eye spy hearts

Pin It now! Here's part of what I'm doing, juggling between stuff - Extracting! No, no, no... rest assured there's no tooth extraction involved! Extracting designs is what I'm talking about.  And since it's heart season, what else can I extract, huh?! Anita Barry calls this 'Eye Spy' and has passed the bug on to me ;-P

1. Happy Hands Heart from Endrucks' pattern #1.

This has been in my eye for a long time! Finally some trials ....

Below is the original edging (there's a mistake, hence I'll be tatting it all again for the Endrucks Project) - I always felt they looked like happy, clapping hands raised above the head! Or showing solidarity with their team.

On the left is my first trial. Too flattish, but could be tweaked into a strawberry, right?!

My 2nd trial is actually 2 trials in one, with the left and right halves altered. And the head is a heart as well! I used roll tatting on one side in order to reduce the width.

So, what's your verdict? Should I go ahead for a final version? 
 

2. Elizabeth Hearts from Elizabeth Round Robin Doily.

I had extracted 2 hearts last year but both needed tweaking. 

Well, here's what happened when I picked one of them for improvement. Yeah, this one's going in the dump with a lesson in what not to do. I wanted the bare chains raised higher - I think those arches are good. However the clovers on the side need tweaking to bring the 2 ends together.

3. Victorian Trellis Heart (idea) from the eponymous doily Priscilla Tatting Book #2.
When Frivole recently posted her beautiful collar, I noticed these hearts! 

Do you see them as well? I can trace at least 2 heart designs of different sizes. One could be around a single large ring, while the other could have both large rings within. Of course, there's many a slip ... The scans are from pages 15 & 16.

Deviating slightly, have you espied the "Join the Google Web Creators Community...." notification on blogger? Has any of you joined? Care to share your thoughts? Thanks.

more than a butterfly

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I have finally completed the pattern for Butterfly Bandhan in pdf. But it is so much more than a butterfly as you shall see, scrolling down .... 

Butterfly Bandhan 

jointly designed by  muskaan  &  Harsha Creations

Butterfly Bandhan Pattern pdf - click to download

Pattern is for a single colour, one-pass pattern. Hence there is a bit of mindfulness required, especially for first try. I tried to break the pattern into blocks with respective diagrams, to make it easy to follow. Not too happy with my diagrams (hand-sketched), but will have to do for now. I was going to get it test-tatted, but life got in the way and instead of delaying further, I went on a roll working non-stop since yesterday. 

This is the 2-colour model by Bandini, worked in separate pieces. A much easier option if you don't mind hiding tails, or find the one-pass method confusing. With this method, one can make all 4 rings a different colour!

Above is yet another working alternative. This 2-colour version is worked in one-pass, using 2 shuttles. It uses lots of Lock Join Plus techniques (SLT, reposition/TwW, RJ, etc) to position colour as desired.

This was one of my trials, hence not exact.

If the instructions are followed, threads/shuttles will be in the correct position for next element. However, tatter is free to choose their own method and techniques.

As detailed in this post, the butterfly would have remained cocooned as a potential idea if Bandini of Harsha Creations hadn't taken it upon herself to start with the early trials of converting 4 separate motifs into a proper butterfly! I cannot thank her enough <3

Future Ideas !

So how is this motif more than merely a butterfly? 

Check out how well these motifs work, creating different shapes, depending on where adjacent motifs are joined.

A broad Straight Border or edging if top wings are joined at 2 picots.

A Bookmark when adjacent butterflies are joined at single picot between top wing of one and bottom wing of other.

A Circular Collar or Doily when top wing and bottom wing of adjacent motifs are joined at single picot.

A Square Motif or Coaster when 2 picots of bottom wings are joined. Of course, we need a fourth butterfly to complete the square, but notice the interesting negative design it will create in the center? A few smaller motifs can fill in any spaces for a larger square and fabric.

 

• Adaptation into a Maple Leaf - in the earlier post Linda Reiff saw a possible leaf and this is my first trial adding a motif in the center of the same purple butterfly. (the green is merely playing around with the photo effects ;-D)

Although it all lays flat, I feel the 3 chains are incongruent with the 4-chain 'wings'. I received some valuable feedback from experienced friends, and will try it again with 5 chains.

Meanwhile Bandini tells me she will be finishing her leaf version in a couple of days - eager to see what she does again!

• Adaptation into a Peacock - When viewed from this side, does it not look like it could become a dancing peacock?! Of course, a lot more work is required, including shortening the 'legs'.
• A Tree - And with a tiny bit of adjustment, the antennae could become the trunk of a tree, obviously in the right colours!!!
• Angel Wings! - Grace Tan noticed these.

Butterfly Bandhan Pattern pdf - click to download

I invite you to work the butterfly alone, or to make any of the ideas displayed here. Please don't forget to show me what you've done - I could add your model as part of the pattern instead of working them all myself ;-P

opening more petals

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Continuing the Peony from my last post, here’s how far I have come. Despite the risk of boring you, it is more efficient to share the pattern for the 3 new rounds, than let my work pile up ;-D Not to mention how excited I am to show the flower blooming!

These 3 rounds, like the previous one, are all dimpled chains, lock joined to previous round. They can be worked in one pass, although I have cut after each round since I am guessing and tweaking the count as I go. Hence if any one round does not work out, I have the option to snip it off rather than unravel it. I haven't had to resort to the former yet.

PEONY (DIP)

pattern continued - Rounds 3 - 5

NOTES -

1. Folded chain technique is used to create the dimples – a set of 1^st half stitches (fhs) followed by a set of 2^nd half stitches (shs) creates a beautiful dent.
2. Although starting each round afresh, I used false CTM, adding the chain thread after tatting the 1^st chain, so that the tails are hidden in different chains.
3. Rounds 2 to 5 can be worked in one pass, climbing out with split chain.
4. As the chains get longer, ensure the stitches are snugged properly at regular intervals before making the lock join.
5. I count the lock join, followed by 2^nd half stitch as 1 double stitch.
6. Pattern for Rounds 1 and 2 can be found here. 

Each round is worked with one shuttle and ball (Anchor crochet cotton, size 20), continuous thread. Attach to free picot on previous round.

ROUND 3 -

Chain : 2 vsp 5 - 3, 4fhs 4shs, 8 vsp 2. lock join to next space.

Repeat all around, 10 times, joining to previous chain and last chain to the first.

Measures 3”

ROUND 4 -

Chain : 2 vsp 10, 4fhs 4shs, 4 – 6 vsp 2. lock join to next space.

Repeat all around, 10 times, joining to previous chain and last chain to the first.

Measures 3½”

ROUND 5 -

Chain : 2 vsp 8 - 6, 4fhs 4shs, 6 - 8 vsp 2. lock join to next space.

Repeat all around, 10 times, joining to previous chain and last chain to the first.

Measures 4¼”

As you can see, I am having too much fun to stop the flower from blooming further! Let's see how far I can take it ....

Pictorials and practice patterns for Interlaced Rings - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/search/label/interlaced%20rings

More tatting tutorial links - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/p/tatting-resources.html

peony interlaced

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Moving beyond linear designs, my next interlacing project is circular. It is still a work in progress since I want to go beyond a single round. I have an idea of what I want, but the exact number of rounds is still a mystery.

And this time there are 4 shades, one in each shuttle. Here’s how I started the first split rings without any knot. (scroll down to 'C')

A short while back Anita sent me a photo of her peonies, and I have tried to capture the flower as best I can in the shades I have.

Anchor cotton, size 20.

4 shuttles. Shuttles 1 & 2 have the darker reds; shuttles 3 & 4 have pinks.

Basic pattern :

SR1 : 12 / 11, do not close. Pass shuttle #3 front to back through SR1.

SR2 : 10 / 10. Pass Sh3 front to back again, close both split rings and repeat, joining back to first pair.

Peony Wreath pattern

For a floral effect, as seen in the model, the outermost edge has graduated picots and the pattern is as follows –

Refer to Pictorial for front to back interlacing  

SR1 : 1 (–1)x11 / 11, do not close. Pass shuttle #3 front to back through SR1.

SR2 : 2 (–2)x4 / 2 vsp 6 vsp 2. Close both SRs after posting Sh3 again.

Repeat these 2 SRs, joining to the vsp of previous ring, and back to first pair. There are 10 pairs in total.

This can be a standalone project. Add beads and findings for earrings or pendant, or use as a tree ornament. Perhaps a miniature frame? It measures 2" across.

If you wish to continue, here’s the next round with petals….

Peony pattern (DIP)

Folded chain technique or Victorian Sets is used to create the dimples – a set of 1^st half stitches (fhs) followed by a set of 2^nd half stitches (shs) creates a beautiful dent.

Worked with one shuttle and ball, continuous thread. Attach to space between outer split rings.

Chain : 2 vsp 8, 4fhs 4shs, 3 – 5 vsp 2. lock join to next space.

[Chain2: 2 + 8, 4fhs 4shs, 3 – 5 vsp 2. lock join to next space.] Repeat all around.

Note: I count the lock join, followed by 2^nd half stitch as 1 double stitch.

Since the next rounds are going to be in variegated pink, yellow was chosen to break the excess of pink (not a shade I am fond of). However, one can continue with pinks or any colour of your choice, and climb out using split chain.

At this stage it measures 2½” across.

So, what do you think? I’m pretty happy at how it’s shaping out, though there is ample scope for improvement in all areas. But I'll let it be for now. 

dancing in the snow

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In January I was contacted by Craftree’s jmjtat. Her guild, ‘Fiber Frenzy’ from the USA had decided to work on my snowflakes as a tat-along through to August, to be displayed in September. They ‘really liked the variety in style and techniques in my collection’! Many were interested in the Peacock in the Snow flake of which I had uploaded only prototype pics. She requested me to release the pattern.

As I had written earlier, I felt the theme was not complete, since white snow was missing in the flake! I finally got around to designing and tatting the final round of snow.

I kept tweaking the treble stitch arches through the round, but now feel confident of what I want for the final.
In Anchor Pearl cotton size 8, it measures 9.5 cms tipwise, and 5cms as hexagon side.

Each round is layered tightly hence ruffles slightly, but settles flat with quick blocking with rolling pin. Can’t say if I have the stamina to test a few versions to get it sorted. We’ll see.

Just wanted to share the first complete look, though. What do you think?

See the white sewing thread across the purple rings in pic below? My prototype had picots and I wanted to see how it would look without them. Hence sewed them to the back – laziness personified ;-P

But look at how beautiful the arches really look from the wrong side!!! From the front, they are partially hidden by the Josephine rings. However, JRs are part of the peacock motif, so I’ll simply reduce the half stitches in each.

And I really have some ideas to re-tat a variation without the JRs so that the arches are in full view! 

And to make flowers with these arches – getting ahead of myself ;-P

Waiting for your comments - answers and suggestions !

a wee bit bold

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…ummm, perhaps? perhaps not.

Next leg of the design journey from mistaken round to snood-in-the-making which I now think can hold it’s own as a doily.

Continuing from where I left off last -

The outermost beige round ended with 45 repeats. That’s 15 more than the 30 in central beige round. And it measures about 6¾” in Anchor size 40.

The main dilemma was connecting it to the previous round. 

I set 2 guidelines –

1. it should be in brown ;

2. it should be fairly open and airy, yet durable.

That’s when I remembered this post by Lilas Lace – those intertwined/interlaced double picots had caught my eye. She herself has since used the effect in her own doily here.

6. Made the shorter brown round with 30 repeats. All chains.

Ch1  : 5 lp (8mm) 5 lp 5, lock join

Ch2  : [ 5 + 5 lp 5, lj ] x28

Ch30: 5 + 5 + 5, lj

The long picots (lp) are 8mm tall.

7. That round went fairly easily, but designing the next to fit in nicely took a lot of trials. I had 15 extra points to take care of!

This pic (sorry about the quality - it was taken with my tablet) shows the 1^st and 3^rd trials; the 2^nd trial has already been snipped off since it didn't work at all.

This round is a mix of rings and chains.

Ring: [ 7 + 7. rw

Ch   : 5 lp (1cm) 7, lj ,

         7 + (interlaced) 5 lp 7, lj,

         7 + (interlaced) 5. rw ] x15

The long picots (lp) are 1cm tall.

I like how it finally turned out.

Meanwhile I have completed the final outermost round, but will share only after filling in the center.

It was while answering Emily’s comment that I finally hit on the name – Repetition Doily/snood. It is a reminder to the original Repetition Mat (in 'Mastering Tatting') - the round which ended up in the center later. It is also a reference to the alternately  repeating rounds of clovers v/s chains. This is a common theme of Lyndsay Rogers' book where the objective is to take the tatter through simple to complex using simple techniques. 
All rounds in this doily, too, can be worked with one shuttle and ball,  except for the construction sequence. 

Now my question is –

Considering the numerous additions I’ve made, can I share the stitch count for Lyndsay’s round as well?

no bold moves

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…yet not a simple design journey for me.

Remember the counting error that led to 30 repeats from the designated 9 in Lyndsay Rogers’ Repetition Mat? And I decided to adapt it into a snood?

This is my story so far. Sharing my design and thought process, for those interested –

1. I started round 2 from the original pattern, but didn’t like my working. 
Snipped. But I did want to use 2 colours in order to highlight the beige round. 

2. Instead of a completely new centre, why not work Lyndsay’s original round correctly, but with 10 repeats – that would be one-third of the outer round?

Halfway through I feared it might be a stretch, so squeezed in 15 repeats....

...with overlapping chains that complemented the raised rings in outer round for texture.

3. Back to centre, I added a chains-only round.

Chain: [3 ± 2 – 2 - 3, lock join] x15

Will most probably do a filigree stitch to fill in the center. 

4. The negative space between the beige rounds was smaller than hoped. Initially I thought of simply weaving in bare thread (as in attaching to bangles, etc). It meant basting the rounds to fabric to hold taut on a embroidery hoop - too much work!

After a lot of trials and errors to get the stitchcount right, I went with another chains only round.

Chain: [5 +(to p between rings) 5, lj ,

              5 +(middle p of first chain) 2 +(middle p of next chain)  5, lj] x15 

At the end of this round, the diameter is 4 inches in Anchor size 40.
The reason I used the dark colour is evident against this dark background -

5. After a lot of deliberation, this way or that. inward or outward, I ended up with a tame larger repeat of my mistaken round (no bold moves).

[Ring1: 6 ± 6.

 Ring2: 12 + 6 – 6 – 12.

 Ring3: 6 – 6. RW

 Chain: 6 – 3 – 3 – 6 RW] Repeat around {45 times?}  

TIP : With a full shuttle I used the scmr to add new thread to/within rings, thus milking the shuttle thread to the max! 

This round should be completed by the end of the day when the total number of repeats will be confirmed.

After blocking, will come decisions on how to connect. 

This morning I had another idea to fill in the center - a treble stitch ring! Or would it be too cluttered/dense? But this can wait till the end.

Eager to read your opinions and suggestions!