Thursday, June 1, 2017

Santa Barbara County Courthouse Tiles - Part 1: In Beads

Downtown Santa Barbara has a fairly strict aesthetic.  Lets call it Spanish Romantic.  The buildings are pretty, picturesque, and largely less than a hundred years old.  It's hard to believe that an earthquake in 1925 destroyed most of the downtown and made it possible for the town to create such a cohesive presence.

This destruction included the county courthouse, jail, and records office, leading to the beautiful example that stands today.  Calling back to the Spanish style, it's clock tower, statues, murals, stone work, and yes, tile work are a favorite for many of the tourists and locals who visit today.


For this months projects I have taken a look at some of the tile work found in the courthouse's second floor.  This is tile work that many people walk past or walk on on their way to another vista.  The tiles here are stunning (as they are in most of Santa Barbara), and are largely original to this structure.

To start with I present three woven bead bracelets with crocheted edging.  The main problem when trying to portray intricately drawn work into a smaller and cruder format is that a lot of the detail gets lost.  I like to think of this as the 8-bit effect.  Sort of like playing an old video game and thinking about what the future will bring.

While I was talking to one of the wonderful people who work in the building I was informed that many of the decorative tiles in the building were made in Tunisia.  To tell which were, I was told to lightly rub the tiles.  Tiles with slight ridges that outlined the coloring were from Tunisia, while the smooth tiles were not.

The original tiles that I looked at for the first two bracelets were made by Jacob Chemla of Les Fils de Chemla in French Tunisia.  The bold colors and strong lines mixed with intricate motifs enliven the shadowy hallways that seem to welcome visitors instead of threaten them.

The tiles for the third bracelet are found on the floor the the mural room.  This room's walls are covered in a wrap around mural depicting the settling of Santa Barbara.  The floor has tiles made by Gadding, McBean.  The base terra cotta color is deep and vibrant while the textured and colored tiles add definition and a structured whimsical quality.

References:
Gebhard, Patricia and Masson, Kathryn. The Santa Barbara County Courthouse. Santa Barbara, Ca, Daniel & Daniel, Publishers. 2001

If you would like a PDF of this pattern from Etsy, it can be found here.

Feel free to change the thread, gauge, beads, or size to fit your needs.  Just please do not try to sell this pattern as your own.

If you have any problems that you think that I might be able to help you with, email me at GridMammalCrafts@gmail.com .

Santa Barbara Courthouse Tile Inspired Bracelets with Crochet Edging

Shown in Size Medium

Materials for All Bracelets:
            Beading Loom
            Nymo Thread
Beading Needle
            5 – 6 Colors: Size 11/0 Seed Beads
            Size 80 Crochet Thread
Size 11, 1.10mm Crochet Hook
3/4” Maximum Diameter Shanked Button
Small Dull Sewing Needle
Fine Scissors

Finished Size:
Small
                        ~8” x 1.1” (without crochet)
                        To fit a approx. 6” wrist
            Medium
                        ~8.5” x 1.1” (without crochet)
                        To fit a approx.6.5” wrist
            Large
                        ~9” x 1.1” (without crochet)
                        To fit a approx. 7” wrist
            Extra Large
                        ~9.5” x 1.1” (without crochet)
                        To fit a approx. 7.5” wrist

Notes:
·         Sizes may vary slightly depending on the color and type of 11/0 Seed Beads used.
·         Each bracelet has eight corners, four to a side.
·         The single block in each pattern outlined in a thick line denotes the likely position to attach the button.
·         Choose button after the bracelet has been woven to make sure that its size is correct.
·         A button with a shank will work better than a flat one.
Abbreviations:
            ch        chain
            dc        double crochet
            hdc      half double crochet
            sc         single crochet
            sl st      slip stitch
            tc         triple crochet

Instructions:
            Thread a beading loom with 20 warp threads
            Weave in beads as shown on chart, being careful to omit beads for the button hole.
            Remove bracelet from loom and weave in ends.
            Begin working on desired edging.       

 First Bracelet

Specific Materials for First Bracelet:
            White Nymo Thread Size B
            Size 11/0 Sead Beeds, 103 - Glass, Opaque White
Size 11/0 Sead Beeds, 686 - Glass, Opaque Matte Yellow
Size 11/0 Sead Beeds, 374A - Glass, Teal Matte Lined
Size 11/0 Sead Beeds, 399H - Matte Medium Blue-Lined Amethyst
            Size 11/0 Sead Beeds, 101m - Glass, Opaque Matte Black
            Size 80 Crochet Thread – DMC, Dark Blueberry - 789


First Key:



Chart 1:

Edging 1:
      Starting on the end opposite the button hole, with the right side facing, join the crochet threat between the corner bead and the next bead on the top horizontal edge.

Round 1:
-          Ch1 and sc in the same space 
-          Loosely sc around the nymo thread between each bead on the horizontal edge of the bracelet.  Sc around the first corner bead and around every bead around the end (19 beads).
-          Repeat the last step around the rest of the bracelet.
-          Sl st to the first single crochet.
Round 2:
-          Ch5, skip one sc and dc in the next sc
-          Ch2, skip one sc and dc in the next sc.  Repeat this step down the horizontal edge of the bracelet.
-          When you reach the first corner Ch 2 and dc in the next sc.
-          [(Ch2, skip one sc and dc in the next sc) x 3, (Ch2 and dc in the same sc)] x 2
-          [(Ch2, skip one sc and dc in the next sc) x 3, (Ch 2 and dc in the next sc)
-          Repeat the last four steps around the rest of the bracelet until there is one sc left until the beginning of the round.
-          Ch2 and sl st to the third ch in the starting Ch5
Round 3:
-          Ch1
-          In the next Ch2 space (sc, hdc, dc, tc, ch2)
-          Repeat the last step around the rest of the bracelet.
-          Sl st into the first sc.

Break thread and weave in ends.


Finishing:
                        Using nymo thread and seed beads of your choice, sew on the button in the desired position.

Second Bracelet
Specific Materials for Second Bracelet:
            White Nymo Thread Size B (Warp)
            White Nymo Thread Size 0 (Weft)
            Size 11/0 Sead Beeds, 103 - Glass, Opaque White
Size 11/0 Sead Beeds, 686 - Glass, Opaque Matte Yellow
Size 11/0 Sead Beeds, 374A - Glass, Teal Matte Lined
Size 11/0 Sead Beeds, 399H - Matte Medium Blue-Lined Amethyst
            Size 11/0 Sead Beeds, 101m - Glass, Opaque Matte Black
            Size 80 Crochet Thread – DMC, Black - Noir
Second Key:

Chart 2:


Edging 2:
      Starting on the end opposite the button hole, with the right side facing, join the crochet threat between the corner bead and the next bead on the top horizontal edge.
Round 1:
-          Ch1 and sc in the same space 
-          Loosely sc around the nymo thread between each bead on the horizontal edge of the bracelet.  Sc around the first corner bead and around every bead around the end (19 beads).
-          Repeat the last step around the rest of the bracelet.
-          Sl st to the first single crochet.

Round 2:
-          Ch1, sc in the same st
-          Repeat this step around the bracelet
-          Sl st into the first sc in the round.

Round 3:
-          Ch3
-           (hdc2, sc, ch3, sc, hdc2) in the next ch4 space
-          Dc in the next sc
-          Repeat the previous two steps around the bracelet
-          Sl st into the top of the first ch3.
Break thread and weave in ends.

Finishing:
                        Using nymo thread and seed beads of your choice, sew on the button in the desired position

Third Bracelet
Specific Materials for Third Bracelet:
            White Nymo Thread Size 0
            Size 11/0 Sead Beeds, 103 - Glass, Opaque White
Size 11/0 Sead Beeds, 686 - Glass, Opaque Matte Yellow
Size 11/0 Sead Beeds, 13600 - Glass, Opaque Brown
Size 11/0 Sead Beeds, Glass, Opaque Light Blue
Size 11/0 Sead Beeds, Glass, Opaque Medium Blue
Size 11/0 Sead Beeds, 399H - Matte Medium Blue-Lined Amethyst
            Size 80 Crochet Thread – DMC, White - Blanc

Third Key:


Chart 3:


Edging 3:
      Starting on the end opposite the button hole, with the right side facing, join the crochet threat between the corner bead and the next bead on the top horizontal edge.
Round 1:
-          Ch1 and sc in the same space 
-          Loosely sc around the nymo thread between each bead on the horizontal edge of the bracelet.  Sc around the first corner bead and around every bead around the end (19 beads).
-          Repeat the last step around the rest of the bracelet.
-          Sl st to the first single crochet.

Round 2:
-          Ch1, sc in the same st
-          (Ch3, skip 1 sc, sc in the next sc) until you reach the vertical end of the bracelet
-          (Ch 3, sc in the same stitch), (Ch3, skip 1 sc, sc in the next sc) x 3, (Ch 3, sc in the same stitch)
-          Ch3, skip 1 sc, sc in the next sc) until you reach the vertical end of the bracelet
-          (Ch 3, sc in the same stitch), (Ch3, skip 1 sc, sc in the next sc) x 3, (Ch 3, sc in the same stitch)
-          (Ch3, skip 1 sc, sc in the next sc) x 2
-          Ch 3 and sl st into the first sc in the round.

Round 3:
-          Sl st into the first ch2
-          Ch1, sc in the same space
-          (Ch3, sc in the next ch3 space)
-          Repeat the previous step around the bracelet
-          Sl st into the top of the first sc.
Round 4:
-          Sl st into the next ch3 space
-          (sc4 in the next ch3 space)
-          Repeat the last step around
-          Sl st into the first sc in the round
                       
                         Break thread and weave in ends.




Finishing:

                        Using nymo thread and seed beads of your choice, sew on the button in the desired position.

No comments:

Post a Comment