Jigsaws to the rescue !
Who knew ?!
Who knew my love of puzzles, & jigsaws in particular, would help me
solve a tatting pattern ?!
You know I love challenges, and true to form “fools rush
in …” I readily agreed to do some summer homework for the Online Tatting Class, which incidentally/ironically, involved
“angels”.
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| Single Angel medallion, tatted in one pass |
Before proceeding with my trials ....(click on links to download)
The pattern is by Eleonore Endrucks Leichtenstern : Pattern
#22 from Schiffchen-Spitzen 1920 and this book is in public domain. It can be
downloaded from Georgia Seitz’s Archive (listed as Endrucks 1920 and Endrucks 1920 diagrams insert) . For modern version : Eleonore’s Angel Lace
A normal, 2-shuttle pattern, requiring only a knowledge of thrown rings (or rings on chain), & lock join followed by very small picot (or any preferred block tatting method). Yes, that's it !
A normal, 2-shuttle pattern, requiring only a knowledge of thrown rings (or rings on chain), & lock join followed by very small picot (or any preferred block tatting method). Yes, that's it !
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My Trials with
After quite a bit of puzzlement, I decided to make the very 1st
edging pattern in her book, in order to get a sense of her designing, diagrams,
writing, & notations (this will be shared later, along with pattern &
an adapted coaster/edging).
Even so, I could comprehend only parts of her pattern &
went ahead to tat those like a puzzle, hoping to fit pieces together later. As
you can see in the pic below, the jigsaw rule was followed , by seeking out the
‘corners’ first …(Can you see another angel profile there ?!)
Once these were done, it became fairly easy & within 2
days, the entire pattern was decoded ! It is large in size 20, hence for all
subsequent tatting, size 40 was used.
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ROW 1
But let's start afresh.
Having succeeded at piecing the puzzle together in size 20, I picked up purple (& white) in size 40. The lace/broad edging , despite it's elaborate & large size, is Only a Two-Row pattern !
Following are pics of Row 1, tatted in one pass.
And also playing with it in various formations ...
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| Single Repeat of Row 1 |
I did this much later, only in the Angelette tatted in white (2nd last pic below).
TIP : Excellent use of block tatting to move over distances, to move in diverse directions, to return to desired point, ..... spanning large areas, yet covering them with lacy effect.
The 2 pics above have a part of Row 2 (last section - the outward-facing arches) included between each Row 1 repeat.
Steps 10-15 when starting Row 2, were a bit more puzzling than the rest, especially getting the curves & shuttles in place. Hence, I added 2 pics - one from front & other from behind to show how it looks.
Note : there are No SLTs in the entire pattern, which involves 2 shuttles.
Confession : When I first laid eyes on the pattern, it did not appeal to me. Seemed to lack elegance. But as I tatted samplers and saw the potential, I kept getting drawn in to the brilliance of this design, and the designer. I intend to try out more of her patterns in future ....
Tatting these does not take time. Really ! Writing & diagramming the pattern was like a never-ending process. So many drafts & redrafts had to be made & rejected, till everything seemed to be as logical as possible. If you have any questions or difficulties, feel free to ask away.
I tatted FS/BS (using RODS) & have written & diagrammed accordingly, with colour coding, though it is Optional. However, if anybody finds that too intimidating, & wants an All-black pattern, please let me know & I will convert it into an all-black diagram/text & send/upload.
I will also post patterns for all the adaptations/derivations as they get completed.
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| 2 Repeats of Row 1 |
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| 2 repeats of Row 1, when folded inwards |
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| Choker Necklace, with beads & a tiny ring. (when Row 1 is folded inwards. 2 repeats, one pass) |
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| 4 repeats of Row 1, joined back to starting point. A beautiful curved-corner edging/lace, tatted in one pass ! |
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When Row 1 is folded 'outwards', it forms a
V-shaped/triangular edging or necklace/choker ! |
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4 repeats of Row 1 & joined back to starting point.
A 'Points n Curves' Edging for square/rectangular
coasters, or mats, again, all tatted in one pass !
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Are you enjoying the genius of this designer ? Isn't it a marvel ?!
Let's now move to Row 2 & see what is in store :-)
ROW 2
Steps 10-15 when starting Row 2, were a bit more puzzling than the rest, especially getting the curves & shuttles in place. Hence, I added 2 pics - one from front & other from behind to show how it looks.
Note : there are No SLTs in the entire pattern, which involves 2 shuttles.
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| One repeat of Row 2 complete . |
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| 2 complete repeats of Lace pattern |
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| 2 complete repeats of Lace pattern, continued with partial Row 2, & joined back, to create a square |
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| 2 partial repeats of Row 2, when folded inwards, create another snug-fitting square ! |
Did Eleonore do jigsaw puzzles ? See how neatly each 'tile'/piece has been fitting in with adjacent 'tiles', irrespective of which tile or aspect or part thereof one chooses ?!
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| Angelette extracted from within the 2-Row medallion. Tatted in one pass, with pearl & gold beads |
TIP : For peripheral chains in blocks, one can replace LJs with CWJ for smoother outlines. However, CWJ cannot be used in the concentric chain block on the right ... that requires concave tatting. Having decreased the concavely-worked block chain from 6 to 5 ds, it lies flatter now.
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| One single medallion tatted in One Pass ! (without last segment of Row 2) CWJs used |
My tatting leaves a lot to be desired. And I keep thinking what I should/shouldn't have done... the vsp could've been even smaller for one; blocks could've been neater... And I absolutely should've blocked the pieces before photographing! But hope the tattiness of my tatting does not keep you from giving Endrucks book a go.
For those interested :
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Besides the fact that each piece fits immaculately with others, in different formations, do you want more proof of her mathematically impeccable design ?- Both rows have the exact same number of steps : 44 !
- Both rows require the exact same length of thread : 30yards/28m CTM for 4 repeats !
- And although I haven't calculated, 'chances' are the number of knots is the same too, right ?! (I doubt she left anything to "chance", though)
For those interested :
DIMENSIONS
FOR SINGLE MEDALLION/REPEAT :
In Size 40 thread :
ROW 1 : 3¼” (<8½cm) along base ; 1¼” (3cm) across top ; <1¼” (3cm) high
ROW 2 :
Segments v-vii : ~4 cms across narrow ‘base’ ;
5½ cms across outer tips ; 3½ cms
high (at tips) ; 2½ cms high in middle
Segment viii : 2 cms wide x ~2 cms high
In
Size 20 thread :
ROW 1: <4½”
(11cm) base ; 2” (5cm) top ; 1¾” (4½cm) high
ROW 2 :
Segs v-vii :
2” wide at narrow ‘base’ ; 3” broadest ; 2” high
(at tips) ; >1” high in middle
Seg viii : 1” high ; 1¼” wide
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I tatted FS/BS (using RODS) & have written & diagrammed accordingly, with colour coding, though it is Optional. However, if anybody finds that too intimidating, & wants an All-black pattern, please let me know & I will convert it into an all-black diagram/text & send/upload.
I will also post patterns for all the adaptations/derivations as they get completed.
The pattern was taught by Georgia on Nov 2nd, 2015
Motifs 6-10 / III for 25 Motif Challenge
Happy
Tatting :-)
I am speechless and will view this many times, this is lots of work and have seen these antique patterns, hard to believe the original inventors that had no classes to help them.
ReplyDeleteActually, this pattern is part of Georgia's project to modernize antique patterns. I made these a few months back but didn't post till she had "unveiled" it in class . I'm very thankful to her, for reposing confidence in me and more so for providing me the opportunity :-)
DeleteMartha has converted Pattern #21 from same book a few years back.
I have another book that also took that ball and ran with it and they too show Eleonors patterns and then what they have done with it it is called "Occhi Schiffcenspitze Frivolite" by Marianne Langwieser and others. This is written in another language but diagrams are done well and I can understand the directions very well I like the way they show joining picots. with filled in triangles and unfilled in. I am working on one now :)
DeleteThis is very interesting, Carollyn ! Thanks for sharing the picot notation - much better than lines, at times.
DeleteAre you making the peacock from that book ?
Very unique looks when joined in different ways!! :)
ReplyDeleteThat's what kept me hooked to this pattern, Sue :-) Amazing !
DeleteYour work on this is totally amazing. When Georgia first posted the class so we could study the lesson for Monday, all these variations just took my breath away! So wonderful and so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Muskaan.
StephanieW
Your kind words are very uplifting, Stephanie :-) Thank you !
DeleteAmazing deconstruction and reconstruction. I do like your tatted tatting. ☺
ReplyDeleteYou are so sweet, Bernice ! :-D And this is probably just the 'basics' ; many more possibilities possibly ...
DeleteThis pattern is fantastic! :)
ReplyDeleteYes, it is , Anna ! Thanks :-)
DeleteStill a very thorough and detailed work! Assembly are you doing to the row 2 is quite amazing and interesting.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lilas ! It was fun to play around with it :-)
DeleteI saw your diagram when Georgia put up the links for the Online Tatting Class, and I must say, I am very impressed! This is a complex pattern to diagram with all of the steps and block tatting and you did a wonderful job. Not to mention the endurance to decipher the pattern in the first place.
ReplyDeleteWas the original pattern done in only two rounds? It's unusual to find antique patterns that utilize such large rounds, all done in one pass.
Hi Robin :-) Yes, the diagramming & logical segmentation took way too much time & effort, especially considering how quickly the pattern actually tats up ! The diagrams would not have been possible but for your Excellent Inkscape tuts ! Although I still don't use guides, I did learn some new tweaks/functions .... Any chance you will resume your tuts... hint, hint ;-)
DeleteAs for one or 2 pass elaborate patterns -- it is the hallmark of German tatters & their tatting lineage ! They used chains a lot, and consequently meandering 'blocks' to cover space & distance.
Iris Niebach's is a superb modern example. But there are a couple of resources I came across, on Craftree, which boggle the mind ! I will post the links ...
And yes, this pattern was originally done in 2 Rows only. To make it more cogent, however, I decided to break each row into 4 smaller segments for ease of working.
Check out the HW site for Anna's working, posted by Mel. Love the effect ...
Haha, yes I need to get back to making Inkscape posts :) Actually there is a very small edit to switching guides on and off that I've been meaning to make. That and writing up how to make Inkscape draw "automatic" pattern repeats for you (something I use ALL the time now).
DeleteThanks for the links I will have to check them out.
Those "automatic" repeats are what I am waiting for, Robin :-) Would make life so easy !
DeleteFor Grids & Guides, I simply click on the drop-down menu on the top bar. But I have also noticed that the Guide lines show up if one clicks on the scale ! However, I still haven't become comfortable Using the guides :-( Need concentrated practice there.
Robin, here's the book I was referring to : http://www.craftree.com/sources/9912
ReplyDeleteHave fun tracing the pathway ;-)
Ineke is another modern day designer who is doing mind-boggling 3D tatting ! Check out her Musical Clowns in bellaonline !
I admire your titanic work, Muskaan! It always inspires me.
ReplyDeleteThe admiration and inspiration is mutual, dear Elena 😍 Hoping you are all safe and secure. Watching on tele ...💝
Delete