EP Tutorials

Pin It now!

Ninetta Caruso, my partner in crime! Ninetta is my PIC in the Endrucks 1920 Project and we have a great collaboration going. Add to the vibrant Project is something she and I have been working on since August of 2025 - a tutorial resource catering to the Endrucksian collection. but of course, it is relevant for any tatting project.

Eleonore Endrucks used very limited techniques to create unique patterns in her 1920 book, Die Schiffchen-Spitzen. Yet the derivatives and even some reworkings of her originals have applied a wide range of techniques and effects. Our members cover an entire spectrum of skill levels. Hence some required help at various stages. We tried to provide that help. Over time, these tips and techniques started growing and remained scattered. (We had used the #eptutorial hashtag, yet found that only some selective posts came up). Hence we needed to bring them all under one roof so that future tatters could find the tutorial alongside the pattern easily. To that end we worked on the EP Tutorials document and lo and behold, it started to grow and grow!

This is a quick collage showing some step in a pictorial or some application in a model, etc. 

As our technique list grew, we tried to incorporate what Frau Endrucks herself advocated through her advice and preface and balance it with what we do today. 

EP Tutorials :  https://docs.google.com/document/d/17Xh32ZlW5MmVTlidA8RzwwY7j-l4i_9YYv5N236R5RE/view    (click link to open/download)

Some features of this document include -  

• Endrucks' tips
• short introduction or descriptions
• pictorials (as PDFs)
• video links
• blog links (We have tried to keep it an in-house affair limiting the links to either Ninetta's or to my blog and resources created by us.)
• diagrams (as PDFs)
• pattern links where the technique was used or effect applied; these can act as practice patterns. All patterns are from our Endrucksian collection.

The document is divided into sections and each sub-listing is arranged alphabetically for ease.

We start with a general section comparing vintage or traditional tatting with contemporary tatting.

This is followed with 

1. starting and finishing
2. changing direction
3. 3D or dimensional tatting
4. picots
5. joins
6. classic formations
7. techniques
8. continuous tatting
9. needle tatting
10. working with beads and jewellery findings or notions

Some presentations are still works in progress; we had delayed the release of this document long enough and didn't want to wait any more. So these PDFs will be done over time and the document updated accordingly.

We hadn't realised ourselves how much diversification had entered into the Project! And I am sure we must've missed a few! Do let us know if you come across something we've missed or something you want.

On the top right of this blog page you will find important links relating to the Endrucks Project. I also added a new page (tab on top panel) titled 'Endrucks' to give a birds-eye view of the Project and all relevant links. It is still under construction. 

unhappy trials

Pin It now!

I was impressed by Lauretta Tondelli's experiments and effects which she shared in a FB group a couple of years back (she seems to have left FB when I checked before finalising this post and her posts are missing, too). Always meant to try them and here are two attempts - my first trials. Not happy but more details below ....

Lauretta Tondelli's Interlaced Onion Rings, a trial motif, placed inside a 2D medallion gone 3D!

 

The two images above show the piece from the 'front' and 'back' though it really depends on how you interlace the mock rings.

This interlacing effect of onion rings is made with one continuous chain starting with a small starter picot. Once all three mock rings made, they are interlaced through each other. Lauretta created a cute pair of earrings using this motif as the center and adding a teardrop.

My own reservation is about the third chain which I feel is too long in my trial and also the overall untidy visual. First trials, so perhaps there is still hope for me.

Okay this motif is supposed to be a flat medallion center for another effect that Lauretta was sharing. As you can see, my work has cupped enormously. I realised what was happening but continued nevertheless so that I can make the requisite changes in my next trial. For one, the picots should've been longer.

So now my issue was what should I make with this! It looks cute and has potential, doens't it? So I played around a bit ....

If we upturn the medallion it can make a nice bezel setting and one can add another layer beneath encasing the gem. I was too lazy to hunt around for the right sized gem, though.

I decided to add a base. This is a coil starting at the center with few slope and roll joins as the chain progressed. I should've stopped a bit sooner with a shorter coil.

The reason for the base is my idea to convert this into a miniature basket.

Same 'bowl' reshaped into a squarish bowl or potential basket.

And when I pinched the corners a bit more, ....

Some more pinching so that the cupping looks deeper and with addition of accessories, it can become a flower.

So, what is your verdict? What do you think it should grow into?

Many thanks to Lauretta for sharing her notes and apologies for my bungling ....

itch scratched

Pin It now!

 From April 2019 to May 2026 - took all of seven years for me to put up the pictorial for curled ring connectors! I had a one-page graphic prepared in 2019 but kept putting it off. The 7-year itch proved advantageous because now I am sharing a comprehensive tatted ring connectors presentation which includes two main types of connectors as well as numerous applications and variations along with tips and options! You no longer need to rummage through your stash of motifs wondering what to do with them, or to worry about finding the right findings for your tatted jewellery! No preplanning, no joining picots needed!

Since this is an image-heavy post, I will try to keep the text to a minimum. You can read all details in the PDF and the links provided below.  

Tatted Ring Connectors

PDF: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vHuQjgEgH2vWSUX8JO5svG737jMM4Q9n/view

Two main types are the Curled Ring Connector (CRC) and the Tatted Ring Connector (TRC) as seen above.

Curled Ring Connector

All you need is a single shuttle to tat picoted rings and a lock join to curl each either individually or simultaneously at the end. 

Curled Ring Connector in progress. These are single shuttle rings curled around desired motifs to connect them.

Collect all your motifs or lace and arrange as desired.

My CRC SOUP bracelet. Here, I have added beads in the center of the 3-way CRCs. 

The large ring at the bottom left will be curled and will act as a toggle for the bracelet.

Detail of the beaded CRC.

First sneak peek here - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2019/04/pattys-square-pattern-and-peeks.html

This is my Italian Connection bookmark made by linking Patty Castagno's Square Motifs.

Notice the 3-way CRC decorating the tassel and its 'empty' counterpart at the other end.

First shared here - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2019/04/my-italian-connection.html

Not merely tatted motifs, these connectors can be used to link sequins! There are even 4-way connectors here tatted with metallic thread.

First sneak peek here - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2019/04/pattys-square-pattern-and-peeks.html

Ninetta Caruso's E37 Iris Pendant uses a triple onion ring to curl around the necklace. And on the other end she worked a curled ring to link to the tatted motif with a split ring between the CR and OR!

First shared here - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2023/10/rabbits-multiply.html

Tatted Ring Connector

All you need is a single shuttle to tat picoted rings and a picot join between them, encapsulating  two motifs/pieces. 

Some of my E37 Eye Spy Hearts #2 motifs left over from my trials and prototypes are now linked with TRC or tatted ring connector. More hearts here - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2025/09/timeline-and-play.html

Detail of a TRC in progress.

My E37 SOUPy Vine bookmark with E37 Eye Spy Hearts #1 has a variation of the tatted connectors where the two rings are not joined to each other but to the motifs! More details here - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2023/07/soupy-vine.html

My E1 Happy Hands Linked Bookmark uses the main motif 'hands' to link the tail to the body! More here - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2022/03/linked-hands-trial.html 

My E1 Happy Hands Linked Bracelet has two motifs and the linkage to the body is made with the crossed long beaded picots. https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2022/08/a-bonanza-of-happiness.html  

Detail of the crossover picots between the two motifs.

Ninetta Caruso's E1 Happy Hands Necklace uses 3 individually tatted interlocking rings to link the clasp to the lace! Lots more pics and details here - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2022/10/not-just-edging.html

Ninetta uses a similar technique to attach the clasp to the lace in her E2 Fishbone Bracelet. Her pattern pdf also has a detailed pictorial of the process and she has shared two important tips for our presentation as well.

I hope you are sufficiently impressed by the variety and will want to assemble your practice and prototypes pieces to create useable articles and jewellery!

Many thanks to Ninetta for her feedback, input, tips, and proofing!