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/
