smiling together

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Ninetta recently surprised me with a thoughtful and gorgeous gift on my birthday. She sent me the pattern for her cute little flowers which she named after my moniker Muskaan which means Smile! What an honour! This sweet Hiding Lady knows how to impress and she shared the Smiling Flowers (rose) pattern here -- https://ninettacaruso.blogspot.com/2024/07/smiling-flowers.html 

This is my adapted application into a rakhi/bracelet choosing to represent our tricolour (tiranga) Indian flag. This month we celebrate our Independence Day and Raksha Bandhan just days apart.

Saffron Marigold impression - Marigolds are considered pure and auspicious flowers and you will find them during any Hindu festival or ceremony.

It largely follows Ninetta's instructions except for the petals on the 2nd row where I used graduated treble tatting with 4 wraps. 

(For graduated tds, refer - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2018/07/multiples.html)

 

White Lotus impression - Lotus is our national flower and also symbolizes purity and peace. 

Although not very clear in the pics, the 2nd round petals have distinctly graduated tds with a pointed tip. Instead of 5tds, there are 7 tds with 1tds(1,3), 1tds(1,4), 1tds(1,5), 1tds(2,6), and ditto on the other side with 5, 4, 3 wraps.   

(For notations, refer - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2020/05/double-trouble-motif.html)

Blue Center - Clear blue bicone faceted crystals at the center for the Ashok Chakra in the center of our flag. I didn't have any blue bead larger than this.

Tempted to tat one more round of petals for the marigold but I desisted for two reasons - one, I ran out of thread; two, how can a marigold be larger than a lotus, LOL.

( Find treble tatting tutorial/video links here - https://ninettacaruso.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_95.html and on my Tatting Resources page.)

Green Leaves - The third colour of our tricolour is green which symbolizes prosperity, vitality.

Ninetta used the tds rings as calyx for her flowers. I used it to make leaves with more tds and some graduation.

Tatted continuously with a single shuttle, the leaf clusters are connected with a ring braid with pulled loop joins (leave bare thread at the back of the ring and make a lock join to the picot). This will act like a frame to secure the flowers.

Assembled together and attached to a doubled string of beads (12 on one side, 14 on the other for that 'gap'). All sewn in.

The beads are actually silver - like silver lining clouds against a blue sky.

So this is my Rakhi/Bracelet 2024 from Ninetta's beautiful pattern! Over the years, I have often used the tricolour to celebrate August 15th (including Har Ghar Tiranga with the 75 year old coin), and have also shared some of my tatted rakhis. 

And making short work, I am submitting this for Natalie Rogers' PICOT Bingo game, crossing off three boxes --- Treble Tatting Stitch , Add Beads , and Tat a Bracelet! 

Oh, and I used Anchor Pearl Cotton, size 8, throughout. 

I find the treble tatting stitch quite addictive! I honestly didn't want to stop tatting. If it weren't for the thread and time running out, I would've continued!

In my haste, though I forgot to add a clasp to the beaded ends!

Small 3D flowers always remind me of Carollyn Brown who had made it her personal goal to tat one floral sprig every month for a year! She always managed to amaze me. You can find her blog here - https://tennbrown.blogspot.com/2020/11/

And adding to the all-encompassing nature of this post, this rakhi/bracelet in flag colours is my August submission to splocik's Small Decorations game. Please do head over to the July gallery to check out the talented and diverse submissions compiled there - https://splocik2.blogspot.com/2024/08/male-dekoracje-2024-galeria-lipcowa.html

Thank you my dear partner in crime, Ninetta, for the honour and friendship you bestowed on me. It is precious! Keep smiling, always :-))) 

oversew and so on

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For the longest time since (mid-1980s) I have wondered what ‘oversew’ meant when hiding tails at the end of a tatting project. I came across it in my Anchor and Coats books. Tried my own methods (including overcast stitch as in embroidery) but none worked out – knotting was the only way I knew and continued with it despite the 'ugliness'. 

Two decades later, on the net, I asked around, to no avail, but I switched to whip stitch some years ago.  Until a few months back when Jean Inglis used the term in her FB post! At my request, she explained and also uploaded a WIP pic. It got me thinking and I obviously had to try it out to compare and contrast with other sewing methods of hiding ends/tails as compiled here -. https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2016/11/beginning-or-ending.html

In my current study, I found two main methods that are commonly used to sew in the ends. Please excuse my shoddy samplers below (the sewing thread/tail should not be visible once it is pulled tight). I have used a contrasting blue thread as tails or ends for the purpose of clarity.

The first is what I will now refer to as OVERSEW. 

Here, we sew the tail Under the cap or waist band of the double stitch, and weave between the legs of the ds - under and over the half-stitches.  Hence a 10 ds count segment will give you 10 stitches front and behind. This method is diagrammed clearly by Jennifer Williams - https://www.cariad-tatting.com/techniques.  

A variation of this method is shared by Lily Morales where we weave between the double stitches. Hence if there are 10 ds, you have 5 stitches under the caps in front, and 5 behind. [the link from The Online Tatting Class is currently unavailable]. 

The second method is WHIP STITCH. Here we sew the tail across the Top of the caps, weaving in between the double stitches. You can clearly see the tail (blue thread) moving over the top of the stitches instead of through the sides. This is my go-to method for 7 years now, when Carollyn Brown uploaded her video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Q-JloBBdIM and it just clicked with me.

Jean Inglis'  Mom taught her to tat in 1980 and to sew in her ends as above. She used the term 'oversew'. She unravels the tail and uses the thinner thread to sew and hide, thus leaving a tinier footprint. But look closely, and you realise it is actually the whip stitch! Yet, this unraveling of thread can be used for the oversew methods described above, too.

This is also called OVERCASTING in some literature.

In conclusion, I'd say traditionally 'oversew' would simply have meant to sew in the tails whether you wove the tail under or over the caps; between double or half-stitches. However, if we wish to fine tune it, we can differentiate oversew from whip stitch as explained above.

Feel free to share your own thoughts and experience; no need to hide them!

For an annotated and frequently updated listing of the many ways to start, add, or hide ends, mostly knotless: https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2016/11/beginning-or-ending.html

Many thanks to all mentioned above, and those not mentioned, who constantly help us improve our knowledge, understanding, and skills.

whipping up memories

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Remembering Carollyn Brown 

Diane shared shocking and sad news today – https://lacelovinlibrarian.blogspot.com/2021/09/memories.html

A virtual friend for real has moved to another realm taking her sweetness to share there.

I have lots of fond memories of Carollyn Brown in the short time we shared in cyberspace. And every time I whip stitch tail ends I think and thank her for finally removing the fear of hiding tail ends, and be neater too! She uploaded some videos as madtatter80  (https://www.youtube.com/user/madtatter80/videos) including her uniquely long Cluny leaves.

I first noticed her blog (https://tennbrown.blogspot.com/) when I found cute little tatted 3D flowers/sprigs! A flower a month was her personal project at the time and I would wait each month for it. Using fine threads was her forte and we can all recall her adeptness at it and her gorgeous doilies!

She could tat over and around literally anything! Be it real leaves, stones, keys, and the usual glass, baubles, buttons, and beads. But her talents were not limited to tatting. Scroll through her blog to see the wide range of skills she possessed and/or learned and applied!

In 2016, 4 of us participated in the Pinterest Challenge and she never failed to amaze me with her choice and execution of the month-end project. It also gave us an excuse to correspond and get to know each other a bit more. Always smiling always sweet.

It is such an honour that she tatted a few of my patterns and etched them in my memory forever. I had to poach this image from her blog, where she is modelling earrings from my wreath pattern. Before that she had made and modelled a brooch from my poppy pattern which became quite popular at the time.

Another admirable highlight of her blog has been her skill at calligraphy and of displaying her work in a variety of settings and placements, bringing in knickknacks in an aesthetic backdrop.

So much to learn from her, so much inspiration to emulate, so much diversity to soak in! Thank you for gracing my world, Carollyn, and leaving your indelible imprint. Keep spreading your sunshine beyond 💝💝💝

http://tennbrown.blogspot.com/2017/10/tatted-lace-poinsettia-earrings.html
https://tennbrown.blogspot.com/2014/11/tatted-lace-veterans-day-poppy-finished.html
https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/search?q=Carollyn

treading lightly

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Yes, even an accomplished Master Tatter can make missteps and need to retrace her step. This post is filled with possible pitfalls and respective remedies as well as alerts and tips from Anita Barry. So, tread lightly as you dance along. The screenshots are straight from the horse's mouth ;-P

Carin Jansen’s Angel Choir doily TAL – Round 6 (continued) 

pattern - http://handwerk-fee.blogspot.com/2020/11/engelenkoor.html 

more notes on Round 6 - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2021/01/fixtrot-to-foxtrot.html 

Notes by Anita Barry -

Threads used for this project - DMC, Lizbeth,
and vintage J&P Coats size 80

1. Number of stitches per centimeter in size 80 -

First, a quick tip, since this doily has a lot of long chains.... This image is from Round 5

I checked mine after receiving this info from Anita, and turns out I had similar tension. This is a good way to maintain uniform tension on chains throughout the project. Design TIP - It is also a good measure for a designer to convey in such patterns (along with thread size).

2. Started Round 6 from wrong point and untidy attachment -

The left pic was shared at end of previous post ...

3. Missed a join and the fix -

4. Tools of trade and Marking frontside -

If you remember, Carollyn Brown ties a tiny thread bow to identify front of doily. These 'charms' are really helpful when working with fine thread in single colour, or if we use blipless joins. I generally work in multiple colours so the colour blips help me identify back of work.  

5. Missed a ring in trefoil and the fix - 

 

She almost snipped off the knotty segment, but wisdom prevailed ;-D At least one angel was watching over her shoulder, whispering in her ear!

I would've made a true ring, but Anita's solution goes to show the range of options we have! She also saved a few stitches on the chain.

TIP: Thread comes out in front from a 2nd half stitch and in back from a 1st half-stitch. Follow the opposite movement to untat stitches. Easy-peasy. Loosen the stitch loop, pass shuttle front to back through it to untat shs, and back to front to unravel fhs. These pics might help.

6. Uniformity and symmetry of arches -

Let's all wish a few of the angels from this doily keep Anita's tatting in check so she can dance freely rather than 2 steps front, 1 step back, right?! But as she wisely says, the take away from all these oops is Growth.

I've been receiving these pics and emails for the past several days and I completed my own doily 4 days back. However, some other collaboration has kept me too busy to post. Hopefully I'll be able to do a back-to-back post with my finale. 

I will also try to share pics of how far our tatters have progressed.

Join us and post your doily pics on Facebook or Just Tatting group using the tag #AngelChoirTAL.

Related Posts - 

Notes/thoughts on Round 1 ; Round 2 ; Round 3 ; Round 4 ; Round 5 ; more on Round 5 & Round 6 ; Anita's Round 6 ; 

such sways and swaggers

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Oo, là là ! Such sways and swaggers! Such are the hearts here – all a-sway with built-in swagger!

So the green one is my 'official' version – much closer to my original sketch. It still needs stiffening if it is to be dangled. But now that I have the shape I want, I will experiment with some techniques and looks to keep the shape without the use of wire or stiffening.

Look what popped up as I worked around the center ! A possible paisley.

After round 1 - This time I thought of not adding an extra ring around the inner one. But on comparing after it was completed, and confirmed by hubby, I added that outer ring using scrap thread. This is why you see some pics with only 1 ring. Although hubby did say that it can be given as an option.

I like the look without any out round! 

Please note, that this round will need to be dampened and shaped before finalising it and proceeding to next round.

The green one, in Anchor size 20 (≡ Lizbeth size 10) measures 3”x2”.

All picots are very small. 

I think the ring on the left of the 14-14 ring should be 12-12 rather than 11-11 for a more natural gradient.

The rolls/wraps in the outer roll-tatted chains can be adjusted to suit your tatting tension.

With only the lone inner ring. As mentioned, the outer one was added later as additional decoration.

This motif can be worked continuously by climbing out with a 3ds split chain.

For detailed process, tips, and pattern notes - Round 1 ; Round 2 

Many thanks to those who played along! 

You can join the fun and tag me (facebook/instagram) , leave a comment, 

or send me pics of your versions!

Elisabetta de Napoli started a beautiful center in metallic [UPDATE- see complete heart here], 
and Sue worked in size 40. [UPDATE: treble tatting in 2nd round]
Margaret Davies used spiral/Josephine chains instead of roll tatting. 
And then there are Victorian sets that also provide visual texture.

Carollyn Brown tweaked the pattern as you can see, and shared her count and notes. She seems to have straightened out the errant swagger ;-P In her own words ….

"Well I started at top and placed picots every six ds after the initial 2 rings and chain of 3 ds. This way I could go around twice. I had size 80 which was on shuttles and should have used larger thread but it was fun to make thanks can give more counts if needs be

Here are quick numbers I still used 4ds inbetween and I feel this could be tweak some more maybe less stitch count on out side outline.

 This last picture is the count for outer part no cutting threat till end."

Ninetta Caruso sent in her version – oh my it is already part paisley! And true to form, she has used s small curled ring (sCR) with bead, as well as treble tatting. She also linked adjacent thrown rings . The pattern in her words ....

"With one round only, mine should be sewn up somewhere to keep its shape. Otherwise it needed wire in the core, that would be something worth a try.

The inclination to left or right is just personal taste, in my version for example I would tat it again because at the end I like the other face up, but the sCR defines the front side.

I forget to tell you that I started from the bottom mock ring, then this and next rings are connected, that is the first is mock ring: 4-8-8-4, next is ring: 4-7-7-4, etc. decreasing the joint, till the last that is ring: 2-1-3.

I finished in the little heart at the bottom. "

UPDATE : 2 more decorated hearts !

As they say, 'it takes a village …' I love adaptations/derivations and also get to learn and improve my own work. So, unfortunately, this heart is still not ‘completely’ complete. There’s a lot of play left, right?! ;-D

Only after I am finally done with the ideas, I will release a proper pattern. But this should be enough for you to play along and to experiment.

You can access all my patterns here, and all hearts are in a Google Doc file.

happy tatting

are you playing?

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Continuing with the next round … I am still tatting on this first trial piece hence there are a few limitations.

It is a simple round when tatting from a pattern. But it took me well over an hour to get it to look ‘good’ – there was a lot of retro-tatting! And I also changed the right side chains – all facing inwards didn’t look good at all, unlike the sketch.

As before, I invite you to work as you please, tweak and adjust as you will, sway my heart! The notes are for reference only.

The 1^st round pattern (prototype) is in the previous post here.  

SWAY MY HEART

prototype round 2

Pattern, Notes  &  Ideas

1. This is mainly a chain round with 2 tiny rings at the bottom.
   
2. I pulled out about 3/4^th yard for core thread, continuous thread.
3. It can be made with shuttle and ball, ctm, if the ring at tip is worked as a mock ring.
4. Since I would be constantly placing the motif on the drawing, I started on the top left side, using direct tatting (reverse or unflipped stitches) - no reversing work!
   
5. Stitch count is given in pic above. I would reduce the 12 chain on top left to 10 ds.
6. The first chain segment on the bottom right after the 2 rings, faces INWARDS - hence the count is in brackets. All the rest face outwards.
7. For the join between segments, I did not use a lock join. Instead I pulled the core thread through picot and passed shuttle through it (remember I was direct tatting). This creates a bit of texture, but more importantly it gives a clean dip, enhancing the curves. I did not count the join as part of the chain.
8. When placed over the sketch, it coincides fairly well overall. But I still want to increase the asymmetry a bit more.
   
9. Now I had this idea to continue around the chains for stability, hence left the threads uncut. But I was also apprehensive that the concentric chains would become too thick. My solution – roll tatting! I do wish there were picots to join to - I will include it in the final pattern. You, on the other hand, can pre-plan your strategy and options.
   
   TIP: I didn’t remember to jot down the rolls/wraps, but just like in Josephine chains, I wrapped 5, then adjusted/smoothened and snugged. It kept the long roll-tatted chain looking good. 
10. My other ideas for this round – a. work it in finer thread to keep emphasis on main heart (round 1) ; b. add picots (frayed!) to left side chains and also to the left side of the central ‘ring’ to imitate a gentle sway, a soft breeze :-D

Remember #3 – alternate ideas to stabilise the long chains in round 1?

I remembered one more way to make the round 1 chains stiff. Add up and down beads after every stitch, as in this necklace. 

Please share your thoughts and your work ... So far I've seen 2 beautiful hearts of which Carollyn has already tweaked and has offered to share her counts.

All my heart patterns can be found here.