serenity

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Yesterday we woke to a beautiful serene sight, unlike today. The teeny tiny barely buds from my earlier post had one bloom! Partially hidden, camera-shy!

But I outwitted this shy lemon bloom and captured it from the front! It has been wonderful watching the plants grow every day.

And this is how much the ajwain plant and leaves have grown. From a small cluster with teeny tiny leaves, in the center of a large pot, they are literally exploding outward and upward.

Besides the visual and aromatic delight, these leaves are supposed to be edible with health benefits. 

I had tried pakoras dipping the entire leaf in batter and deep-frying of whole leaves, but the distinct aroma disappeared. Umm, I prefer spinach.

Next they were julienned and used as garnish on alfredo pasta. Umm, we prefer fresh mint leaves.

So, what to do with this burst of leaves? For now, I've decided to wait and see if they give off flowers/inflorescence and enjoy the calming serene scents.

UPDATE (25th Feb 2022) -

I simply Had to share this sight. 

3 more lemon flower blooms and the change in stamen colour of the first bloom.

And I forgot to mention earlier that surprisingly, the flowers are not fragrant.... considering they are white and from a strongly aromatic plant.

And this is the curry plant (Murraya koenigi) with springtime inflorescence beginning to emerge. There are 5 or 6 such at present. Curry leaves are super aromatic, too, and really spruce up any South Indian dish! And I learned how to manage this plant after a few years of trial and error.

Now we have to wait and see how pollination takes place. When the balcony was open, beautiful butterflies would flit in and out. Remember this caterpillar? - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2018/04/who-when-where.html

back to old style

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Whether one is 'on a break' or not, the backroom activity never ceases! 

Ninetta had uploaded her Endrucks' patterns as one-page diagram-only images on flickr (her depictions are so artistic!). As our Project evolved, she decided to convert them into proper pdfs, with written notations. I had the pleasure of reviewing each of them. This doily #40 was the last of them and the pdf link will soon be uploaded to the Endrucks collection here - https://docs.google.com/document/d/17LEVftXweztBIOWh4sL4BB7bX65ssoOsOn4oXIgCepY/view 

While reviewing her presentation, I got into tatting mode to make sure of clarity and accuracy. Ninetta masterfully modified the original (which cupped) into flat lace. While both patterns are in the pdf, I chose to tat the modified Doily #2.

If you haven't already, I urge you to read her para here (and also enjoy her beautiful tatting) - https://ninettacaruso.blogspot.com/2020/11/renewed-on-third-try.html

Colours simply called to me to highlight the flower shapes and to liven up the days and impel me to tat.

 

What amazed me is how the black center looks more like a flower when seen from the back! Something to remember for future use as a design element!

My tiny variation includes the addition of these graduated picots on the inner side of the split rings. The negative space seemed too large and these picots add a soft touch.

The final round included block tatting.

All rounds move clockwise from the front and can be tatted continuously (as detailed in pattern - many members have already worked continuously in one colour!). 

I went way back in time to work each round separately, despite using 2 shuttles, for a multicolour rendition. Hence this is not a correct representation of the pattern - both Endrucks' original and Ninetta's modified.

For block tatting, instead of making 1ds after a lock join, I prefer counting the lock join as a half-stitch. This gives a neater and narrower effect on the inner end.

Worked with Anchor Pearl Cotton size 8, the final doily measures 9.5cms across. It is less than 4cms and less than 7cms after rounds 2 and 3 respectively. The threads are a mix of old and new buys.

Techniques - 2 shuttles, continuous (one-pass) tatting with split rings and split chains, mock picot, thrown rings, block tatting, 

It is interesting to note (and confusing at times) that even though a split ring takes the classic tear-drop shape, there is a visual reversal! The broad end is the start and threads emerge at the narrow end. This can become potentially confusing not just in tatted model but in diagram as well. 

I like what Ninetta said about diagrams - they are more "democratic"! Absolutely. And easier to present, too. Trying to get the written notations right can be quite a potential 'hazard', taxing the brain.

One year back Marja did a lovely application or Easter, covering  an egg and sharing her notes here - https://solmujenlumoissa.blogspot.com/2021/04/paasiaisen-2021-kapypitsimuna.html . 

Many thanks, Ninetta and Marja - keep inspiring and pushing the limits

a small gift

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derived from Endrucks (1920) pattern #17

We’ve had such a wonderful group of tatters contributing to the Endrucks 1920 Project, and Ninetta and I wanted to show our appreciation in some material form. We finally decided on this snowflake. It is a direct derivative from one of Endrucks’ own patterns (#17) yet has quite a trendy modern appeal and application, and the prototype was very well received. It lacks Endrucks' denser block segments, though.

In December 2021, we gifted it to all our original volunteers who had worked on their respective patterns. Since then, many more tatters have joined our FB group and displayed their skills and shared patterns, too. This gift now goes out to all who participate and show a completed working/adaptation of any pattern from the modern pdfs or the original book.

The finalization of this snowflake pattern is another reflection of joint effort. I wanted a test-tatter to try it in cordonnet cotton, but because it was to be a surprise gift, we couldn’t ask for volunteers. Ninetta finally suggested Anna Tedesco, who jumped right in with her characteristic enthusiasm and speed.

Using Sanbest 6 strands, she worked 5 complete samples, systematically sharing her feedback and even altering her style to improve on her previous samples till she was satisfied!

While the first round can be a standalone or tiled motif, with one arm of the 2nd round, it looks like an earring or pendant! She had to shorten a chain segment in the inner round, which might be due to the thickness/metallic nature of the thread or a longer inward picot.

These tips/links for inward-facing picots in both regular and direct tatting might come in handy-https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2021/12/inward-picot-with-marker.html

Ninetta, herself, got into the exercise, tatting 2 models, and we have a tweaked count for the inner rings and padded stitch (BDS) version for outer chains from her!

Notice the thicker chains on the arms. 

It is amazing that between the 3 of us, we had a total of 8 freshly tatted snowflakes within 5 days, including 2 variations! The power of the collective. This was in early November and the gift went out to all our original contributors in December. Now we are gifting it to anybody who completes a pattern and actively participates in our group.

As feedback poured in, I started a new model (mustard/gold in Anchor size 20) and much later I finished the earlier incomplete model in Lizbeth size 20, which is seen in the last photo here - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2021/10/spirited-seventeen.html

While I worked on presenting the pattern, Ninetta composed a beautiful letter of thanks. She also translated the entire pdf into Italian because the largest contingent of volunteers was from Italy (followed by the USA). Pattern is diagrammed as well as written. And the composite diagram shows all 3 versions/tweaks. I’m getting to like this style of diagram!

Not merely did I get such diligent testing, there were a few design lessons to be learned along the way! A very satisfying and happy experience.

Remember the newsletter I spoke about? Well, one tatter already completed that doily, joined our FB group and has started more patterns from the project. Yes, she, too, has received her gift.

There is one very exciting news to be shared in future about the past!

All patterns from the Endrucks collection can be accessed here (feel free to innovate and adapt) - https://docs.google.com/document/d/17LEVftXweztBIOWh4sL4BB7bX65ssoOsOn4oXIgCepY/view

Ciao for now and many many thanks to Anna and Ninetta and our Endrucks community