Tuesday, 15 September 2026

DAL2026 roundup 3

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Blogger is refusing to update our blog feed so I can't say how many in blogland will be able to see this post. But let's focus on the beauty that has been pouring in, requiring a 4th roundup post, soon, after which I will make the patterns public! Relevant links at the end of this post. As usual, the order of presentation follows the chronology of who started the design-along DAL 2026 Challenge first. 

There's a lot happening like when I woke up this morning there were 3 new participants along with a couple of patterns from earlier participants waiting for me!!! Oh, what fun! 

And you might recognise the individual motifs in the lovely mat below? This is Linda Mazerat's Arborea, made by joining 9 of her motifs! She received lots of accolades and requests for the pattern. I have been working on the English presentation and should be able to upload it soon. 



Donna McDade - is back with the rest of her motifs!!! Some of them were sent at 4-30 in the morning - does she ever sleep?
Version 5 - has a 3-D center and a chains-only outer round!
(pattern ready)

Version 6 - has a nice colour-play and another chains-only round!
(pattern received)

Version 7 - Donna felt this was a very simple round with only a split ring braid. But I like the shape that emerged and the potential to add more if picots are added.
(pattern ready)

Version 8 - Now isn't this just too cute with a great shape?
(pattern received)


15. Sue Bradham (His Kid) - added 3 rounds, two of which involve a repetition of the center rosette with a very floral appeal overall! 
(pattern ready)
She has been sharing her progress in her blog - 
https://hiskid66.blogspot.com/2026/08/tatting.html


16. Jon Yusoff (Tat-a-Renda) - True to her designing prowess, Jon designed a single round covering a large space, seamlessly  moving in and out!
(pattern ready)

Her first attempt was the one on the left which is also pretty, don't you think? She worked the 2nd version in variegated thread which she felt masked the design. Hence the final model in pink.

17. Sara Dougan - This is Sara's very first attempt at designing! The picot flowers really perk up the scroll.
(pattern ready)

18. Paola Bevilacqua - has given staunch competition to Ninetta's model by designing 8 rounds! She also added a bit of dimensionality with curled rings. 
(pattern ready)

As you can see, most patterns are already completed in PDF form with inked images as well as short notation text. A few have diagrams. The previous two roundup posts are also being updated as and when the pattern is ready. My aim is to release the document by the end of this week, after the 4th roundup.

Hope you are enjoying scrolling through these lovelies!
... to be continued ...
Related Posts
Muskaan's DAL 2026 Challenge - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2026/08/time-to-play-again.html

Many many thanks to all participants ranging from budding to experienced designers, playing with such enthusiasm and determination! 

Saturday, 29 August 2026

DAL2026 roundup 2

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 So let's just continue to enjoy what emerged from Muskaan's DAL 2026 Challenge where you have to design additional round(s) on the given base/foundation motif. Details: https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2026/08/time-to-play-again.html   

Continuing from https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2026/08/dal2026-roundup-1.html 

7. Anita Barry - She has played so many of my games! And this time she has remembered Frau Endrucks through the little blocks in her round.

(pattern ready)

8. Donna McDade - the one who put it into my head about the next DAL and because of whom this 2026 challenge came about! And as always she tatted 8 starter motifs to add rounds to, 4 of which she has already completed with patterns! She says her motifs are not blocked yet.
Version 1 - her upside down clover round.
(pattern ready)
Version 2 - Using up some of her leftover stars from her award-winning quilt.
(pattern ready)

Version 3 - Clever application of colour with frequent use of the shoelace trick! I call it the Mind-Twister motif.
(pattern received)
Version 4 - Snail!!! Who would've thought to use the square motif to create a snail?! And she has something up her sleeve which will be revealed at the very end .... curious.
(pattern ready)

9. Ninetta Caruso - If Donna takes top position in the number of versions she is tatting, Ninetta is at the top for the number of rounds she has added - 9 rounds!!!
(pattern awaited)

10. Linda Mazerat - created 2 rounds for this very elegant motif with 'trees' in the corners. But guess what? She only learned tatting in February this year!!!! And this is her first attempt at designing. Could've fooled me - it is so professional and masterful.
"I had a great time participating in this challenge. That's when we realize that creating a pattern is not that easy." 
She has also started tatting more of this motif for a runner. She uploaded a video on Instagram.
(pattern received)

11. Marie-helene Longau
- She readily 'accepted the challenge' and added 3 rounds in this beautiful motif!
(pattern ready in French & English)

12. Silvana Buonvino - has been quite active in our Endrucks group and here she added several rounds to the base motif. The 7 additional colourful rounds create a rangoli or mandala effect.
Silvana let her shuttles do the work and is regretful that she does not remember the counts.
(no pattern) 

13. Muskaan - I've already shared my thoughts here - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2026/08/my-round-3.html and no progress on the pattern presentation. Got busy with all the rest that have arrived ;-P
(pattern in the works)

14. KRine créatif - This is KRine's first attempt at designing, too! I think she did a really nice job and I love how well her colours fit. She even sent in her diagram!
She tried many and finally chose this as her last model for now. She has decided to train on patterns shared by professional designers to understand and learn and return to improve on the above piece when she has gained more experience. We wish her well!
(pattern ready)

There has been some incidental consequences and learning pertaining to this challenge. I have already touched upon some and will share more in the next post. 

... to be continued ...

There are no words that can fully express my gratitude to each of you for participating so enthusiastically and creating more beauty!

Sunday, 23 August 2026

DAL2026 roundup 1

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 So many DAL 2026 models have come in that it is better to start sharing in batches than to wait till the end. Fewer pics also mean you get to enjoy and admire each one at a better pace. For now I have arranged them according to the designer who first uploaded an image whether it was competed or not. But for the roundup, I chose only the completed projects. Plenty of time for the WIPs to work on their designs and/or tatting. 

I have privately shared the Google doc with all participants - it contains all details and entries and pattern links, but will make it public at a later date when more patterns are converted into PDFs. So let's just enjoy what emerged from Muskaan's DAL 2026 Challenge where you have to design additional round(s) on the given base/foundation motif. Details: https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2026/08/time-to-play-again.html

1. Sheetal Kakodkar - Her very first time designing and after her 3rd round design she was so motivated that she added two more and was happy with the result!!! I'm happy, too.


(pattern ready)

2. Carolyn Craig - went on a spree belting out Five additional rounds, one of them with 'flat solid tatting'. Then she thought that since the center motif was square, perhaps I was looking for an ultimate square. So, she got to work again with another round and also filled in the large open space with pretty motifs. And now she has gone back to her 3D birds, refreshed with this break. 

(pattern ready)

(pattern received)

3. Barbara Arango - tried out her round in one pass but later modified the design and added two rounds. She even tatted this twice since the first piece had some experimentation.
(pattern ready)

4. Jagruti Joshi - quickly worked a 3rd round which imitated the 2nd round. Her use of vibrant colours makes it look like a flower in full bloom.
(pattern ready)

5. Julie Villegas - created a nice square motif with lots of thrown rings.
(pattern ready)

6. Wanda Salmans - was in a tatting slump and this challenge brought her out of it! She created two versions and shared her thoughts in her blog here - https://wandasknottythoughts.blogspot.com/2026/08/muskaans-2026-dal-design-long.html

(patterns awaited)

As you might have noticed, several patterns have been received and are in the process of being presented as PDFs. Instead of putting all patterns in the master doc, this time I am creating separate PDFs for each and sharing the link there. I think it looks more organised and focused and tatters might also find it easier to download and work with it. 

to be continued ....

Many many thanks to each and every one of my dear participants!!! You make these challenges worthwhile!