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 -
That is certainly a tatting puzzle...
ReplyDeleteLooking at the original the tatting is much looser there are lots of little openings where there would be a join for the next round or element. The picots for joining are very large or generous. The first group of rings resting on top of the chains are large and very loose looking. Just what I've noticed. The whole look isn't nice and sharp looking like yours. You may have to increase the number of double stitches to give you the space you need.
ReplyDeleteI have often thought in some of those 'vintage' books, they must have tatted the chains much more loosely than I do to keep the tatted medallions (or whatever) from cupping. If I added stitches to make things lie flat, then I had the additional problem of the NEXT and subsequent rounds ALSO needing stitches added so THEY would lie flat. I'm convinced they tatted much more loosely than I do. Your centers are beautiful, though, so I hope you persevere and get the whole medallion to work out properly.
ReplyDeleteStephanieW
Yes, I think it’s a question of tension. Something that isn’t taken into account in tatting as it is in knitting and crochet and perhaps ought to be. Could you try tatting chains loosely? And/or increasing picot size.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jane. Loose chains and/or increasing picot size. Another option would be laying your square on graph paper and drawing row 4. Then tatting to the dimension. Note your stitch counts. Your instructions would vary from E's instructions. But, different tatters have different tensions. Endruck appears to be a loose tatter.
ReplyDeleteInstead of drawing on graph paper, take a screen shot of Endruck's motif then enlarge the screen shot to the size of your motif and print it. Wah-lah! Now tat to that size and note your stitch counts. It will be ok. It won't be too hard. And, you'll have the following rows that you can do the same for. You can do it!
ReplyDeleteYour square it beautifully tatted! Excellent tension! Much better than Elenore's! Elenore was winging it with WAGs on some of her patterns:) Tatting Elenore Endruck's patterns gives a tatter hurdles to overcome. And problems to solve.
ReplyDeleteThe challenges are very exciting.
I think some of these old patterns was done in such different thread and the modern threads are so different, I have a doily over a hundred years old and the thread feels so different. I also think they had very small shuttles one of which I have and the tension would have worked out different.
ReplyDeleteOMG, THANK YOU all so very much!!!! Great tips, observations, suggestions. You can be sure I will take these into account and certainly persevere :-)))
ReplyDeleteAnita, the full form of WAGs that I know of is Wives and Girlfriends ... how does that apply here ;-P?
Many many thanks, once again. Love & hugs
Yours looks better than the original which seems as though it might have gone through a similar stretch battle. ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sue :-))) You are absolutely right - despite the loosely tatted chains, even the original shows some overlap. I haven't had time to work on this yet.
DeleteI look at tension in tatting similar to how I view tempo in music. Some composers ask for a particular tempo, some even giving metronome markings of beats per minute. My teachers always told me, and I tell my students, to consider the organ, the room you're sitting in, and the occasion (concert for kids, funeral, etc.). So, for tension consider thread chosen; shuttle, needle or fingers; will it be hung, mounted on fabric; etc. Perhaps the vintage photos were tatted not so the piece could be used and enjoyed, but so people could see the pattern better?
ReplyDeleteExcellent perspective, Mel! I, too, maintain that there are numerous factors that impinge on the process and outcome and despite our best efforts, explaining each and every one is well nigh impossible. Often doing is learning ;-)
DeleteI agree with the rest of the comments, the tatting in the pattern looks much looser than yours. I've seen a lot of vintage patterns like this, maybe that was in fashion back then, but to me it looks unappealing. A lot of the rings and chains look like they are meant to be flatter, less arched, and that can usually be done with looser tension according from what i have seen. Definitely bigger picots too :) but i would still add a couple more stitches, if it's not too hard to adjust further in later rows...
ReplyDeleteAll good and valid observations, Lavi :-))) Since I've been busy with tons of backroom and other stuff, tatting itself is slow going at present.
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