full of options tatting

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 In our endeavour since July 2025 to update patterns in our Endrucks 1920 Project collection, some PDFs posed a dilemma. For instance whether to leave the E1 shamrock and it's butterfly offshoot in the same PDF or to separate them. A survey in our FB group voted overwhelmingly in favour of the former. We took the opportunity to include a stepwise pictorial, add some missing portions, as well as options to work certain parts through some mini-pictorials.

E1 Happy Hands Shamrock and Butterfly by Diana Howe and Muskaan : 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_D5xY68NyfsKMB4LDr0GUv-WYC0VCba6/view (updated pattern link)

Following are some notable features -

This Way or Tat? (TWoT Notes): This is one of those patterns where many paths and options are possible.  Diana had diagrammed both clockwise and counterclockwise pathways (my E1 Happy Hands Heart from which it was derived could also be worked either way), and my working of the shamrock followed a third. Since it is a two shuttle pattern, just follow the shuttle which is in the right position, but adjust the instructions accordingly.  

I used contrasting colours in size 10 knitting cotton for the pictorial to clearly indicate which shuttle is in use.

Dimpled Yorkie: Since the heart ring is fairly large, it is a good idea to apply the two-step closure option as in the dimpled yorkie. Notice the bare thread on the left, just before the ring starts? It is part of the false picot ....

False Picot: Since there will be two back and forth chains at the base of the heart, a false picot is needed to prevent overcrowding. And the bare threads need to be long enough to accommodate them.

False Picot v/s Mock Picot): I distinguish between a false picot and a mock picot. The former is just bare thread left before and/or after an element to simulate a picot. The latter usually uses an overhand tie, a lock stitch, or a paperclip/spacer to make the picot. False picot is a much more vintage term than a mock picot, often used interchangeably, and the construction is left to the discretion of the tatter. However one should be aware of this since it may affect which of the two shuttles you will be using to continue. Does it coincide with what the designer intended? If not, the tatter will need to adapt accordingly.

Lock Join and Under-Over Join (U-OJ) aka Alligator Join: During my early trials with the original E1 pattern, I finally settled on making a lock join through the false picot in order to keep the chain in place. This was followed by ensuring that the two threads/shuttles were on either side of the picot (one above and one under).  

However the lock join can be eliminated completely and only the U-OJ can be used if so desired. And which thread you wish to keep above and which under is entirely up to the tatter. Just make sure to adjust instructions accordingly.

The first heart motif is complete in the above image. 

Armadillo join: While in the above model we went with the original consecutive joins (picot join on top and lock join below), this can be substituted with the armadillo join as explained in my previous post. https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2025/12/armadillo-join.html . 

Over The Top Join (OTT): This is an adaptation of the U-O join when the space is too small for a shuttle to pass under (or one forgets to position the shuttles ahead of the final chain segment in the pattern). Above image shows Ninetta working it in the 2nd or 3rd repeat.

 

Ninetta's E1 shamrock and butterfly versions! Can't thank her enough for all her enthusiastic and prompt support in so many unexpected ways!

Stem : Diana recommended the BDS or padded chain for a stem. However, any decorative chain or cord can be applied such as the lock chain in above model, a pearl tatted chain, etc. 

Never let it be said that tatting is just rings and chains and picots, LOL.

We will soon be releasing the EP Tutorials document which endeavours to list all tatting techniques, effects, and terms used in the Endrucks patterns - original, reworked, and derived. Until then you can find tutorial links in the Tatting Resources tab above (https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/p/tatting-resources.html).

Please give credit to the designer and pattern, and use the tag #Endrucks1920Project when you post your version of the pattern.

armadillo join

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 Back in 2015 when I first ventured into tatting Eleonore Endrucks' patterns from her 1920 book, Die Schiffchen-Spitzen, (I had started with E22 for the summer homework by Georgia's Online Tatting Class) there were patterns including the very first one where the 2nd repeat/motif joins to the first with two consecutive joins. One is a normal picot join to a picot lying above the line of tatting (on the previous motif) and one is a lock join to a hidden picot lying below (on the same motif).  

I tried various methods to incorporate both joins into one continuous movement but was unsuccessful - the result just didn't seem neat. So you can imagine my immense excitement when I encountered Gretchen Miller's Armadillo Join earlier this year (July 2025)! She came up with it as a solution to linking two pieces of enameled metal for one of her patterns. She uploaded a video here -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JRveDx6Wf4 . When I sought her permission to share a pictorial she was happy to note that the join could be used in pure tatted lace as well. And what I had missed in my 2015 trials was the final step, LOL.

ARMADILLO  JOIN

Gretchen Miller (Tattered Armadillo) July 2025

video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JRveDx6Wf4 

Since I have created a PDF for the pictorial which can be downloaded by clicking this link - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PfM7UMj9YIIW3cA8fEVB1OgaXabFeo_L/view - I will keep the text below to a minimum.

Shuttle 1 - mustard thread ; ball or shuttle 2 - blue thread.

Note: The join is worked with a single shuttle.

Normally, one would consecutively make a lock join to the chain picot below and a picot join to the ring picot above and then proceed with the current chain. Armadillo join allows us to make both linkages simultaneously.....

... by pulling a loop of the ball thread up through the picot above and then bringing it down through the picot below.

Then shuttle is passed through it. Notice how it is basically a picot join, except that the loop goes through two picots on opposite side of the current chain.

But here's one extra step where the shuttle is brought back to the left by passing it under the loop.

The linkage is complete and now all we need to do is remove all slack.

Now steps 7 and 8, I find, require some practice and dexterity to remove slack from all the threads and loop.

Thus we have not only linked the current chain to two picots, but have simultaneously moved across to the right! Clever, right?! 

I haven't been able to experiment and explore it too much, although I did make it backside on the E1 sampler at the top. And my next post will feature a derivative pattern where it can be used.

Many many thanks to Gretchen for sharing this join!

Finnish finish

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 Oh yes, this is how Marja Jalo, from Finland, calls her way of ending on a chain. She has kindly agreed to share her method through a pictorial here - 

Finnish Finishing by Marja Jalo, 2025 - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Kv1tc3msre8seFo58jjpPj4ON6_3XXR-/view

Can't have a post without a pic, so this is my quick version of the Finnish finishing method. I deliberately left a bit of the end tails to show where each one finally ends.  

Comparison and Thoughts -

This is a slight adaptation of Frivole's Finishing on a Chain method -https://www.flickr.com/photos/28725259@N02/albums/72157626237151128/with/5514379237  which I had tried here - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2015/03/hiding-ends-sans-sewing.html  and Ninetta had applied here - https://ninettacaruso.blogspot.com/2015/06/better-late-than-never.html .

• Basically we tat the final chain as a single shuttle split chain (SSSCh) by pulling out a loop of thread from the shuttle and tatting with it. 
• Frivole ends without any sewing while Marja sews in one end. Since I have no issue with sewing tails now, I didn't mind it. I whip stitched the green (ball) tail on the chain itself, but one can sew it under the ring or any other element to reduce bulk. 
• My slight variation is that after passing the green (ball thread) tail through the shuttle thread loop and pulling the latter tight, I needled this green tail and only then joined it to the picot on the ring.  
• I also find that Frivole's method requires a long enough chain to hide both tails while Marja's can work even on short chains.

I used a similar method when Ending on a Floating Chain, which was worked partially as a SSSCh - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2019/12/open-treasures.html 

And for a whole host of hiding ends methods, check out this post - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2016/11/beginning-or-ending.html

Many many thanks to Marja for sharing her method ... we are always the richer for having options! And check out her blog, if you haven't already.... besides all her other projects and experiments, I always remember her when talk of using yarn in tatting arises. https://solmujenlumoissa.blogspot.com/2025/

My next post will have a brand new join pictorial! Hope to see you then...

more E15 leafy stars

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 Stars started shining almost immediately after I had posted about Manju Talekar's E15 Leafy Star here - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2025/10/leaf-to-star-spinoff.html. It is my fault that I couldn't blog about the new entrants sooner. So let's go chronologically (all from Nov 2025) ....

Stephanie Wilson 

It was such a pleasant surprise to find this beauty waiting for me in my email inbox! Here's what she said -

I couldn't resist. This is size 40 Lizbeth thread, yellow ombre to suggest 'twinkling,' although that's probably a very BIG stretch of the imagination. I left out the decorative picots for a smoother look....more like a star, to me, at least.
For a Christmas ornament, it would probably be better to tat in size 20 thread.

Pop Maria Lenuta

And this one twinkled in my blog feed! Read what Maria writes in her blogpost -

https://maryshandmade.blogspot.com/2025/11/fulde-de-zapada-leafy-star-by-manju.html

Jane McLellan

You can imagine my excitement when these emerged in my blog feed! Read what Jane has to say in her blog - https://janemactats.blogspot.com/2025/11/seeing-stars.html

And they only multiplied!!! Here's what Jane posted - https://janemactats.blogspot.com/2025/11/still-tatting.html

And the stars are finally settled in their very own milky way! 

https://janemactats.blogspot.com/2025/11/one-done.html

Katie Verna

Are you wondering whether the star is partially hidden behind some clouds? Here's what Katie writes - 

My little version of the Leafy Star--ran out of the red thread, so thought to add green at the bottom to make it like a flower, but it looks more like a demon or fierce animal with a beard! Fun little piece to tat!

I suggested adding a few whiskers to bring out the animal better :-D 

 Padma Mandayam

Padma was so inspired by Katie's version that she worked her own star, too, in variegated thread. Clearly the pattern lends itself to variegated shades as well.

Elzusia

Elzusia did not exactly tat the star but she showed us her collection of fall leaves one of which is the E15 Leaf Doodle that inspired the star. Check out her blog post here -https://mojeroznerobotki.blogspot.com/2025/11/jesienne-liscie.html

UPDATE (8th Dec2025): Somehow I missed Elzusia's post where she actually tatted this star in metallic thread! I am so glad she left a comment with her link - https://czasnafrywolitke2.blogspot.com/2025/11/srebrzysta-gwiazdka.html

Is it any wonder I am seeing stars (of the brilliant, optimistic, happy kind) everywhere?! 

Thank you all so very much for your wonderful 'gift' of Endrucksian tatting

ps: I want to apologise for not responding to every comment left in my blog over the past several weeks and for not leaving a comment in other blogs. I do read all comments and blog posts, but due to a large amount of time already spent in front of the screen deep in other commitments, I am taking a bit of break where and when possible. It is also the reason why I am not blogging as frequently as I'd like or want to.  Thank you for your patience and support - always treasured 💕💕💕