Friday 19 January 2018

Ice drop Enchained

Pin It now!
A few days back I bought assorted glass pebbles in order to make Jane McLellan’s Elana. Didn’t get to it (yet) but I had an idea when I made my charmed cross pendant. It has a large open space in center – ideal for an ice drop makeover!
Finally got around to experimenting with it this morning.

Ice Drop Enchained 
(a prototype experiment)
My idea was to have long picots all along the chain in front, then link to these picots when tatting the chain at the back. Well, it didn’t quite materialize due to my laziness – didn’t want to leave the warm winter sun to get a picot gauge ;-P

The picots turned out to be too short. 
This is the price I paid for being lazy and not leaving the warm winter sun to get a picot gauge!

But I improvised….by using a lock join with shuttle 2 (also called a ball thread join) leaving enough space to create a mock picot when encasing. Just like we do in Inverted Tatting.

I must say I’m not unhappy with the textured edge this creates.

This is worked in Anchor size 40 and is easily adaptable to any shape and size gem.

But all is not well.
  • The stitchcount needs tweaking. I had to substitute the original gem.
  • Worked in one pass, but I let the chains make a single point at the tips instead of having an all-round encasement/pocket.
  • The picots need to be longer still.
  • I ended up keeping the medallion at the back and working the other chain from front. Not that this should be a problem.
The fact remains that it Can be done ! A gem caged between chains within picots ! Even normal picots with regular picot joins. Some dexterity is required to hold the piece when joining, though. I held it sideways, ie., the side faced me, thus making it easy to pull loop through picot and make joins.

I had more ideas for this –
Tat the clovers on both sides – front and back – and join while tatting, inserting a large bead/gem within the space. This would create a nice pendant when chains were inserted at both ends later. For some other day….

Another idea based off Diane’s recent ice drop – tat a twin split ring braid, folding it along the middle to encapsulate the gem. Then add any more rounds as desired.
Also for another day. I do have nice glass pebbles now :-D

happy tatting !!!


Related Posts


25 comments:

  1. Interesting experiment! Will the gem stay in place when it’s vertical? Jane Eborall has instructions for encapsulating using split rings.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah, we follow the masters, Jane :-) Will check out Jane's instructions.
      Yes, the gem will stay vertical if encapsulated properly. My caged edge is a bit narrow and the tips taper down. Otherwise it holds its shape well, with these numerous picots. A thought just struck me - perhaps the lock join adds even more stability than regular picots?

      Delete
  2. I think it looks fabulous!!!! :)
    I believe I tried that, but could not get it to work for me. ;)
    And I like the textured sides, it's something a little different. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sue, it'll take a few trials to make the working comfortable and precise. But worth the different look. With all my misgivings and untatting, I could finish it in one morning in 1st attempt.

      Delete
  3. The ice drop looks very interesting! It really looks like the gem is surrounded by a metallic chain, is that where the name came from? The chains connected by picots remind me a bit of tatting around Christmas baubles.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lavi, since the gem is encased within chains, I used the term ;-D
      But I agree that this would look great with metallic thread! Perhaps Marie (West Pines) has already done it in her tatsmithing?

      Delete
  4. I love following along with your experiments. I think this is a great idea.
    Linda R

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Linda :-) Hope you give a try some time

      Delete
  5. Wow i love the oval shape and this makes a classic look I could see this with jewelry very pretty and creative work🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Carollyn :-) Next stop - jewellery :-)))

      Delete
  6. beautifully and very cleverly :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Interesting technique and beautiful pendant!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Nice n unique way to tat around a gem!! A Must try.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Dziękuję ci Renata,
    grazie Nin, &
    shukriya Usha :-)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Interesting Technique, A different way to doing an ice drop

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thank you so very much Maria & Margaret :-)

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love the oval shape! Will this be the focal piece on a necklace or a bracelet? I have yet to experiment with ovals. I'm thinking I really need to get Carolyn Craig's book so that I can learn some more!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Now bracelet is a fine idea, Diane !! Thanks :-)
      It was kind of freeform tatting to imitate the shape of the gem.

      Delete
  13. Nice experiment. I'm waiting for next. I still thinking about method around gem or stones with lace. So we will try. Nice work, thanks :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Justyna :-) I now have an idea of how I need to improve this. If you choose this as a topic, then I will definitely have to make it again :-D

      Delete