last and first

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 So this is the last thing I tatted and the first I picked up at the turn of the year. And I have my tatting buddy Anita to thank for it. She was on a determined mission to finish off her ongoing works before the new year came around. Impressed and motivated, I chose this sampler I had shared here and finished it on the night of 31st Dec 2024 with an hour to spare! 

And in 2025, I picked it up again to hide the tails, block and photograph it. Notice the thread going across at the top? I won the thread chicken race!!!

Pattern is Vandyke Border in Tatting by Mrs Ollie Romesha  published in Needlecraft Vol. VII, No. 8, April 1916 and the PDF can be downloaded here - https://www.antiquepatternlibrary.org/html/warm/tatting.htm

One headside motif showing wheel surrounded by a scroll.

NOTE - The pattern calls the circular medallion a 'wheel'. However the correct term for this classic formation is 'daisy'. https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2024/03/counts.html

My Notes - 

1. Pattern calls for starting the scroll at the ring indicated by white arrow. I started with the one indicated by orange arrow.

2. 4ds is missing in the pattern for ring indicated by blue arrow. All 5 rings are identical.

3. Pattern calls for tatting the scroll first and later tat the wheel (daisy) joining it to the scroll on the go. I preferred tatting the wheels separately and joining the scroll to each. 

A single motif turned around looks like the letter A! In Anchor size 40, it is 4cms high and just under 4cms wide.

Three repeats without the footside or sewing edge is more pliable and can be used for a collar, necklace, etc.

4. This lace is worked in four parts as per original pattern - wheels, pointed edge, two rows of a straight edge on the upper side. Worked with one shuttle (and ball only in scroll) throughout. 

5. Continuous Tatting in Wheel using Slip Stitch - Determined to keep it vintage, I did not use any continuous tatting method to climb out of the rows in the lace. However, the wheel is an exception where Mrs Ollie works it in one pass using only one shuttle. She works the central ring then instructs us to close the ring and 'fasten thread to 1st picot and tat ring ....'. Basically leave a very short bare thread space, make lock join in 1st picot, and start outward facing ring. I recently learned this is called a SLIP STITCH - leaving bare thread to span the distance in order to climb out at a different point. We've all used this in some form, some situation or other. Now we have a term (Judith Connors' An Illustrated Dictionary of Tatting, 2007 ed.) and Judith patiently clarified it for me. In a future post I will elaborate on these situations, one such being this Rosette Enchained snowflake .

6. In Anchor mercerised cotton size 40, measurements for 3 repeats: 7cms high x 17cms long. Without the footside rows, the triangle is 4cms high. 

Not happy with the bare thread lengths in the footside rows. I used a 5mm gauge. 4mm would've been better. My fear, despite the trial, came true, sigh.

From this upturned side, the peaks remind me of temples in India.

I hope to use this short length on a greeting card or card topper once I visualise what else should go into the composition. Your suggestions are welcome.

Related posts

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2024/12/incomplete.html

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2020/02/not-one-ring.html