Wednesday 16 July 2014

Mac-Tatted Braid (written pattern)

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a free 6-shuttle adapted pattern


Yes, I can hear the deep sighs of my handful of readers ..." what, not again ?!!!" 
I promise - this is the last in this "series" ;-)  

I have already written 2 posts on this braid. Twist Work in Reverse Stitch (TwW) is a handy pictorial to read through before actually starting to tat this pattern.
Mac-tatted Braid/Bracelet is a detailed effort to put across the 6-shuttle pattern via step-by-step pictures as well as an all-encompassing Table that acts as the pattern sequence.
However, I have come across suggestions & discussions in InTatters where the visually challenged prefer written instructions rather than notations & pics. This, therefore, is an attempt at the same. It is also a more compact, written-out pattern that is hopefully easy to follow & definitely easy to print. And one can always refer back to the previous 2 posts in case of doubts.
It is a reworking of the original instructions that Usha sent me. Here is Usha's original braid photo again -


Abbreviations used :
CTM : continuous thread method
rs : reverse stitch
TwW / TwW in rs : Twist Work in reverse stitch (click on link for step-by-step tutorial)


Important Points :
  • All stitches are rs (reverse stitch) only.
  • All caps of rs face downwards Always.
  • TwW means to twist work a 180degree in rs (step-by-step tut) by passing working shuttle Under core thread, then starting the rs. (since all stitches in this braid are rs, I will refer to ‘TwW in rs’ simply as TwW.
  • There is no crossing-over between shuttles of same color (ie between A & B).
  • Always push the stitches back on the core thread after they are made.

To Start :
a) Wind 3 Colors in 6 shuttles, CTM optional
Color 1 in shuttles 1A &1B
Color 2 in shuttles 2A & 2B
Color 3 in shuttles 3A & 3B
b) Knot up all the six threads or make an encapsulated loop for bracelet as in video or add a finding/ring, etc.
c) Make 2 rs of each color on it’s own core thread. Thus all 6 threads with 2 rs will lie flat, side by side.
Sequence of threads (from left to right) at start will be : 1A , 1B , 2A , 2B , 3A , 3B

Pattern :

  • Working from left to right,
I. Start with 1B, TwW in rs, & make 1rs on 2A as core thread. Then take 1A, TwW, 1rs on 2A. (2rs in a row with both shuttles of color 1 on 2A)
II. Repeat Step 3, but using 2B as core thread. Hence, 1B on 2B, then 1A on 2B (2rs in a row with both shuttles of color 1 on 2B)
There are now 4rs of color 1 (visible) on color 2 (hidden). Shuttles 1A, 1B are now over shuttles 2A, 2B, having moved from left to right; these are now in the center.

The sequence after Steps I & II : 2A , 2B , 1A, 1B, 3A , 3B

  • Working from right to left,
III. Now with 3A – TwW, 1rs on 1B ; with 3B – TwW, 1rs on 1B (2rs of color 3 on color 1)
IV. With 3A – TwW, 1rs on 1A ; with 3B – TwW, 1rs on 1A.
There are now 4rs of color 3 (visible) on color 1 (hidden). Shuttles 1A, 1B are now over shuttles 3A, 3B, having moved to extreme right. Color 3 is now in the center.

The sequence after Steps III & IV : 2A , 2B , 3A, 3B, 1A , 1B

Steps I to IV form the very core of the pattern in terms of technique, & are repeated unchanged, Except for the color of threads being used as working & core.

  • Working from left to right,
V : Repeat Step I using color 2 as working thread & color 3 as core. Make 2 rs using 2B on 3A, & 2A on 3A. Remember to TwW before each rs.
VI : Repeat Step II : Make 2 rs using 2B on 3B, & 2A on 3B. TwW before each rs.
There are now 4rs of Color 2(visible) on Color 3 (hidden).

Sequence after these 2 steps : 3A , 3B , 2A , 2B , 1A , 1B

  • Working from right to left,
VII : Repeat Step III using color 1 as working thread & color 2 as core. Make 2 rs using 1A on 2B, &  1B on 2B. TwW before each rs.
VIII : Repeat Step IV : Make 2 rs using 1A on 2A, & 1B on 2A. TwW before each rs.
There are now 4rs of Color 1 (visible) on Color 2 (hidden).

Sequence after these 2 steps : 3A , 3B , 1A , 1B , 2A , 2B

  • Working from left to right,
IX : Repeat Step I using color 3 as working thread & color 1 as core. Make 2 rs using 3B on 1A, & 3A on 1A. TwW before each rs.
X : Repeat Step II : Make 2 rs using 3B on 1B, & 3A on 1B. TwW before each rs.
There are now 4rs of Color 3 (visible) on Color 1 (hidden).

Sequence after these 2 steps : 1A , 1B , 3A , 3B , 2A , 2B

  • Working from right to left,
XI : Repeat Step III using color 2 as working thread & color 3 as core. Make 2 rs using 2A on 3B, & 2B on 3B. TwW before each rs.
XII : Repeat Step IV : Make 2 rs using 2A on 3A, & 2B on 3A. TwW before each rs.
There are now 4rs of Color 2 (visible) on Color 3 (hidden).

Sequence after these 2 steps : 1A , 1B , 2A , 2B , 3A , 3B


These 12 steps form the first Set of stitches / repeats. 
The color sequence is back to where we started – 1 , 2 , 3 – after completing Steps I-XII.

Continue to desired length.


To add some novelty to this post, here's a close-up of the macrame Chevron Stitch that I tried on the same braid, by adding 2 more colors ! What can I say, I was enjoying myself ;-)))
And before continuing with the mac-tatted braid again, I Roll Tatted the additional threads on both sides, then tied & cut off.




Happy Mac-Tatting :-))

7 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thanks Sue.
      Hope you are motivated to try this some time :-)

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  2. Update : The initial term "Turn Work (TW) in rs" has been changed to "Twist Work" when tatting is being done in reverse stitch. The notation now is TwW, and it has been altered in the written pattern.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi, Muskaan!
    It's me : SunBee Theresa Lee.
    I introduced your tip about interlaced rings on my naver blog: http://2sunb.blog.me/220067724590
    Your new project, translation of macrame into tatting is very impressive to me.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hello Sunbee :-)))
    Thank you ! I'm glad you liked the interlaced rings & mac-tatting posts & techniques. As already mentioned, all this would not have started if not for Judith's thread on InTatters ;-))
    Thanks, also, for blogging about it. I couldn't read it, though ... which language is it - Korean or Chinese or ...? I would love to re-view with an English translation.
    Hope to see you around. If you ever try out any of these, please do let me know - I'd love to see your version :-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. This looks like a cool technique that I need to try someday! Thanks for posting the tutorial and pattern.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you So much, Marilee :-)
      I'm sure you will do a Spectacular job & give me something more to learn !
      Have a great day

      Delete