Thursday 31 December 2020

mishmash 2020

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The year was such a mishmash, such a dump in many ways and creative individuals took refuge in their arts and crafts.

We had to step out of our comfort zone while staying in the comfort of our home
It brought us closer while keeping us apart
It kept our radiant smiles hidden while our masks became colourful and decorative
It revealed many truths while many were deliberately hidden
It altered the hierarchy of ailments and treatments
Old adages, conventions, and behaviours seemed to fall apart
Oh what a hodgepodge - normal, new normal, ultra new normal?
'It was the best of times It was the worst of times?'

So what will the new year unfold? Or will our mishmash continue ....
Whatever the future holds, humanity is resilient and hope springs eternal!
So let's celebrate each moment, each life, each other 💕

Sunday 27 December 2020

all links restored

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 O Happy Happy ! ! !

You have all been so very patient all these months. Now, after Six whole months there is no need to edit blogspot.in to blogspot.com when a link does not work. 

My usual tech-related problem solvers are Ninetta and Robin, and Ninetta informed me of broken links a couple of days after I had discovered them in late May. Then almost immediately I received a surprise email from ManTatter (from Craftree) offering to help me with the changes! He explained the process very clearly as well. 


With all the blogger interface transition at the time, I did not want to 'rock the boat' any further, although I had already asked about this glitch on their Help forum. Now, sitting cozily under warm quilts, with hot soup and my laptop, I have been restoring the links for the last 3 days so that we can step into the new year with one less glitch 🧐

Restoring the 4 pages/tabs was a snap in time! However, for the posts, I have had to individually open each one of my six hundred and forty published posts and do the replacements in html format. Easy task, but mindless and one still has to cover the distance. By the time you read this post, I will have done the remaining as well (2019 and 2020). 

I am extremely thankful to ManTatter for all his help and concern. Without you, I could never have been able to clean this up 🙏

Let me also take the opportunity to thank, once again, all the other generous tatters who have wanted (urged) to send me some tokens of their friendship or gratitude. It is my loss but you have warmed my heart. 💖


Monday 21 December 2020

embroidered motifs

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This is from another lifetime...so long back that I cannot remember exactly when. All I know for certain is I started embroidering these hankies in 1996. Yup, a lifetime back!

These are not my original patterns, though I might've adapted them a bit here and there. I've given them names just for fun ;-P

Orange Pansy

Hand-embroidered in single strand of vintage silk thread.
Stem stitch, blanket stitch for filling the leaves and flower, long and short stitches for center of flower, and buttonhole around eyelet.
For hanky edges I used regular sewing thread and machine-hemmed with decorative zigzags. 
This is an older image to show the sheen of silk threads.

The wear and tear is clearly visible. While the sheen does not wear off, the vintage silk thread can fray.

Blossoms' Corner
This is the only pic I have. One of my favourite hankies, I think got misplaced a few years back. I Love how even the tiny stitches are. 
Hand-embroidered in single strand of Anchor embroidery thread.
Stem stitch, satin stitch for red center, chain stitch for petal outlines, and either satin or fishbone stitch for the leaves.
This hanky had a violet hem.

Flowery Perch
This was my least favourite of the lot. Again, it's the only pic I have of it since the hanky is no longer with me.
Hand-embroidered in 1 and 2 strands of Anchor embroidery threads.
I chose to do shadow work (closed herringbone stitch) because of the parallel lines throughout the motif. Which is why it was done in 2 threads hoping for some little colour to show through. Too much work, but not the result I was hoping for.
It also has satin stitch for the bird and back stitch for center of flowers and beak.
The hanky edging was in green.

Hope you enjoyed this little foray into something other than tatting ;-P Embroidery was my first love, especially single-stranded. 

Related Posts

Sunday 13 December 2020

hiding fabric burn spots

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Several years back we gave a brand new bedsheet set to the laundry for a simple wash, instead of doing it at home. And it came back with a few burn spots! 

 My solution was to embroider around the spot burns in white buttonhole stitch (single strand) to prevent any possible fraying. I'm sure you can spot them in the image above, now that you know.

Then I tried to replicate a sense - a simple impression - of the printed part of the bedsheet, using freestyle brush strokes in a subdued colour.

Painted white circles to copy the 'burnt berries' on the twigs.
And done! Oh, I did a similar one on the plain panel on the other side of the printed one. I didn't take a pic of it, since it was a bit out of reach and I was lazy ;-P

Quick fix solution! This sheet has been on my bed for a couple of weeks now, before I thought to take pics and share. Hence the creases, if you will excuse them. 

Friday 4 December 2020

picot join to right part 4

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I haven’t picked up my shuttles in a long time despite spending all my free time in tatting-related activities and interaction. And I’ve been neglecting my blog, too – can’t let that happen!

Well over a week back, this is what I made quickly for an experienced friend.  She, too, like I, avoids the folded join when making a picot join to the right. I prefer to rotate the work slightly on my hand, repositioning the picot on the right such that it now comes to the left, and then execute the join normally. These are my detailed pictorials and article on the topic -

http://www.tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com2016/03/demystifying-joins.html - about picot join
https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2018/09/picot-join-to-right-part1.html - outward facing rigs
https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2018/09/picot-join-to-right-part-2.html - chains and down join
https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2018/10/picot-join-to-right-part-3.html - where we need this join.

What I did not explicitly show in Part 2 was what happens when all rings face inwards. She was under the impression that 'with inward facing rings no such rotation is required to execute the final join  since we are working counterclockwise'. Visuals are better than words, hence …

Picot Join to the Right – Part 4 

(joining last inward facing ring to the first using Rotate Work)

The following motif comprises single inward facing rings (4-4-4) separated by bare thread and joined to each in the round. 
 
1. 6 rings have been worked and the last, 7th ring is started. It needs to be joined to Ring. 6, so pull up a loop through the picot of previous ring. This picot is to the left of current work and we perform the action almost on autopilot, without any extra movement.

2. The same as #1, but laid flat to see clearly, The knotting thread is pulled through picot. Note- this can be pulled down for frontside tatting.

3. Now comes the point at which Ring7 is to be joined to Ring1. 
Where is this joining picot in relation to this last ring? It is to the Right. Try making the join without shifting the motif. 
4. Hence some form of picot join to the right is needed - be it a folded join, or a simple rotation, or whatever you are comfortable with.

5. Since we are avoiding the folded join, notice the slight counterclockwise rotation of motif while still in hand, to reach the picot. The movement is so subtle, that it goes unnoticed, unlike in a rosette with outward facing rings (Part 1
My own theory is that we need to rotate more when rings face outward, hence it is immediately noticed.

6. Loop pulled up through picot and shuttle being passed through it.

7. Join made and ring closed.

8. Motif complete. Tail ends hidden.

The principle to remember is this (TWoT Notes): Whether overall work (motif or lace) progresses clockwise or counterclockwise, whether we are working on the front or the back, the current element - Ring - is Always worked clockwise*, and Chain is Always worked from left to right. Hence when joining in a circle (last to first), whether the rings or chains face inward or outward, the joining picot on the first element will be to the right of current element, and a Picot Join to the Right will be needed.

*The only exception that comes to mind is a Reverse Ring where stitches are being added counterclockwise. 

UPDATE: A tatter graciously shared her feedback after trying it - this method works well in needle tatting as well!

Practice Patterns : 
For further practice, try this R1:4-2-4-2-4. bare thread. R2:4+2+4-2-4. and so on ... where each ring is joined to the previous ring through Two picots on each side. The last ring will need to be joined to the first 2 picots on Ring1.

Also consider inward facing trefoils or clovers instead of single rings. 
eg. this Clover Wreath Poinsettia is good practice for the picot join to right. It has both inward facing clovers as well as outward facing thrown rings that need to be joined in a circle.

Saturday 28 November 2020

no cash only credit Freebies

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 Credit to the designer that is ;-P Otherwise all is absolutely free if you kindly refrain from including the cost of your threads, beads, tools, time, and effort :-D

'Tis is the season, and though a bit late notifying, here is the up to date G-docs file of my Snowflake as well as Holiday patterns. Some are adaptations from other designs but most are my original.

All my Snowflake, Stars, etc. patterns. I included hexagonal motifs and medallions as well, though technically not snowflakes https://docs.google.com/document/d/1r4OmXX_c5LjFebMN2UbSNiYqXYETLmoridK0X1YIQco/view

And these contain some more Holiday motifs in the shape of wreaths, trees, crosses, bells, and so on -https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Q-of3aKPFKlqMnXuEyhupbGHIW18OjH2yZYzlaTJHnQ/view

Of course there are motifs for other holidays and festivals as well, and they are all jumbled up. But at least it is all in there for now. 

All in one place, easy for me to update, easy for you to access. I always put the date of my last update on top right of 1st page. Hope you find something you like and enjoy tatting it, tweaking it, and most of all Sharing it! Show me pics :-)))

Oh, and do please visit the respective blog post before starting any pattern. There are usually many more pics in there and possibly some tips and updates, and often splendid ideas in the comments!


Tuesday 24 November 2020

spinoff fun

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In Jan this this I tatted 2 more spinoffs from Folded Fun square and star. 2 six-pointed versions. I'll try to add a pattern when I get around to it, but don't hold your breath! Because as I peeked into my diary where the 25 Snowflake projects were documented, I cannot find the new ones, sigh!

This is the snowflake version, not much different from the 5-pointed star. The main difference is additional stitches in the inner rings so that we now have 6 instead of 5.

This is the Stupa version - the folded rings on the outside reminded me of the 3rd century BCE Sanchi Stupa - a world famous UNESCO world heritage site - part of Buddhist holy pilgrimage.

Here they are all together (one of the stars is a prototype), positioned as a cross. I loved tatting the two 6-point versions, even during my slump phase and the colours cheered me up.

Worked in Anchor Pearl Cotton, size 8.

I have a lot of rummaging to do! Be it patterns or actual lace. I barely complete a project than jump on to another and keep forgetting along the way. Which is why I will be uploading pics of several of my designed lace, even if sharing the pattern may come much later.

Saturday 21 November 2020

D to C cup

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 Apologies, but couldn't resist ;-P Trying to lighten my dark mood. 

Round 4 of #37 from Endrucks pattern is giving me quite a heartburn to the extent that I might even consider bra-burning ;-D 

This was my first attempt and I didn't bother completing the round.

I have a reminder for cupping v/s ruffling here - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/p/jottings.html ... in case of cupping, decrease inner round or increase outer round.

Since my center motif is as tight and small as can be, with small picots to boot, I worked on increasing this new round. Instead of 7ds chain segments, I made each 8ds. The result was not much different!

But before snipping, I stretched the round. It was really gratifying to pull it and pull and pull ;-D Yeah, cruel! And look, here's what happened -

Doesn't look too bad, huh?

But here's a closer view. All that stretching still couldn't hide the irregularity.

The rings along the periphery are in 2 sizes - 8ds and 6ds alternately. 

So, dear tatters, how should I solve this? I'd like to keep the overall shape intact. Subsequent rounds are mostly chains and the few rings do not really impinge. Here's the original model -
Love to hear from you. Thanks in advance for your help and advice.

Meanwhile, only 3 patterns are left to claim and more patterns have been completed and uploaded to the project doc here - https://docs.google.com/document/d/17LEVftXweztBIOWh4sL4BB7bX65ssoOsOn4oXIgCepY/view Ninetta has suggested we could have these patterns test-tatted. We welcome you to join in when you can and play with the patterns to generate more ideas. 

Friday 20 November 2020

my first roses

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 A comment in the previous post served as a reminder of my very first roses! I had designed these several months back for the Lock Join Plus series. The next in line was to be the Dora Young Join (DYJ).

That presentation needs a few finishing touches, but I keep getting caught in something or other ;-P So, detailed pictorial for later, hope you like these rose motifs for now - good for gluing to cards!

All you need is only one shuttle and leftover thread. String seed beads for a beaded version.

This beaded version was made second. Beads not merely decorated the rose and added texture, but also serve to estimate (and communicate) the length in the absence of stitches!

This is the first, made with variegated size 3 thread. Start with a central ring, then each subsequent round grows larger, spiraling around, joining to previous bare thread space. Why not a Lock Join, you ask? Because it is not very stable - it tends to twist the thread.

I've done this before, moving from the out to in and substituting the lock join with a DYJ - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2019/03/dyj-instead-of-lj.html 

But more about the DYJ when I continue the series and post the tutorial. For now, I'd love for you to share your impression and feelings about this rose.

Since the rounds move spirally, one can easily replace the bare thread with actual stitches. A project for future.

Tuesday 17 November 2020

arranging motifs

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Oh what fun!!! Working pattern #37 from Endrucks' 1920 book. The beautiful motif in the center of that doily really caught my attention and I went to town with it. Not merely for it's beauty, but for it's clever construction! I will speak of the construction in another post, sharing only the numerous arrangement ideas here.

Presenting the Square Diamond Motif in possible arrangements

The yellow motif below is in Anchor 20 while the other 2 are in Anchor Pearl size 8. Hence the difference in dimensions. and I think the orange one may have been tatted too tightly. All motifs also served as trials and experiments. 

 
arrangements #1 & #2 : Simple linear joining of motifs - vertically or horizontally. Keep going, adding more columns and rows for a larger lace fabric.

 
arrangements #3 & #4: Attached tip to tip, in different sized threads and decorated with beads, could make a beautiful mobile or window ornament.
I like the triangular placement!
arrangements #5 : But this is an arrangement I think is new in tatting, as far as I know? Tip to center joining. 
I noticed that one can add a 2nd row using only 2 motifs in a triangular arrangement, and then the 3rd row with this offset joining. And so on, alternating rows/columns with one motif less. It creates a very interesting rectangular fabric with negative triangles.

 
Square Diamond Motif Bookmark : I made a 4th motif in size 8, inserted a satin ribbon at the tip for tassel and a cute bookmark took shape.

Square Diamond Motif Bracelet : Here a white satin ribbon is laid below the linked motifs, and crystals added in center and on ribbon.

Here I hadn't yet placed the crystals in the center. 
I used Reverse Join to change colour placement in the outer rounds in each motif. And the last 2 rounds are worked a bit differently in each motif, although not immediately visible since the rings are small.

So here's a little exercise if you are interested (this post was intended to showcase it, but I couldn't get the presentation completed and I like opening it up ...) :
Disregard the colours. Consider the last 2 rounds and specifically the 5 small rings and 1 thrown ring in each arm.  Can you identify possible pathways/sequence to work these rings and chains? How many ways can you trace?


Meanwhile, finished projects and samples are trickling in from participants around the world. Ninetta and I are engaged in finalising presentation, guiding, interacting, and so on. Lots of activity! And only about 5 patterns left unclaimed so far! Tatters have returned for more patterns after doing one - they have discovered the magic and cleverness of Eleonore Endrucks!!!
Do take a few minutes to check the samples and the final patterns in modern format in the Endrucks 1920 Project doc here https://docs.google.com/document/d/17LEVftXweztBIOWh4sL4BB7bX65ssoOsOn4oXIgCepY/view
The document also contains links to the 1920 book (with tatted models) and another book with diagrams and pattern - both can be downloaded either from there or from Georgia's archived books.


I am so thankful to Martha Ess for scanning and uploading the book, to Georgia Seitz for introducing me to it, and to Ninetta Caruso for joining And more importantly for converting it into a Community Project ! And of course, how can we forget the volunteers and their lovely creations?!

Saturday 14 November 2020

charmed, I'm sure?

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a very happy Diwali! ek diya jawanon ke naam

Charmed Cross pendant / earrings

While rummaging for my old notes, I came across a loose sheet with the sketch of the Charmed Cross pendant. It is certainly stylized, but I wasn't sure if it came across as a cross. I thank all my facebook friends who responded enthusiastically - clear majority wanted status quo! Since time is at a premium, I have decided to postpone any experimentation but invite you to play and experiment as you wish.

Here is the journey so far - 

 


'Charmed' because one can fill in the large empty center with Any charm, cross, gem, or teardrop of course.
I used Floating Beads method for the teardrops. But I know most will prefer to use their own methods ;-D

One can repeat the top motif on the side arms and lengthen the base to make a more defined cross.
As a couple of tatters said it looks like a kite - so fly away with your shuttles in hand!

For earrings, make 2 of course. Simply work the same pattern if finer thread. This model is in Anchor 20 which is similar to Lizbeth 10.

For the Bookmark prototype, here's the count for the 6 extra rings and chains:

R1: 6+4-2. rw
Ch: 8 rw
R2: 6+(R1)3-3. rw
Ch: 5 rw
R3: 4+(R2)2-2-4. rw SS
R4: 6-6 dnrw SS
Ch:5 rw
R5: 3+(R3)3-6 rw
Ch: 8 rw
R6: 2+(R5)4+6 
I would like to improve on this at some future date.


Hope you enjoy tatting and playing with this pattern. And don't forget to tag me when you upload your version!

                          Many thanks to all respondents and comments