Tatting Effects & patterns

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Mixed Effects

I usually like to post when there is something substantial or complete to offer.  This time I'm making an exception coz I don't know how soon I'll be able to prepare proper posts ...

These are a few effects I came up with over the last few months. Haven’t had much time or patience to develop or refine them . I also wanted to share something ‘new’ (I hope) at the start of the new year.

So, here's a sneak peek at some of the effects I have in the works (some my own, some borrowed) ... these are still in experimental stage & some kinks to be worked out … but they are pretty simple .

1. MAGIC  CIRCLE /RING

Crochet & knitting have a magic circle/ring, ...so why not tatting ? Should we be left behind ? Nnnnnoooooooo!

All one needs is a loop with a slip knot OR a simple length of scrap thread (if one wants decorative, use different colour, or a ribbon, etc.) . Skip the central ring in the pattern. Begin tatting the pattern & when it says to join in center or to a central ring, join instead to this loop – a normal picot join. That’s it ! Take care not to pull the loop thread through when tensioning the join. In end, tighten the slip knot & hide tails.

This was back in October but it took a while to think of wider application & usefulness. I believe it has potential for designers to estimate round size, or how many repeats can fit in a certain diameter, ... as well as for tatters faced with certain situations – such as not having the right sized finding/doodad/button ; to cover tree ornaments (baubles) easily (slip on/over & tighten !); estimate girth of suncatcher, etc….. Join many individual motifs to the magic string to make a bunting or a necklace!

The magic circle can't even be seen if pulled tight. But if one wants it to show, That's possible too.

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2. RINGS  ENRAPT / WRAPPED RINGS

A wrapped-around effect for rings, worked with only 2 shuttles normally.

The wrapping itself is Very easy & can be applied to any single shuttle ring (Not split rings, though) with or without picots.

Start ring. Make 1^st half stitch But before tensioning it, pass SH2 through, along the core ((just as we do when hiding tail within)). The continue tatting normally. Before closing ring, pass SH2 through the ring, wrapping around it. Close ring normally & continue.

The wraps can be made on picoted rings too (topmost ring in above pic). If one wants the wrap Within a picot, one will need to position SH2 before starting the picot.

This effect can be a bit fiddly at times since the wrap does not slide easily over the double stitch & may have to be nudged into position.

Secondly, if one chooses to place colours in a certain way, there is a tendency for the wrapped thread to be pulled tight accidentally (unless one uses a shoelace trick). So this is a ‘flaw’ I need to fix with a few experiments. I have a few advanced effects in mind for this … let’s see.

Also tried the blanket stitch for fun :-) I like the look in the 2^nd pic, where the picots make a nice angle & also anchor the wraps. It is fine to decorate a single ring but I wouldn’t recommend it for multiple rings – it is very difficult to obtain tension, being a topstitch.

UPDATE : This basic wrap was applied to bare thread / mignonette in order to use 2 colours in same round and add some bulk : http://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2016/02/identity-crisis.html

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3. OVERLAPPING SPLIT RINGS

aka

FAUX CELTIC TATTING

Simple split rings (SR) ! 3 in a series, joined back at base of 1^st SR.

Gives a ‘free swinging’ middle (top) ring. This has potential for 3D tatting, where one or more rings can be joined to picots on topmost ring, thus providing an enclosed cylindrical or barrel shape (something like the layered rings here but where the lower rings/petals are vertical too !). Tatted Bugle beads ?!!!  Or 3D flowers of course. 

If the stitches on the 2^nd half of each split ring are increased, one gets this overlap in center. Imagine if one were to use 2 thread sizes – 20 for 1^st half of SRs that form a peripheral outline ; & size 40 for 2^nd half of SRs that give a clear overlap. Experiment with more number of rings to see what kind of overlap one gets. Look Ma, no Celtic shuttles ! 

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4. MARILEE'S TATTED COTTER  PIN LINKS* 

with a ‘double twist’

(This is not my original idea, hence post titled “Mixed” effects).

There are 3 tatted pin links here (excuse my shabbiness – first attempts) :

1. Normal, following Marilee’s tutorial & stitch count here

2. Using 2 colours,  and chain reduced to 18ds

3. Doubled up chain . One can add a vsp to chain & join before starting 2nd ring.

4. Further Ideas : use 2 thread sizes - thicker rings & thinner chains. Make a separate ring or use a metal ring. Wrap the cotter pin chain all around the ring/large chain, covering it completely.  Something like enraptured ring – this is something I really want to try out – it would look so nice as the center of a flower or around a cabochon, pearl, etc. !

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Ending with a quick & easy pattern using daisy picots to welcome the new year ….

DOUBLE  DAISY  FLOWERS

Very quick to tat & use up scraps of thread. Daisy Picot technique.

2 shuttles.

Pattern :

(Form ring loop with SH1)
♥ Sh1 : 1ds, p, 1ds
Sh2 : long picot, 1ds
Repeat from ♥ for 6 'petals'.
Close ring. T & C !

These flowers are going to be sewn to an embroidered neckline, hence I left the tail ends long, to be sewn through the fabric later.

Notice the difference between front (top & bottom pics) and back (above pic) of flower ? 

Which do you prefer ? 

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That’s it for this post. Still left with a lot of experimentation & trials & ideas to work on … hope some of the above inspire or generate even more & much better ideas

happy tatting :-)

Motifs #16-20 / III for 25 Motif Challenge