forgetfulness !

3 acts of forgetfulness came together for this quick and functional adaptation of a doily into a hair bun (jooda) net.

  A few days back I realized that I was completely out of hair bun nets and the one I was using already had the frayed elastic knotted for tension. I had forgotten to replenish my stock!

  Around the same time, while doing some housecleaning of my tablet files, I came across Linda S Davies’ Split Chain doily pattern saved there - don’t know when/why.

  And the same day, while working on a sidelined project, I realized that I’d again forgotten how to do the split chain (I always get the 1st hs but fumble on the 2^nd hs) :-(
  These coincidences meant something, right ?!

Got right down to it & completed in 3 evenings….

I loved the triangle-type rounds in this doily – such a lovely uncommon effect. And the additional bonus was that I could stop at any round without affecting the pattern.

Remember this one in size 40 ? Ahem, it’s still an UFO & may be too small for my purpose.

I chose to do this in Anchor size 20, in a neutral colour, for quick completion & immediate use.

I've always worn black nets, but the tatting Should be visible - hence colour.

Since I wanted a slightly cupped look, I snugged the chains tighter in rounds 2 & 3.

Then I eased up a bit on latter rounds, tatting normally.

My preference is for nets with smaller spaces. Hence I decreased the stitches in Rounds 5 & 6.

Rounds 7 & 8 were tatted exactly as per pattern.

Despite peering closely at the process pics accompanying the pattern, I may’ve made a mistake in Rnd 7 chains, resulting in a wavy rather than spiked chain; still, happy with it.

The cupping decreased tremendously as the doily grew and lay fairly flat ! 

Diameter is 7 inches from tip to tip.

Instead of encapsulating an elastic band, I left my options open by doing a Lock Chain string with a black wooden bead at either end.

If woven around lower rings of Round 7, the string creates a nice edging/trim when pulled tight. Very vintage and matronly :-P  (see lead collage)

But my hair needed the string around the outermost arches. Now that’s a proper net!

And I am so very pleased to state that I wore it to sleep last night and all was well !!!! Yippeee :-D The hubster approves of it, too - after all it is he who will see it - I have yet to grow eyes at the back of my head ;-P

This was kind of a tentative pilot project in many ways, but it’s success has paved the way for many more. I’ve been collecting patterns for my nets for a while now.

Split Chain in Directional Tatting :

Look closely and you will notice an extra half stitch indicated by the arrows. Here I was working chains frontside but using Marie Smith’s method for split chain. In later rounds I used  Dora Young’s Knotless technique for the frontside chains.

Another aspect of SCH that I'd forgotten! Hence a reminder to self about working the split chain in directional (fs/bs) tatting :

For frontside split chain – DYK or original method

For backside split chain – Marie Smith version

Techniques used : fs/bs tatting (with chains frontside), split ring, split chain - DYK and Marie Smith methods, lock chain, lock join.

I enjoyed tatting this up and it’s functionality just makes it that much more special. Linda has such amazing patterns on her blog, especially her 3D flowers !

Mission successfully accomplished. Now to complete the UFO net – errr, now where did I keep it? Huh, about that ummm forgetfulness – may be eat more almonds then ?!

Many many thanks to Linda Davies 
  for her wonderful patterns and tutorials Z

happily tatting always :-))

More resources for Split Chain :