Friday 15 January 2010

Robin

Over the next few posts I’m going to show you three different birds, all I have tatted and all have a story behind them. To start with is the Robin. We associate this little fellow with Christmas, he pops up on many of the cards we send and receive. Robins on Christmas cards are usually surrounded by snow and to make the picture complete a sprig of holly is often seen.

The pattern for this little robin was in a Ring of Tatters magazine some years ago designed by Anthea Rowley. After I made him I immediately gave him away to someone named Robin and had to borrow him in order to post this picture.
I couldn't tat him again as I only saved half the pattern! The instructions say to sew white cotton for the eye, although if I ever have the opportunity to make him again I would use a bead for the eye.

There is a legend that the robin plucked the thorns from the bloodied head of the crucified Christ and so earned his red breast. In the 19th century people in England called their postman Robin because the ‘posties' uniform was a bright red waistcoat. Early Christmas cards show Robins carrying envelopes in their beaks or knocking on doors.


This particular robin is a regular visitor to Robin’s garden.

This Christmas Card was made by someone as a thanks for a pair of tatted “toothbrush earrings” that I gave her. Somewhere in my home is the same pattern, which is supposed to make a card, but I only managed to sew about a quarter of it, after that I was bored, tatting is much more fun!

There is also an old English folk rhyme entitled "Who Killed Cock Robin" although it is believed to be talking about the legendary Robin Hood. Here is the last line of it "All the birds of the air fell a-sighing and a-sobbing, When they heard the bell toll for poor Cock Robin." Ah!!!!

17 comments:

  1. The tatted robin is very lifelike, what a shame you can't find your pattern!I was so excited when I saw my first robin, in my father-in-law's garden in Wiltshire years ago - I'd never seen one! He was quite tame and came to be fed when you whistled for him - and his name, unsurprisingly, was Robin!

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  2. He is sooooooo cute~~~~ I just love him!!!!

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  3. so georgous!! Where would I find the magazine / book I am interested....

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  5. love this - it's absolutely gorgeous! Wish I had the pattern....

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  6. I love that robin pattern and have tatted him 2 times, sadly never for me! Actually...I turned him into a bluebird once I think. And I did use a bead for the eye. He's on my blog somewhere.

    I think I'd heard that legend of the robin before but it's always good to be reminded. I'm the same way with jokes...enjoy hearing them but couldn't repeat them to save my soul!

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  7. ps..he is in the ROT 2005 Tatting Book. I don't know if they still have any copies available but it might show on their website. Yep...it's the gray one here:
    http://www.ringoftatters.org.uk/newsletter.html

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  8. Wonderful! I didn't know postmen had been called Robin. Love this historic detail.
    Fox : )

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  9. Beautiful! Our official state (Michigan) bird is the Robin. I'm going to tell my mailman the bit of trivia about the postman. He'll love it.

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  10. That Robin is absolutely adorable! I sure wish that pattern was more accessible! It's really hard to find good bird patterns for tatting! What a gem! What a sweet story, too!

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  11. I made that robin too once - a loooong time ago!!!!

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  12. I started that Robin...a zillion years ago...a poor little UFO...he must be somewhere. I bet Robin liked his Robin.

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  13. Awwwwwwwwwww, he's just the sweetest little robin!!

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  14. Thanks for all the lovely comments - Thanks Gina for pointing out that it is in the ROT 2005 book, I actually have it but didn't realise it was in there! It is a pattern with lots of bits to it and I can see why you gave up Tatskool! And yes Robin does like it and I had to promise to give it him back!
    Now a "little bird" says that she is prepared to design a less complicated pattern, and you can all guess who I'm talking about! But we will have to keep reminding her - perhaps after her TIAS?! Also if there was another pattern it could be, as Gina suggested turned into another bird - endless possabilities!

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  15. How lovely and very interesting at the same time.

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