Tatting Techniques : Inverted Tatting - 1

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Warning : This post is Not for the weak-hearted, eye-candy-loving, perfectionists :-)

I am posting this as my process-documentation ….

Inverted Tatting – Inverted Learning !

 

In early 2014, I was so impressed by Judith Connors’ exquisite 3-D flowers & compositions with inverted tatting, that I plunged right in. And plunged in the deep end ! Went straight for 3-D tatting. I would start a piece, reach midways, then wouldn’t know how to proceed because the thread had a mind of it’s own ! Drowning, & obviously frustrated, I discontinued the exercise, promising myself to get more techniques, skills & practice under my belt, before taking it up again.

I had shared these on InTatters at the time, but the pic quality was bad; hence have re-photographed them ….

So first off, here’s what I made then, sometime in March 2014.

 

 

Revisiting  after  One  year !

Inverted Tatting was still not on my horizon this early . But, well, Judith recently posted a picture of beginner level Beaded Damselfly on Craftree & I felt that I could probably tackle that. Now this piece is more 2-D, & it struck me that hey, This is the end I should’ve dipped my toe in first ;-P

So here are my latest ( I did not attempt the Damselfly, simply played around). Again, not good, but I can see my own slight improvement with a few do’s & don’ts for future practice (that are shared below, some of which were instructions by Judith herself) & definitely something I can go back to repeatedly, trying new shapes, etc. till I really improve. 

 

Lessons  learned  so  far :

• Use fine thread, preferably perle cotton. The variegated green, and the brown were in Anchor size 20 (last year), & latest white are in size 40. Unfortunately, no perle cotton.
• Start with simple, equidistant , equi-length picots. It is easier to come back & join as in a mirror-image.
• Lock join should be Tight ! Gives a neater, even, more pleasing look.
• Gradually increase the number of LJs in a single picot. I have made a few with 2 joins in the white paisley.
• Tension is Crucial. Lots of practice required there.
• Do not tug/snug the stitches too much ! My mistake in initial attempts, in order to convert to 3-D, was to really tug at the chain. It just ends up distorting the whole piece !!!
• Do not take extreme close-ups Until you have good pieces to show, lol !

  

Tutorials  referred  to  so  far include (click on each for direct link) :

Mark Myer’s Inverted Tatting  

Karen Cabrera’s Lesson 72 Inverted Tatting 

I will add these & more resources to my Tatting Resources page, as I come across them in future.

What is Your favorite tutorial & tip for Inverted Tatting ?

A  Little  about  Inverted  Tatting

And here is what Judith Connors said about her 3-D projects :

“These samples use an inversion technique, an idea of Elgiva Nicholls and developed by To De Haan-Van Beek in 'New Dimensions in Tatting' (English translation from Dutch). It uses two shuttles and sometimes a tapestry needle. It's like sculpting with threads.”

That’s it for the present. As you can well see, I need tons of practice here ! 

And this technique might well take quite a few posts in future :-)

My first diagram & free pdf !

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My bridge to the visual vista has broken ! To put it bit more mildly, have got myself some kind of allergic reaction on the bridge of my nose, along the very strip where the reading glasses rest. Who knows, maybe my long pleasant hours on Inkscape took their toll in this manner - hooked on one, hooked by another ?! Small price to pay, even if it is so ;-P Because I am so incredibly happy with my trials & so excited to share my very first pdf with a proper diagram.

My First  Diagram & pdf Pattern!

This is my Neemiss Snowflake Pattern in acrobat, which you can download & use as you like. Here is the link : https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5MqI5ByadI4a3RSbVpTdEY5UmM/view?usp=sharing

I will update the post (more pics here) & Pattern Page as well. 

I have included both the written instructions/pattern, as well as a notated diagram.

Please let me know if the link works. Any other feedback will be greatly appreciated too.

I had a tremendous journey trying to diagram on Inkscape, & as I have often said, it was Robin’s explicit tutorial series, here, that got me through ! I had dabbled in the software earlier, downloading a couple of tutorials & doing a bit of practice. But the software was huge/vast, daunting, seemingly moody/erratic, …. Robin broke it all down so neatly, stitching it to our specific needs as a tatter, that it became pretty easy to follow & apply.

I also realized that some of the ‘rules’ are pretty universal & basic. Once you understand that, one can extrapolate & apply to other commands & tools within that software. One doesn’t need to go back to the drawing board for each new step then. It becomes easy to figure stuff out, since what applies to one tool, will also apply to the others in some basic measure.

What I did do, however, was make a separate file with each stage of drawing saved in it, while my ‘working file’ was different. This way, I could go back to any stage at any time. Kind of like a template for the particular diagram. 

Thank you, Robin, for All your help !

Always appreciate your prompt responses & solutions :-)

I am pretty satisfied on the 2015 objectives front now; just hope I can keep up the pace. So far, I’ve made a couple of snowflakes, completed Jane’s TIAS 2015, learned a few new tatting techniques, challenged myself to make new patterns, & most importantly, learned to diagram & upload patterns in pdf ! On the right path ;-D

Will be out of circulation for the next couple of days, till it all heals for good. I’ve been neglecting it for these last few days, except for occasional applications, … so now I have to sit back & do nothing but home chores. Torture comes in many different forms !

Hope to catch up on all your activities eventually …

Related Post : Neemiss Snowflake

Tatting Techniques : Doodles

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  (all bold, coloured portions are active links to respective pages/sites)

I’ve been on a learning spree these past couple of days. Totally immersed in Inkscape, diagramming the Neemiss Snowflake for starters. I am ever so grateful to Robin, for her Inkscape Diagramming tutorial series, without which, I would’ve still been groping my way through the maze & gotten disillusioned soon. Her tatting-specific/related instructions have been of tremendous help. Three cheers for Robin , my techno-guru :-D

Thus, productively inching closer towards the pdfs as resolved . 

Learning from Karen Cabrera

On the tatting front, have been watching Karen Cabrera’s videos (list of all her tuts) & trying my hand at some stuff – just little doodles. I used to dislike videos because I needed extra concentration to overcome the tatting style, the basic stitch formation, the hand/thread movement, as well as the long nails (I am continually amazed at how quick & flawless the tatting is, despite the long nails – shows the level of accomplishment & skill). Anyways, as I watched the videos, I suddenly realized that that Extra effort to blot out certain movements was no longer required ! I had conquered my own limitations & could Easily focus on the new technique being demonstrated. Who said practice does not count – be it viewing or doing ?! 

So here are a few “doodles” I am sharing, along with the answer to the question in the previous post :

 2-Color Rings

 

The technique in this heart/acorn ( I like Sue’s suggestion of acorn ) is 2-Color Rings. Lesson 138 

This was merely something I was doing with 2 scrap threads, no design/pattern in mind. After making the central 2-coloured ring, I continued on with an outer round of chains only, joining with a Slope & Roll join at every segment, & switching colours. It kind of gives a Celtic feel to the uni-dimensional structure, I think.

 

The very same day, I came across Kathleen’s (Happy Kat) Tiny Turtle sketch that she shared with stitch count. Perfect, I thought, for this technique ! So this is what emerged, with some additional stitches – a tiny Turtle Pendant ;-))

Another fun finding : if I finger the brown rings, they convert into 3-D, & the turtle comes to life & walks away !!!

I have another, more elaborate pattern in the works (half-done). Will share eventually. At present, too immersed in learning exercises, etc.

Vapor Picot 

Oh, I Love the effect of this technique demonstrated in Lesson 131 (Please watch video till the end, for the Gorgeous effects). I wanted to have at least 6-8 wraps (“rounds”) per ‘picot’, so that it got the bullion stitch look; but the size 10 thread proved to be damper – it kept untwisting. So had to be satisfied with 4 wraps. 
This technique will Definitely go into my future tatting.

Single Shuttle Split Chain 

or Floating Chain

Lesson 38

This is for the curlicue (blue, in above composition) , and don’t you just love the possibilities for freeform tatting using this technique ! When I first tried to make the curlicues using long chains, in this Coiled Comfort bookmark here,  I was left with the problem of either cutting after each chain or finding ‘loopholes’ to continue without cutting every time.

If I’d known of this technique, the tatting would’ve been a breeze, And much more satisfying & elegant.

Still, never too late ...

Although Karen starts with a ring & continues with the SSSCh, I started with a tiny space of thread held in a clip & did a Lock Stitch while simultaneously tugging at the core thread. This locks the start, & one can continue with the chain. However, the stitches are Reverse Stitches, in Reverse Order (ie. unflipped, & 2^nd half stitch first).

Ruffled or Layered Picots 

(Floral Picots)

Lesson 99

This technique is also known as Floral Picots by Ring of Tatters, here . I had learned & applied it last year in my Tiny Heart Poppy . 

The pink flower in the above doodle has these picots, giving a layered effect. If one makes each alternate picot larger , then one can get a clear 2-layered ring of picots as in flowers !!!

There are many more picot styles/techniques on her videos, that I have watched. Have still to get down to actually doodling.

Thank you, Karen, for all the wonderful techniques you have uploaded !!!

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And before I take your leave, here is Carrie Neahring’s pdf download link for her Aislyn’s Bookmark. I will update the post, as well. Do take a look at her bookmark – adorable colours & gorgeous tassel ! Hope you enjoy making it :-) She has uploaded it on Craftree here, & kindly accepted to share it through my blog as well, for anybody interested.  

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Thanks, also, to Happy Kat & Carrie, for sharing their patterns :-)

Motif # 14 / II for 25 Motif Challenge

Tatting Away XIII : end, upend, no end ?! Questions !

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I. What is it ?!

A Festive Candle ?

A pair of Peacock feathers ?

Lord Krishna’s Bansuri (flute) ?

  

II. What comes first ?

The cart or the horse ?

The tail or the body ?

The chicken or the egg ?

Sorry, couldn’t resist that last question ;-))

But on a more serious note, when tatting a bookmark, which side/end would You normally start with ? Body, you answer ?

Well, I have, so far, always started with the main body, & Then added a tail, tassel, charm, ….

Not this time !!!

I had the Tail Charms ready & needed a Body to go with it ;-P

 

I had tatted Jane Eborall’s Shuttle Shaped Motifs that I spoke about here – one complete & the other partial. What should I do with them was my concern, because the former was a bit large to glue on to my shuttle. Decided that Both of them would act as charms at the end of bookmark tail.

Thus began my hunt for a 2-colour pattern . After browsing through my pinterest board, , I settled on this Spiral Bookmark I’d wanted to try ever since setting eyes on it. 

Spiral Bookmark by Regina ‘Gina’ Brummet adapted from edging #1, page 23 in Tatting Doilies & Edgings, Dover Press, edited by Rita Weiss. (I have the book, but the pattern is now linked in Craftree, here, through keep&share).

 

My Notes :

• SLT (shoelace trick) is a must each time the colours are switched.
• I did directional (modern) tatting, hence everything was tatted from the front/right side. I did not need to Reverse Work at any stage.
• It was a bit messy while working up one side, but once the other side started to join up, it all came along nicely.
• Must read/skim through the Entire instructions/pattern carefully before starting the actual process of tatting ! I missed the turning chain part & had to unravel 2 closed rings.
• Needed to increase the stitchcount at both ends. I Googled Images & most of the versions had in fact increased the chain length by one repeat at least.
• Tatted in Anchor Mercer size 20. Aqua Blue (in Sh1) : 4054-0185  . Lemon Yellow (in Sh2) : 4054-0293
• Bookmark measures 10”x 1¼” (without tail). Good for large-sized books such as encyclopedias & coffee table books. Shuttle charms : blue : 2½”x >1” & , yellow (round1) : >1” x ¾”

Initially, I was going to have both charms on a single Lock Chain. But as I worked, I decided why not have them as Separate chains ? Went ahead, attaching thread to one charm, tatting a LCh, joining to the bookmark end, & continuing down to the other motif.  Without conscious intention, I now have a Three-In-One Bookmark where the main body, as well as each shuttle charm acts as a page separator/marker at the Same time ! Great for when referring back & forth ! For instance our very own tatting binders – mark the pattern as well as the technique tutorial ;-)

The reason I was really excited earlier, was this gorgeous Candle pattern that emerges when the motifs are placed on top, acting as a flame ! (first picture on the very top) The best part is that both the flames & the candle can be tatted in one pass .

The shuttle motifs also work well as a peacock feather (mayurpankh) for Lord Krishna’s crown & flute !

You can see, I thoroughly enjoyed this entire experience, playing around with the pieces.

My sincere thanks to the designers for sharing their patterns. 

Now for the last question :

 III. Can you identify this tatting technique ?

To give you a couple of clues : It is done with 2 shuttles & in 2 rounds.

It is not a given pattern, I just went along while learning the technique & going with the colours in each shuttle. With a little bit of tweaking, these look like Two Intertwined Hearts.

Even if you can't recall the exact technique, I would love to hear what might have gone on in there ... think aloud please :-)

Happy tatting J

Motif # 13 / II for 25 Motif Challenge

Tatting Pattern : In Sync Heart

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The best laid plans !!!

Today’s post had been decided almost about 2 weeks back. It was going to be tatting piece (not a heart, lol) based on & inspired by a romantic classic, which I had started reading. I had hoped to finish reading & post both together, commemorating the sentiments of this day. Well, I still have about a 100 pages to go … so the post will have to wait for a few more days :-(

Instead, I finally tatted another heart last evening, this time from my original sketches which were drawn when Land of Laces announced the Heart Challenge here ! Even though it did not Strictly conform to the sketch, the main element viz. a braid of Interlocking Rings is there. The rest I tatted as I went, but with some meaning in each segment.

The name “In Sync” should be clue enough … how the 2 colours representing 2 individuals (or spirits/ideas) are in sync with each other in different ways, maintaining their individuality in their togetherness, sometimes merging, sometimes dancing, sometimes melting, all enwrapped in each other. You can form your own interpretations :-)

Sharing the free pattern … hope you like it.

The Interlocking Rings can be replaced with Split Rings, where the colours of each half alternate, creating a spiraling rope-like effect as in the tail of my Trailing Hearts Bookmark here .

In Sync Heart

A stylized freeform heart with symbolism 

4 shuttle, 2-colour pattern comprising of Interlocking Split Rings & Lock Chains

Threads : Anchor Mercer Cotton. Size 40

White

Lavender : 4054-098

Measurement : Works up to around 2 inches in size 40 thread.

Abbreviations (in order of appearance) :

CTM : continuous thread method

SR : Split Ring

IR : Interlocking Ring

vsp : very small picot

Cl : Close ring

LCh : Lock Chain

ds : double stitch.

Ch : chain

lp : long picot

sep : separated by

LJ : Lock Join

RW :  Reverse Work

Tutorials : Interlocking Split Rings 

Pattern 

I have written the pattern as per the segments for greater clarity, hopefully. Refer to image this with notations.

 Segment 1 – Interlocking Split Rings

Wind 2 pairs of shuttles, each pair with one colour, CTM.

With purple shuttles --  SR1 : 10 / vsp 10 . Cl.

With white shuttles --   SR2 : 10 / vsp 10 . Before closing, pass both purple shuttles UPWARDS through the white ring. Close ring.

Repeat these two SRs, alternating the colours, and WITHOUT the picot, such that a segment of 10 IRs is formed.

Segment 2 – Single Colour Lock Chains ‘Rope’

Continuing with the white shuttle pair, make a LCh 1½” long.

With purple shuttles, make another LCh 1½” long.

Twist the 2 together & to keep the twist in place lock/knot them with a ds. While twisting, keep the arc of the heart in mind – the twist should be just right.

Segment 3 – Chains with long picots

With white pair -- Ch : vsp, 2, 8 lp sep by 1 ds, 2, join to vsp. This gives a ring-like effect.

With purple pair –- Ch: vsp, 2, 6 lp sep by 2 ds, 2, LJ to 3^rd picot of white chain, RW, 25 ds.

With white pair – Ch : 25

Segment 4 – 2-Colour Lock Chains

For this segment, pair one white shuttle with purple each.

With one pair of shuttles make Inner Lock Chain measuring 1½”. LJ to vsp of 1^st white SR on the IR segment.

With the other pair of shuttles, make Outer Lock Chain measuring 2”. LJ to vsp of 1^st purple SR on the IR segment.

Segment 5 – Single colour Chains

Optional Segment.

With white pair of shuttles together : Ch : 3, 7 lp sep by 1 ds, 3, LJ to any ds of 1^st white SR in IR segment.

With purple pair of shuttles together : Ch : approx 30 ds. LJ to last picot of white chain.

Tie & cut all threads. Hide ends.

 Few Notes 

• 4 shuttles can be a bit tricky to work with while making the IRs, but they were a JOY to create the rest of the elements – one had so much Choice ! Just pick up any shuttle to work with. And I didn’t even do any encapsulation here, sticking to 2-shuttle tatting for the rest of the pattern !
• I chose a finer thread (size 40) to give it a more elegant, dainty look.
• If I make this again, I will try to have larger SRs in Segment 1. Maybe 15/15. This will give a more rounded look – closer to heart shapes.
• For a Great IR braid, check out Robin’s Priscilla bookmark tail here
• I have given the LCh lengths. But with different tensions, etc. this length may vary for individuals. Try to estimate the desired length by positioning the in-work chain Before joining .
• I think the Segment 4 LChs should be a tad longer. Seemed fine last night, but appear a bit short when scanning.
• The last Segment #5 is Optional because the heart shape has already been formed. I just wanted to show some symbolism here.
• A little blocking is required … I just spritz some water & ironed.
• I had quite a struggle with the starting of the IRs. But once the initial rings are made, it is easy going. If anybody wishes for a step-by-step pictorial on how to start Interlocking Rings, a là Interlaced Rings here, please leave a comment letting me know.

happy tatting 

 Motif # 12 / II for 25 Motif Challenge

Tatting Pattern : Heart patterns

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Yeah, yeah, I can see you all groaning … “not another heart?!!!”

Okay, I yield to popular sentiment. So, not another heart, 

…. But THREE Hearts !!! :-D

I took up Dorothea’s Land of Laces Heart Challenge here (click on link for details) & that is how the Trailing Hearts Pattern arose. But even that pattern was Not on my initial sketches. Anyways, the challenge is just an excuse. It served as a good diving board & I am getting more comfortable creating these tiny motifs/medallions/shapes.

Hope you appreciate the patterns … please do leave feedback so that I can improve & become better ….

                  

Neo Vintage Heart

Size 20 crochet cotton in Ecru
Measurements :1-1/2 " wide x 1 " vertically ... round 1.
2-3/4" x 1-1/2" vertically .... round 2.
 Abbreviations :CTM - Continuous Thread method

SCMR – self closing mock ring
Fp – false picot
R – ring
p – picot
sep – separated
ds – double stitch
lp – long picot
sp – small picot
RW – reverse work
Ch – chain
JR – Josephine ring
hs – half stitch
Half Ring or Scallop
LJ – lock join
+ - join (within brackets is mentioned where to join)          

Cl – close

2 shuttles, wound CTM . Refer to images for sequence of working, indicated by numbered rings.

 

Round 1 :  Working anticlockwise ....

SCMR1 : 7 Fp

      R2 : 9 p sep by 1 ds. Alternate p & lp, starting with lp. Cl . Fp.

      6 sp 1 . Cl SCMR .

R3 : 1 + (SCMR1) 5 sp 6. Cl. RW.

Ch : 5 p 5 p 5 p 5 p 5 p 5 . RW.

Centre trefoil

R4 : 5 + (R3) 4 sp 1 . Cl.

SCMR5 : 5 Fp

       JR6 : 7 hs + (p of R2) 7 hs . Cl. Fp

       5 sp 1 . Cl SCMR.

R7 : 1 + (SCMR5) 4 p 5 . Cl. RW.

Ch : 5 p 5 p 5 p 5 p 5 p 5 . RW.

R8 : 6 + (R7) 5 p 1 . Cl.

SCMR9 : 1 + (R8) 6 + (R2) 7 . Cl.

Round 1 complete. Tie & Cut ONLY one shuttle thread & hide it in the next ring, as it is being made, since the next round is rings-only round.

Round 2. Working clockwise ….

Half Ring/Scallop : 5 Close partially such that a scallop is formed. LJ to picot on chain.

Repeat this all around the chains, joining with LJ at each p, such that 12 half rings/scallops are made. Tie and cut. Hide cut end.

Heart is complete .

I deliberately used half rings with the tiny bit of bare thread at their base in Round 2 . The knotted side makes a scalloped edge, while the bare thread gives a lacy, vintage effect. Hence the name ... a timeless heart that incorporates traditional/classic elements with more modern tatting such as self-closing mock rings. And hence, too, the choice of thread & colour …. lending it a kind of old-world look.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Magic Heart

Derived from the "Magic Square", as outlined in this post here (Fig. 5A) . 

This is such a small & simple heart that it can be made with leftover yarn (as I did for this prototype….didn’t get around to making a better version yet). It can easily be a beginner’s pattern.

Thread : Anchor Mercer Cotton size 20 . Navy Blue w/ White (variegated) : 4054-1210

Abbreviations : As listed above. and JK : Josephine Knot.

R1 : 6 lp 6 . Cl. RW

Ch : 12 p 2 p 2 p 6 . RW

R2 : 6 + (R1) 6 . Cl. RW

Ch : 6 p 2 p 2 p 12 RW

R3 : 6 + (R1) 6 . Cl. RW

Ch : 5 RW

R4 : 6 + (R1) 6 . Cl. RW . Switch Shuttle

JK5 : 7 hs

Ch : 5. Join to base of  R1 or the space between R1 & first Ch.

Tie & cut ends & hide.

Please note :

i)                    Before closing R1, a very small picot can be incorporated in order to anchor the last chain join.

ii)                   All chains can be worked with directional tatting.

iii)                 Since the 2^nd shuttle is required only for the tiny JK, one can do without it …. Simply finger tat this last piece, or make an SLT & single shuttle JK.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ 

 Hold My Hand Heart

Again, this is just the first trial, using leftover thread in size 10. I had imagined a little more elaborate pattern, with the interlocking rings, but am not too unhappy with the way this turned out. In fact the 2 IRs seem to be hands held together ;-)

The advantage with this pattern is that it can be Easily needle-tatted too !

Thread : South Maid Mercerised Cotton (Coats n Clark , USA) Size 10 . Color : 22 GARLAND

Pattern :

2 shuttles wound CTM

Start with the trefoil.

R1 : 12  Cl

R2 : 16  Cl

R3 : 12  Cl . RW

Ch : 20 Downward picot 20

At this stage, I realized that I hadn’t completely thought this through. So, I simply finger-tatted the last interlocking ring.

Interlocking Ring : 12

Tie & cut. Hide ends. To avoid this step, cut the chain thread & hide end in last ring, & make the last ring a single shuttle split ring (SSSR) !

 ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

That’s it for now. I am also working on another tiny pattern … Hope I get it right in time to share .

Happy Tatting :-)

Motifs 9, 10, 11 / II for 25 Motif Challenge

Tatting Away XII : Jane Eborall Patterns

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Sharing a few pieces I tatted from Jane Eborall's free patterns

(click on respective titles for free pattern )

1. Chicken Wing Coaster

Designer : Jane Eborall

  

Jane has been sharing these coasters in quick succession, through the last few weeks. Each one had a singular identity with the choice of colourway, tempting me enormously ;-) Since I had recently landed myself with 5 balls of size 10 thread (the size was not mentioned on ebay, only the Gorgeous pic of 5 colourways), this coaster/mini-doily seemed a very good starting project, just the right size when completed.

And am I glad to have chosen this, coz it truly turned into a learning experience. It starts with an SCMR !!! I always start my tatting without knots, whatever be the first element. But how was I to Start the 2-colour SCMR Without knots !!! Stumped at the very first step ;-/ . I Knew it could be done in a similar manner to how I start all my other tatting elements. But it was too fiddly & I was too lazy to work it out for myself. So turned to Jane & and sure enough she has a clear Tips & Techniques download for “Starting Rings, Chains, SR’s & SCMR’s without tying any knots” . Easy-peasy !!!

This coaster now livens up my dining table, as you can see - almost custom-made for the vase !!!

Threads Used :

Bliss, India.  Variegated thread (no colourway, dye details or size mentioned). Probably a size 10.

South Maid Mercer Cotton, USA . Art. D-54, Color 430, Cream. Size 10.

My Notes :

·         Since I loaded Shuttle 1 with variegated thread, the pattern needs to be started using Shuttle 2.

·         The thread sizes were a bit off in comparison with each other, with the plain colour slightly finer. Also, the South Maid thread seemed thinner at places, if that wasn’t my imagination. The Bliss thread was wonderful to work with. Unraveling needed care, though, due to slightly less taut twist.

·         Variegated thread (Sh1) needed 4 full-bobbin refills while plain thread (Sh2) required only 2 full refills.

·         Learned how to start 2-colour tatting with an SCMR with Jane’s tut here.

·         The pattern is a tad confusing at initial stages, despite clear diagrams – I needed all my spatial perspective at command; I sometimes feel disoriented with all what goes where in case of split rings & SCMRs ! But now I am quite familiar with SCMRs – good practice !

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2. The Fandango Motifs

During last year’s TIAS (the sailing boat), I learned how to make Split Rings here. For greater practice & understanding, I simultaneously chose to tat the Fandango Coaster pattern & the Fandango Square Motif. I liked the pattern very much & I did end up with a few initial mistakes, especially with regard to Orientation. The practice helped a lot & in the process I got myself 2 glass/mug coasters ! Done in Anchor Mercer size 20 threads.

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3. Shuttle Shaped Motif

Recently, Jane posted a pic of her Shuttle Shaped Motif, here. When looking at it, I was stumped by what looked like a picot emerging from picots !!! Well, I Had to try out the pattern (she has reinstated the pattern here. And here are the 2 motifs – one complete, the other with only the 1^st round completed. I intend to use them as is …. Will share soon.

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Many thanks to Jane for sharing so selflessly !

Motifs #7 & 8 / II for 25 Motif Challenge