Wriggley Rooster

Wriggley Rooster only uses 7 pairs, but features 13 different threads! I wanted to make the changing colours of a well cared for rooster, with flashes of gold and green in body and tail, and in the bright red of his comb.  I had to resort to my own 'Muaiga' style of lace making to create the barbs in the tail. 

Muaiga = Made Up As I Go Along

It's tiring work being this fancy!

The wing was made first, then the body and tail feathers, which are worked in one trail. Start underneath the beak.  I changed the colours for the tail feathers by laying in green/blue threads as  orange/yellows were left out.  I chose not to tie new threads in, because I wanted the transition to be more gentle so I ran the in and out threads side by side for a cm or so.  Many of the threads were, conveniently, left on bobbins from previous projects but these are the actual threads used just for information, the choice of thread and colour is totally your own choice.  Do not use me as an excuse to go on a mad, thread buying spree!

Threads used!

I used some vintage Bayeau bobbins which were heavily carved on the body.  Although the weight and size were ideal, the threads did rub against the carvings when feeding through loops. This made me think these were not ideal for laces which have lots of sewings, no matter how pretty they are. 

Option 1 Foot - The foot was added at the base of the body, worked out to the furthest toe with the upper edge having  an outside pin (pin under 4) edge.   To return for the other toes, I laid back the thicker glitter threads, leaving them still joined, and used a rolled edge to take the pairs for the trail back to the middle. At the turn, I added the glitter threads back into the work by laying them randomly between the pairs.  A holding pin an inch away from the foot held the glitter threads in the right direction for laying back in.

Option 2 Foot - The foot could be made more easily by making the full length, finishing, then add a 'V' trail to make the two toes sticking up. 

Option 3 Foot - Don't make one!  Wriggley Rooster is quite happy just sitting with his feet tucked underneath him!

The feathers have a picot on the upper edge and have very close joining bars before the sharp corner.  I used the sharp corner technique shown in Idrija lace. 

The center of the feathers could be left open, strengthened with a  few well placed bars, or filled with your own choice of stitches. 

Option - The rachis and barbs of the feathers are made with two pairs. I used one glitter thread pair and one pair of joined blue and green cotton.  Start by adding a pair at each side near the body, join with ctc pin ctc.  Take one bobbin each of a glitter and a cotton (may need to play with the cross and twists to make this work).  These  are twisted till they reach a suitable edge pin.  (I used 6-8 twists).   Make the sewing as normal. Some pins on the larger outside curve will need to be missed to keep the barbs even.  Be careful with the glitter thread, it can be a bit 'grabby' and can split easily if the crochet hook catches it wrong.

False Plait

To return to the center, twist pair twice, make a sewing around the outgoing twisted threads, twist two or three times and tension towards the center.  This is called a 'false plait' and avoids the barb threads being single long twists which often get wobbly off the pillow. 

Make a whole stitch (ctct) with the other pair, make fa;se plait to the opposite suitable pin and repeat the false plait.  On returning to the center, make a ctc pin ctc with both pairs and repeat.  Some places may need an extra ct to keep the center rachis the right length.  

When the piece is off the pillow, turn over to the right side and sew on a bead, or tiny sequin for the eye.