Friday 16 March 2012

Dancing Butterflies

I recently treated myself to a few new books so now have many patterns I want to try.  The first one is this really pretty butterfly border pattern from Occhi Schiffchenspitze Frivolité by Marianne Langwieser and Tatiana Scharowa.  As soon as I saw that in the book, I had to make it!

Motif No.18
Click on picture to see it in larger format

Isn't it lovely?

I struggled a bit to start off as the book is written in German so had to try to figure out what the pattern said!  So a bit of trial and error involved but I got there in the end. This is another pattern that provides good practice for the Catherine Wheel Joint.  I can't really tell from the picture in the book (or from the pattern) if that's the join that was used but it does look nicer on the larger wings of the butterfly.

I would call this a slightly challenging pattern, the most difficult part being the antennae with the Josephine knots and the very long picots.  For the second one, you have to start with a long picot, make the JK knot and then carry on the chain with another larger picot and I found it worked out best using two picot gauges on that antennae.  I also ended up twisting mine three times before connecting them as I felt it gave them a nicer look.

I might have to redo this again in a plain colour.  Is the variegated too distracting do you think?  I tried to find the "gentlest" variegated I had... this is a thread I don't think I've used before:  it's Altin Basak 50 in colour 3053.

Best wishes,

24 comments:

  1. Oh how gorgeous!!!! :)
    That would look awesome on a little girl's dress!! :) Or on as a decoration around a shirt collar. :) I love the variegated and it would look best on a plain colored item, but a plain color would probably stand out better on a print item.

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  2. What a fun border...the variagated thread makes them look like little iridescent butterflies dancing through the sunshine :-)

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  3. Love it! I think the thread is just fine. Perfect butterfly color. I just ordered that book, I think. It's the one with the peacock on the cover, yes? I have no idea what else is in it, but the peacock sold me.

    As for translation, Google translator works better than most online translators for German if you have the patience to type. I've used it to translate an old Burda tatting book and an Adelheid Dangela book.

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  4. Hi Stephanie,

    The peacock's what's sold it to me too!! I started on him but he's proving a bit of a challenge... ah, but I like a challenge! Hope you like the book, it has lots of nice things in it.

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  5. This is absolutely stunning! I love the colours you used for this edging, although I'm a more solid colours kinda person! WOW!!

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  6. Wow the stitches are perfect. I really like that color, I made a doily using it a few years ago. The colors are soft enough they don't hide the pattern. I really like the way the antenae were done. I'll be looking for that book in the future.

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  7. Delightful pattern! And the thread is very pretty. i do like tatting with Altin Basak - provides a nice change.
    Fox : )

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  8. Hallo Frivole, this is soo beautiful!! I think variegated thread is perfectly for butterflies, who are so colorful themthelves and sittung on colorful flowers. But a single color will give the pattern another look I think, eager to your next one.
    I don't know the book, so thank you for sharing this wonderful idea! If you have any questions regarding german text, feel free to contact me through my blog, I am german and would love to help you if possible.
    Happy tatting
    Gunhild

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    1. Hi Gunhild, thank you very much for your kind offer of help. I might take you up on it sometime though I usually manage to muddle through with the help of Google translate! :-)

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  9. I do not think the variegated color interferes at all -- it is so very pretty - delicate like a butterflies wings.

    Oh, how your post has me yearning for my very own copy of the book, especially with the tease about a peacock pattern on top of those dancing butterflies.

    You've done a masterful job! The edging is exquisite.

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  10. It is beautiful. I wouldn't change a thing.

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  11. I've seen butterfly edgings before, but never such a pretty one; usually the butterflies are all lined up in a row, and end up looking like specimens pinned on a card! I like how these are turned different ways-- they look more like living butterflies. I think this particular variegated thread is perfect for the design, although I can see how some of the bolder Lizbeth colorways could get distracting.

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  12. What a beautiful edging! I was very excited thinking I had the book and could try it, but alas I have a book by same designers with the same title but no lovely peacock or butterfly edging. Now I'll just have to hope I find a copy of it in April.

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    1. Hallo Neeneral, same happened to me. I have one of them, black, an introduction to basics of tatting. Thought this is a new one, but it says the red one with the peacock is obviously worked over in 2011 with some new pattern added, the butterfly and the peacock... What a pitty...

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  13. What beautiful edging, I think the pattern is gorgeous and I don't think the thread takes away the pattern, I think the colours of thread enhance it.
    Margaret

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  14. Ooh! I just ordered that book! It should be her tomorrow or Monday, and now I can hardly wait! Your tatting is beautiful as always, and I love the thread color you chose!

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  15. I think the color is perfect! Deliicate and very papillon! Love,y tatting as always!

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  16. Très joli modèle..Encore une tentation pour le livre!!!!!
    J'aime beaucoup cette couleur elle est très douce...
    Amitiés

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  17. Wow this looks very elegant and detailed...i love the color ..its springy

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  18. How did I miss this post. It is stunning, the white one too. Both has its plus points. It looks difficult to tat but you did an amazing job. I am so glad I ordered the book.

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  19. I simply adore the butterflies. where can I get the pattern?It would make a beautiful bracelet

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    1. Hi Vicky, the information about the book is in the post, in the first paragraph.

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  20. hola me gustaría saber donde puedo conseguir ese mismo hilo, estoy muy interesada en el y no lo encuentro. Lizbert handy no lo tiene, pues ya mire y remire toda su carta de colores, si eres tan amable de decirme donde conseguirlo te estaré muy agradecida.
    Mi correo es anabf44@hotmail.es
    espero tu respuesta.
    gracias

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