Cluny basic colour variation

Colour Cluny Tatting contd.

In the previous post the tally was worked in a single colour. But what if we wish to use 2 colours in a pattern? There are a few examples out there, but I find that the tallies are of the same colour in all. In a couple of examples, SLT was used to switch colours for the next element. What if we could switch the colours easily within the tally, with no need for a SLT? It’s what I tried in this braid and motif.

Confession: My Cluny leaves are far from perfect. Please do not let my limitations dissuade you from trying it out yourself. I’m sure you will do a much better job than I.

What we have here is a kind of transition between the basic single colour tally (where both loom & weaving threads are of same colour) and the multicoloured tallies where 2 or more colours can be seen in the leaf itself. As in the basic Cluny, we are still using only 2 threads, albeit in different colours. And this entails an additional step to hide colour blip.

UPDATE : practice pattern for basic colour variation : 2-Tone Cluny Bracelet.

Cluny Tatting –Basic Colour Variation

Basic (2 threads) Cluny tatting in 2 colours

(where Warp/loom thread is of different colour)
Resultant tally is single coloured

The following will be covered here :

• Weaving a different coloured tally (2 ways – A & B)
• Exiting in a way that the desired colours/shuttles are in position for next element (A4 & B2).
• Hiding a colour blip (A6 &B3)

Click here for how to wind the loom and detailed steps on weaving.
UPDATE : See also new step – hitch the loom

 

A1. As seen, the loom/Warp threads are mustard, while the weaving thread is green.

A2. We start weaving by bringing the shuttle to the right – Under Warp2 & Over Warp3

 

A3. First pass made to the left – Under, Over, Under. To complete the 1 wrap/weave, bring shuttle back to right – Over, Under, Over. (not shown here)

A4. The tally is woven and shaped. Shuttle is back to the starting position - on the right.

 A5. Start closing loom by pulling the top loop off the loom.

A6. If we close normally, the Warp colour will show at the tip. 

In order to minimize it, I introduced an extra step : 

Pass shuttle back-to-front through the top loop …

NOTE : In certain cases, it may become necessary to pass shuttle front-to-back.

 

A7. … the shuttle is through and we can start closing the top loop

A8. Top loop is closed. Now close the bottom loop.

 

A9. All loops closed and tally is complete. 

Notice I haven’t pulled the lower loop tight enough, leaving a colour blip at the bottom (I still need lots of practice). This would be unnoticeable in a single colour basic tally, but when working with more than one colour, it can pose a problem.

If we follow this weaving pattern, there is a tendency for the weaving thread to emerge on the right, and the loom shuttle on the left.

A10. If we want to change colour placement in the next element, we would normally resort to the SLT/overhand tie as I did in this case. But, the following pictures show how we can avoid the SLT.

I took this opportunity to also show the other way to weave (Ninetta pointed it out in her comment). No right or wrong, it’s just how one prefers to work, as long as one is consistent. 

B1. After the SLT, the shuttles got switched and loom is made with green, 

and weaving is done with mustard.

Here, the weaving commences from left to right by going Over Warp2, Under Warp3.

 Move to left is Over, Under, Over (not shown) Continue weaving.

 B2. Tally is woven and shaped. The shuttle is on the left, and it is time to close.

 B3. To avoid colour blip, pass shuttle, back-to-front, through top loop….

 B4. … shuttle is through. Now close all loops.

 B5. This closure brings the weaving shuttle to the left and loom shuttle to the right.

So basically, 

the last pass determines whether the weaving shuttle will emerge on the right or the left.

If the last pass is to the right (as in A4), weaving shuttle will emerge on the right 

and loom shuttle on the left.

If last pass is to the left (as in B2), weaving shuttle will emerge on the left 

and loom shuttle on the right.

Where you park your shuttle, is where you will pick it up from – the left curb or the right curb. And in case you want it on the other side, then take a U-turn, i.e., weave one extra pass and you land on the curb of your choice!

Couldn’t resist a bit of frivolity ;-P 

It is what I followed in the Cluny Flower Motif pattern by Jennifer Williams. No SLTs. I chose to make the short chain between tallies in maroon, but could just as easily have made them in pink by choosing where to leave the weaving on the last pass.

In Anchor size 20 : Rnd1 - 1¼” ; Rnd2 - >2"

One can see my tallies get a wee bit better as I go along. One of the pink tallies is actually shorter than the others. I keep losing track of the count when weaving ;-(

Further, I didn’t RW to join to the center ring, opting for a lock join instead. This meant I could tat the entire Cluny round clockwise from the front.

All Cluny Tatting posts with lots of tips and possibilities

We’ve taken the first steps towards colour Cluny tatting. From the next post on, we start with the tallies that have more than one colour in their weave! I found that a bit more exciting (my tallies came out better, too), though one does need to manage the extra threads. Hope you stay tuned...

I’d like to thank Jane McLellan with all my heart.

Appreciate her indulgence and help as we tried to figure out a suitable name 

for this transitional basic to multi-colour Cluny tatting.

…to be continued