a quadrille or more

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Yesssss, we now have more tatters joining in our dance - it's no longer a tango! More on that at end of post.

Carin Jansen's Angel Choir doily TAL – Round 2

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

Angels are what first drew me to this pattern. And to see them merrily dancing around was an added bonus. It is a very clever and creative design and hats off to the designer, Carin!

Techniques : 2 shuttles ctm, long chains, pointed chain (one stitch SCMR), picot join to right, SCMR, lock join, very small picots.
Optional Techniques : 1 shuttle and ball ctm, frontside/backside tatting, other methods for pointed chain, mock ring, blipless join, beads.
[all tutorials can be found here with several alternatives for pointed chain, joins, etc.]

As before, we share our joint notes, tips, and ideas below. Carin has already given very detailed instructions, including alternate stitch count for metallic thread, which I will try not to repeat here.
Round 1 Notes - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2021/01/two-to-tango.html

 

This is a cleverly crafted angel using simple rings and chains and reverse work between them.

The 1ds SCMR creates a nicely pointed chain for the wing tips and a picot between the 2 half stitches is perfect for joining later, without adding extra length/bulk to the tip! Whether to put a paperclip to hold the picot open depends on our personal comfort and skill.

Shuttle 2 requires more thread than shuttle1 which is used for only 3 of the 4 rings in each angel. However, one can work entire round with only one shuttle and ball if the head is worked as a mock ring. After making a lock join, continue to tat a chain and make another lock join in the same picot to simulate a ring.

Each center and head ring is secured on either side with joins to a chain, ensuring good stability. 

Joining to previous wing tip can be a bit tricky in fine thread. However joining directly without SCMR creates a curved, not pointed wing. It is easier to work this SCMR with 1st half stitch, join, 2nd half stitch.

Besides joining the wings at the tips, another join can be made further down to add stability or hold shape – about 4 or 5 ds down, using a very small picot. This will not alter the overall shape. This additional join could be more important if one does not want to tat more rounds.

Many tatters prefer to work long chains with the balanced double stitch. Make necessary stitch adjustments if you use it.

TWoT Notes:  The row can move in clockwise or counterclockwise direction as seen in both WIP versions. The reason can be found in whether one is doing traditional or fs/bs tatting; whether the first ring was worked frontside or backside.

In directional tatting (fs/bs), one should be careful while making joins to avoid colour blips on the front of work. Or one can use blipless joins.
For frontside/backside tatting, you could start this round with a backside ring so that most of the tatting is then done frontside.

There is some ruffle while working the round, but settles after simple rolling pin blocking.

The last wing joined to the first is an example of picot join to the right, though one may not realise it.

Beads on the halo would sparkle. Or perhaps graduated picots? The free flowing effect of these angels seems like they are floating through air, making each angel unique.

Notice the large sunflower shape if we do not tat the top half of each angel's body? So we have a bonus option to work a large flower coaster in the right colours! And we know how to get the petals to be pointed :-D

In Lizbeth size 80, 

single Angel motif  : < 3cms high; 2.5 cms wide wingspan; 1 cm wide at base.
After 2 rounds, this doily measures 9 cms in Lizbeth size 80.

I absolutely love this colourway and am glad I did not go with my original yellow for this round. And the little ring for body is truly special with the 1ds adding a tiny 'waist'! Every project brings in new learning in some way or other.

Now for the group dance ..... 

Several tatters on facebook showed interest in doing this tatalong with us!  I might include their versions here as I blog. eg. Cristina Reb's 1st round in Anchor size 20 -

My friend, Rose Deguara, had a tip for Round 1 (which I have now included in that post) - The last inner ring needs to be joined in the round to the first inner ring, thus calling for a picot join to the right.   

Look for #AngelChoirTAL on facebook to find posts and pics; some have joined us in the Just Tatting group.

Off to do the next round, now that I have immersed myself in this orchestration ;-D

Oh, and check out how Vera has covered her bauble/ornament even though it is not Christmas - https://veragondolatai.blogspot.com/2021/01/frivolitas-gombre.html I have updated my post with this option and my own idea!

two to tango

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When Carin Jansen sent me a link to her Endrucks' 1920 Project patterns, I discovered yet another blog, now added to my blog list on right panel! Found out that she had done a tat-along last year in one of the facebook tatting groups, and later shared the entire pattern in her blog. 

Angel Choir doily TAL – Round 1

Designer: Carin Jansen

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

I had this strong urge to tat with size 80 and her doily had features that interested me. Frankly, we can all do with angels in our lives, right. So my knotty buddy, Anita Barry, and I set out on this TAL journey together, both with size 80 threads. I will probably post each round pics after both of us complete it, along with our combined notes and tips - no she said, I said 😁. 

Techniques : 2 shuttles ctm, thrown rings, picot join to right, very small picot
Optional Techniques : frontside/backside tatting, down join. 

You can find all tutorials here - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/p/tatting-resources.html

Made with 2 shuttles, ctm, because there are thrown rings. Moves in clockwise direction.

In Lizbeth size 80. this round measures >3.5cms.

Anita used 2 colours but was distracted while tatting, making a few goofs. 

UPDATE : Tip from Rose Deguara: The last inner thrown ring is joined to the first, requiring a picot join to right. (I have added a list of techniques now). 

TIP : If you wish to make this round with 3 colours, one can split it into 2 rounds. First work inner small rings as a circle or split rings, with tiny picots on outer edge. Then tat the outer round of rings and chains, joining chains to inner rings, in 2 other colours. 

This way the arches will remain neat and unbroken, although the inner rings will change their shape a wee bit.

If you wish to join in, please do! Send me pics here or on facebook (update: post your pics on FB with the hashtag - #AngelChoirTAL)and we'll change the tango to livelier folk dance! Or like angels dancing as in the next round!