Tuesday 23 December 2014

Tatting Pattern : Neemiss Snowflake

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Neemiss Snowflake
I ended my 1st ever 25 Motif Challenge with a free pattern & am starting/continuing the next round with another free snowflake pattern. This time, though, it is my very own pattern, right from scratch ! Not derived or adapted. Nothing really new about the elements, but it’s a big start for me.

The designing has a slight history which is reflected in the name I chose for it : “Neemiss”. {No, I did not misspell “Nemesis”, although it IS an  anagram, coincidentally! It Has helped in a reverse fashion by breaking my shackles of 2D designing, hopefully.}
Back in late June, I tried my hand at needle tatting. And I realized how easy it was to design with needle tatting because one could easily unravel & redo any element … no need to cut & discard, etc., just go with the flow. That’s how I created a pendant. However, when I tried to convert that into shuttle tatting, I faced a problem & the pendant started to turn into a circle (story of my tatting life!). Easy conversion is possible Only if the needle, thread, & shuttle conform to the same size. I used a needle that was suitable for size 10 or thicker thread, but converting the pattern into a size 20 shuttle pattern required major shifts in stitchcount.
So that is the reason for the name : A Needle tatting Miss (as in mistake, omission, error), hence, “Neemiss” (in my defense, I enjoy wordplay)

This is a 2 or 3 round pattern, depending on where you want to end – 2 snowflakes in one ;-))
It is a 2-shuttle pattern that can be done in one pass, using 1 or 2 colours, or as separate rounds.
No stiffening or blocking required, since the 3rd round creates a relatively stiff ‘border’, keeping the shape intact.

UPDATE : This pattern is now in Acrobat format with written instructions & diagram here : https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5MqI5ByadI4a3RSbVpTdEY5UmM/view?usp=sharing
Feel free to download & use :-)

Threads used :
Anchor Mercer Size 20 : White ; Navy Blue w/ White (variegated) : 4054-1210
Size of Snowflake : ~ / < 3’

Abbreviations :
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Sh – shuttle
R – ring
RW – reverse work
Ch – chain
JK – Josephine Knot
SR – split ring

JR – Josephine Ring
S&R – Slope & Roll join
LJ – Lock join
vvsp – very very small picot
N – node/Victorian set
fhs – fisrt half stitch
shs – 2nd half stitch
pds – padded ds (2 wraps); also called dds, spds, BDS, etc.

Round 1:
Composed of 2 sets of alternating trefoils, chains, & Josephine knots. 
A Split Ring will be required to move out of this round, if you want to make it in one pass.

Sh1 : white ; Sh2 : blue
Using Sh1 :
R : 3 – 3 – 6. RW
** Ch : 6, JK6, 6. RW
Small Trefoil :
R : 6 + 3 – 3
R : 3 + 6 – 6 – 3
R : 3 + 3 – 6. RW
Ch : 6, JK6, 6. RW
Large Trefoil :
R : 6 + 3 – 3
R : 3 + 8 – 8 – 3
R : 3 + 3 – 6. RW
Repeat from ** till 5 trefoils made. Before starting 6th trefoil, join the Ch to base of 1st ring made. RW
R : 6 + 3 – 3
SR : 3 + 8 / 3 + 8. If you want to start the next round afresh, then make this a normal ring (3 + 8 – 8 + 3), tie & hide ends.
Round 1 complete.

TIP : Keep the joining picots Within the trefoil rings small (as indicated in pic), if you want the rings to broaden/stretch out. If the picots are long, the shape of the rings will be more spindle-like.

Round 2 :
Consists of chains, Josephine Rings (as thrown rings), very very small picots, & Slip & Roll joins 
(or Lock join if preferred). No Reverse Work, but Switch Shuttles to make the thrown ring (JR).


Using Sh1,
If one is continuing in one pass, make a mock picot & start :

JK 8
Ch : 1, vvsp, 12, S&R join to picot where 2 trefoils meet.
** Ch : 11, vvsp, 1, JR8, 1, vvsp, 11, S&R join
Ch : 12, vvsp, 1, JR8, 1, vvsp, 12, S&R join.
Continue around repeating from ** till 1st JR reached. Join with Lock Join to base.
If desired, one can end here. It makes a nice flower shape with 6 petals !

Round 3
Consists of chains only, that are made up of Victorian sets/Node tatting, & padded tatting.
NOTE :

Node Tatting notation :
Each node (N) comprises of 4 half stitches (4N), repeated either 4 or 5 times (4N4 or 4N5). Thus
4N4 means : 4fhs, 4shs, 4fhs, 4shs.  (16 hs in total)
4N5 means : 4fhs, 4shs, 4fhs, 4shs, 4fhs. (20 hs in total)
For the pattern, you may need to add or reduce a couple of hs, depending on your own tension. The objective is for the node tatting chains to lie niched against/just adjacent to the previous round chains.

Joins : While I prefer Slope & Roll joins, it can be substituted with a Lock join.


Switch shuttles (if using 2 colours).
Using Sh2,
Make a lock join to the vvsp on the left of JK of previous round.
Arch Ch: [2 ds, 2pds(2), vsp, 2pds(2), 2ds, S&R join or LJ to vvsp].*
**Ch : 4N5, S&R join to base
Ch : 4N4, S&R join to vvsp, repeat from * to * to make Arch
Ch : 4N4, S&R join to base, **
Repeat from ** to ** till you reach starting point.
Tie & cut. Hide ends. Or cut a longer length to make string/loop for hanging.

I ran out of Sh1 thread midways through the last round. So, if tatting in size 20, you can easily load/reload accordingly.


In case I have missed something in the pattern writing, 
please let me know through comment or email (on my profile). 
Your feedback is Always welcome :-)

happy tatting :-)

Happy Holidays & a Great 2015 !

Motif #1/II for 25 Motif Challenge


Click for details on Victorian Sets/ Node stitch
Click for discussion of & links for Padded Tatting



15 comments:

  1. A pretty snowflake, thanks for the pattern.

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  2. That is a lovely motif, Muskaan, and you give us the pattern right away! Thank you!!

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    1. Just so excited to share my first real snowflake, that I sat n typed on the coldest day of the season (4°C)! Glad you like it :-)

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  3. It is very beautiful and can't wait to start it next year :) cause I want to be ahead, starting with January, and do a couple a monthe !

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    1. Thanks, Carollyn :-) I will be very happy if you try it out - in fact, it could be a test-tat !

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  4. So glad you like it .... Thanks a heap :-)

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  5. You astound me! So many beautiful designs; so many diagrams and easily understood instructions; so much planning with so many details; such an astute command of language and such computer moxy. Thank you! Happy New Year! : )

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    1. Oh, Fox, you are just too kind !
      But I'm glad of the glowing red blush you brought to my cheeks in this terribly, long-drawn out cold ;-P
      (((Hugs)))

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  6. This pattern is now in Acrobat format with written instructions & diagram here : https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5MqI5ByadI4a3RSbVpTdEY5UmM/view?usp=sharing
    Feel free to download & use :-)

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    1. I tried to go to the document, but it says I do not have access granted.

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    2. Julie, email the access request and I will grant permission. Google Drive has done this for my old patterns (2017 & back). This is temporary till I get time to update all those pdfs. 🌿🌺🌿

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  7. I tried this in all Black and it came out beautifully.Thanks for your kindness in sharing the notes in its entirety.

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    1. My pleasure, Sharon 😍 I am happy that you enjoyed working the snowflake. 💗

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