calling them done

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 Several pieces of my tatted lace over the past months are 'incomplete' if one considers the respective pattern. Yet, I am calling them done. And interestingly, most patterns here were gifted to me by kind and friendly tatters. In no particular order .....

Dora Young's Round Pinwheel doily - from All New Knotless Tatting Designs (1974).

Back in April I had wondered how to continue since I had run out of thread. And Jane McLellan commented 'to leave it as it is'. Sound advice 'coz I really like these arches better than the final circle it turns into. 

Against a different background where the grey shows up. 

In Anchor perle size 8. the diameter is 17.5cm. 

There is a slight overlap at the dips in the arches but that's fine - hardly even visible. And hubby is quite happy with this on his table!

Related Posts - 

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2025/09/flower-in-flesh-in-thread.html

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2026/04/2d-solid-tatting.html

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Centri Rotondo - from Il Lavaro Chiacchierino 7, Mani di Fata (1994)

A while back there was a post in a FB group which mentioned Cyprus tatting where continuous tatting involved simply leaving bare thread right up to the point in the next round where the next element starts. This is visible unlike Mlle Riego who kept the bare thread at the back of work. 

I used this doily pattern, leaving off all decorative picots, to show this spiralling climbing out.

Only 5 rounds tatted in Anchor size 40 measuring 10cm in diameter. Yet I had to snip off two rounds because there was cupping, but I re-tatted only one adding 2ds to the chains. I have come to the conclusion that my chains are more snug than normal.

The pattern was gifted to me, along with her hand-drawn sketch, by Anna Bertini.

Related Posts -

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2025/01/last-and-first.html (slip stitch)

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

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April Fool's Rose Circle (2016) -

This is merely the center motif which gets repeated in a later round of the doily pattern. This single round in Red Rose perle size 8. measures 9cm in diameter. The full pattern was gifted to me by Erika Tashiro. Hopefully I will complete it some day, but with different threads. Not happy with this perle cotton as seen in the stitches and imagine my surprise when the dye ran!!!

This angle highlights the raised/3D effect where the rings of a running scroll are interlaced one over the other and joined to create Celtic Interlacing and a realistic-looking rose motif. The pattern has very clear colour-coded diagrams, yet I found it easier to refer to my own sketches to confirm how the rings were inserted into each other. 

Related Posts - 

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2018/02/beautiful-hearts.html

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2021/05/rosebud-heart.html

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2022/04/honoured-and-humbled.html

And remember Lauretta Tondelli's Interlaced Onion Rings earring (2024)?

Notice how it uses the same technique to interlace the three rings in an onion ring. In this case, however, the rings get kind of squished resulting in different shapes. This is the only piece I tatted, but single earring is not a new phenomenon for me ;-P

Related Posts - 

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2026/06/multiple-celebrations.html

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Its been a while since I crossed out another box in Natalie's PICOT Bingo 2026 Level 2. This time I am offering the above two models for Celtic Tatting box. (Details: https://www.patreon.com/posts/happy-new-year-147124370 )

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My heartiest thanks to all named in this post (and some who wish to remain anonymous)

unhappy trials

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I was impressed by Lauretta Tondelli's experiments and effects which she shared in a FB group a couple of years back (she seems to have left FB when I checked before finalising this post and her posts are missing, too). Always meant to try them and here are two attempts - my first trials. Not happy but more details below ....

Lauretta Tondelli's Interlaced Onion Rings, a trial motif, placed inside a 2D medallion gone 3D!

 

The two images above show the piece from the 'front' and 'back' though it really depends on how you interlace the mock rings.

This interlacing effect of onion rings is made with one continuous chain starting with a small starter picot. Once all three mock rings made, they are interlaced through each other. Lauretta created a cute pair of earrings using this motif as the center and adding a teardrop.

My own reservation is about the third chain which I feel is too long in my trial and also the overall untidy visual. First trials, so perhaps there is still hope for me.

Okay this motif is supposed to be a flat medallion center for another effect that Lauretta was sharing. As you can see, my work has cupped enormously. I realised what was happening but continued nevertheless so that I can make the requisite changes in my next trial. For one, the picots should've been longer.

So now my issue was what should I make with this! It looks cute and has potential, doens't it? So I played around a bit ....

If we upturn the medallion it can make a nice bezel setting and one can add another layer beneath encasing the gem. I was too lazy to hunt around for the right sized gem, though.

I decided to add a base. This is a coil starting at the center with few slope and roll joins as the chain progressed. I should've stopped a bit sooner with a shorter coil.

The reason for the base is my idea to convert this into a miniature basket.

Same 'bowl' reshaped into a squarish bowl or potential basket.

And when I pinched the corners a bit more, ....

Some more pinching so that the cupping looks deeper and with addition of accessories, it can become a flower.

So, what is your verdict? What do you think it should grow into?

Many thanks to Lauretta for sharing her notes and apologies for my bungling ....

3D solid tatting

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 Who knew these cute little birds would be the cause to anger some people who then went on to make them an extinct species in their ecosystem! This pertains to only one specific FB group from which many of us have been booted out while others have left voluntarily. We now have a new group started by Vicki Clarke, called 3-D Tatting. All birds wiped out from that one group are now flocking together in this group, LOL, and others as well.

Bluebird in solid tatting

Continuing from my last post about flat solid tatting, see how wonderfully it can be applied to tatted amigurumi models!!! All pics in this post belong to Carolyn Craig who is the experimenter, designer, and tatter. I will quote some of what she shared with me privately with permission to use whatever was needed.

What is Amigurumi - Amigurumi is the Japanese art of crocheting or knitting small, stuffed yarn creatures or objects. The word combines "ami" (meaning knitted or crocheted) and "nuigurumi" (meaning stuffed doll). Amigurumi are typically worked in spiral rounds using basic crochet stitches like single crochet and invisible decrease. They can now add tatting to the list for amigurumi. CRAIG

Solid Tatting by CAROLYN CRAIG - is the same as amigurumi. It is continuous rounds instead of joined rounds in a spiral, but it can also do flat solid tatting which is continuous. 

3-D Lips

After her 2D solid tatting in 2020, Carolyn tried these lips, working them in continuous rounds and stuffing them before sewing them closed

The Lips became the body of the birds. I am a retired art teacher. I have used basic shapes in clay, paper, and other materials to make different objects for class projects. I see how some can be made with the solid tatting, I just have not mastered all the ways it can be used. CRAIG

3-D Mouse Family

"The mouse family in solid tatting with jute... continuous spirally circle of tatting"

3-D Robin

This Robin is worked in yarn. 

You can see how she is experimenting with different threads/yarns as well as sizes to get the desired result.

The collage shows how the body is being worked as a single entity, a continuous round which includes the head in a different colour. Before the body is closed completely, it is stuffed. The tail, wings, beak, eyes are added later.

Below we see the assembly parts of a solid tatted Sparrow. 

3-D Sparrow

"This sparrow was done in 4 ply acrylic yarn with a Moonlit shuttle. The sparrow is continuous solid tatting in a spiral to form body and head. The spine and tail are solid flat tatting in one piece. The wings are regular tatting."

The second image is the parts of sparrow solid tatting in a continuous spiral - body and head, Flat solid tatting which is continuous - spine and tail, and regular tatting - wings with moonlit shuttle in background. 

If you look close at the flat spine and tail, one of the two stitches used to create SOLID TATTING can be seen in the top and bottom row……. CRAIG

TIP: Carolyn uses two types of lock join to achieve her compact 3D solid tatting. For the most part the lock join made through the wasitband of a double stitch which she calls LFW (LJ through front waistband). It is the horizontal bar of a DS when the DS is facing us; the LJ is made within the stitch, between two half-stitches. The 2nd is when the LJ is made through the back waistband - LBW. This is simply like joining between two DS. Since 3D model is tatted all from the front, the LFW is used much more. LBW is used for increases/decreases to shape the model. 

3-D Bluebird

"The blue bird is with size 3 tatting thread (but tail and wings are still in size 3 thread instead of size 10)"

 

A closer look at these beauties!

These are but 3 solid birds designs. Her aviary consists of 7 or 8 different birds and you can see them in her FB timeline or the 3-D Tatting group (besides a few other groups). There are many active preservationists who stepped in to prevent extinction! Carolyn will be sharing her process and experiments in detail in future.

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3D in Tatting - There are numerous ways to tat 3D models with or without stuffing. Some are worked continuously (as in the listing below) while others can include joining motifs, bowl shapes, covering a balloon or ornament, etc.  These could include in no particular order ....

• Bobby Demmer's bauble tatting (which the Shuttle Brothers used to tat mice, etc. See below) (https://janeeborall.blogspot.com/p/exclusive-tatting-club.html), 
• Richard Embrey's helix tatting (2019) (https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2024/01/helix-tatting-pictorials.html), 
• Rhoda Auld's bobble tatting 1974 (which Ninetta Caruso used to make hollow tubes/ropes), to name but a few. (https://ninettacaruso.blogspot.com/search/label/stacking)
• Angeline Crichlow self-published a booklet titled Solid 3D Tatting (1995) where she mostly used block tatted segments to create numerous shapes and creatures. She has several models, but no birds. (https://www.somethingunderthebed.com/CURTAIN/REVIEWStat/REVIEWS_AtoD/Crichlow/CRICHLOW8.html) 
• 3-Dimensional from Endrucks directory (https://docs.google.com/document/d/10F9PdUIL_GcOelRsk5vKhaXXZnDQjaoJstaJU8ZPEJ8/view) displaying a range of 3D models derived from Endrucks' (1920) patterns. Also check out the eye candy section to see many many more models and ideas in the FB albums and roundups from games involving 3D tatting in #Endrucks1920Project. 
• Therese Dillmont's layered rings (1886) adapted & stacked for a 3D hollow for a tree trunk or a bangle, etc. (https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2016/12/miniature-conifer.html)
• Patty Dowden's hyperbolic tatting (http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/6194296/hyperbolic-tatting-pdf-698k?da=y in Jane McLellan's blog)  
• To de Haan-van Beek's (1998) inverted tatting (https://www.somethingunderthebed.com/CURTAIN/REVIEWStat/REVIEWS_EtoH/HAANVANBEEK1.html) and Judith Connor's exquisite pieces in her album in Craftree.com
• Carolyn Craig's books on 3D tatted fairies, angels, flowers, etc. (https://www.somethingunderthebed.com/CURTAIN/TATTINGbiblio.html#C)
• Inserting or tatting over wire to shape and stabilise the model. Linda Davies has used this frequently in her tatted flowers (https://toptattyhead.blogspot.com/)
• UPDATE: (shared by Carolyn Craig) 'The Shuttle Brothers' (Randy and Gary Houtz) fourth tatting book: Tatting GR-8 Baubles, Bugs, and Blossoms is highly regarded for teaching how to create three-dimensional layered ornaments, bugs, and sculpted lace designs.' (https://www.gr-8shuttles.com/tatting_gr8_baubles.shtml)
• UPDATE: (shared by Carolyn Craig) Carol Amich's spectacular 3D solid tatting inspired by Angeline Crichlow (https://battatter.blogspot.com/)

Please note that the above list is by no means exhaustive! Feel free to remind me of any I might've missed.

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I wasn't going to, but this is adorably cheeky to not share! Here's what some veteran masters of tatting are doing in the above FB group .... Anita posted this yesterday and then left the group and told me I could share after several other tatters expressed their desire to copy/paste. 

Please note that this is the vintage edging (recreated by Anita) that inspired my threader holder motif here - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2026/04/literally-out-of-box.html

And now I am told Martha Ess has also posted something similar listing all our greats who inspired her 3D design using block tatting and it reads like a true historical timeline. 

Cheeky but civilised and disciplined and following all rules! 

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Many thanks to Carolyn for allowing me to share her lovely work and details and to ALL others mentioned who allow us to use their ideas and techniques so that we do not have to reinvent the wheel.

EP medley 2

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 What was supposed to be one post now has to be done in two parts because blogger has a new rule - only 20 tags allowed. Earlier the limit was 200 letters. All I can ask is that you bear with me and return to see the beauties in the next post as well.

Back in April 2022, it was my intention to share a mix of Endrucksian models from our members, showcasing the different effects, applications, adaptations, etc. as inspiration. Along the way there was so much to share from our games, and the burst of pattern PDFs that this fell by the wayside. Now I am trying to revive it whenever possible .... 

E28 & E39 combo adaptation : 

This is the E28 Gift Box with E39 Rose by Daniela Galli (March2022)

Daniela said - 

I try number 28 but I pull, I tighten the bows (chains) too much and the result is a little hat... I decide not to throw it away, this is the result .. I made a mini box

Although I cannot be certain, I think instead of 8 repeats she made only 5 (or is it 6?) repeats around; which is why there was so much cupping, LOL.

She repeated the cupped doily for the base and lid getting a nice box.

The box showing a partially open lid.

  

And she went on to decorate the lid with an adaptation of the E39 motif into a 3D rose, adding layers to the rose, and then some random tatted foliage and flowers. She has already adapted other Endrucks' patterns for 2D and 3D roses! Like the rose below ...

E42 application : 

pattern E42 Roses by Daniela Galli: 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HiDjl4A_CkRcRGqpjhEItWqgEI1bGMhE/view 

Roberta Porati (June2025) tatted up some of the E42 roses along with some foliage-type fillers to decorate a comb! One can see blocks, rings, chains, and even some Cluny tallies interspersed around the roses. Although at the time this is what she said - 

I'm undecided whether to stick it on the comb or on 1 headband,....

E5 adaptation :

Debbie L Fister (May2025) extracted a motif from the E5 edging and adapted it for bookmarks, adding long tails. This is what she said -

The first 2 tatted as written version 1. # 3 tatted beginning at top & made in 1 pass. I think version 2 would have been the better choice. I never got the hang of tatting an anticlockwise ring.

E12 application :

pattern E12 Bat by Krystyna Mura:  

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1E26K3FFgHygdkEKUvVHn-f0MFlENDsqA/view

Cynthia Dooley (Oct2025), a needle tatter, worked up this flock of bats to brighten up a T-shirt! And  she chirps -

Daddy bat, Mommy bat, Baby bat on flight for Halloween. Sewn on to T-shirt. ... What fun.

• These are but a teeny tiny sample of the works done by our members. To reiterate, all patterns are derived from Eleonore Endrucks' 1920 book, Die Schiffchen-Spitzen which contained only 44 patterns!
• To see the EP medleys so far - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/search/label/EP%20medley. (Technically my current post is titled #2, but several more were published under different names.)
• And remember to check out the 16 Directories for plenty more derivative patterns and models. Links listed in the EP Links doc here - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1w1TZBg-HIzseGEUoJ-rko7tNbtSgZY5A18Oy2Y9Hh0Y/view
• Please use the tag #Endrucks1920Project when you post and state the name of the designer and the pattern clearly.

Ideas spark when tatters come together to inspire with their tatted realisations! Ninetta joins me in thanking all of you and look forward to many more ...

leaf me roundup 4

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I can guarantee that you haven't yet had your fill of the Leaf Me Endrucks Sep2024 leaves that have been gracing the last three posts. So here's the final installment, for now at least. Showcasing what our members made with the E15 Leaf Doodle versions 1,2,3 pattern! Details of the game and links to the pattern PDFs can be found here - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2024/09/leafy-game.html and pics from our members in Part 1 , Part 2 , and Part 3 .

27. Paola Bevilacqua

Tatted with Sanbest metallic thread with quite a nice sparkle!

"Earrings, Sanbest metallic yarn,"

"A small composition of leaves and pumpkins, (interpreted by me, shrinking the form and the small leaves). Sanbest gold and green-gray metallic yarn, gold-red master of E. Goosebumps."

"I combined the August job with the September one." 

This is quite a composition! The August reference is to the Veg Patch Endrucks Aug2024 game which required us to tat a pumpkin from either of two patterns. Details can be found in our EP Events doc here - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZiNdE53cvqj2cLlxVP-wlga8aocPtzs5/view

28. Reiko Akamatsu

I notice that Reiko has used different colour for the rings and chains in every leaf, making each one almost unique.

Quite an enticing assembly! 

29. Sally Biggers

"For my contribution to the September Game #Leafmeendrucks, I have created 5 leaves from the E15 patterns Doodle #1, #2 and #3. In the photograph, leaf # 1 was created using Doodle #3, leaf #2 was created using Doodle #2 and the ones numbered # 3, #4 and #5 were created from Doodle #1, modified only a little at the base. I attached each leaf to a cloth-wrapped florist wire then bound them all together using floral tape. Lizbeth size 20 threads in the colors 181 Cranberry Bush and 683 Leaf Green Light. Almost ready to add a flower to the mix!"

"#leafmeendrucks leaves and flower completed. The flower petals are based on the E15 Doodles #2 and #3 although they have been oriented with the pointy part facing downward toward the center of the flower and an extra edge of picots added to enhance with some frill. That extra edge hides some 26 gauge silver beading wire so the petals can be shaped more easily."

Clever inversion of the leaves to create the flower petals, and a nice sprig or boutonnière is assembled!

30. Stella Marina

On a tatting spree for sure!

Stella hopes to fill the tree with more leaves since it still looks a bit bare to her. We must ask her if she has a new pic! 

31. Stephanie Mc

"Inspired by the work of Ninetta Caruso. I changed the way to add the wire so that it’s completely hidden by the thread (it’s a sewing thread. So time consuming!!!). I would love to finish it for the end of the weak . Wish me luck and perseverance!"

"So, I haven’t finished yet, but the project is well under way. About 10 more leaves to reach the 24 leaves suggested by Ninetta before assembling the plant!"

Hmm, another update reminder in the works. Hats off to such fine miniature lacework! 

32. Ulrike Klauser

All three leaf doodles tatted!

"Two leaves in a new context. Many thanks to Muskaan. The snowflake is a spontaneous variation of an etsy-pattern."

Ulrike enjoys displaying tatted lace in a mixed media composition.

33. Vani Kattoju

From simple leaf to compound leaf!

An eye-catching 3D flower.

"The leaf doodles from E15, I enjoyed tatting them & have so many ideas & ways to use them .
Here are some simple & compound leaves, great as book mark or a small framed piece and a 3D flower (brooch, clips or just for decorating a vase)"

So we had 33 participants who sent in easily over a 100 leaves, probably closer to 200?. As you would've noticed hardly anybody tatted one single leaf! They not only went in for multiple models, several tweaked, but also creatively gathered them into inspiring compositions and applications ranging from flat to 3D, in  diverse threads, sizes, colours, shapes, and uses! Yet the fount of ideas hasn't dried.  

As with most of our games, new patterns emerged. We encourage our members to share their notes, tweaks, patterns. At least a couple PDFs are currently under construction, a couple already shared, and soon I will post about one such star offshoot which members immediately picked up and tatted within a few days.

For details and links of all our events starting Aug2022, check out our EP EVENTS doc here - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZiNdE53cvqj2cLlxVP-wlga8aocPtzs5/view and these are the links to each pattern : 

E15 Leaf Doodle #1 by Muskaan - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NL5KHsLxOHkfILCTTKojfhHy6B9v9EG3/view

E15 Leaf Doodle #2 by Muskaan - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1i8XWpjtcrvK8C_cfa8KyGvJiXNn_KPP7/view

E15 Leaf Doodle #3 by Muskaan - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1m8chbwS1oD6Xjq4Uwm2R291zdAUL1VJ1/view

Please use the hashtag #Endrucks1920Project, and cite the name of the designer and pattern when you post your version on any social media platform. And the hashtag for this game is #LeafMeEndrucks.

My heartiest thanks to Ninetta Caruso for her constant presence, action, and support, working shoulder to shoulder with me on this ever-growing Project. We both rue the fact that we cannot accomplish all that we want to and only wish life would give us more time ;-D

Many many thanks to all our participants for all your hard work, enthusiasm, encouragement, and contribution!