Alba Pattern Draw!

First of all I would like to thank my test-tatters, I always appreciate people taking the time and energy to try patterns and give feedback, their work is essential in getting a pattern ready - Thank you so much!

I hope some of you will be interested in tatting Alba so I am having a draw for 5 copies of the pattern.  All you have to do is leave a comment on this blogpost and I will draw 5 names at random from the comments.

I'll make the draw on the 1st of December.

Good luck!

Best wishes,

Frivole

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