Sunday 30 August 2020

one is here

Remember this? Well, the Summer 2020 IOLI issue has arrived and I am so excited to hold the magazine in my hand! The previous (Spring) issue is obviously lost, though editor-in-chief Prabha has generously assured me they will send in another copy. 

Hubby was so excited to see the article, co-authored by my prodding pardner, Anita Barry, that he has now urged me to reveal my real name and use/include it in future. So, meet Meenakshi Jain, popularly known in the tatting community as muskaan ;-)  Most correspondents already know my name and Georgia Seitz gave me one of the best compliments when I told her the meaning of this Sanskrit term,  'eyes shaped like a fish'. She said, I was 'meant to tat! Rings are often called oeillets and shuttle is called fish (because of it's shape) in certain languages.'

Back to the publication. It is the last article in the bulletin, and the only exclusively tatting article. But there are so many interesting articles to go through and the images have already inspired me to convert those laces into tatting patterns!

Bookmark adapted into a Mat - WIP

One of the distractions a couple of weeks back was test-tatting a bookmark pattern for Ruth Perry. I liked the central round rings made with balanced double stitches and decided to work it as a square mat instead. It is still a work in progress and can be worked in one pass - several magic pathways are possible! However, I ran out of threads and have shifted attention to completing the hanky edging.

In Anchor size 20, this is just over 7" long. The thread is probably 20 years old and considering the deceptively large amount used up in just this, it might be sufficient to complete the entire mat. Have some ideas in mind to introduce another colour...

This is a multi-purpose pattern. Work it as a single square motif or a beautiful bracelet with ribbon woven through the rings! Or with multiple rows, as a mat! 

Download Bookmark-8-2020 pattern here. She has several more patterns, including a beautiful new Celtic Knot Tatted Square, that I am resisting for now.


14 comments:

  1. So exciting to see your name in print! Your real name of course, but I hope you’ll keep muskaan because that’s how we think of you. Anyway, congratulations, huge achievement. The bookmark pattern will make a wonderful mat. Makes me think of the tray cloth I saw in Bloemfontein, though with the different ring sizes it’s more interesting.

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    1. muskaan it is, Jane ;-D It means 'smile' and I won't have to change the name of my blog ;-P Thank you for your solid support, always, Jane.

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  2. Isn't it wonderful that your husband is so supportive of you? I think many of us are fortunate to have supportive, caring spouses. Congratulations to you and your "prodding partner" on the publication of the article... very exciting! I love the test tatting you've done. It looks like quite a challenging piece!

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    1. That is so true, Diane! While he can't differentiate between crochet, knitting and tatting, he supports my hobbies in so many ways ;-D
      It is the first time I did such large rings in BDS and the thread didn't help. Which is another reason I am eager to change colour/thread.
      Thank you, Diane :-)

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  3. Congratulations 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹 to both of you for having your work in a printed form (can it be the start of your next encyclopedia that it is here in the Tatternet? 🥰) I'm so happy that you are going to include your real name in the future!🌟👍🥰 The bookmark is a lovely pattern, but it can be understandable that you've had that colour for ages, imho it's a good idea to add another colour.

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    1. A large portion of my encyclopedia will contain your name and work, Nin 😃😃😃 And yes, I will include my real name alongside. Thank you always 💖

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  4. Congratulations, Muskaan - or Meenakshi! There are so many things to celebrate - the publication of your pattern, the public unveiling of your real name and, most of all, your wonderful and loving husband!

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    1. So sweet, Grace :-))) I have conveyed all the praise from you and others to hubby and it's hardly surprising that he is preening with 'obviously!' ;-D
      Tatting, itself is such a celebration, don't you think.

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  5. One big step often leads to another 😉 Congratulations on both!! I was so excited to read your real name Meenakshi! But I do agree with Jane, it would be hard to change from thinking of you as Muskaan (not to mention, how fitting that meaning is, because tatting make me smile so much!😁)

    Can't wait to see what you will do with the mat. It is a lovely pattern!

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    1. ....which is why I stuck with muskaan all this time despite being tempted a few times, Emily :-D Keep smiling :-)))

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  6. Interested to see that mat fully completed!! :)
    Love your name!! :)

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    1. Many thanks, Sue :-))) I've finally decided on the mat colours, but will start after a few weeks - excited.

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