Monday 26 June 2017

hiding in vein

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Stepwise pictorials for dot picot leaf
and how to use dot picot strings as fillers

I’m forever playing catch-up with my blog posts; this time, too, it is ‘in vein’ :-D That did not stop me from taking a much-needed net break. Not in vain! 
Spent some relaxed de-cluttered time tatting a lot (which means more catching-up ;-P) and watching another net - the grass court season in tennis ! I'm sure this is Federer's swansong year and wouldn't want to miss his matches. And what a match the Halle final was - a glorious Master Class !!!! 


In my previous post, I was asked how the veins were joined to the leaf. Posting a pictorial showing my ‘hack’.

Dot Picot Leaf and Veins
Step-wise pictorials 

This freeform leaf is worked in size 20 thread, and the veins in size 40.
Techniques : large ring, dot picot on ring, dot picot string, whip stitching end tails, tatting over tails (knotless start. this is optional.)

I already shared how the leaf was worked, with 1 dot picot on ring at the tip, in this collage. Posting again to bring it all in one place. 
Dot Picot Leaf (with Dot picot on ring) pictorial
Complete sequence is notated in pic#11 below

1. What is ‘missing’ in the collage is that I started with both the leaf and the vein threads joined at the base as seen in this pic. The vein thread is merely 15-18 inches long. I used knotless method, but a weaver's knot can easily be used.
2. After completing the leaf to desired size and shape (it is not bilaterally symmetrical), I turn it over and work the veins from the back side, tatting over the tail in the first few dot picots.
Vein is simply a dot picot string.
3. We make the middle vein first & when the desired length is reached, unwind thread from the shuttle and thread the end through a tapestry needle.
4. Insert needle at the tip (point B) - specifically at the base of the dot picot on leaf and ….
5. whip stitch under the caps on the right edge for a few stitches.
((Yes, the entire vein can be tatted on a needle. But I’m not that skilled/confident yet.))
6. This is how it looks on the older leaves – invisible ! Despite the different shades, the dark green does not show up at all, only partly because it is thinner.
7. At desired point (point C) , I rewind the thread on to shuttle and tat the shorter vein.
8. When the required length is reached, pull a loop around the main vein, pass shuttle through and ….
9. tension carefully. Something like a lock join. It stays in place due to the notched texture.
10. Continue with the left side vein for required length and join to the edge (point D). With a needle, whip stitch along the left edge for next pair of veins.
11. Tat the vein, join to main vein & continue last vein which is attached to the right edge. I continue to whip stitch down this edge right up to the base. This pic shows how the entire pathway. Black arrows depict whip stitching.
12. This is how the leaves look from the wrong side.
These measure just about 1 inch.

NOTE : Instead of dot picot strings, one can make the veins in Lock Chains, Twisted Picots (as in rustic leaf), or simple bare threads ! Even regular chains ! Improvise & enjoy :-)
This effect can be used as a filler for any ring or mock ring ! Fancy some petals, wheels, et al ?!

The leaves are freeform, asymmetrical, & I eye-balled everything. 
If you wish, you can draw a sketch-to-size as reference. Remember this rustic leaf sketch turned into tatting ?

no tatting is ever in vain J


15 comments:

  1. Very beautiful and great effect, leaves and flowers :-)

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    1. So glad you like them, Daniela :-) Hope you enjoy tatting a bouquet, too

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    2. I think to make it soon and I hope it's as beautiful as yours ;-)

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  2. Thanks for explaining! It's a good idea to do the veins in a finer thread than the outline, whatever method is used.

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    1. Right, Jane! Veins in same size thread appear too bulky especially for a 1" leaf. But I should've needle-tatted the veins - chickened out as I wanted to relax rather than fret ;-P

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  3. I love your blog. I always learn something new.
    Thank you!

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    1. So sweet of you, Linda ! Always nice to see you stop by :-)))

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  4. Very clever! Today was not 'in vain' - I learned something new. :)
    StephanieW

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    1. LOL, Steph, glad you enjoyed my 'lowest form of humor' :-D And I agree, it was not in vain if you had to stop by to leave a comment ;-P

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  5. Love those leaves and with the whip stitching when done you can give a slight tug and tighten it up from the stretching out that can occur from the whip stitches and then it is, I feel completely unnoticed. which I feel you have done cause it looks so perfect. but others may not understand why they are not so happy with the method. Lovely Post keep tatting from Carollyn

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    1. Carollyn your whip stitching video changed my hiding ends perspective & process completely & have used it ever since :-))) Can't thank you enough!
      Also, thanks for this reminder. It truly is invisible if tensioned properly :-)

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  6. What a wonderful idea! And your explanation of the process is very clear. Thank you!

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    1. I hope you try it some time, Eliz :-) Hugs

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  7. Muskaan, you made leaves very creative way. Thinner thread for veins perfectly fitting into the rings n looking natural too. I would have used vsps to join veins. No idea about whip stitch. Thanks for clear stepwise instructions!!!!

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    1. Usha, Carollyn's whip stitch video link is active in my post - do check it out. I've found it very useful in hiding ends.
      You make an interesting point about joining with vsp and would love for you to give it a try and show us :-) But remember, the main leaf (which is a true ring) outline should remain smooth (not notched/serrated or inverted) and the veins are one continuous thread, not cut & tied every time.
      I had tried a doubled-up string in previous post (hoping to join as I tatted the ring) which I then used as a short branched stem.
      Looking forward to your trials :-)

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