oh for cool breeze

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 After a long severe winter spell we are in the throes of a long hot summer spell since the start of May. The maximum temperature hovers between 40C to 45+C and now the minimum is up to 33-34C as well. And so a reminder of the cool climes in the land of firs, pines, and spruces! Christmas in June.

This was my 3rd submission for the May game - Inflate Me Endrucks.

A 3D Christmas tree assembled using 3 motifs instead of 2.

I already had the first two E15 tree doodle motifs in my stash and I just needed to tat one! These are such quick tats, done in a single sitting. Pattern: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oq9kkuSN2e0Qnh0N1fUr00MT8HrZ7-cz/view

Again I followed Pitsibaa's tutorial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0MInK7b65Q to sew and stiffen the motifs. I left the base of the trunk and part of one side open for stuffing, while sewing down the rest. 

TIP: This time I sewed through the stitch caps rather than picots, thus leaving free picots along the sides for a more natural tree-like feel.

A large bead was inserted in the trunk. 

Then a sequin base was glued to cover the open trunk base and keep the bead inside. This was tricky coz the sequin wouldn't adhere.

TIP: Use a tiny piece of double-sided tape or a piece of tissue with glue on both sides. This insertion allows the sequin to stick and stay.

The 3D tree from 3 different angles ....

On two motifs I sewed faceted tear drop crystals to cover the open space.

Gluing the two star sequins at the tip was tricky, too. I used the above described tip to join the two sequins with a deliberate shift to get more spokes.

Another angle showing the fairy light beaded strings.

This tree is free-standing. Since one of old motifs had a loop to hang as a tree ornament, I let it be. Thus this motif has both options - to dangle or to stand!

 🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄

 This tree ornament is also my submission for Small Decorations game by splocik. Check out the May submissions by the talented participants here - https://splocik2.blogspot.com/2024/06/male-dekoracje-2024-galeria-majowa.html. It's Christmas in June, splocik :-)

 🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄

I apologise for not responding to emails or leaving comments in blogs, though I do try to read everything - will catch up soon, promise. Part of the reason is the weather-induced sluggishness and partly because my head is back into editing (book as well as helping out with a couple of pattern presentations). I do make quick FB forays, though. In fact even this post was delayed because I just couldn't focus on the little details that needed to be shared. Yesterday and today the temperature slid down a bit but with increased humidity, and the prediction is for rise in temps again. World over these freaky extremes are getting more and more common. We need trees, lots and lots and lots of trees!!!

 🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄

Related Posts

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2024/05/is-it-plane.html

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2024/05/inflating-leaf.html

the power of 15

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 Technically, the power of a single motif extracted from Endrucks' pattern #15 (E15). Over time several patterns from her book have created a vast range of derivatives, eg., E1, E3, E12, E17, E31, E37, to name a few. E15 falls under the same category!

I've been having tremendous fun tatting up small doodles over the past few weeks. While it means I have side-lined my book editing (which I will take up in earnest again in 2024), I can't feel guilty over the brimming ideas and my largely neglected shuttles trying to give them form. Some pattern pdfs have already been shared with our FB group for the Dec game; others are in the works.

It all started when I spotted a ready-made tree motif in Endrucks' pattern #15 which Ninetta has updated with diagram and written pattern - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hl1EuK-E7tChkL4OsohWjtGLafhp7hcY/view

I quickly tatted up a prototype with size 10 thread and as you can see there isn't much room for change, right! 

Model #2 in metallic cotton size 20. I had started this just like in the prototype, from the lower side ring on the right. This is an easier pathway to tat since the two sides remain unattached till you reach the trunk part. Later I strung beads to brighten it up.

Model #3 - Here I wanted to avoid hiding ends and also make it a tree ornament. Hence started at the top inner ring and ended with a split ring at the tip.

The same with a star to showcase an idea.

E15 TREE DOODLE Pattern PDF : https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oq9kkuSN2e0Qnh0N1fUr00MT8HrZ7-cz/view

Hubby saw a bell in the tree! So out came more thread (size 10) and this stylised bell pendant or ornament was born.

The same but this time in metallic thread size 40.

A comparison of the sizes. Hubby wanted an inward curve at the bottom for a more realistic look. Another version for a future project ....

E15  BELL  DOODLE Pattern PDF : 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/17m9gxw2vG1oS_mrawfmZI27PpLZ9xFhK/view

Inverted, the bell looked like the bodice of a lady's gown or the torso of an angel. Rough sketch to tackle in the future.

If the sides were brought closer together, the motif would work as a flame!

 

Tatted with one shuttle and the two threads combined.

Flame needs a candle (or a diya), and these were my first trials

E15 Candle version 1 using block tatting. Can be done with ball and shuttle.

It was Ninetta's idea to add a little base ring to the flame.

E15 CANDLE. MOTIF pattern PDF :

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tMBmMzvFzvWqYYxcyuGI_edZePXyfaFC/view

Version 2 of the candle is worked alternately with treble stitch chains and double stitch chains. This is still incomplete as I got sidetracked with other motifs 😁

My objective was to create a slight slant in the block tatted chains, but I couldn't achieve it. It will take more experience than I have to get the chains to tilt.

However, my 3rd version is going to use Helix tatting - not only will I get the spiraling effect, it will also be 3D!

Meanwhile, leaves cropped up, too! This is the first model with a mock chain acting as the central vein, and ending with a Josephine chain stalk. 

This is how it looked fresh off the shuttles. However, it flattened after blocking and has stayed flat, although I like the 3D option.

E15 Leaf Doodle #2 using two types of twisted picots - one for the tip and one for the stalk.

The 3rd model started off with a different idea but midways I let my shuttles take over and ended with this. Lock chains make up the vein and stalk. I don't like the picots here!

All 3 together, and I still have so many ideas I'd like to tat!

What are leaves without a flower and its the season for Poinsettias - a no-brainer.

After the first layer of 3 petals, I continued with a lower layer of slightly larger petals. This is still a WIP where I need to add the yellow center, etc. 

QUESTION: Are 6 petals enough or should I add one more large petal below? I don't want it to look too symmetrical and adding another petal will move them slightly. 

I value your opinion.

After tatting the first 2 petals of the poinsettia, they looked like a great idea to tweak into a Butterfly or wings for an angel!

TIP: In all models I have deliberately used a self-closing mock ring (SCMR) at the tip for 2 reasons - 

1. in most cases the doodle or motif can be worked without the need for a 2nd shuttle;

2. more importantly, I find it sits much better than a thrown ring would have without anchoring picots at its sides.

I made a hitch (unflipped half-stitch) after closing the SCMR.

Meanwhile, one of our prolific members created a Star with the same motif! Ninetta and I quickly compiled a pattern pdf for it and included it in our Dec game. There are several more patterns to choose from in our game this month. Hopefully you will join us. All links in the side panel of my blog at the very top.

I will try to share the pattern for these remaining models, too.

make a forest

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 Pattern for each of The Six Seasons of India derived from Frau Endrucks' pattern #14 - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Gxz6Q4Qpz_7RtsEx4EFufsVvBYbH5Sfa/view 

Many thanks to Ninetta for reworking and presenting the E14 pattern which made it so much easier to follow, experiment, and tat up.

Please let us know if any link does not work.

The background is my month-old bath towel made from bamboo! Seemed appropriate, don't you think.

I was looking for a light-weight bath-size towel and hubby hit on this. Can't believe how light, super-absorbent, silky smooth it is and it dries super-fast, too, making it ideal for the rainy season .  

Hope you enjoy tatting the trees and creating a forest.

Related Posts -

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2023/06/impressions.html

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2023/06/autumn-fireworks.html
https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2023/07/six-seasons-of-india.html

six seasons of India

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When asked how many seasons are there, the prompt answer is 4: spring, summer, autumn, winter. But where is the rainy season or monsoons - a major part of the Indian climatic cycle!  

How many seasons do you have in your country?

In India we have 6 seasons. In this peninsular landmass that prides itself on various kinds of landforms, the foliage changes from the coastlines to plains to mountainous terrain. Hence we don't see the vibrant fall colours in the plains. I visualized the tree motif as the majestic Banyan (Indian Banyan, Ficus bengalinensis - the national tree of India) and the equally majestic Chinar (Chinese banyan, Platanus orientalis) for autumn and used the same motif to depict the six seasons for #colourmeEndrucks June game in the Endrucks 1920 Project FB group.

It is very interesting that the names of four seasons are male names. Varsha is a common female name; is it because rains are the source of life and due to the dependency on monsoons for an agricultural lifestyle? And Grishma (for warmth) is a rare female name. Ritu means season and this is also a common girl name.

Following pics show each model and my seasonal impressions through shades and picots. The only changes I made are to the ring which is diagrammed; the rest of the pattern remains unchanged. My notes are scattered throughout in bullets.

Endrucks' pattern #14, reworked and presented by Ninetta Caruso -  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mWiQTu_9oVPYpX_1MsObBRR7n1MJWr80/view

Threads  

• The shades used. All size 40 threads from different brands.
• Ball (browns) and one shuttle (greens) throughout.
• I often used scraps of leftover thread and in some models you will see the messy addition.

Vasant/Spring 

• Tiny picots in sap green to represent new shoots.
• All joining picots are small.

Notice how the front tree has fewer rings - mistake! The one behind is correctly tatted.

Grishma/Summer  The sun's rays slipping in through the foliage!  

• One joining mistake in the chains between 6th and 7th rings. Picots are longer to show growth.
• Number and size of picots to indicate the season, as indicated in the ring diagram in each image. Overall ring count remains same as in pattern. 

Varsha/Monsoon or Rains  Lush dense solid foliage in the monsoons!

• Deliberately allowed the greens to show through the trunks for a more organic feel.
• No symmetry in block tatting, following Endrucks' style, again a deliberate choice for that organic look.  Hardly discernible at a glance.

Sharad/Autumn Many of us who have visited Kashmir have certainly seen the Char Chinar in Srinagar - four trees in the four corners of a small island in Dal lake!! It is such a common place to shoot romantic songs in movies.

• Reduced the size and number of picots here.

Again tatted a second one because the first one had mistakes.

Hemant/Pre-winter in my city is more about haze and air pollution. And a lightening of the greens, many of which start to fall. This is why I chose this shade.

• Used reverse join or sometimes simple transposing of threads to change colours/direction, while keeping the green shuttle active at all times.

Shishir/winter Covered in snow, no picots on the rings! 

• Watch out for the chains between 5th and 6th ring. It had escaped my notice and I kept bungling in the first few motifs. 
• Second point of mistakes initially, was where to join the chains. This is block tatting, but notice how cleverly it has been adapted to create these spreading arms.  

• Started and ended with a knot, leaving short tails. This, too was deliberate since these were meant to be glued on paper in a kind of landscape collage with some painting and beads added. Couldn't get around to that before the end of the month, so now I have a little something else in mind to use these. Most probably turn them into bookmarks for our new game of the month - Mark Me Endrucks!

Future/missed Ideas I had a lot more ideas going in - eg.

• leaves sprouting in a second layer or randomly on the trunk branches;
• onion rings for denser foliage;
• adding beads as a third colour to represent flowers, fruit,...; 
• using different motifs to represent different seasons; and so on. 

Turned out I didn't have the right size beads for size 40 and no time to tinker around. As it is, I kept making silly mistakes while tatting - the reason for 8 motifs (and one discarded at the very outset) instead of six. Thankfully I figured it out and then it was smooth sailing and enjoyable.

Related links -
https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2023/06/impressions.html

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2023/06/autumn-fireworks.html

autumn fireworks

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 I should've posted this last night since I managed to complete the entire tree motif I had set out to do for the ILD. Hadn't expected to, so this was a huge deal. Of course it meant taking a digital break the entire evening.

The one behind is the new motif tatted correctly with 10 rings. Fresh off the shuttle, you can see that it does not lie flat. I had to stretch and tamp it down into submission since there was no time to block and dry.

Worked in Lizbeth (shuttle) and Anchor (ball) size 40 threads.

Pattern is #14 from Endrucks (1920) reworked and presented in modern format by Ninetta. Link to main EP doc is in the right panel of my blog. 

Angie pointed out that this could well be a fireworks display. I love the idea as it offers so much scope for frivolous colourfulness! 

This morning I have rolling pin blocked all motifs. They are drying at present and I will take pics tonight playing with arrangement. Then starts the next part which is still a bit amorphous.

Hope you had a wonderful day and weekend. Who knows after this hat-trick of posts, I might continue with a 4th one tomorrow ;-P

impressions

Pin It now! Another gapsosis in my blogging! However, this time I have been busy with editing, reviewing, proofing, pdf-isation, and yes, actual Tatting! I try to juggle both my time and my tasks to accommodate and make progress on each front.

This is what I am currently tatting, although there is a lot more to come.... I couldn't resist showing you a little peek. This month's game in our EP FB group was to use at least two colours in a select range of 7 edging patterns, where the motifs resembled a tree. 

I intended to add beads for additional colours and symbolism, but found they were mostly too large for the size 40 threads I chose.

However, I did use symbolism in terms of shades and picot numbers and sizes. 

All tatted with one shuttle (with green) and ball (brown), using reverse join or simple transposing of threads to keep the shuttle in play.

Can you identify the impression I am trying to convey here? Pretty straightforward I would think ;-P

Mind you there are mistakes in three of the motifs; only the topmost center is correct. I don't know what my issue was - eyesight, maths, or the chains. Thankfully trees don't have to be symmetrical and I doubt anybody can identify the mistakes at a glance.

Perhaps it is a phase I am going through, 'coz I miscounted the number of repeats in a doily/coaster I was test-tatting and reviewing for Ninetta! Fortunately the 7 repeats instead of 8 worked out fine, too, and it turned into a variation.

The above pattern is the modern reworking for Endrucks' pattern #14 by Ninetta Caruso and the pdf can be downloaded from the EP doc. She has done an excellent job of diagramming and writing the pattern, including a corner adaptation. (links on the right panel, top).