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.

layering effects

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I’ve been revisiting a few techniques – both using layered or stacked rings - to refresh my memory.

Ninetta’s modern adaptation using a floating layered ring was my first stop. I converted it into a flower pattern. DH thought it looked like a lotus! Lotus motif is a fairly common sight in temple architecture, decorative ceilings in buildings/rooms, Jaipur-style paintings, etc. That settled the name ....

Lotus Medallion

(prototype)

In Anchor size 20, the finished flower measures 6cms across.

The inner medallion uses the same stitchcount and process as Dillmont’s original motif. Except that I made 6 rings instead of 4 – which meant I had to add 2 more picots to the floating ring. All details here. This center can be made with a single shuttle and a long tail pulled out to work the floating ring and 2ds of split ring.
This is a modern variation of the rosette or enclosed space medallion.

I hadn’t planned anything specific. But this looked so forlorn that I had to do something to cheer it up ;-P

I continued with the layering theme, this time with chains. When did I last use 4 shuttles? Time to set them up :-D Tried out my idea with some scraps and ran out of the red at this stage. 

Starting again, I used light and dark shades of the same colour - this contributes to the 3D effect. 

Yes, those are dot picots in a diamond arrangement! Can't stay away from experimenting ;-P Here's how I worked it ... Dot Picot tutorial links here

Work a string of 3 dot picots with shuttle 2, and 1 dot picot with shuttle 1.

Note : When making this dot picot with shuttle 1, leave a very tiny bit of thread on both sides.

In order to make the make the single picot clearly visible, 

I used the Floating Beads with tatted rings method, tying an overhand knot around the base of the dot picot. 

The faux bead now rests at a slight distance from the chain.

Now start the chain close to the faux beads. 

When the chain is tensioned, the 4 dot picots form a kind of diamond shape. 

If one is using beads instead of dot picots, this round can be worked with 2 shuttles attached to respective balls. Pre-string 18 seed beads in each ball, and 6 seed beads in each shuttle.

Chains on either side of the faux beads have 10 stitches each. But this can be changed to suit one's taste.  

Chains are lock joined to the picots on inner medallion. But remember to overlap the new chain Before making a lock join with the previous one. Also keep the overlap direction consistent throughout. An under/over overlap as in the model helps when making the final chains and joins.

If using single colour throughout, one can climb out of the inner round with a split ring.

So what's your verdict ? And suggestions ? Colour choices? 

Once I have your opinion I will work another model and present the final pattern. 

happy tatting always J

Tatting Pattern : Morning Glory 3D flower

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Morning Glory

A 3D Tatted Flower

An “extension” & 3D application of the Thérèse de Dillmont  Plate V, Fig 25 Motif which was modernized & diagrammed by Ninetta here

A freeform rings-only 3D flower that can be customized easily.

As I mentioned in my last post, this is an “Extension” of the original Dillmont Motif which Ninetta modernized & diagrammed. All I did was ‘extend’ the pattern in all dimensions : layer upon layer in the center ; lower layered ring extending beyond the one above ; extended petals under & over the layered rings ; and so on.

I managed to write up the pattern in pdf & upload it along with the post (scroll down), Yay ! Hence this post is more an album of photographs of the Morning Glory Flower from different angles, at various stages.

The Layered Center

For the first time in my tatting life, I actually used blocking ! I used blocking for the yellow center long picots. One of them was adamantly twisted. So I simply pinned the picots on a wet kitchen napkin & after a few hours, it was Great !!! Now I’ve lost my fear/hesitancy of blocking ;-D

These center rings, however, are a bit fiddly to handle .

Adding the Petals

Without Patty Dowden’s instructions, handling the large petal rings neatly & smoothly 

                          would’ve been impossible for me. And this time, I used Both the steps !

This flower measures just over 1"x 1"

  

Although the broad arch of each petal has 16ds, I might've made a couple with only 15ds. 

Adding all the "accessories"

Ninetta's Curled Rings were used to make the calyx & 

thread ends were encapsulated within the stem.

However, one long tail of pink thread was left uncut. This was used to make the Folded ring bud.

And again the pink thread was encapsulated within the stem.

One can safely say that this flower doodle is also a kind of Ring-play. Many different types of rings 

have been used in this all-ring pattern (all rings except for the stems !) : 
Layered, Curled, Folded, Large, …

For the tendril, an auxiliary thread was added. The ends were cut & frayed. The stitches in this long chain were tensioned just enough to get a kind of rolling twist. If sts are snugged more tightly,  we get a curlicue, as in the main stem.

This entire doodle does not require any blocking. 

The large rings, long chains & encapsulation hold their 3D shape very well.

It is extremely difficult to get a good perspective photograph of 3D freeform pieces. 

What I see with my eyes - the angle, the depth, etc. is not always captured with any fidelity !

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Click to download the pattern (pdf) : Morning Glory 3D flower Pattern

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UPDATE : I have changed the pattern link from Dropbox to Google docs for greater reach.  The earlier Dropbox link has been removed, altho' it will still work,  since the file hasn't been removed .

Tutorials for Layered Rings (links at bottom) ; for Curled Rings (upcoming)

Feel free to use the pattern as you see fit ; to tweak it, to overhaul it, …. play & enjoy :-) 

Would be nice, though, if you could drop me a line/comment showing me your work, if you do make it.

My sincere thanks to Ninetta & Patty

& to great masters like Thérèse Dillmont.

Motif #18/II for 25 Motif Challenge

Related Links : Layered Rings Part 1

Layered Rings Part 2

Tatting Tutorial : Layered Rings Part 1

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Ninetta’s Layered Rings in Modern Tatting

Original Pattern : Thérèse de Dillmont  Plate V, Fig25.  (click for pattern details)

UPDATE: 'Tatting' (DMC Library) by Therese de Dillmont - https://add1400f-c919-4c57-8d2d-40880bc5b080.usrfiles.com/ugd/add140_b134098f74ed483f9bf91602d8e69fd4.pdf 

(pamphlet, 1956. Courtesy TOTC)

This tutorial has turned out to be quite in keeping with the term ‘Layered’. As I went about organizing tatting & taking pics , & then sharing the pdf with Ninetta, she realized that I was doing it differently than what She had diagrammed/done ! So it turned out that this modern method can be accomplished in more ways than one ! Yup, layers upon layers …

I have not been able to make & photograph Ninetta’s method yet (will do so in the next post ; it includes joining 2 picots at same time & some tips from her). But in order to avoid more delays, I will share how I understood / interpreted her diagrams especially for tutorial purposes & made the motifs through step-by-step pics. While making the 2^nd motif repeat, I have shared another method (all front-side tatting that I used in my earlier trials here ). I have tried to incorporate as much as possible within the stepwise pics itself, with notations. I will also include & upload pdf versions to all methods in the next post.

  

Here, then, are step-by-step instructions on how to tat Dillmont’s Layered Rings 

by applying modern techniques to a vintage pattern, & doing it all in one pass.

Techniques Used :

2-shuttle tatting

“Floating Ring” variation that converts to a Layered Ring

Mock Picot

Split Ring

Normal Join/Down Join (optional or as required)

I have deliberately used 2 colours so that the progression & split rings can be easily identified. Some pics show both back & front views in order to show comparison, etc.; these have been indicated in the pics to avoid confusion.  Done in size 20 Anchor Mercer Crochet Cotton.

TIP : Make the central/floating ring picots longer than normal. This space is what lifts up the centre from the petals nicely & visibly. For clarity, picots are labeled A-D

 

Ring 1 is a Split Ring

 

 

 

 

                          

 

When making the 1st SR of each subsequent motif, it is easier to 'split' the working into 3 parts (Figs13-16): 

1. Start with Sh1 1st half 6-4.
2. Make complete 2nd half of SR with Sh2, including the FR, and the last 2ds.
3. Go back to 1st half - join with FR and make the last 2ds. Close ring. 

 

 

 Figs 18-21 show another method of making & attaching the layered rings. This involves tatting from front/top side only ! The entire motif can be accomplished with frontside tatting, without any need to reverse or turn work. 

 

                          

 

Can you begin to see the many possibilities of just this One pattern ?! Just playing with colours & the climbing-out Split rings can give you a wealth of options – linear, squares, rectangles, hexagons, zig-zags, etc. etc. (Fig 25 below, may give some idea. Numbers indicate which ring followed which one ....)

One can alternate colours of central ring as well as petals !

The Floating Rings can be shifted to Between Petals to get 2 layers/rounds of petals simultaneously – a layered flower !

Thank you, Ninetta, for your excellent adaptation of vintage to modern, 

for sharing the same, & for permitting me to share too :-)

Also in the works :

Ninetta’s method for making the Layered Rings And

her innovative Curled Rings with many options

UPDATE : Part 2 of Layered Rings tutorial - Ninetta's method