the power of 15

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 Technically, the power of a single motif extracted from Endrucks' pattern #15 (E15). Over time several patterns from her book have created a vast range of derivatives, eg., E1, E3, E12, E17, E31, E37, to name a few. E15 falls under the same category!

I've been having tremendous fun tatting up small doodles over the past few weeks. While it means I have side-lined my book editing (which I will take up in earnest again in 2024), I can't feel guilty over the brimming ideas and my largely neglected shuttles trying to give them form. Some pattern pdfs have already been shared with our FB group for the Dec game; others are in the works.

It all started when I spotted a ready-made tree motif in Endrucks' pattern #15 which Ninetta has updated with diagram and written pattern - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hl1EuK-E7tChkL4OsohWjtGLafhp7hcY/view

I quickly tatted up a prototype with size 10 thread and as you can see there isn't much room for change, right! 

Model #2 in metallic cotton size 20. I had started this just like in the prototype, from the lower side ring on the right. This is an easier pathway to tat since the two sides remain unattached till you reach the trunk part. Later I strung beads to brighten it up.

Model #3 - Here I wanted to avoid hiding ends and also make it a tree ornament. Hence started at the top inner ring and ended with a split ring at the tip.

The same with a star to showcase an idea.

E15 TREE DOODLE Pattern PDF : https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oq9kkuSN2e0Qnh0N1fUr00MT8HrZ7-cz/view

Hubby saw a bell in the tree! So out came more thread (size 10) and this stylised bell pendant or ornament was born.

The same but this time in metallic thread size 40.

A comparison of the sizes. Hubby wanted an inward curve at the bottom for a more realistic look. Another version for a future project ....

E15  BELL  DOODLE Pattern PDF : 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/17m9gxw2vG1oS_mrawfmZI27PpLZ9xFhK/view

Inverted, the bell looked like the bodice of a lady's gown or the torso of an angel. Rough sketch to tackle in the future.

If the sides were brought closer together, the motif would work as a flame!

 

Tatted with one shuttle and the two threads combined.

Flame needs a candle (or a diya), and these were my first trials

E15 Candle version 1 using block tatting. Can be done with ball and shuttle.

It was Ninetta's idea to add a little base ring to the flame.

E15 CANDLE. MOTIF pattern PDF :

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tMBmMzvFzvWqYYxcyuGI_edZePXyfaFC/view

Version 2 of the candle is worked alternately with treble stitch chains and double stitch chains. This is still incomplete as I got sidetracked with other motifs 😁

My objective was to create a slight slant in the block tatted chains, but I couldn't achieve it. It will take more experience than I have to get the chains to tilt.

However, my 3rd version is going to use Helix tatting - not only will I get the spiraling effect, it will also be 3D!

Meanwhile, leaves cropped up, too! This is the first model with a mock chain acting as the central vein, and ending with a Josephine chain stalk. 

This is how it looked fresh off the shuttles. However, it flattened after blocking and has stayed flat, although I like the 3D option.

E15 Leaf Doodle #2 using two types of twisted picots - one for the tip and one for the stalk.

The 3rd model started off with a different idea but midways I let my shuttles take over and ended with this. Lock chains make up the vein and stalk. I don't like the picots here!

All 3 together, and I still have so many ideas I'd like to tat!

What are leaves without a flower and its the season for Poinsettias - a no-brainer.

After the first layer of 3 petals, I continued with a lower layer of slightly larger petals. This is still a WIP where I need to add the yellow center, etc. 

QUESTION: Are 6 petals enough or should I add one more large petal below? I don't want it to look too symmetrical and adding another petal will move them slightly. 

I value your opinion.

After tatting the first 2 petals of the poinsettia, they looked like a great idea to tweak into a Butterfly or wings for an angel!

TIP: In all models I have deliberately used a self-closing mock ring (SCMR) at the tip for 2 reasons - 

1. in most cases the doodle or motif can be worked without the need for a 2nd shuttle;

2. more importantly, I find it sits much better than a thrown ring would have without anchoring picots at its sides.

I made a hitch (unflipped half-stitch) after closing the SCMR.

Meanwhile, one of our prolific members created a Star with the same motif! Ninetta and I quickly compiled a pattern pdf for it and included it in our Dec game. There are several more patterns to choose from in our game this month. Hopefully you will join us. All links in the side panel of my blog at the very top.

I will try to share the pattern for these remaining models, too.

game antics

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 The saga continues from my previous post (https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2023/11/flaky-antics.html). 

We chose the Antiks Snowflake pattern for our November 2023 game in our Endrucks FB group - Snowflake Me Endrucks. This name was chosen to indicate that we can try to adapt a pattern into a snowflake. We've derived snowflakes with E17, E3, E37, E31, E12, (see Snowflakes and Stars Directory)  but not as a game. We wanted to open the possibility of repeating the game in future with a different pattern.

Antiks Snowflake pattern (an E42 adaptation and extension by Muskaan) - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1U5J5sjuAA7D0qGPOGnK9RJ83MKdNkWSZ/view

We have a wide spectrum of skill levels in our FB group be it tatting or linguistic. Hence visuals become important. This flake has a few tricks. Ninetta offered to take stepwise pics! Hence we prepared an entire Supplement which has the detailed pictorial as well as a lot of other info, options, and links. 

Snowflake Me Supplement - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VFk4ZnBT9ObJxnEKgI6hUkk2wtd_gOD4/view

  

Ninetta's version in Lizbeth 10, colour 686. Hmmm, I wonder how her fingers, used to dainty threads, worked on this large thread, LOL.

Ninetta also uploaded a video demonstrating how to make the Split Chain!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hKfqa3LHnUor9UAen7sdqPgzZe0elU2I/view . 

She had actually done a couple more videos but this was the best. This is the kind of backroom activity we are engaged in to provide a wholesome experience!

Like I said before, we are beginning to use this as a platform for learning and bridging any gaps in tatting knowledge, while making it easy and accessible to all levels of tatters.

The Antiks snowflake uses Split Chains to climb out, and we already have some tatters who learned to make them for this pattern after watching Ninetta's video!

However, in case a tatter does not wish nor have the time, there are a few optional paths one can employ to climb out to the next round.....

 

Three such options are explained in the Supplement and each of these can be worked with a ball and shuttle, just like for split chains : 

How to Avoid Split Chains -

1. Bare thread space with a double lock join - an extension of what Mlle Riego did in her Bunch of Grapes (1850) single shuttle pattern.   (yellow model)

2. Shadow Chains - Frau Endrucks (1920) method   (purple model)

3. A continuous spiral - this one is more visually organic. (green model)

Pattern for this Rose Motif is also included for practice.

The main pattern pdf as well as the Supplement has more tips and links, including to the original ANKARS site (https://ankars-club.ru/). It is worth reading, given the common misconceptions about this technique.

Coincidentally, in November, The Online Tatting Class (TOTC) also did a few classes on ANKARS. You can access their articles and patterns here - https://www.theonlinetattingclass.com/ankars-patterns. Their YouTube site - https://www.youtube.com/c/TheOnlineTattingClass

Many many thanks to Ninetta for all her contributions!

flaky antics

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 This time I have a snowflake pattern to share. It is a mix of the old with the new; partly derived and partly original; and I thoroughly enjoyed putting it together, though it got entangled in some flakiness midways. 

I call it the Antiks Snowflake which is a play on words and techniques; a combo of antique, ANKARS, and the antics involved in getting it just right! At the center is a 6-point adaptation of Endrucks' pattern #42 but the outermost round is all mine.

My first trial and prototype combined. Blogged about it here - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2023/03/antics.html. I was so out of practice with split chains! By this point in the final round, I had decided on which tweaks to keep and was happy that it would lay flat. Ran out of thread but it had done its job.  

After a couple of weeks I returned to tat a proper model along with the pattern presentation. Notice anything? Sigh, yes, there are 8 repeats as in the original Endrucks' pattern #42! I had kept wondering why the arms were so squished in and after wasting my precious Lizbeth white, I stopped. Foggy head leads to a flaky flake.

And since I had sent the same pattern to Anita Barry for test tatting, she too, worked an 8-point flake! She used this to decorate a purse and it looks gorgeous against a deep blue background. She displayed it at  the IOLI Convention this year.

I chose a different Lizbeth size 20 and went to work again, this time making sure the pattern was for 6 repeats. 

Tatted one more, this time in Olympus size 40 to consolidate the pattern and presentation.

And I didn't expect her to, but Anita actually tatted a second model with 6 arms in Lizbeth metallic! Now that's commitment.

Her help was also valuable in arranging the written pattern more systematically and clearly. 

I sent an article with this pattern to the IOLI Bulletin for their Summer issue. However, since they ran out of space, it was published in the fall issue above - IOLI Bulletin, Fall 2023 edition (Oct 2023, Vol 44, N.1).

It is a very nicely laid out presentation and Liz, the editor is always very diligent and helpful.

Their back cover carries a pic of the flake, too!

Interestingly, both Lizbeth 20 and Olympus 40 work out to the same size!

Now, now, don't go too far. Thought I'm flaky enough to forget sharing the pattern link?! Ah, see, the saga continues and I will share the link in my next post. 

... to be continued...

Many many thanks to Anita and Liz!  Excellent collaboration.