DAL2026 roundup 4

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 And the final round-up of my design-along or DAL 2026 Challenge is here! I do have a commitment from a designer that she is working on it, but no images so far. And just as I am writig this, one more has come in! Despite my intention, it took me several weeks to post the challenge in the 3-D Tatting group and we have two models, each constructed so differently!

Scroll to end of page for relevant blog links

We also have a surprise extension of a motif! Last time it was tessellation of motifs, this time it is Barbara Arango's extension of her motif into a round doily with the addition of several rounds! She's calling it 'Rachel'.  

(pattern ready)

19. Kaye Brown-Judt - saw an oval in the starter motif and designed 2 rounds around it! She shared it with her tatting group and several of them will be tatting it for their next show-and-tell!

(pattern ready)

I find Kaye's design videos/lessons which she uploaded for TOTC are exceptionally good ... to me she is the best design teacher in terms of her approach, clarity, ease, and perspective! So much to learn from her.

20. Jiamrat Supapol - a beautiful design and shape with lots of thrown rings thrown in! I think it has an oriental appeal.

(pattern ready)

21. Richard Embrey - If I remember correctly, nobody so far has used either beads or doodads in their designs. So Richard has that honour along with a 3D version! ! 

Version 1 - He had these butterflies stashed from years back and decided to use them for his design

(pattern ready)

Version 2 - Such a different look simply by extending the arms! 

(pattern ready)

Version 3 - a 3D cup holder ....  

(pattern ready)

... which also doubles as a lid!

Richard has written the pattern but Palmetto Tat Days prep has gotten in the way of his review. Hence a delay in the pattern.

22. Liyarra - faced a bit of a cupping problem at the final join and it was a fun learning experience trying to figure out how to flatten it out. 

Notice all the different meandering designs-within-design?!

(pattern ready)

23. Margaret Davies - always ready to participate, created this expandable pattern with simple rounds!

(pattern ready)

24. Vicki Clarke (Victats) - answered my call in the 3-D Tatting group for 3D versions, with this pumpkin or apple. The center rosette is modified inspired by the 3D centres by Teri Dusenbury.

She explained her process and count but has offered to send a better presentation soon.

She has since tatted one more model in red and larger, which she shared on Instagram!

(pattern ready)

25. Sally Biggers - despite her busy schedule, played with the design creating this snowflake-like motif!

She's caught up with Palmetto Tat Days hence the pattern will be delayed.        

(pattern ready)

26. Padma Mandayam - sent this lovely version with 3 additional rounds just as I was about to finish and upload this post!

(pattern ready)

There are two more tatters who had participated, one of who did not continue beyond the starter motif, and another who worked out two trial pieces but hasn't found the time to continue. Their pics are in the master copy, but the roundups are only for completed pieces.

So, a total of 28 participants, with 26 completing their challenge and so many who tatted multiple versions or numerous rounds!

With additional patterns arriving almost daily, I am neck-deep in doing the presentations. Nevertheless I hope to share the master doc with you early next week. The PDFs that remain will be uploaded and the doc updated in the near future.

Related posts - 

how to participate in the challenge - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2026/08/time-to-play-again.html

1st roundup - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2026/08/dal2026-roundup-1.html

2nd roundup - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2026/08/dal2026-roundup-2.html

3rd roundup - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2026/09/dal2026-roundup-3.html

Many many thanks to All participants for playing along with beautiful projects and also sharing their patterns for the community!

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 💕💕💕

design tatting

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 Its been a while since I updated the entries that came in for my DAL 2025 challenge. I shared the first 7 versions (with patterns!) here - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2025/03/colour-me-happy.html. Now, the next one to start the challenge was Donna McDade who made 8 versions (3 up from last year's DAL)! I will dedicate an entire post to her next time, since there is a lot of good news to share and celebrate. Meanwhile, these are what my other wonderful participants sent in .....

All versions of Muskaan's DAL 2025 Challenge can be found here -https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mQmdXWXQmcbXQ48nRz9FBeTJf_DoJqKz/view

Anita Barry 

See the dense 3rd round? Those are Louise Uteg's stacked rings from her 1970s original doily!  

I think this 4-round version looks like a nice Christmas wreath.

Padma Mandayam

Round 3 was inspired and adapted from Lella Loops' version, with the addition of a 4th original round.

Written pattern is shared in the google doc.

Janet Crow

A colourful spring version with inclusion of butterflies and more rounds. She graciously presented the pattern in a PDF. https://drive.google.com/file/d/16wfGTDxjNovnfWMYmZfqIgn1tmwDzIgY/view

The motif glued to her hand-sewn bag in which she carries her tatting supplies to meetings, etc.!

Lillyan

Janet's 14 year-old talented granddaughter is trying her hand at many crafts, including tatting! Her version is like clubbing where she adapted and applied Karey Solomon's Cat & Mice pattern. Pattern will be shared if they get due permission.

 Margaret Davies

Despite all the curve balls life throws her way, Margaret has valiantly participated again. She shared her WIP here - https://margaretsdesignercards.blogspot.com/2025/03/happy-international-tatting-day-and.html

Her 5th round ruffled and she decided to cut it off. While this modification lays flat, she might tweak the stitch count at a future date. Hence no pattern shared yet.  

Elisabeth Dobbler   worked the initial 2-round motif but was discouraged with the way her picots came out. Shelved for the present. The WIP pic is in the doc.

Join in whenever you can! This is open-ended. Perhaps I will also climb out of my limbo to add another round or two to my own version.

Words fail to express my gratitude and happiness to all participants! 

Related Posts
https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2025/02/dal-2025-challenge.html  Start the challenge any time you wish, and send me your version!
https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2025/03/colour-me-happy.html  First batch of DAL 2025 versions

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/search/label/DAL  Previous DAL challenges

identity tatting

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 It was called a coaster, and coaster it shall be!

Padma Madayam surprised me with her Rounds 1 to 4 of my Just So Coaster soon after I had posted the pattern last month! However it escaped her notice that I was using size 10 knitting cotton which is a pretty thick thread. Worked in size 20 crochet cotton, her 'coaster' turned out to be too small for a coaster! And after my coaxing, she embarked on a journey to make her coaster a coaster! This is the beauty that emerged ....

Her coaster now measures 15.5 cms after the addition of two more rounds designed by her and which she has kindly shared with us. No more identity crisis ;-D

This is her first four rounds following my pattern here - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2025/04/just-so-tatting.html

And following is her pattern for rounds 5 & 6, inked in the image as well as written notations ...

ROUND 5 (designed by Padma Mandayam) - a scroll with rings facing outwards.  This can be worked with a ball and shuttle, continuous thread, if working as separate round.  See NOTE for continuous tatting ... 

  Ring1: 4 - 3 - 3 - 4. RW

Chain1: 5 + 2 + 2 + 5, RW

  Ring2: 4 - 3 - 4 - 4. RW

Chain2: 5 + 1 + 5, RW

Repeat all around. Join last chain to base of first ring, tie, cut, hide ends. 

 

ROUND 6 (designed by Padma Mandayam) - this scroll round has trefoils and all rings face inwards (towards the center).  This can be worked with a ball and shuttle, continuous thread, if working as separate round.

  Ring1: 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3. do not RW

  Ring2: 3 +(to ring1) 3 - 3 +(to round5 ring) 3 - 3 - 3. do not RW

  Ring3: 3 +(to ring2) 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3. RW

Chain1: 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3, RW

  Ring4: 5 +(to ring3) 5 - 5 - 5. RW

Chain2: 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3, RW 

Repeat all around. joining Ring1 to Ring4, and final Ring4 to first Ring1. Join last chain to base of 1st ring. Tie, cut, hide ends. 

NOTE: For continuous tatting of rounds 5 & 6, use 2 shuttles, CTM: Make last ring of round 5 a split ring to climb out, and climb in to round 6 with a split ring for Ring2. Adjust tatting sequence accordingly, ending the round with Ring1. 

If you visit her timeline in Facebook, Padma makes superb beaded jewellery including beaded crochet ropes, besides tatting and crochet. She sent me two pics sharing her crochet and tatted coaster sets (six each). An accomplished lady for sure. Padma has also worked on several Endrucksian derivatives despite having joined recently, and participated in my DALs!

Many many thanks, Padma, for sharing this beautiful version of a properly-sized coaster :-))))

Related Posts 

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2025/05/comfort-tatting.html  (my round 5)

updates

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I have often updated a post (highlighted as 'UPDATE') without any separate notification. This time I thought a special post would be good for those interested since there are quite a few. Yet as I list them, I find some should be accompanied with a photo. Hence while I rectify that omission, here is part 1 of the updates in no particular order ....

DAL Celtic Snowflake challenge. Pattern (diagram) for Padma Mandayam's adaptation of Mariola Siwek's version is now uploaded to this Google doc - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pVqM6S5Ng49xk6erSsDyRm3y7SdV2tCIUOCgltze4lM/view for you to enjoy. 

Original post -https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2024/12/and-more.html 

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

 

I was very impressed with the way Ninetta had started her ring seamlessly without making any 'join' by using the same joining loop as a ring loop. Well, forgetful brain did not put two and two together especially considering I have used this method before. It is basically the Ring on Picot technique which Patty Dowden demonstrated in this video -https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LmMxIBrDpRI 

Original post -  https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2023/10/awakened.html

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹 

 

When I wrote about Fringe Tatting and the Tatted Fringe I did not highlight that beads could be used for the fringe, too. Eventually I made a beaded fringe inspired by and following Corina Meyfeldt's directions for Beaded Stem. Nina Libin called it Single File Beaded Picot.  The beads are pre-strung on the shuttle or ball thread depending on the pattern and each fringe or beaded picot is moved in place when needed. 
Original Posts - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2024/08/on-fringes.html
https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2024/11/soup-catcher.html

Here's an old model from 2017 - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2017/05/rising-month-late.html

This method is fine for a limited number of fringe elements/picots with a limited number of beads on each or if all the beads are on the ball thread. 

One more method is the Floating Beads method but it has severe limitations -https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2017/09/floating-beads-part-4.html

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And finally splocik's Small Decorations 2024 since I won't be participating in her 2025 verion - December gallery (https://splocik2.blogspot.com/2024/12/male-dekoracje-2024-galeria-grudniowa.html ) and collages of entire year's works by some participants (https://splocik2.blogspot.com/2025/01/male-dekoracje-2024-podsumowanie-i-3.html) ... links added to my final post (https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2024/12/a-no-glass-ceiling.html). I am happy to have been able to submit 13 decorations.

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

I had sent the vapour stitch bouquet pic for PICOT Bingo, but couldn't complete the game in the way I had intended and imagined. 5 boxes still left to cross out. Natalie, too, has uploaded a 2025 bingo card, but I won't be participating. See how disciplined I am being this year?! ;-D 

This is it for now. More updates will follow with some exciting revelations/discoveries!

And I still have to update some of the original posts with new links/details. Tomorrow. It's time for bed now.

and more

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 After reading my posts, Elisabeth Dobler took up the challenge and quickly sent me her version of the DAL Celtic Snowflake, designing a third round and also tweaking the first motif to incorporate Celtic knot picots! And she graciously shared the pattern, too, becoming our 21st participant. It took me some time to diagram it, though. But here it is ....

I realise only now while inking and uploading that we forgot to mention the beads in the center. It looks like she used two beads on each picot and made a swirl join at the end. 

There are Maltese rings at the tips and the thinner metallic thread picots fill the ring.

Elisabeth has a way with picots! If you are on Facebook or Instagram, you should look up her work and how she elegantly transforms the models. Her impeccable tatting is so inspiring, too. She frequently sends me pics of her work and I will soon share a few here.

Before I forget, you can find the pattern and all details in this Google Docs -https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pVqM6S5Ng49xk6erSsDyRm3y7SdV2tCIUOCgltze4lM/view

❅❄❅❄❅❄❅❄❅

And I also know of two other tatters who tatted the snowflakes -

Marja chose Lella Loops' version - https://solmujenlumoissa.blogspot.com/2024/11/lumihiutaleita.html

and Padma M chose to tat Mariola Siwek's version which she shared in her FB account - 

UPDATE (Dec2024): The pattern (diagram for Padma's variation is also uploaded in the above document.

 

Many thanks to all for your participation! Being inspired and inspiring others is an unending cycle of creativity! 

Related Posts - 

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2023/05/lets-design-round-3.html

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2024/11/a-collective-gift-1.html

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2024/11/a-collective-gift-2.html