free pattern

This wasn't how I had visualized it. I was almost asleep when the design emerged and I thought of lock chains for a V structure. Next day, as I tatted, it turned out a rose was hiding there instead!

It is kind of a meandering one-pass pattern with shuttle and directional switches.
I have presented the pattern such that shuttles are in position for next element and avoid any unseemly crossover threads.
There may be times when you feel the element is not correctly positioned. Don't worry, the next element(s) pull it into place.

Worked in Anchor size 20, it measures 3 inches point to point. As a motif, it is 2½ inches across.

There are multiple joins in same picot, hence keep picots normal sized. Do Not make the joining picots very small.

I have included a few progress pictures, along with 2 diagrams – one showing sequence of work/elements, and other the stitchcount. Colour coding in the diagrams should assist in keeping the right shuttle in hand for each element.

I would love to see this flake in 2 colours with decorative picots or beads. I love this snowflake and hope you enjoy it.

Click here to download the pattern pdf.

UPDATE: download the clockwise Hidden Rose Snowflake pattern pdf.

UPDATE: alternate working of this pattern - 2 rounds, continuous.

This gold rose is very special. It is a real rose with real stem & leaves, that has undergone 41 stages of processing to preserve the life-form, and finally plating it with 24 carat gold. But it is extra special to me for a symbolism that holds sentimental value. One of those rare romantic surprises that my otherwise practical & realistic hubby gifted on a very special day.

UPDATE : Although the process pictures for the first motif are in the pdf, they have been downsized. I am adding them here for easier viewing.