Have you been enjoying the Peacock Plumes Afghan CAL so far? I surely have‼! It’s been so awesome seeing all of your beautiful creations – such individuality and creativity from everyone. It’s also very gratifying for me, that you are all working on the same project – my pattern – at the same time, all over the world! THIS is what crochet does. This craft brings us all together in the spirit of friendship and benevolence as we work together to create beauty, one stitch at a time. I sincerely want to thank each and every one of you for joining me in this wonderful journey. If you take away just one thought this week, think about spreading your own wings. You are a unique and beautiful person, and the world needs to see your own spectacular array of feathers!
PART 7 – RECTRICES
This week, we are moving on to the tail feathers of the peacock. The term Rectrices (singular rectrix) comes from the Latin word for “helmsman.” These feathers lie in a single horizontal row on the rear margin of the anatomic tail. Only the central pair are attached (via ligaments) to the tail bones; the remaining rectrices are embedded into the rectricial bulbs, complex structures of fat and muscle that surround those bones.
The rectrices, or tail flight feathers are mainly concerned with stability and control. They are used as a rudder, helping to steer and balance the bird and allow the bird to twist and turn in flight. These feathers also act as a brake for landing.
Tail feathers occur in even numbers. Each bird has a central pair with outer tail feathers on both sides when the tail is expanded. When the tail is folded, the central pair is placed on top and the outer pair positioned at the bottom of the pile.
Most tail feathers feature an interlocking microstructure similar to wing feathers. Arranged in a fan shape, these feathers support precision steering in flight. Typically, birds have six pairs of feathers on the tail, which display increasing levels of asymmetry toward the outer pairs. In some birds, tail feathers have evolved into showy ornaments that are useless in flight.
An adult peacock has an average of 200 tail feathers and these are shed and regrown annually. Of the 200 or so feathers, about 170 are ‘eye’ feathers and 30 are ‘T’ feathers. Each ‘eye’ feather and ‘T’ feather is an object of outstanding beauty in itself. The eyes contain beautiful patterns, and the ‘T’-shaped feathers form a beautiful border to the fan. We will look at the ‘T’ feather this week.
The long ‘T’ border feathers provide a beautiful border to the tail feathers because they form an inverse shape to the peacock eye as shown below. An inverse shape is beautiful because the inside profile of the T feather follows the outline of the eye pattern. The T feathers often form an ‘ogee’ curve on each side of the feather. An ogee curve is beautiful because it is both concave and convex. For this reason, ogee curves are used in architecture in structures such as arches. The formation of an ogee curve from individual barbs is yet another remarkable feature of the peacock tail. Each barb at the end of the T feather has a unique length and curvature and all the barbs coordinate exactly with each other to form the curved T.
For Part 7 this week, you will make individual motifs that we will call the Rectrices. These will be modeled after the T Feathers. When making these motifs, you will leave a long yarn tail at the very last round, specifically so you can sew the motifs onto the afghan. Since you’re going to have a few ends to weave in for these motifs, you might as well use the last one for joining. I’m really trying to save you some ends, as I understand the aversion to dealing with them. 🙂 I’m hoping that once you see how absolutely beautiful your afghan is looking with the addition of the Rectrices, those pesky ends will be the last thing on your mind!
Written in US terms.
ABBREVIATIONS
Beg = beginning
Ch/s = chain/s
Dc = double crochet
Hdc = half double crochet
Hk = hook
Lp/s = loop/s
Prev = previous
Sc = single crochet
Sk = skip/skipped
Sl st = slip stitch
Sp/s = space/s
St/s = stitch/es
Tr = treble crochet
Yo = yarn over
HOOK: Crochet hook size H / 5.0mm
FINISHED SIZE: 55” Diameter
SPECIAL STITCHES:
Bptr (back post treble crochet): Yo twice, insert hk from back to front to back around post of st indicated, yo and pull up lp, (yo and draw through 2 lps on hk) twice, yo and pull through last 2 lps.
Sc2tog (single crochet 2 stitches together): [Insert hk in st indicated, yo and pull up lp] twice, yo and draw through all lps on hk. Counts as 1 sc.
TrCl (treble crochet cluster): Work 2 tr in same st until last lp of each is on hk, yo and draw through all lps on hk.
INSTRUCTIONS
For this part, you will make 33 individual Motifs and join them to the prev part.
Make 11 each in colors A, C, & G (Rnds 74 – 76.)
Rnd 73: With D ch 4, join to form a ring or make a magic ring, ch 3 (count as dc), 2 dc in ring, (ch 2, 3 dc in ring) 3 times, join with hdc to top of beg ch-3. Finish off. (12 dc, 4 ch-2)
Rnd 74: Join A/C/G with sl st to any ch-2 corner sp, ch 3 (count as dc), dc in same sp, Bptr in next 3 dc, [(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-2 corner sp, Bptr in next 3 dc] around, 2 dc in first ch-2 corner sp, join with hdc to top of beg ch-3. (12 Bptr, 16 dc, 4 ch-2)
Rnd 75: Ch 4 (count as tr), TrCl in same sp, (ch 3, sk next 2 sts, TrCl in next st) twice, ch 3, sk next st, (TrCl ch 3, TrCl) in next ch-2 sp, ch 3, sk next st, TrCl in next st, ch 3, sk next 2 sts, TrCl in next st, ch 3, sk next 2 sts, (TrCl, tr) in next ch-2 sp, ch 1. DO NOT TURN. (8 TrCl, 7 ch-3, 2 tr)
Rnd 76: Rotate clockwise to work around vertical post of last tr made, 4 sc around post, sc in ch-2 sp before next dc, sc in next 7 sts, 3 sc in next ch-2 sp, sc in next 7 sts, sc in ch-2 sp before next tr, 3 sc around vertical post of next tr, sc2tog placing 1st leg around post of same tr and 2nd leg in top of TrCl. Finish off, leaving a 12” tail for joining. (27 sc)
Weave in all ends of each Motif, except the last 12” tail.
Join Rectrice Motifs – When joining, you can either stitch into BOTH lps or BLO, whichever method you prefer as it doesn’t affect the design.
With 12” tail, join each motif on WS using whip stitch. Match up Rnd 76 sts to Rnd 72 sts, leaving the st with SM unworked. After all 33 Motifs are joined, you can RM and cont to Rnd 77.
Rnd 77: With RS facing, join B with sc to the 4th (center) ch-3 sp of any Motif, (sc, hdc, 2 sc) in same sp, [(3 sc in next ch-3 sp) 3 times, dc in Rnd 71 ch-2 sp working over Rnd 72 sc, (3 sc in next 3 ch-3 sp) 3 times, (2 sc, hdc, 2 sc) in next ch-3 sp] around omitting last (2 sc, hdc, 2 sc), join with sl st to first sc. Finish off. (23 sts per Motif = 759 sts, 33 dc in bet motifs)
DONE WITH PART 7!!
Do you need yarn for this project, or to replenish your stash? Yarn kits are still available, as well as many other fine yarns for all your crochet needs.
- BeWoolen – Champlin, MN – Elysian
- Jimmy Beans Wool – Reno, NV – 220 Superwash®
- Michigan Fine Yarns – Livonia, MI – Anthem DK, 220 Superwash®, Pacific Sport®
- Simply Socks Yarn Company – Fort Wayne, IN – 220 Superwash®
- Webs – Northhampton, MA – 220 Superwash®, Pacific Sport®
- Wood & Knit Be Nice Music Studio – Papillion, NE – Anthem DK
- Wool & Company – South Elgin, IL – 220 Superwash®
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I hope you are enjoying crocheting your Peacock Plumes Afghan. I would love for you to join me and crochet along with like-minded crafty folk. Here are links where you can find me:
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