Interlaced Rings - III

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How to Start Interlaced Split Rings Braid

When I posted a couple of step-by-step tutorials on Interlaced Split Ring Braid, that had not been my intention at the onset. Clicking the photos was merely a means of keeping track of what I was doing & for future reference. Hence, the pics start only from the 2^nd pair of rings. While the same technique can be easily applied to start the 1^st set of rings, some have found it difficult to do so. I am grateful to Susan  for bringing this to light. At the time, I was engaged in other activities & quickly tatted up a pair (using the same colours that she had been working with) & emailed the pics ( Here is her final version). I have finally gotten around to preparing a systematic tutorial for all those who may have found this a little difficult to tackle.

Abbreviations used :

SR – Split Ring ; ds – double stitch ; CTM – Continuous Thread Method ; Sh – Shuttle ; SLT – Shoe Lace Trick

Pattern :

Each SR is 9/9 ie. a total of 18 ds per ring.

Starting with Single-Coloured Rings , CTM

(Click on images to enlarge) 

If one is making single coloured rings , the 2 pairs of shuttles can be wound CTM. 

It is, then, a simple matter, of tatting ‘Normal’ rings or tatting rings in the 

normal way (Not as SRs) but interlacing them before closing either ring !

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A. Over & Under Rings (Front to Back Movement)

1. Start with Sh1, make a normal ring of 18 ds. Do Not Close. Pass Sh3 through the ring, from front to back.

 

2. Make a loop with Sh3 thread with the part that is at the front, in order to commence 2^nd ring.

3. This pic shows how the loop will be formed front to back.

 

4. 1ds of ring#2 made with Sh3.

 

5. 9ds completed. Since the thread is wound CTM, continue making the next set of 9ds with same Sh3, as a normal ring.

6. 18ds (9+9) of ring#2 completed as a normal ring. Do Not Close.

  

7. Pass the Sh3 Again front to back. (post the shuttle). 

8. Start closing both rings, After posting shuttle.

 

9. Both rings closed & interlaced Over & Under (ring#1 is ‘Over’ & ring#2 is ‘Under’ in relation to each other).

10. Another set of interlaced rings made, this time Split Rings, but following the same basic technique as above, or as demonstrated in the detailed tutorial here.

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B. Under & Over Rings (Back to Front Movement)

1. With Sh1, make a normal ring of 18ds (9+9), if working CTM. Do Not Close. 

Pass Sh3 through this open ring from back through to the front.

2. Pull out a loop with Sh3 with the part that is at the back, in order to commence 2^nd ring. 

3. This pic shows how the loop will be formed back to front.

4. 9ds of Ring#2 made with Sh3.

Since the thread is wound CTM, continue making the next set of 9ds with same Sh3, as a Normal ring. 

 5. 18ds (9+9) of ring#2 completed as a normal ring. Do Not Close.

 6. Pass the Sh3 Again back to front through Ring#1 (post the shuttle).

7.  After posting shuttle, both rings are closed. These are interlaced Under & Over 

(ring#1 is ‘Under’ & ring#2 is ‘Over’ in relation to each other). 

8. Another set of interlaced rings made, this time Split Rings, 

but following the same basic technique as above, or as demonstrated in the detailed tutorial here.

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C. Starting with Two-coloured Split Rings or Separate threads

When each ring is made of 2 colour, Or the threads in each pair of shuttles is not wound continuously 

(for instance one may want to make use of some leftover threads), 

then the interlaced rings Have to be started with Split Rings.

I have used 4 left over threads. If it can be helped, I never start tatting with a knot, and that is how I have demonstrated here. However, you can follow your own method. 

 1.Each pair of threads is simply intertwined as shown, without any knotting.

 2. Make loop with Sh1 to start Split Ring #1. 

9ds made with Sh1, enclosing/hiding the short beginning end within the stitches.

TIP : Generally the thread is hidden only within the 1^st 3-4 ds. But I like to hide it till the 1^st picot is reached or as in this case, till the end of ring. This provides a seeming evenness to the tatting, Especially while closing ring.

 3. 9ds made with Sh2 to complete the other half of the split ring, 

enclosing/hiding the short beginning end within the unflipped stitches. Do Not Close the SR.

4. Sh3 is brought through the SR#1 from back to front & looped to start Split Ring #2. 

(for details on looping, refer to section B above). Keep the thread pair entwined.

Note that the tiny tails that were still visible in SR#1, have now been snipped off. 

 5. 9ds made with Sh3, hiding the thread end within these stitches. 1^st half of SR#2 completed.

 6. 9ds made with Sh4 to complete the 2^nd half of the split ring, hiding the thread end 

within these unflipped stitches. Do Not Close the SR.

7. Post the shuttle (Sh3) through SR#1, back to front, & begin closing both rings. 

 8. One pair of starting Interlaced Split Rings completed (Under & Over type).

I have shown detailed steps for only this Under & Over kind of Interlaced SRs, but I’m sure the basic idea is now clear & one can similarly Start with Over & Under Interlaced SRs using 2 or more colours.

9. This pic shows how I switched Both the colours along each side of the braid (ie the SRs), 

As Well As the overlap – the 2^nd pair of interlaced SRs are Over & Under type. 

In order to switch the colours, all I did was an SLT ! 

Love the potential of this as an Sinusoidal Bracelet & will be making it soon !!!

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Important Note :

There may be different ways that tatters pick up the thread & loop it around when starting the 2^nd (interlaced) ring. This difference may mean a slight variation in the penultimate step where shuttle might not need to be posted. Follow what is comfortable to Your tatting style. Just make sure Before closing both rings, that the shuttles are on opposite sides : Sh1 & Sh2 pair should be on opposite sides of Ring #2, while Sh3 & Sh4 pair should be on opposite sides of Ring #1.

UPDATE :  See how to pick up and wrap the loop around the hand to start tatting this ring in this pictorial.

UPDATE : Patterns using interlaced rings have also been uploaded in 2020. Click to see all posts with interlaced rings.

Happy Tatting J

Related Posts : Interlaced Split Rings I  & Interlaced Split Rings II

Interlaced Rings Revisited (more pics); Interlaced Rings using only 2 shuttles