New Pattern - Viola

It was a friend's birthday last week.  I was just going to send her a card... then felt I needed to enclose something with the card.  I didn't have a lot of time as I wanted to send her the card straight away.  So I came up with this necklace (the one in the main photo), and off it went in the post.

The second version, in the oval insert, is one I made afterwards and which I modified slightly from the first.  You can add a pendant to it or not.  In the second version, I added beads on each side instead of a pendant because I find that tatted lace does required a bit of weighting down to stay in place as it is so light.

Then I had another idea and thought it would look nice if the motif was repeated all around but I wanted to find a way of making it in one pass - definitely didn't want to cut, tie and hide ends on each repeat, that would spoil the fun! - so I beavered away some more and here's the third version of this necklace:

I liked the look of it so much that I carried on and made earrings... and then found that it also looks great as a hanky edging.  Because of the way it's constructed, the edging "bends" around easily, making it a very versatile edging which can be used on squares, ovals or rounds.  You can turn the corner on the motif as I've done below or even in between motifs works too.  Here's a small sample which I tatted in size 80 thread:

The shape reminded me of violas...

But wait, wait!  That's not all.  Just when I thought I was about good to go with the pattern, I found I could also make a great little square with this design.  And you know how I love squares!  So I've been frantically working away the last few days at writing this new pattern with all its variations.

I'm just not happy yet with the centre of the square... it feels just a bit too big to have nothing but all the variations I've tried so far were not quite right either...  This latest pink one has a little circlet of tiny flowers; thought it would look like a little wreath to go with the violas...  mmmmm....  I'm thinking some more...

All five (six even!) versions of this design will be available on the pattern.

I hope you like it!

Best wishes,

Frivole