Monday, 14 April 2025

playful tatting

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I had started tatting these cute balloon dog doodles couple of days before ITD and realised that there were a couple of elements left to tat, which started off my 'shagun tatting' for the day! Of course, I later found the time to tat the heart, too! Actually my list had contained a different heart which I still haven't gotten around to tatting. Some other day, soon, perhaps. 

Sarah Nielson shared two versions of her Balloon Dog Doodles - 2D & 3D. You can download the pdf from her blog here - https://laceandbees.blogspot.com/2025/03/balloon-dog-doodle.html
Quick to tat with lots of split ring practice. And one doesn't have to hide ends! Simply tie an overhand knot and snip close for the nose or 'balloon' end. 
I chose this tinted colourway for the added fun factor. Size 20.

The model starts at the tail end. 
My piece doesn't much resemble a dog here, does it? Is it how the shades spread themselves out ... how the darker shade pooled at the lower half? Or is it my tatting tension?

Now this 3D version I like. It does look like a dog frolicking in the park or flying high! Very happy indeed.

Technically, the highlight of this 3D doodle is the Folded Split Ring

Overall, I am happy with these doodles - fun and quick and excellent doodles to embellish cards, etc. Some time in the future I will paint some background to give them a context, a story ;-D

Many many thanks to Sarah for these innovative and fun doodles!

Related Posts -
https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2025/04/shagun-tatting.html
https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2017/02/in-fold.html

Wednesday, 2 April 2025

shagun tatting

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 'Shagun' is a Hindi word derived from Sanskrit which denotes good omen, auspiciousness, a token, .... Though it it is associated more with Hindu rituals, we also use it in daily life to commemorate an event, an occasion, or any good news with the elders blessing the young with a symbolic token. Or if we cannot perform an entire task, some small part of the ritual/task is started on an auspicious day.  

This is what I try to do every International Tatting Day! This day is also very special for personal reasons and I tend to be busy elsewhere. Yet I make it a point to pick up my shuttle and thread and tat at least a ring or two and not let the day 'pass by' ;-D Despite a very busy first half, I managed to find time from evening onwards and actually completed not one but two motifs! One had only 2 rings and a chain left to tat (I'll share this tomorrow) while the heart motif I started from scratch and completed! 

doesn't it look like a possible angel?!
My new version using graduated and 'erect' vapour stitch which is more like a picot here. I was inspired by a recently shared Turkish Tatting video by Eftelyanin Mekikleri where there are many more than 3 wraps and the bare thread is not pulled down so that the stitch/picot stands erect. Also, the wraps are followed by a complete stitch rather than the 2nd half-stitch. 
I did it all in tatting. But it was not easy and many of my stitches are not as neat as they should/could be. I had started one in perle cotton but the thread unraveled so much that I snipped it off and started afresh with this Anchor size 20 thread. 
TIP: I suggest using 2 shuttles so that the thread can be balanced again by suspending the shuttle frequently. And use tightly twisted thread, polyester, silk, ....

I winged it and don't really have an exact count for the decorated chain. I started and ended with vapour stitch (3 wraps) but graduated up to 7 wraps.
The motif is 4cms wide and 3cms high.

For more Vapour Stitch info and links - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2024/09/variably-padded-lines.html and a few effects - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2025/01/the-years-flow.html

My previous E28 hearts & pattern from prototype to tweaked versions and a beaded jewel version - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2023/06/yet-another-heart.html   and  https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2025/04/happy-tatting-day.html    Pattern PDF - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-rWqmDAd51VwxOqtt9spD-FIX5zYDAUE/view

I had more shagun tatting to share - something tiny and fun, but will continue in a couple of days. Time to juggle ;-D Meanwhile I also have much more to share on the vapour stitch as well when I can take some pics .... 

I hope you did much more than shagun tatting, like I ended up doing ;-D

Tuesday, 1 April 2025

happy tatting day

Pin It now! The happy day of tatting, tatted lace, and tatters is here again! Hope you are well-stocked with threads, shuttles/needles, patterns, and ideas to feed your creativity, and of course tea and chocolates to feed your tummies! I hope to get tatting later today. 

In our Endrucks 1920 Project Facebook group, Ninetta has initiated a small event with a small motif pattern. The E28 Heart which I had derived from Eleonore Endrucks' pattern #28. 

When she shared the idea with me, I realised that my presentation from 2023 had been a quick one. So I took some time to update the PDF as well as tat another heart to refresh my memory, this time in two colours. 

You don't need to be a member of our FB group to join in! Here's the pattern link and if you send me or Ninetta a pic of your finished heart, we would be so happy to include it. (see top right section of my blog for relevant links under 'Follow Me'). And if it is your first Endrucks' pattern, you will be the recipient of a token gift.

E28 Heart by Muskaanhttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1-rWqmDAd51VwxOqtt9spD-FIX5zYDAUE/view

Ninetta tatted a pair of beautiful earrings. What will you do with the motifs you tat? I have a few ideas but it all depend on how much time I can devote.

So, happy tatting and happy ITD to all my readers and followers! Spread the cheer! 
And a huge thanks to Ninetta!

Friday, 14 March 2025

lets go clubbing

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 aha, don't get the wrong idea! The reference is to clubbing of laces to create a new version! And being Holi, it's an excuse to play and party with friends today.

So, Bandini approached me with her pattern to do the presentation and also share with the community through my blog and I couldn't say no. She very cleverly joined two edgings on either side of a central braid giving rise to a broad tatted lace that looks quite different from its individual constituents. 

Lace Club Border by Bandini Maisheri (2025) -https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aVWxNtGBoRlK9Hmx3UScuKHMvillA-4o/view

This is my small WIP sampler in size 40 showing the central SR braid and one edging joined to it. 
The same edging is also joined on the other side of the braid in the border.
Except for the SR braid which requires two shuttles, the edgings can be worked with a shuttle and ball.

And here the 3rd edging is attached to the 2nd one for a medium-sized border.
Again this is done on the other side as well.
But you get the idea! You can pick and choose as many or as few edgings for the desired width.
Play with tatting in more colours and beads and this widens the canvas even further! More in tune with colourful Holi ;-D
You can even change the sequence of working each row to suit your preference. I chose a sequence which was simplest to present as a diagram and text.
 
She tells me that her mother has already tatted 9 meters of this border, no doubt for a saree!
And I like the term she used - 'clubbing'!

Another fun aspect is that each can be a standalone edging, too! So we get a LOT more in this pattern than a single broad border!

All details are in the PDF (click to download) - Lace Club Border by Bandini Maisheri (2025) - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aVWxNtGBoRlK9Hmx3UScuKHMvillA-4o/view
Hope you enjoy playing with it!

Many many thanks to Bandini for graciously sharing her cleverly clubbed pattern !

Tuesday, 11 March 2025

colour me happy

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As we approach Holi, the festival of colours, happiness came my way through friends who participated in my design-along challenge!

On a lark I had converted my motif into a DAL challenge here and am so happy to see the motifs flowing in, along with respective patterns!!! Instead of waiting, let me share the progress so far. Interestingly, 5 of the 7 current participants are my Italian friends. They never fail to impress.

Compiled in this document, Muskaan's 2025 DAL Challenge  - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mQmdXWXQmcbXQ48nRz9FBeTJf_DoJqKz/view  Save this link and read for more details and updates (and larger images).

In the order the first image appeared .... 

Daniela Galli


Paola Bevilacqua


Silvana Buonvino

Michelle Forclaz

Adriana Tomanin

Lella Loops


Muskaan


I've tried to keep this post short and direct since all details are already in this document -https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mQmdXWXQmcbXQ48nRz9FBeTJf_DoJqKz/view

There are no words to profusely thank Daniela, Paola, Silvana, Michelle, Adriana, & Lella!

Most of them had participated in last year's DAL Celtic Snowflake challenge, too! You can join any time you wish and contact/tag me when you do! I'm sure most of these models will inspire you to take up the challenge. It doesn't matter if you tat with a needle or shuttle, if you haven't designed before, ... you can do it!

Wednesday, 5 March 2025

update with video

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There are frequent requests for videos instead of a pictorial or a schematic to showcase a technique or even a pattern. A sign of changing times which is fine by me except that videography is not my preferred method. I have watched several of Karen's videos over the years and learned from them. Yet I prefer the stepwise layout whether in a blog or printed so that I can try at my own pace; study each step and position of thread minutely when required; and I don't need to rewind back and forth. Refreshing my memory is also easier with pictorials and diagrams coz I can easily skip steps and focus on what I need. Personal preferences, no judgment. 

Anyways, in one of the FB tatting groups, a tatter bought Rebecca Jones'  1985 book, 'The Complete Book of Tatting' after I shared my direct method tatting post here -https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2025/02/direct-method-tatting.html . She could figure out the first step of how to start a ring or chain with a lark's head knot. However, she had trouble with how to continue with the half-stitches. I decided to make a quick video for her eyes only. But I think it isn't too bad and would perhaps be of help to others, too. 

So here is the direct link to the video - Rebecca Jones' Direct Method Tatting: 
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bsXzAGaSacKqw06CC3Uq24ImB2t6-sUA/view

I have tatted 3 double stitches in a ring in this demo. Hope it helps. Please excuse my clumsiness and background. Like I said, videography is not my go-to format, and I shot this in one go ;-D

Comparison - 
What I later realised is that this in one of two ways to make a lark's head picot join (LHPJ) or lark's head join (LHJ)! Watch Karen Cabrera's Lesson #101 - Lark's Head Join.

And now I remembered that Ninetta Caruso uses the 1st half-stitch movement while tatting the wide picot! Her video - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XsqlFZHcVpopvRFBhTgR6_oQWqf98Bw7/view  and my pdf and post here - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2024/02/going-wide.html .

Love to find connections! Happy tatting! 

Tuesday, 4 March 2025

very fishy business

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 Oh yes, a special treat for Pisceans and the rest of us as well, here's a fishy fishy pattern to enjoy! 

E43 FISH by MANJU TALEKAR

It started with a game we played in July 2024 - Pattern of the Month where we chose Frau Endrucks' pattern #43 to tat. The pattern had been reworked by Maria Grazia and Ninetta Caruso ( https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JRu7OggaSna0eXDRA2P18dRu6uE4-1J7/view ; https://ninettacaruso.blogspot.com/2021/01/testing-with-grace.html ). Several new derivatives and applications emerged from that game which will be shared eventually. 

Manju first derived this Granny Square from the same pattern and then she saw a fish and went ahead with the adaptation!

Her prototype. She used some clever little tweaks to get the shape and direction she visualised!

And once she tweaked it to perfection, she quickly belted out several more and made this lovely mobile!

This is my test tatting and as you can see the fish faces the other way! 
TIP: Happens in frontside/backside tatting depending on how you start the first element. This is a great a simple way to make a mirror-image model as in earrings.

Worked in Anchor size 40 thread. Wish I had a better bead for the eye - they were either too large or too small. I had tremendous fun tatting it, but getting the pattern presentation and diagram easy to follow/read took a toll. Fortunately, Manju had hand-drawn the entire fish and I could trace over it while diagramming.

And this is Ninetta's version. She was so eager to tat it herself and it really helped coz she noticed one mistake in the presentation which was rectified.

Wouldn't this motif make a great gift for fish lovers and fishing hobbyists, too? Tatters often ask for designs for men and here's a nice one! And the mobile arrangement is ideal for infant's crib or kid's room. And this fish would look good in solids as well as variegates!

Check out our Directories for lots of derivative patterns and ideas from Frau Endrucks' 1920 book - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1w1TZBg-HIzseGEUoJ-rko7tNbtSgZY5A18Oy2Y9Hh0Yiew

Manju has been a prolific and talented tatter in the Endrucks 1920 Project and has derived several patterns sharing them graciously. She enthusiastically draws and sends us the count. It is my  fault for not being able to keep up. Which is one of the reasons we decided to take a break from our games in the Endrucks FB group for this year.

Many many thanks to Manju for this lovely pattern and all the energy she brings!
And thanks to Maria and Ninetta for reworking and presenting the main pattern!

Friday, 28 February 2025

DAL 2025 challenge

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 Well, I wanted to show some techniques/effects for glossary entries and decided to create a motif to incorporate them. It resulted in a very simple motif, nothing fancy. It may not even be original though I did not refer to or look for any patterns. and it's still a work in progress. 

I kind of like how it looks so far and it could very well be the starting center for a larger motif, if you wish to participate in yet another Design Along (DAL). Tat this two-round motif and then design as many rounds as you wish around it. Sharing your stitch count/pattern is highly appreciated. All will be shared in my blog.

NOTE: I started with a single-shuttle rosette with the intention to cut away later rounds and reuse it for other samples, hence I cut off the thread and hid tails. However, you are free to climb out by making the 6th ring a split ring. Remember to use two shuttles for continuous tatting.

Muskaan's DAL 2025 Challenge


Round 1 - Rosette - one shuttle or two shuttles, continuous thread
ringA: 5-6-6-5. do not reverse work
ringB: 5+6-6-5. do not reverse work
Repeat ringB till you have a total of 6 rings, joining the 6th ring to the first ring.
Cut and hide ends OR climb out with the last ring as a split ring.

Round 2 - Curled Rings  (CR)- one shuttle and ball or continue with two shuttles.
CR: 10-10. Curl around any rosette ring. 
Chain: 2 (-2)×9. Repeat all around. 
NOTE: Picots are 3.5mm high or open picot is 7mm long. [My motif is worked in Anchor size 20, which is similar to Lizbeth size 10).

Hope you like the motif and would be interested in designing and tatting more rounds. Leave a comment or contact/tag me on Facebook or Instagram.

Take it away, friends!

My next round is already decided which is why I have all those picots in the 2nd round. Will share when it is finished. 

Some of my previous DALs can be found here -  https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/search/label/DAL

And tutorials/videos for all techniques can be found here - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/p/tatting-resources.html


UPDATE (12th March 2025) - the first batch of lovelies! -- https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2025/03/colour-me-happy.html

Friday, 21 February 2025

overlapping interests

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Barbara Arango first caught my attention on FB several years back when she tried to recreate a design at the back of a hand mirror into a tatted motif! Since then she has successfully recreated more fabric prints into tatted lace. And in order to get the desired effect, she comes up with her own solutions. Some of these are clever adaptations or applications of existing techniques, though they evolve from her own trials and errors, the fruit of her own labours, without realising prior existence.

My recent post showing a tatted ring made with her overlapping split rings generated quite some interest and a couple of requests to show the steps. With Barbara's permission, I am sharing my pictorials along with pics of a few projects where she used them ... see for yourself how wonderfully they can be applied. Some quick practice patterns are also included but let your imagination take you places! All you need to know is how to tat split rings!!!

In the end, for immediate comparison, I have also included my own 2016 effect where I first coined the term. Links to a snowflake using the effect are also listed at the very end.

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Abbreviations used: Sh=shuttle in hand; CTM=continuous thread method; SR=split ring; vsp=very small picot; ds=double stitch; Ch=chain; - = picot; + = join to; LJ=lock join to.

There is no need to reverse work. The motifs are worked from the front continuously in clockwise direction or from left to right.

A]  Overlapping  Split  Ring  Braid, Barbara Arango style (2019)

2 shuttles (CTM if working in single colour). For pictorial I used two colours - Sh1: pink, Sh2:cream - Anchor knitting cotton size 10.
1. SR1: 8 vsp 5 vsp 8 / vsp 5.
NOTE: While the first ring can be worked as a normal ring, I prefer to start with a SR here so that the shape of all rings remains the same.  
2. Start SR2 leaving a very small false picot.
SR2: 8 +(SR1) 5 vsp 8 / 5.
3. 2nd split ring tatted and is being closed.
4. Two split rings made and you can see the overlap between them.

5. Repeat SR2 for desired length, joining to previous ring as you go.

Practice Pattern for ring, bracelet or choker
6. Above is the braid I had shared in the post, using the same count. This can be started CTM as a normal ring, too.
After tatting a few more rings, I joined the last ring to the first, keeping the overlap consistent. Think of this as an ANKARS joining, positioning one ring above the other before joining. 
Pre-string beads to embellish as desired and use as jewellery.

I like the rectangular shape created by the rings with the above count. Got to thinking how even SRs would overlap. 
So, here I used 8ds between each vsp. Rings are rounder, but the overlap is consistent. To get them to overlap more, the overlapping segments need to be longer.

And here are Barbara's projects (2019-2022) using the braid style -

Notice how the rings get smaller?

The applique and embroidered designs on the left inspired her to recreate it in tatted lace and she used the overlapping SR braid effectively.

And to remind you of the practice pattern I shared in my previous post: 
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B]  Overlapping  Split  Rings , Barbara Arango style #2 (2021)

The same technique as above but used in a kind of onion ring formation, in one pass. Here Sh1 has cream and Sh2 has pink thread.  If working with single colour, use continuous thread.

1. SR1: 5 vsp 10 / vsp 5.

2. Leave a very small false picot and start 2nd split ring.
SR2: 10 +(SR1) 5 / 5. Switch shuttle
3. With Sh2 in hand, continue for chain...
Ch: vsp 10 - 10 LJ(SR1) 10 - 10 LJ(SR2). Switch shuttle
4. One motif of overlapping split rings made, all worked from the front.
5. Start 2nd motif with Sh1 in hand, leaving a very small false picot.
SR3: 5 vsp 10 / 5.
6. Repeat from SR2 onwards for desired length. 
TIP: Instead of a lock join  through the false picot, one can make an under-over or alligator join from the 2nd motif onwards.

Wouldn't this make a lovely bracelet or choker when embellished with a few choice beads!

And here's how Barbara applied it in a doily (2021) -
This is the doily inspired by a design behind a hand mirror. And to get the effect, she cleverly used this formation of the overlapping split rings! Since then she has created several more designs which you can view in the Just-Tatting FB group.
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 Overlapping Split Rings , Muskaan (2016)
It was back in 2016 that I first shared my nascent trial and coined the term Overlapping Split Rings. As you can see from the pic below, my method involves a braid of uneven split rings which are folded and joined back to create an overlap in the center. The SRs remain free in the center creating a distinct 3D and faux Celtic effect. 
SR-A: 9 / vsp 12.
SR-B: 4-1-1-4 / 12.
SR-C: 9 / 12.
Lock join to vsp of A.
One motif created. 

I used this motif to design a snowflake. Despite the immediate help of my trusted test-tatters, I haven't published the pattern here. I called it the Mutant Snowflake. Following are respective posts - 
We can also increase the number of rings to get polygonal shapes and interesting overlaps!

I realise this is a long post. However, if I didn't post now it would further get delayed. Thanks for your patience in reading this and hope you try and experiment with some of them.
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In case you wish to use leftover threads for trials, here are a couple of pictorials that will help you start knotless with a split ring without CTM
How to start a split ring with a picot - PDF: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OS_9VdZSoWVSsOtQYT8UVb4nV6exmf2p/view
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Many thanks to Barbara for extending the boundaries! All in the eye of the beholder!

Friday, 14 February 2025

Vee bit late

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This little flower was tatted several days back and I was going to  post the pattern along with a pictorial for overlapping split rings. But that's going to take a couple more days to write the post and ink the pics. So this prototype pattern is for you to play with on Valentine's Day. A little late, but flowers are the flavour year round! 

Tatted in Anchor size 20 (similar to Lizbeth 10), the flower itself is only about 1.5cms high and 2cms wide. The rest is stem with leaves.

The idea came to me while preparing a pictorial for Barbara's overlapping split rings. These form the petals, joining each petal to the previous one and the last to the first. It is a simple picot join just like when you do stacked rings in ANKARS keeping one ring above the other.
If you don't want to knot the two threads at the start, these resources might be handy - 

Little 3D Flower
a prototype pattern by Muskaan © Feb2025

Abbreviations: SR=split ring ; vsp=very small picot; fhs=1st half-stitch; -=picot; shs=2nd half-stitch.

Start with two colours wound in two shuttles. Shuttle 1 - petal colour; Shuttle 2 - green colour.
With shuttle 1 in hand or as the active shuttle, start the first split ring ... (refer image above)

SR1: 9 vsp 3, 4fhs - 4shs, 3 vsp 9 / vsp 3.
SR2: 9 +(to SR1) 3, 4fhs - 4shs, 3 - 9 / 3.
Repeat SR2 two more times.
SR5: 9 +(to SR4) 3, 4fhs - 4shs, 3 +(to SR1) 10 / 3.

NOTE: I made 5 petals (5th not seen in above WIP image) but in the 5th one, I increased the stitch from 9 to 10 in latter half so that it overlapped better. Adjust to ensure the overlap remains consistent. Join 5th petal to the 1st one, arranging the overlap consistently.

FYI: (4fhs, p, 4shs) is the node stitch which creates a dimple in the ring.

Do not cut threads, continue for stem. You can string or join a bead to the center of the flower using any one the threads. 

Stem is a Josephine or spiral chain. Use whichever half-stitch you wish.
NOTE: For leaves I used the Petal Ring by Maimai Kaito (2016) Instagram, YouTube, following Lesson #178 by Karen Cabrera Unfortunately it was difficult to photograph the curvature and sharp tip of the leaf though it is visible in some pics.
Choose your own stitch count for the leaves. The upper leaf is slightly smaller than the lower one.
Continue the stem for desired length.

I see a lot of scope for improvement but that, too, will have to wait for another day. Feel free to tweak and improve and show me what you come up with! I went with tinted pink for a rose or cherry blossom. Which colour and flower would you choose to tat with?

Related Posts -