sneak peek variation

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 This is my submission for our #TALme2Endrucks Aug2023 game of the month. It is a variation on Ninetta Caruso's Garland pattern derived from Endrucks' pattern #20. The pattern was shared in 3 parts during the 3 weeks, and a 4th part on some surprise variations will be shared in a couple of days. Here's a peek into part of what might be expected, ;-D

Most participants have already finished and shared their beautiful versions. So sharing my variation will not cause any confusion now.

It was meant to have 8 repeats and 5 rounds. I have 7 repeats and a 6th round of rosette motifs.

 

This interesting pattern is worked from the outermost round. It has onion rings with thrown rings.

Onion Ring with Thrown Ring. A few members seemed to find it difficult to understand. Hence I quickly prepared this pictorial using 2 colours to show which shuttle was in action. It is the same process as for the Happy Hands patterns from #1 (https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2021/03/balancing-act.html). But each tutorial I referred to, was missing in one feature or other that was need for this particular pattern. Hence it was simpler to follow the steps of this pattern without the need for detailed written explanation.  

The 2nd round is worked on the inner edge of the previous round, made of block tatting 'flowers'. In my first repeats I am sure there are mistakes in the block (the very first one was snipped) - it needed mindful tatting.

I may not have gotten the shape of the flowers very nice, but the construction is very clever, as is to be expected of Ninetta.

The inner space is filled by working 3 rounds, this time in the 'proper' order - ie., from the inside out ;-D

The center rosette is worked and cut off. The thread for Round 4 is attached and worked around. 

The left one has 8 repeats, as per the pattern. This time I had counted and followed correctly, LOL.

Round 5 continues from the previous one without cutting and it is the round that connects to the outer rounds. It was only at the 'final' join that I realized there had been a miscount!!! Nothing to it but to bring out the scissors and snip snip snip.

Tatted Rounds 3,4, and 5 again, this time with 7 repeats, and joined successfully. However I did not wish to change the count which is why you see the slight curve in the linking chains. However I kind of like the organic feel of this imperfection.

TIP: To get a neat point in parallel chains or with chains that turn back, as in the middle round, I always count the lock join as one half of the double stitch. It leaves a much smaller footprint.

I had the pleasure of test-tatting and proof-reading this clever pattern back in June. Well I messed up with the repeats, but it gave us a variation that lay flat. So not much was lost.

For some reason the tinted green felt too overbearing. Hence I wanted to tone it down a bit. So after a long tatting break, I picked my shuttles for 2 nights in August for some 'mindless' tatting .....

This is what I came up with - repeated the inner flower motif around the edge. I measured the distance between the rings and the picots on the chains. It was a good fit!

Design TIP: I had initially tatted a 6-ring rosette. Surprisingly it did not look nice! So the 2nd one was made with 7 rings and these reflected the pattern well. So the first one was snipped off. 

 

I intended to fill in the space between the motifs with purple and white flowers connected with a plain green trellis. However, my tatting buddy Anita Barry, completely forbade it! She called it finished at this stage. To assuage my designing curiosity I might still try out one repeat, but not in the near future since I'm back in the no-tatting zone.

The model is worked in Anchor Pearl Cotton size 8 [green 0128; purple 00087; yellow 00291; white; tinted purple 5393. It measures around 12.5cms without and about 16cms with motifs.

I had a great time tatting it and apologize for the inadvertent error in counting. Must go back to a Maths refresher class! However yet again a mistake led to a slight variation - I should call it 'Mistake Designing', LOL.

Many many thanks to Ninetta for her beautiful pattern and all the work that went into it and into organising the game. 

double juggle

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 I'm calling it double juggle, not double trouble, coz I'm thoroughly enjoying myself and only wish I had more time and brain space to spare. I am deeply involved in 2 large projects with 2 different partners and have to juggle between both - I find that my brain is compartmentalised and have to 'get into each mode'. 

First project is my late friend's tatting book I am editing- it is over 200 pages consisting of a manual and a dictionary. This will take many more months but Angela is an enthusiastic and quick worker, providing excellent technical and formatting support and then some more.

Second project is our current tat-along in our EP Facebook group with Ninetta. some of our participants have already completed the entire doily even though 2 more parts need to be shared. They followed Reiko's diagrams without waiting for us ;-D Oh, and the colours and combinations that are emerging are truly inspiring!

Parts 1-4 of #TALmeEndrucks completed in size 40 threads, going for a peacock impression.

Parts 1 & 2 posted here - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2023/01/tat-along-doily.html

PART 3 - After the central 'flower' and the 'basket', we work the first half over the 'handle' of the basket, continuing from Part 2. 

There is one inward picot and the rest is simple rings and chains.

Endrucks worked the entire doily continuously. However we are following Reiko Akamatsu's modified pathway and count.

PART 4 - This is a mirror image of Part 3. Working with 2 colours means we need to switch shuttles before working the floating chains in order to get the same colour, unless one wants to use inward picots or Block Below Tatting (BBT).

I decided to work the lower chain first, then the upper scalloped chain. And since after this pair is made we need to anchor to the base and move to the right, I made an overhand tie/SLT, leaving a vsp space to lock join to later. 

I've used this SLT Picot before in a different scenario - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2015/03/experimenting-with-colours.html

And then again, for a mirror effect so that the last ring tilts accordingly, we need an inward picot on the chain. https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2023/01/measured-picot-on-core-thread.html

As you can see, the first and last rings are reflections of each other. Believe me, I tried the ring 'normally', thinking the chain could be attached to the ring accordingly. But it looked all wrong and I had to undo it. So it is worth the effort.

I absolutely love the clever arrangement of the floating chains. Even if they are not joined to each other, there are so many possibilities - peacock's plumes, a jester's hat, a rooster's tail, foliage, .....what else?

Playing with flipping to see what comes up, LOL. Nothing to write home about.

The blue colour runs a bit and has seeped into the green below.

Fortunately, no more seepage occurred. Parts 3 and 4 are worked twice more.

Part 5 will be released tomorrow as 3 detached motifs and I will share my fun arrangements in a future post. But first I have to get back to juggling the editing and tatting the final part of this cover doily!

tat-along doily

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Our new game in the Endrucks 1920 Project FB group has started. This time it's a tat-along of the cover doily. We are following Reiko Akamatsu's reworking of the original. And we are sharing 2 options. I am tatting it in 2 or more colours without climbing out. Ninetta is working it in one-pass using split chains, etc. to climb out. Of course Frau Endrucks herself tatted it in one pass using shadow/extra chains to climb out.

Tat-along of endrucks' cover doily #TALmeEndrucks jan2023 

Part 1 - Rounds A,B,C. I used the measured mock/inward picot to climb out of the central ring which can be tatted as a true ring or a mock ring.

Interestingly, this is the only pattern where Endrucks starts with a chain (aka mock ring)!!! Hadn't noticed it before. There is always something new cropping up.

Actually this was my 1st attempt where I used false ctm to climb out of the central blue ring. I kept the blue on the shuttle and continued with green ball. So not happy with the work which becomes even more glaring in the pic. 

PART 2 - Rounds D,E.  This is where the difference between individual rounds and continuous tatting emerge. Details are in the notes in the Part 2 pdf.

I tried Frivole's Ending on a Chain to avoid hiding ends but the thread broke and I had to start over.

Tatting as separate rounds gives us the freedom to increase our colour palette. Both rounds can be tatted with one shuttle and ball, including block tatting.

I am going for a peacock rendition, hence the choice of these colours. I chose size 40 and this time all 3 colours I used are from different brands! Green - Swati; Purple - Anchor; Blue - Gopal.

Doesn't the top make a nice little basket?! Would love to tat it separately and fill it with flowers. 

All links in the top right panel of my blog. You are welcome to participate. 

dual-faced

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The very night I blogged about this first poker attempt, I completed tatting it. I decided to make it an earring or a pendant. My earlier idea was to create a kind of garden of blooms for a greeting card. Making a whole bunch in size 80 was no joke – I was working blind! One can only bluff to an extent ;-P

Added a pearl bead with spiral ring to hold the appropriate findings.

Mulberry Earrings / Pendant pattern

Here’s the pattern, if interested.

2 shuttles with different colours. Tie threads.

CATKIN :

All are picot flowers, meaning each ring is made of picots separated by 1ds. There are 3 sizes :

1. large, with 7 picots : 2±1-1-1-1-1-1-2
2. medium, with 5 picots : 1±1-1-1-1-2 or 2±1-1-1-1-1
3. small, with 3 picots : 1±1-1-1.

Tat 3 large rings, 2 medium, 3 small, 2 medium, and 3 large rings.

Leave bare thread between rings, and join to previous ring.

TIP: If you wish to have some green thread show up like I did, here’s how –

After the first 6 rings, tat the 7^th (small ring) But before closing the ring, pass green thread through it, then close.

From 8^th ring onwards, make a lock join to corresponding bare thread, trapping the doubled green thread within.

STEM & LEAF :

Josephine chain : 15 long picot 15.

Chain : Insert paper clip on core thread to hold inward picot. 3-3-3-2 fold 2-3-3-3, join to inward picot.

Josephine chain : 15 long picot 15.

This is one sprig. One can tat a ring for findings and continue for the 2^nd sprig.

TIP: In order to change the direction of Josephine chain, switch to the other half stitch. So, if 1^st stem is tatted with 1^st half-stitches, tat the 2^nd stem with 2^nd half-stitches. It creates a sharp turn.

For 2^nd sprig, repeat the first or alter the number of picot flowers.

So how’d the cards stack up?

Card #1 for stem

Card #2 for large picot flowers

Card #3 for leaves

Card #4 for small flowers

Card #5 for medium flowers

Natalie thought the first part looked like a hyacinth, while hubby thought it looked like yummy mulberries! Your deal ;-D

I can’t even remember all the little ideas and off-shoots that came to my head while playing this game! A few I sketched out for later, but most have since evaporated.

Here’s my trial of one of them. It has fancy onion rings, thrown rings, and picot flowers. Could be an edging or return back for a bookmark or insertion. But I’m done playing for the present ….

I fold.

Many many thanks to Natalie Rogers 

for sharing & organising this creatively fun  game!

It is a semi-structured designing process. It is a great way to start a design and tweak for perfection. Add more types of cards such as techniques or effects or perhaps colour combos, etc. and we can spread our imagination further.

To see what was on other players’ cards, check out this facebook page and do visit Natalie’s blog for her previous games and details.

first leg of tatting adventure

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Sometimes one stumbles upon an old, neglected blog and their blog list takes you to contemporary blogs. Always fun scrolling through them!

Over a year back I came across Natalie Rogers’ Tat Your Own Adventure and thought it was a brilliant and fun designing idea! I saved it to try out privately but guess what, she has started a new round on facebook! Of course, I am participating, and this is my first motif - 

I’ve never played poker, but I do believe I’ve been dealt a Superb hand! (Should I take it up professionally? ;-p).

The 2nd card with a ‘?’ is like a joker – I can choose any stitch count. 

And the ‘7’ is the last card can be turned around to make it a ‘2’ if desired. So my options have multiplied.

Anyway, I only had energy to tat this little freeform piece last night. Will continue tonight and post the final. I have a few ideas for a flat symmetrical motif, too.

Worked in Lizbeth size 80, it measures 4½ cms high and 1 cm across.

I started with three 7ds rings (picot after every stitch), followed by two 5ds rings, and two 1ds rings, all separated with bare thread space. Turn back with the same number of rings, but I made a lock join to the bts between rings, encapsulating green thread within, since I wanted a touch of green in the inflorescence.

The stem is a Josephine chain (15-15), followed by 2 chains of 11 folded over, followed by another JCh. I left a paperclip on core thread after the first JCh. After completing the leaf, I made a join on this inward picot before continuing the remaining stem.

This is a great way to overcome designer’s block or for budding designers to take a semi-structured fun journey.

Onemadtatter came up with another creative option translating chemical notations into tatting stitches! Read how she saw tatting notations in valence electron configurations and actually tatted a Krypton motif!

Aren’t we richer for the options shared by creative tatters and designers?!

My adventure will continue – this is only the first leg and I am already having fun! 
Come travel with us !!!  

Thanks, Natalie J

Click to see a few of my own design processes.

happiness thy name is lace

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I had a different post in mind for ITD (designed/sketched a doodle as well), but this day coincides with personally important celebrations and I’ve been busy with other stuff. Nevertheless, I am equally excited to share my first real size 80 lace and in very happy spring colours. More aptly, ‘Tatting Sharing’ as the doily is called, captures the spirit of our tatting community.

As most of us know, Daniela Mendola has been cleverly creating a bonanza of free doilies from permutations and combinations of 10 design rounds of which the first round is the same so far. I voted each time, but didn’t tat along.

Since some charming readers look for lessons in my posts, I won't disappoint ;-P.

My Notes on Round 1 and Lizbeth size 80

1. TIP : Should have started with only one twin ring (the right one) followed by chain, thus ending the round with the missing twin. Accessibility is easier. And if one wants to climb out, make that last ring a SR and continue to round 2. 
   
2. One thrown ring (look closely at the last ring in above pic) didn't close fully, and afraid of breaking the thread by tugging too hard, I made an under-over ‘join’ at base of ring.
3. Had to use a black background to 'see' threads better.
4. My years of tatting, with a few different threads, paid off – muscle memory takes over even without being able to 'see' stitches clearly.
5. A couple of times distraction made me lose count. Had to use my book light or magnifier to confirm.
6. Hook on pony shuttle is too large and tends to snag the picot thread. Size 11 crochet hook works great in joining.
7. After the first 2 repeats,  I even managed Ninetta’s blipless join when needed, including with a down loop! As usual, I counted it as 1 stitch.
   
8. I've done a bit of experimental tatting with silk/rayon thread, and even sewing thread and swore off them. But absolutely love working with this brand, thread and colour range.

 International Tatting Day, 2020 

I have since started the 2^nd round in pink as you can see above. Wonder if Daniela can guess which one I am making?! All details & links when I complete.

In consolidation with a special tatting friend, I won’t be serving or eating chocolate today. But serving threads and lace in a chocolate box is happiness personified, happiness multiplied!
 A couple of years back, when Ninetta told me she kept her threads in this box, hubby immediately ordered 2 (I have another unopened one in my fridge right now). Little did we realise only size 80 balls fit in. Finally time for the threads to claim the boxes!

happy tatting always with a muskaan :-)

dress my heart

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design along (DAL)

What bug have I caught?! And why am I trying to spread it around? But then we are already 'suffering' from ATS - Addictive Tatting Syndrome, so what’s one more play-along?!

Recently I revisited this NeoVintage Heart. I gave the prototype pattern in 2015 – a 2-round continuous pattern. This time I ran out of thread after the 1^st round and it struck me that there are So Many possible designs that can go around those chains! Since I cannot do them all, here’s a design-along (DAL) for you. You can choose to create your own outer round, although I have given my 2^nd round pattern in the pdf

SCROLL DOWN FOR PDF LINK.

In Anchor Pearl cotton size 8,  it measures around 4cms×4 cms

I’d just like to state one rule : Keep Round 1 essentially the same (although you can add beads, etc.). Design Round 2 or more as you wish. It will be interesting to see the variations.

Kind of reminds me of this make me pretty please butterfly and the wonderful diversity that flew in!

Please do share your work either here (comment) or tag me on facebook , on Instagram, or email a pic that I will then upload here.

click to download the one-page pdf - NeoVintage Heart DAL 2020

TIP : Dora Young Join (Knot) is exactly the same as what we now know as Catherine Wheel Join,  except that it is made with the same shuttle and no thread is encapsulated. .

And before I leave you to play, here is Elisabetta De Napoli’s beautiful version of Sway My Heart. All set to be a pendant on a necklace !!!

Sue (His Kid) also added a 2nd round using treble tatting – check it out!

such sways and swaggers

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Oo, là là ! Such sways and swaggers! Such are the hearts here – all a-sway with built-in swagger!

So the green one is my 'official' version – much closer to my original sketch. It still needs stiffening if it is to be dangled. But now that I have the shape I want, I will experiment with some techniques and looks to keep the shape without the use of wire or stiffening.

Look what popped up as I worked around the center ! A possible paisley.

After round 1 - This time I thought of not adding an extra ring around the inner one. But on comparing after it was completed, and confirmed by hubby, I added that outer ring using scrap thread. This is why you see some pics with only 1 ring. Although hubby did say that it can be given as an option.

I like the look without any out round! 

Please note, that this round will need to be dampened and shaped before finalising it and proceeding to next round.

The green one, in Anchor size 20 (≡ Lizbeth size 10) measures 3”x2”.

All picots are very small. 

I think the ring on the left of the 14-14 ring should be 12-12 rather than 11-11 for a more natural gradient.

The rolls/wraps in the outer roll-tatted chains can be adjusted to suit your tatting tension.

With only the lone inner ring. As mentioned, the outer one was added later as additional decoration.

This motif can be worked continuously by climbing out with a 3ds split chain.

For detailed process, tips, and pattern notes - Round 1 ; Round 2 

Many thanks to those who played along! 

You can join the fun and tag me (facebook/instagram) , leave a comment, 

or send me pics of your versions!

Elisabetta de Napoli started a beautiful center in metallic [UPDATE- see complete heart here], 
and Sue worked in size 40. [UPDATE: treble tatting in 2nd round]
Margaret Davies used spiral/Josephine chains instead of roll tatting. 
And then there are Victorian sets that also provide visual texture.

Carollyn Brown tweaked the pattern as you can see, and shared her count and notes. She seems to have straightened out the errant swagger ;-P In her own words ….

"Well I started at top and placed picots every six ds after the initial 2 rings and chain of 3 ds. This way I could go around twice. I had size 80 which was on shuttles and should have used larger thread but it was fun to make thanks can give more counts if needs be

Here are quick numbers I still used 4ds inbetween and I feel this could be tweak some more maybe less stitch count on out side outline.

 This last picture is the count for outer part no cutting threat till end."

Ninetta Caruso sent in her version – oh my it is already part paisley! And true to form, she has used s small curled ring (sCR) with bead, as well as treble tatting. She also linked adjacent thrown rings . The pattern in her words ....

"With one round only, mine should be sewn up somewhere to keep its shape. Otherwise it needed wire in the core, that would be something worth a try.

The inclination to left or right is just personal taste, in my version for example I would tat it again because at the end I like the other face up, but the sCR defines the front side.

I forget to tell you that I started from the bottom mock ring, then this and next rings are connected, that is the first is mock ring: 4-8-8-4, next is ring: 4-7-7-4, etc. decreasing the joint, till the last that is ring: 2-1-3.

I finished in the little heart at the bottom. "

UPDATE : 2 more decorated hearts !

As they say, 'it takes a village …' I love adaptations/derivations and also get to learn and improve my own work. So, unfortunately, this heart is still not ‘completely’ complete. There’s a lot of play left, right?! ;-D

Only after I am finally done with the ideas, I will release a proper pattern. But this should be enough for you to play along and to experiment.

You can access all my patterns here, and all hearts are in a Google Doc file.

happy tatting