Alba Variation

I realise no doubt not every tatter is comfortable with using split rings, split chains and self-closing mock rings!  So I'm thinking of also offering a "simpler" variation of Alba which would look like this (and also because someone told me they liked a version with picots better!).  

In this variation, I have removed all the self-closing mock rings, 1SSCMR and self-closing Josephine Knots!  There is still one split ring to move from round 1 to round 2 but you can always cut and tie if you do not wish to use a split ring.

If it makes this design accessible to more tatters, I'm happy to add the variation to the pattern.  And here they are side by side.

I prefer the sharp angles and general look of the 1st which is more "snowflake-like" to me and closer to the photo of the real snowflake but the 2nd version is simpler to tat.

What about you?  Do you have a preference?

Best wishes,

Frivole

and P.S.  Sadly I had to re-instate comment moderation as I was getting too much spam again! Grrrrrr!  So I'm sorry you have to go through extra steps to post your comments (so I appreciate them even more!), I wish it wasn't necessary.

Alba - New Snowflake 2024

Yes. I think I'm stopping here for this one.  I'm going to call it "Alba" which comes from the latin "Albus" and means white.

It unusually has no decorative picots but I think this brings it closer in look and shape to the original image of the real snowflake which inspired the design (see below).  It also just makes a change!

Real Snowflake photo by Wilson Bentley

For now I have put the other option I was working on to the side, firstly because I felt the first one was more interesting/original and - and this is the big one - I couldn't find a way to make it in one pass.  I also wasn't happy with the shape of the tips yet so it needed more work altogether.

Discarded Option

Below I'm showing a small photo of Alba and the snowflake photo side by side

because I think when viewed small, or from a distance, or with squinting your eyes,

you better see the similarities or differences in shape.

So it's not as close as some of my other designs

but I still feel the snowflakes, real and lace, share some resemblance.

I hope you think so too?

Regardless, the snowflake photo provided me with inspiration

and a good starting point for this new design.

I hope you like it!

Now on to writing the pattern!  And if anyone reading this likes the look of this one and fancies trying it for me, I always appreciate assistance in this department.  I plan on getting the pattern done during the course of this week. This pattern makes use of my 1SSCMR to make the points on the chains, a technique for which I have made a video which can be viewed here should you be interested.  It also uses one split ring for moving from round 1 to round 2.

Best wishes,

Frivole

New Snowflake for 2024?

Oh no!  It's already November and I'm only just getting around to thinking about and working on a new snowflake for 2024!  I had my daughter flick through the pages of my favourite book of snowflake photographs and make a pre-selection for me and from those I decided to work on the one below.

This is where I'm at so far.  It's not that close to the original but it gave me a good starting point.  Let's say that my snowflake this year is "loosely" (rather than closely) inspired by a real snowflake.  I've said before how it can be difficult to closely mimic a snowflake with tatting as real snowflakes are all straight lines and angles whereas tatting is all curves! I'm still testing things and working on samples. I'm particularly frustrated because at the moment I can't seem to find a way of making this design in one pass!  I'll keep trying!

In the meantime, any feedback welcome!

Best wishes,

Frivole

Tree with Baubles.. and Pumpkins

Here is the Christmas tree with red baubles!  This should be my last post on the little tree but I wanted to show it to you one more time with its tatted snow and baubles.  I strung some red beads on each shuttle and placed them randomly as I was tatting the tree.  I also went fancy and did the trunk in brown instead of carrying on with the same thread throughout.

Oh, and I nearly forgot to say that I also started a series of videos on how to make the tree, you can find the videos on my channel (link in right side bar).

It's currently more the season for pumpkins than for Christmas trees really so I've also been having fun making these cute crochet pumpkins (following this video).  They're quick to whip up so I made a few for family and friends.

Best wishes,

Joëlle

More on Little Christmas Tree

I was looking at one of my trees last night and all of a sudden wondered... "why not make the snow with tatting instead of crochet?"

So here is a version with tatted snow.

Little Christmas Tree Pattern

In fact, I think I prefer the tatted snow as it's a little firmer and is perhaps even better at helping give the branches their shape.  I have now amended the pattern and added the information on tatting the snow so if anyone wants to re-download it, you'll now get the most recent version.

Here's trying to give you a better look at the tatted snow.

As I mentioned in the pattern, I used normal lock joins on this version but it would look nice with Catherine Wheel joins too.  Perhaps I'll use them on the next version when I try adding beads for baubles as well.

My forest is growing!

I'll look forward to hearing from anyone who makes the first tree.  Feedback is welcome!

Little Christmas Tree Pattern

Best wishes,

Frivole

Little Christmas Tree Pattern

Well here it is at last!  It's more than 10 years since I first talked about it so hopefully it was worth the wait! Again I'd like to thank the designer, Mrs. Roesti-Holenstein, for generously giving permission for me to share her pattern on my blog. I also want to thank my German friend for being the intermediary and for her help in making this happen. I really felt this one would be enjoyed by many tatters. And now is a perfect time of year to share it too!

Little Christmas Tree Pattern

I've uploaded the pdf on Google Drive and set permission to "everyone with the link"

so I hope it works!  Let me know please.

This is what it looks like, just finished, without the crochet snow.

I think adding the snow really helps give the tree a nicer shape.

It helps spread the "branches" better.

Here is a slightly more top-down view of it.

The pattern (as I have written it) has not been test-tatted by anyone but me so if you make it, please feel free to let me know if you find any mistakes and amendments you think would benefit tatters.  I'm a big fan of patterns made in one pass so I have used split rings and split chains to move from round to round.  If you are not confident with split rings and chains, you can cut and tie for each round (there are 6 rounds).  I have videos that show how to make split rings and chains on my YouTube Channel if you're looking for a bit of help on making them.

On split chains in particular, I know they don't get used all that often in patterns and may seem a bit daunting but they're not that difficult once you've practiced them a bit.  They are a really useful design element to help move from round to round and for that reason, I think they're great!

To finish, I'm adding this last photo from my original post 

which shows how well the little tree fits on top of a pen!

And of course will also look lovely hanging as a decoration.

I'm thinking of making a series of videos that demonstrate how to make the tree, what do you think? Oh and Lavinia's comment reminded me that I've been meaning to tat the tree with some little red beads in it for baubles, I think that would look great.  I'll try to make it for my next blogpost.

Addition 11.10.24:  Looking at my tree tonight, I wondered why I'd not tried making the "snow" with tatting instead of with crochet?  So I did!  And yes, it looks great and works very well so if you're not a crocheter or simply if you prefer to do it all with tatting, here is what it looks like.  I think I might even prefer it myself to the crochet version.

Best wishes,

Frivole

Great News! - Christmas Tree

I can't believe I'm talking about the "C Word" on a 1st of October but I was eager to share my news and also this will give more time to people who may want to tat this for Christmas.

Several years ago now, I made a blogpost about a lovely Christmas tree pattern designed by Edith Roesti-Holenstein which a friend from Germany had helped me obtain.  I had several comments and enquiries by tatters who wanted to make it but the designer was not online and only sold paper copies locally or by post if I remember correctly.

However, I am delighted to say that after exchanges and with help from my friend as the intermediary, I was given permission to share it here on my blog!  It's taken me a while to get around to tatting it afresh and I thought it was more complex to tat than it actually is.  You do have to cut and tie after some of the rounds but to be honest this is then hidden underneath and you could just knot and cut the ends if you wished instead of sewing them in.  However, I'm trying to see if there is a way of making it in one pass which would always be my preference!  The "snow" is added afterward with crochet.

Quick update:  I've been working on this tonight and it IS doable in one pass, with the use of split rings and split chains.  I often use split rings but split chains a lot less often so this will be a good opportunity to practice them!

I will try my best to get the pattern together as soon as possible and make a new blogpost about it when it's ready.  So keep checking back if you'd like to tat the little tree!

The tree in the background is the one I made many years ago and the one in the foreground is the one I just made.

The other thing I need to figure out is how to share the pattern as I've had many problems with Google Docs over the years and people telling me they can't access my patterns there.  If anyone has good suggestions on how best to do that, I'd be grateful.  I'll see if I can just post the pattern straight here into a blogpost.

To be continued...

Best wishes,

Frivole