I’ve got you covered!

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And just in time, phew!!! What an exciting range of projects to start off this month’s task of covering a cabone ring. I want to make each and every one of them someday. It was Renata’s turn to choose this time – Summer in Circle.

This is my April submission for 'I Love Tatting' –

Royal Wave Bangle

 with free pattern directions

I didn’t have any hollow ring except for my loads of now neglected bangles which are unfortunately all circular. And I wasn’t confident with a glass bangle, so went with this metallic one despite the golden knobs projecting along the circumference. They made covering it more difficult and despite my diligence, the green peeps out at places.

Turns out I’d forgotten and had to consult tutorials on cabone tatting. This was a good refresher after my first bangle. 

But this time I wanted to use 2 colours alternately as a personal challenge. I chose thread colours to complement the lovely beads Usha sent me. These are vintage threads and closer to a size 50 or finer than the Anchor size 40 they claim to be ;-P

TIP : The thread not in use is encapsulated/hidden within the visible colour. The trick is simple. Keep the ‘not-in-use’ shuttle dangling and encapsulation becomes easy. The thread tends to stay alongside the bangle. Merely ensure that you pull the thread taut before switching colours.

I used scraps of the purple thread and had to join new thread at least 3 times, using a simple weaver’s knot and then encapsulating all tails within the next few stitches. This tiny knot is not visible.

Basic Pattern is simple and can be adjusted to any bangle size. I didn't have any specific pattern in mind - just let my shuttles take the lead.

Round 1 - covering the bangle (cabone tatting)

ROUND 1 : 2 shuttles each with different colour

2 vsp 4 vsp 2, switch colour and repeat, till end.

Carry the previous colour along the bangle, encapsulated within the stitches.

I ended up with 18 repeats of each colour.

Round 2A - Rollicking Waves - overlapping/interlaced chains 

ROUND 2A : Rollicking Waves

Next I strung beads to the 2 balls and joined these to the 2 shuttles to continue the next round. This round is all chains with beads on picots. Chains are interlaced/overlapping, so before making a lock join, ensure the threads are in the right position.

Chain1 : 2 B 2 B 2 B 2 B 2 B 2. switch shuttle.

Start next chain behind.

Chain2 : 2 B 2 B 2 B 2 B 2 B 2. SS

Lock join Chain1 to nearest picot, and Chain2 to next picot, ensuring the under/over overlap.

Repeat to end.

Round 2B - Frolicking Waves- undulating, overlapping chains 

ROUND 2B - Frolicking Waves

I tried something different ¾^th of the way around to change the shape of the 'waves'. Made the chains longer and twirled them around the bangle, joining to a picot above. The overlap continued as before.

There are between 6-8 beads in each chain before joining. And both shuttle & ball need to be passed through the bangle.

Finished off with 2 strings of beads and a teardrop at the end.

Hubby was rolling his eyes when I was choosing a bangle, wondering what I’m going to do with them after so many years - I stopped wearing them ages ago but still have a huge stash. Gradually, as the tatting started taking shape (including the simple covering without beads), he was all excited and ideated… how I could make earrings, and so on. Yeah, he’s finally ‘getting’ tatting – I’ve got him covered ;-P

I can’t thank Usha enough for her lovely seed beads. They are a delight to work with!

Do check out the beautiful projects (and tutorial links) lined up for

April’s I Love Tatting challenge here.

Thank you Renata, for another inspiring challenge :-)

tatting brings in joyful waves of creativity and togetherness

the old with the new

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As we shed the old year for the new, memories of the old stay with us.

Here’s something old with something new to symbolise this transition on the eve of 2018. 

And since I love tatting, it seemed apt …

The old comes from many of the discarded bits from recent projects or experiments, 

used to make the bouquet.

The new is all Josephine Chains or Spiral Tatting - to complete the bouquet with stems 

and leaves as well as outline the card topper.

The 'leaves' are mock rings held in place with an under-over or alligator join.

This was the December topic for kocham frywolitkę or I Love Tatting, set by Renata.

The post and examples seem to indicate only spiral/Josephine chains not rings, 

so that’s what I went with.

Except for a random few rings or the set of 3 which used a thick thread, all the rest is in size 40.

Do you recognise some of the floral medallions? 

The pink are from Doily #10 ; 

most others are from later trials of my Aspiration doily center ; 

the small 3D (layered onion rings) marigolds were made to empty the shuttles. 

 

The dark blue trim of Josephine chain is in size 20, made in one pass.

TIP : In order to turn the corner, I left a picot, and switched from 1^st half stitch for vertical sides to 2^nd half stitch for horizontal sides. It creates a fairly distinct corner.

Do visit the above link to Renata’s blog as well as this link to Justyna’s blog 

for some beautiful applications and tatting !

Here’s wishing all my readers

A very happy, peaceful, healthy and creative 2018

With lots of tatting thrown in !

And looking forward to even more interaction ...

enclosed space medallions

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Enclosed Space Medallions

I have no idea where I got this lovely pattern or when. UPDATE Nov, 2017 : This is Medallion #84 with pattern on page 23 of Il Chiacchierino Vol 1  1999.

Years back I had made several (in blue and white) and have since given them away to my MIL, except for a couple. This was shared as part of “the flower within” series of snowflakes.

Last couple of days I tatted these afresh, for a document on medallion classification I was preparing (for Design Class). It will be shared soon – with explanation and respective samples.

Based on Elgiva Nicholl’s book (Tatting: Technique & History), these medallions come under the category of ‘enclosed space’.  

Notice that there is a central negative space surrounded by rings.

Traditionally this medallion is tatted in 2 separate rounds – the inner rings-only round and then the outer one with clovers and chains. When done in this fashion, the rings face outwards and we also have a choice of using 2 different colours for each round.
(We can climb out with a split ring,  though. Even with single shuttle and ball, pull a length of tail to be used for the last split ring).

20^th century tatters like to tat in one pass. The easiest way in this case is to work the inner round as thrown rings off the chains, using 2 shuttles.

Notice anything?

Yes, the rings are now facing inwards ! We thus have an enclosed space with inward facing rings. And the inner rings will take the chain colour, being tatted with 2^nd shuttle.

More on Inward and Outward Rings (Ring as Fish)

I like the flower within medallions, but the one-pass medallion is quicker and easier to tat. The 8 rings of the ‘flower’ tend to overlap until joined (one can add tiny joining picot at base of each ring to stabilize).

Notice the difference in the size of each medallion ? These are all worked with Anchor Mercer Crochet Cotton. But –

The white-only is in the new size 20 (probably close to size 10 or thicker in Lizbeth);

The blue center one is in vintage size 20 (equivalent to size 20 in Lizbeth);

The variegated (embroidery, 3 strands) center one is in size 40 (equivalent to size 40 Lizbeth).

How can one combine threads (same brand, same ‘size’) for a pattern ??? Anchor (Madura Coats, India) has really gone down the dumps – not just in size ; even the smoothness and silky sheen are missing!

‘Picots’ is the topic for ‘I Love Tatting’ series, posted this time by Renata. It actually translates to “picnic” !!! Either way, it was an enjoyable picnic tatting these and the picots do perk up the medallions :-)

I was hoping to create something new - I have something in mind, but in case I don’t get the time, this is my entry for now. Do check in the other entries – lovely tatting as always !

tatting is always a picnic to be enjoyed thoroughly !