Mac-Tatted Braid (written pattern)

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a free 6-shuttle adapted pattern

Yes, I can hear the deep sighs of my handful of readers ..." what, not again ?!!!" 

I promise - this is the last in this "series" ;-)  

I have already written 2 posts on this braid. Twist Work in Reverse Stitch (TwW) is a handy pictorial to read through before actually starting to tat this pattern.

Mac-tatted Braid/Bracelet is a detailed effort to put across the 6-shuttle pattern via step-by-step pictures as well as an all-encompassing Table that acts as the pattern sequence.

However, I have come across suggestions & discussions in InTatters where the visually challenged prefer written instructions rather than notations & pics. This, therefore, is an attempt at the same. It is also a more compact, written-out pattern that is hopefully easy to follow & definitely easy to print. And one can always refer back to the previous 2 posts in case of doubts.

It is a reworking of the original instructions that Usha sent me. Here is Usha's original braid photo again -

Abbreviations used :

CTM : continuous thread method

rs : reverse stitch

TwW / TwW in rs : Twist Work in reverse stitch (click on link for step-by-step tutorial)

Important Points :

• All stitches are rs (reverse stitch) only.
• All caps of rs face downwards Always.
• TwW means to twist work a 180degree in rs (step-by-step tut) by passing working shuttle Under core thread, then starting the rs. (since all stitches in this braid are rs, I will refer to ‘TwW in rs’ simply as TwW.
• There is no crossing-over between shuttles of same color (ie between A & B).
• Always push the stitches back on the core thread after they are made.

To Start :

a) Wind 3 Colors in 6 shuttles, CTM optional

Color 1 in shuttles 1A &1B

Color 2 in shuttles 2A & 2B

Color 3 in shuttles 3A & 3B

b) Knot up all the six threads or make an encapsulated loop for bracelet as in video or add a finding/ring, etc.
c) Make 2 rs of each color on it’s own core thread. Thus all 6 threads with 2 rs will lie flat, side by side.

Sequence of threads (from left to right) at start will be : 1A , 1B , 2A , 2B , 3A , 3B

Pattern :

• Working from left to right,

I. Start with 1B, TwW in rs, & make 1rs on 2A as core thread. Then take 1A, TwW, 1rs on 2A. (2rs in a row with both shuttles of color 1 on 2A)

II. Repeat Step 3, but using 2B as core thread. Hence, 1B on 2B, then 1A on 2B (2rs in a row with both shuttles of color 1 on 2B)

There are now 4rs of color 1 (visible) on color 2 (hidden). Shuttles 1A, 1B are now over shuttles 2A, 2B, having moved from left to right; these are now in the center.

The sequence after Steps I & II : 2A , 2B , 1A, 1B, 3A , 3B

• Working from right to left,

III. Now with 3A – TwW, 1rs on 1B ; with 3B – TwW, 1rs on 1B (2rs of color 3 on color 1)

IV. With 3A – TwW, 1rs on 1A ; with 3B – TwW, 1rs on 1A.

There are now 4rs of color 3 (visible) on color 1 (hidden). Shuttles 1A, 1B are now over shuttles 3A, 3B, having moved to extreme right. Color 3 is now in the center.

The sequence after Steps III & IV : 2A , 2B , 3A, 3B, 1A , 1B

Steps I to IV form the very core of the pattern in terms of technique, & are repeated unchanged, Except for the color of threads being used as working & core.

• Working from left to right,

V : Repeat Step I using color 2 as working thread & color 3 as core. Make 2 rs using 2B on 3A, & 2A on 3A. Remember to TwW before each rs.

VI : Repeat Step II : Make 2 rs using 2B on 3B, & 2A on 3B. TwW before each rs.

There are now 4rs of Color 2(visible) on Color 3 (hidden).

Sequence after these 2 steps : 3A , 3B , 2A , 2B , 1A , 1B

• Working from right to left,

VII : Repeat Step III using color 1 as working thread & color 2 as core. Make 2 rs using 1A on 2B, &  1B on 2B. TwW before each rs.

VIII : Repeat Step IV : Make 2 rs using 1A on 2A, & 1B on 2A. TwW before each rs.

There are now 4rs of Color 1 (visible) on Color 2 (hidden).

Sequence after these 2 steps : 3A , 3B , 1A , 1B , 2A , 2B

• Working from left to right,

IX : Repeat Step I using color 3 as working thread & color 1 as core. Make 2 rs using 3B on 1A, & 3A on 1A. TwW before each rs.

X : Repeat Step II : Make 2 rs using 3B on 1B, & 3A on 1B. TwW before each rs.

There are now 4rs of Color 3 (visible) on Color 1 (hidden).

Sequence after these 2 steps : 1A , 1B , 3A , 3B , 2A , 2B

• Working from right to left,

XI : Repeat Step III using color 2 as working thread & color 3 as core. Make 2 rs using 2A on 3B, & 2B on 3B. TwW before each rs.

XII : Repeat Step IV : Make 2 rs using 2A on 3A, & 2B on 3A. TwW before each rs.

There are now 4rs of Color 2 (visible) on Color 3 (hidden).

Sequence after these 2 steps : 1A , 1B , 2A , 2B , 3A , 3B

These 12 steps form the first Set of stitches / repeats. 

The color sequence is back to where we started – 1 , 2 , 3 – after completing Steps I-XII.

Continue to desired length.

To add some novelty to this post, here's a close-up of the macrame Chevron Stitch that I tried on the same braid, by adding 2 more colors ! What can I say, I was enjoying myself ;-)))

And before continuing with the mac-tatted braid again, I Roll Tatted the additional threads on both sides, then tied & cut off.

Happy Mac-Tatting :-))