Evolution of a Snowflake Design

It's that time of year! Time for a new snowflake. I leafed through my favourite book of snowflakes by Wilson A. Bentley and picked one:

Normally, I make little pencil sketches to start with but this time I went straight in with my shuttles and had a go at reproducing the shape:

Version 1:  Straight off the shuttles, using lock chains to get the straight lines of the real snowflake. I find tips too long proportionally. Need to figure out how to move from round to round in a pleasing manner. An OK start.

Version 2:  Spaced it a bit more, straight lines of LCs are ok but lack interest. Added a round of normal chains to vary things and because I see a bit of a curve effect in the real one too.

Version 3:  I'm keeping the round of normal chains and added a line of SRs (split rings) for interest. Yes, that's a bit better but still not quite right… continuing to work on tips for proportion and how to join them to last round. Still figuring out the best way to move from round to round, now using tiny rings to space the rounds.

Version 4:  Thought it was better to end with a straight line of LCs (more like real snowflake) so put SRs on penultimate round, not bad, I think I like this one. 

Version 5:  Basically re-did 4 thinking perhaps it was good but now I’m not so sure about the spacing and find the tips are sticking out too much. Tips still feel a bit too long proportionally, maybe I need to attach them to the last round... on the real snowflake, they are really "stuck" onto the outer edge.

Version 6:  SRs are a bit fiddly to make so let’s try victorian sets for the penultimate round instead. Hmmm, no, lacks the visual interest of the SRs. However, I attached the trefoils to the LCs on that one, adding a couple of plain DS at beginning and end of LCs and I prefer that.

Version 7:  YES. I’m happy now. I made the SRs a bit bigger and I prefer that. And I like the shape! It can be difficult to make long straight lines look really symmetrical and even but I think the proportions are good and in keeping with the look of the real snowflake.

I'm calling it... Flindrikin!

Flindrikin

Real Snowflake

Obviously I'm not trying to be "exactly" like the real snowflake, but strongly inspired, within the limitations of tatted lace, and hoping to create a pleasing design.

Oh, and Alwyn (snowflake 2025) is now available in my Etsy shop should anyone wish to tat it. Only a year late with it! So there will be two new ones this year.

Would anyone wish to test-tat Flindrikin? I'd appreciate it very much. Other people always see things I have not noticed when I write up the pattern.

Best wishes,

Frivole

The Forgotten Snowflake!

Really, I had completely forgotten about Alwyn... the snowflake I designed last year, which even got test-tatted by some helpful tatters but then I ran out of time to publish it before Christmas... so I forgot about it and never finished writing the pattern! 

I decided to add a variation as I did like another version I'd made (unintentionally, by forgetting one of the elements in one of my test pieces). They're similar but quite different at the same time I think. And I like both so decided to include both in the pattern. The one on the left is definitely closer to the real snowflake photo though.

I'm nearly there but now need to tackle the dreaded diagram drawing. I'm using Procreate but it's still a learning curve for me and a slow process.

Once I've got that one sorted out, I already have my Wilson Bentley book of snowflakes out to choose one for this year's new snowflake!

Best wishes,

Frivole

Crochet Like Knitting... or Knitting-Like Crochet?

I've always liked the idea of crocheting garments... but the resulting fabric is often a bit stiff and lacking in drape (or else you need to use a fine yarn to large hook ratio, so yes, there are workarounds but still...) compared to knitting.

Then I started seeing all these new garments crocheted through the back loop only and works sideways so of course I had to give it a try!

This is the Doña Sweater by Lolacrochets. I liked the simple shape and bulky but soft stitch. Crocheted with a 6.5mm hook, I figured it would grow reasonably quickly. I'm using Drops Nepal which is a lovely soft mix of wool and alpaca. I'd bought the yarn for a different project (not for me) so this is not really in my usual sort of colours but I decided to use it anyway (in case I don't like it in the end, I've not invested too much).

The other great thing about it is that is worked in one single piece! I'm still only on the first panel but I like it so far!

Best wishes,

Frivole

Vintage Edging

Here is an edging by Thérèse de Dillmont (she's the editor, not the designer) which you can find here in the Antique Patterns Library - what a wonderful resource! This is a pattern I've made before in years past but decided to re-visit and take the opportunity to make a video.

The left photo is from the original book and the green edging is my own tatting.

I shall be edging a new handkerchief for my mother-in-law. Sorry the lighting is a bit terrible in the photo below but that's the start of the edging which matches the green in the hanky. My mother-in-law loves green, it's her favourite colour!

It's not difficult and pretty... but you have to not mind making lots and lots of Josephine Knots!  I'll keep that one in my bag and get it done gradually.

Best wishes,

Frivole

Matching Earrings

One of the joys of making your own earrings is that you can always make them to match whichever outfit. Here is one pair I recently made to go with a particular dress. Apart from the striped black and white background, the yellow roses have a bit of blue in them and that's what I wanted to pick up. 

I feel it's really time I try to come up with a new earring design. I've been making this one for some time now (and still enjoy it, and have modified it a bit over the years) but I need to apply my brain cells to something new! Sometimes inspiration strikes unexpectedly... other times, you have to work at it!

I hope everyone is enjoying a pleasant summer!

Best wishes,

Frivole

More Earrings!

Since the last fair was a success, I made more earrings for the next Festival my daughter will be attending. Again I stuck to flowers, leaves, and nature, to be in keeping with the nature theme of her own art. I also used her preferred colour palette in choosing which threads to work with. I finally got around to making earrings with my leaf pattern and I also made my little pea pod into earrings!

I also played around with my layered flower pattern, modified it a bit and added beads on some of them. I do like the leaves, particularly in the darker variegated colour way (bottom right of photo above). I'll have to make myself a pair!

The beads are a bit subtle in this pair above

but I forgot to take close up photos of all the ones I sent to my daughter!

I've since made more beaded pairs which I'll have to show you in another blogpost.

Let's hope this selection will appeal to the Festival goers!

Best wishes,

Frivole

Busy with Earrings

Oh dear, I'm not making time to post on my blog again! There are always so many things to get on with aren't there? But I really needed to update a bit since my last post was about Easter eggs!

Over the long May Bank Holiday weekend, I was busy tatting some earrings for my daughter to take with her to a craft fair she will be attending.

She wanted something fairly simple and "leafy" if possible as my daughter's theme is nature so when she saw Lilliantatlace's Verdalet she thought it was just the thing! I like the shape of it and it's pretty quick to make. I tatted a few pairs of those and then some flowers which are my own design as well as the pair of little apples which are also my own. My daughter chose the colours to keep with her nature theme.

I was planning on make some earrings with my little leaf pattern too but I ran out of time. My daughter has another fair coming up in a couple of weeks so I'll be working on some of my own leaves for earrings next time.

It's been so unseasonably hot in the UK these last few days! Like full summer but in May! I hope you're all doing well from wherever you are reading this. It's always great to hear from you!

Best wishes,

Frivole