Angel Wings Butterfly (made in two different ways)

Created as a butterfly, I wonder if the wings would work on their own, stiffened and attached to a figurine, maybe making an angel, or a fairy?

This 2020 pattern was made to practice tallies and experiment with variegated thread. This extravagant butterfly gave me plenty of practice and I was glad to finish it! 

Start with two small tallies and work plaits to create the antennae.  Add 2 pairs at the top of the head as a worker and a passive and take in the two plaits to form the head.  Work the thorax in half stitch, or cloth stitch with twists to widen the ground. The first and last pairs are worked in cloth stitch.  Add two pairs at each pin down one side.   

Add 2 pairs at the top of the head as a worker and a passive and take in the two plaits to form the head. 

Work the thorax in half stitch, or cloth stitch with twists to widen the ground. The first and last pairs are worked in cloth stitch.  Add two pairs at each pin down one side.  

When I made this butterfly originally, I added the pairs onto both sides as I worked the body.  This created a large bundle of bobbins which did not need until I had finished the first side.  In hindsight, I should have sewn in the second side after I had completed the first side. 

Another option is to make the body first by adding an extra two pairs for a two pair edge (pin under 4) and making a rolled edge (a Honiton method) then sewing the wing pairs in as I needed them. The body can be made in a variety of stitches.

Each plait needs two pairs adding.  Working away from the body, more plaits are added to the wings.  The picots on the windmill crossings were worked one pair before the windmill, one after.  This can be replaced by the Honiton method featured in 'Blossom' ground. 

The non tally plaits crossing the wings are taken back and forth, crossing the trail worked between the two wings, then carried along with the passives at the outer edges until they work back across both wings to the other outer edge.  

On the last section of tallies, the biggest boxes, an extra two plaits in variegated thread are added.  These two pairs make the extra tallies which zig zag through the final two tallies and create a need for an 8 pair crossing. 

While working the last row of boxes with the extra tallies, the middle tally, which has come from the body, is taken into the edge (or tied off if you wish).

The nipped in point between the two wings is where you can finish by sewing the larger wing's edge into the smaller wing edge. The trail between the wings  continues working around the outer edge of the smaller wing to join at the sharp point. 

I asked another lace maker to try out this pattern, and, with only the pricking, this beautifully graduated was made.  Sybille Zapf made this in a completely different way to me, using the European style tape lace methods rather than the Bedfordshire methods which I use.  This method meant far fewer bobbins were used at any time, and control over colours and remembering what goes where is improved. 

The outlines were made first, with the strands of tallies and plaits worked by adding then taken out by tying off into the edge trails.  This method is more forgiving in using strong colours which one would not want to have to add into the trails to remove. 

A wonderful use of fine wire used by Sybille in the antennae and around the edges and body made the butterfly poseable when taken off the pillow.  A great idea which really brings the lace alive when mounted.

An A4 pdf is available from the Files on my FB page 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/907516516997481/

These need to print at A4. If your printer decides otherwise, down load the .pdf mentioned above. 

Giraffes - A Milanese Lace Challenge -New Giraffes added as they are made.

The online bobbin lace group I enjoy socializing and learning with has chosen this rather sweet pattern of 11 giraffes made in Milanese Lace.  This is a bobbin lace which uses few bobbins, usually a dozen pairs give or take a few.  

The swirls and interlocking ribbons of the designs marry with the precise, geometric patterns to create some of the most fluid and beautiful modern pieces of lace I have ever seen.  I wanted to use Milanese Braids very early on in my lace journey and have only now started to approach them and these little sampler bands working with 11 different Milanese braids are an ideal introduction. 

Giraffe 1

The first little giraffe started fine, a bit of double edging and cloth stitch for the head to get the confidence up, then into a relatively simple, straight edged band of 'Lotus'. So far so good. 

Here is the playlist of the 5 youtube videos I made to help our Bobbin Lace Along facebook zoom group.   

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtaX_I87zRKWuzSJOWTQ1fhYMYTvV8D6B&si=zhBkAaniGapKNjO2

ttp://www.kantmetklossennl/ http://www.kantmetklossen.nl/

Bonny Van Bergan kindly donated this pattern for free and it is in the 'Files' tab in the 'Bobbin Lace Along' facebook group, her other lovely patterns are available from   h

https://www.kantmetklossen.nl/op-het-land

Giraffe 2

The second giraffe proved a little more difficult.  We had to learn how to make a Milanese scroll to make the head bend at the neck.  The 'Fish number 1' braid was easy enough to make but I made a mistake when drawing out my own, narrower version for making the video.  I have marked on the diagram below, the two twists I missed off my little sample pattern, but on the video I corrected it as I made it.   I made the 20 minute video in one take (I don't do editing), so I just made a note in the comments and carried on. 

The more I learn, the less I feel I know about this delicate and challenging fibre art. 

https://youtu.be/c7v0fdOkWyU?si=ccSf04gb-rCQwyN_

Giraffe 3

To be continued...

Larger loop for picots.

Different ways of making a larger loop for picots.

The Bobbin Lace Along FB group are making Bonny Van Bergan's Milanese lace 'Family of Giraffes' as a group learning experience. The giraffe horns are created by making a particularly large, round picot. This lead to some discussion about how these can be made.

The options were:- a thick divider pin, four standard pins tight together, a standard pin with a bugle bead on, and to wrap paper around pearl head pins.

My thoughts: The divider pin is ideal, but is most likely to leave a hole in fabric/foam pillows.

Cluster of standard pins, not really a round shape, may leave a hole.

Bugle bead, ideal if you buy the good ones with heat smoothed ends, the cheap ones (like the one I tried) have sharp, uneven ends and I would worry about cutting the thread if it slid underneath.

Paper wrapped pearl pins. A half inch strip of paper at the top of the pin. I used the scissorribbon method for curling the paper to start, double sided sticky tape to fix and roll up with one sided sticky tape on the outside. Pushed into the pillow, these were the best option, and can be made to fit any size needed. The pins will be covered in sticky residue if the paper is pulled off so best to make a couple and keep them for this purpose.

The pattern for the giraffes is available as a free download in the 'Files' tab of the Bobbin Lace Along facebook group.