Going over the medallions document, I realized that it
needed more samples – visuals are so much better than words. Excited, I got
down to it. Here are a few of them.
Most of the samples in the document seemed to have single
rings around the center. But trefoils, clovers, layered rings (ANKAR style), etc. can also form an enclosed
space. So I created this pattern using inward facing clovers. There are thrown
rings on the chains.
Now here’s something I don’t remember ever doing – a Central/common Picot on a Chain.
I tried to create my own pattern with 1 horizontal and 1
vertical ring on each ‘spoke’, but it wasn’t working (do
you have any idea why?).
Finally I took the design idea from the model #69 in Elgiva Nicholl’s
‘Tatting: Technique and History’ but used my own stitch-count and single
decorative picots.
TIP: For straight chains, avoid
snugging the chain too tight – we don’t want it to curve/arch.
A central ring with picots (also called rosette by Mlle Riego) is a common feature of
many patterns. Traditionally it was tatted separately. Now we have multiple
options to incorporate it without cutting off thread : climb out with a mock
picot ; work it as a mock ring ; and so on.
In this square, the central ring is thrown off the first
chain -
When I was first learning split rings during Jane's TIAS 2014, I attempted the Fandango coaster to practice on the side. So not happy
with the working ! Time to try it again. Much better.
This is a Classic Tatted
Daisy. It starts with a central ring with picots. Then we add a round of
outward facing rings – lock joined to the picots and separated by bare thread.
Traditionally it was worked as separate rounds and with a single shuttle, hence bare thread separates adjoining rings.
Now we make it in one pass and the bare thread is sometimes substituted with chains.
Incidentally, my Aspiration
Doily (trial 2) now has a Daisy center ! It is a modern construction using
2 shuttles (or a long tail for shuttle 1) with the outward rings/petals thrown
off the central mock ring (SCMR).
It lies flat and the center is more solid than bare
threads between rings in previous trial.
And here’s another interesting variation :
a central ring with picots, surrounded by concentric
chains, lock joined to picots on previous rounds, and a final round tatted like
the traditional daisy petals with bare thread and lock joins !
So, the rosette turns into a daisy !
(a central ring with closely packed chains around it is Also called a rosette!)
These were tatted over 15 years ago when I had no notion
of a lot of tatting techniques nor how to hide ends. You can clearly see
spiraling rounds rather than discreet ones. Although I did get better over time
and in one of the size 40 yellow ones (made a few years after the size 20 red),
the inner circle is almost round with equal-size picots.
Pattern is part of a lace from ‘Tatting Favourites’ by Anchor Design
Center
It has been one of my favourite go-to patterns when travelling. The medallions were later joined with a wavy scroll with opposing medallions, thus functioning as motifs.
Medallions – never too meddlesome when tatted !
