stormy calm

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Or so it seems! Blue skies one moment, and the next stormy grey clouds converge together, enclosing the sun (or is it an orange eye of the storm?). That’s how I see these 2 snowflakes!

If you remember Ruthie May and I joined forces to tat Robin Perfetti’s Challenge Snowflake. It was fun corresponding together and watching each other’s progress.

While I worked it with shuttles and monochrome Anchor size 40 thread, Ruthie selected a grey-scale palette along with orange (don't you just love that splash of orange?!), from her embroidery skeins. 6 strands, needle tatting.

My readers know that none of the several techniques used in the pattern are new to me; most already applied in my own patterns. But the pattern is just so attractive and irrestible. Also, it is good practice, good refresher! And such a clever combo, and padding the stitch makes the chains hold their shape nicely.

Ruthie : “This was my introduction to balanced doubles. I had previously seen a video demo link on the subject from Georgia Seitz. I said to myself I'm never gonna need or want to use that. Then I saw your post with the link to the snowflake challenge Balanced doubles included. To coin your phrase never say never. You never know what life will throw at you.”

Needle Tatting tutorials and resources - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/p/tatting-resources.html

I think instead of 5mm double picot recommended for size 40, I would prefer 7mm. As it turned out, except for the first, I used 6mm.

Ruthie - “…. I was delighted that the color work added the gradient affect that I was looking for. The thread increased the size of the snowflake and gave it a puffy texture that I desired for a mug coaster." 

Alongside Robin's Floral Edging (see recent posts) where I have turned the corner. Snowflake measures 3.5" in size 40. Love it!!! 

Ruthie was successful in making the mug coaster she wanted! In 6 stranded embroidery thread, the final measurement is 5.5".

Ruthie : "It measures 3 1/2 inches across the middle not including the SCMR around the edges. 

Regret:The embroidery thread that I used was not kind to my picots. It separated and became (splitty) which is what embroidery threads do for a reason. Though, I could see myself using that effect in other projects to create an interesting feather, fur, or frilly texture.”

We never stop learning, and what better way than with/through pretty lace, with like-minded tatters.

Many thanks, Robin, for sharing your beautiful patterns ! 

excitedly

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Day 2 of my Distraction continues.....7

As I said yesterday, I wound 2 shuttles, ctm,  with Anchor size 40, and started Robin's Challenge Snowflake.  Rounds 1 & 2 seen.
Then I deliberately left off and picked up the size 80 edging. 13 repeats done so far.
Both patterns can be found here - http://tattingbythebay.blogspot.com/p/free-patterns.html

Ruthie May is tatting along, working the snowflake in 6 stranded embroidery thread and using needle.

After 2 rounds, the snowflake measures 1.5". I like how the padded chains keep their shape. I think it's the first time I worked it in size 40. So much neater than size 20. (https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2015/11/pds-padded-double-stitch.html)

I've used self-closing mock Josephine Rings in 2 of my patterns - I had called it SCM(J)R, not having come across it before. Love them!
https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2016/06/under-pinning.html and
https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2019/11/frost-flower-pictopattern.html

Followed the pattern exactly,  except for  this lock join in the end. I substituted it with Reverse Join because I want the red shuttle back in action in next round. (https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2020/07/lock-join-plus.html)

Let's see what tomorrow brings. I'll have to get back to my usual (new) life routine, so.... What I do know is that I am having fun :-D

frost flower pictopattern

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Notice the new entrant here? It is my 12-point variation of the frost flower. Didn’t quite turn out the way I had imagined – looks more like a wheel. Interesting how the entire character and focus seems to have altered!

Tatted in Lizbeth size 20, it measures 2 inches.

Should I share the pattern for this as well?

I have drawn diagrams of single motif/repeat to show sequence of elements and their stitch-count. It also has a written pattern which I found a bit difficult to write since there are numerous paths and techniques that can be chosen.

I finally decided to simply write what I have done and leave it to the tatter to substitute. In this pictorial, however, I have tried to point out the options.

Please help me decide whether the pictorial should be included within the pdf or should I simply give a link to this post for those who want to see each step? The image size will be smaller in the pdf and will add 2 or 3 pages. Of course, one can opt not to print those pages.

Once I have your answers, I will finalise and upload pdf.

  FROST  FLOWER  

snowflake pattern

© muskaan   Nov 2019

SCM(J)R with TR: Self-closing mock Josephine ring with thrown ring : Start mock Josephine ring using same half stitches, switch shuttle, leave bare thread and make thrown ring, close, switch shuttle, leave equal bare thread (a mock picot has been formed), continue with half stitches, close the mock ring.
I first shared this effect - SCM(J)R - with stepwise pictorial,  here.

Sh = shuttle ; - = picot ; -- = long picot ; rw = reverse work ; 

SS = switch shuttle ; JR = Josephine ring (worked with same half stitch) ;
TR = thrown ring (remember to switch shuttle before and after a thrown ring)

rs = reverse stitch or unflipped stitch as in 2nd side of split ring (optional)  

2 shuttles, continuous thread. Red is Sh1, yellow is Sh2

 1. Insert clip or pin on core thread (Sh1) for starter picot.

Chain : 3 – 6.

SCM(J)R: Start mock Josephine ring with 6 half stitches, leaving a loop at the base,  

 2. Switch shuttle for thrown ring but leave bare thread space before starting ring.

space, (TR: 3 -– 3), close,

 3. leave bare thread (a mock picot is formed), switch shuttle, and complete the mock JR with 6 half stitches. Pass shuttle through loop and close the SCM(J)R.

 4. Chain : 3 rs  

 5.  rw, SS, (TR: 3 -- 3), SS

 6.  chain : 3
(the above image is from the back)

ALTERNATE for steps 4 to 6 : rw, SS, chain: 3, (TR: 3 -- 3), 3.

Further reference : Changing Chain Curves

 7.  rw, JR : 6 + 6 (join to mock picot). SS 

ALTERNATE: This JR can be worked as a SCM(J)R. In this case, SS to work the mock JR, and continue with same shuttle for step #8.  

  8.  chain: 6 - 3

 9.  remove the pin or paper clip, insert hook through Both the starter and TR picots ....

 10.  ... to pull up core thread loop for a lock join.

 11.  This is how it will look after a lock join.

 12.  Chain: 2 rs - 2 rs. 

ALTERNATE for step 12: rw, SS, chain: 2 - 2, rw, SS.

One motif or repeat complete. Insert holder for picot and repeat 5 more times, joining the last repeat to the first.

With direct tatting, I didn't have to keep reversing the work, and was able to tat mainly from the front.

Waiting for your response. And I hope this pictorial helps. If it seems confusing, pick up your shuttles and work alongside. I find it helps.

Related Posts

design process

SCM(J)R or Josephine Ring cluster

Changing Chain Curves – Convex and Concave

happy tatting J

under-PINning

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I had selected my pin for the pinterest challenge & started early this month ! But like the proverbial hare, I happily took a short break. Then came 2 unexpected but very exciting & absorbing projects, and this hare couldn’t get back on the original track. Needed to find a “shortcut” ! Thus under-PINning undermining my resolve to not include tatting, this month’s post is all about that : my very First tatted edging , with pattern & possible variations ….

My brief was to tat “a simple edging in size 20” for a handkerchief set that my MIL wanted to gift her friend. My MIL was tatting one edging herself (she learned to tat at the age of 50 & had made lots of simple edgings during that phase). But simple ring & chain was boring & I took the opportunity to design my own edging !!!

click on any pic for larger image ....

Split Colour Edging

click here for free pattern pdf

 

A narrow handkerchief edging tatted in size 20, with easy corner where required, 

that can be doubled back in various ways for other applications.

The track wasn’t straight – many stops & starts because this tatter was really harebrained and dithered on timely decisions ...

The Design Journey

TRACK I : Made a few sketches, & chose to tat this pattern, using threads left on the shuttles. 

TRACK II : Chose the final colours & added a double picot to raise the flat line between 2 trefoils.

But colours seemed too dark for the hanky & picots would be difficult to control when the hanky was washed; they would require blocking each time.  Not practical.

TRACK III : Hmm, a Josephine ring cluster could raise the height and complement the trefoil – like little buds perhaps ? Here, the trefoil rings are not joined together.

Started JR cluster with a loop tatted JR over the left JR (LTROR method) – looked good. Then switched to SCMR method only because it so much quicker to tat.

But, the top JR in the cluster kept twisting. Wasn’t totally happy, & tried a couple of tweaks midways, but continued tatting. Until finally, I just couldn’t go on & needed to re-think. After all, this edging was going to be gifted ….

TRACK IV : Joined the trefoil rings ; increased center ring by 1 ds on either side ; made requisite changes to the JR cluster. Yes, the floating JR stayed in place ! Also realized that the floating JR needs to be started as close to the SCMR as possible, for it to stay afloat properly. But 2ds increase messed up the proportions. Finally stopped again.

TRACK V (the final version) : Back on track & tatting full speed ahead ….

All changes incorporated & this is the final pattern. A total of 32 repeats, coming to a bit over 1 meter. Corners form easily with the trefoil sewn close 

Look at the distance this hare covered, all because it took too long to take a decision 

– one step ahead, two steps back ;-P 

See the threads still wound to the bobbins? I intend to use these discarded lengths in some of the following ways ….

Running Ahead 

I like the versatility of this edging. Some possibilities .…

insertions, braids, bracelets, bookmarks, .....

 

   

Back on Track or backtracking? 

The edging was to be sewn on to the hanky in the pic (hence the choice of green in edging), using a couple of tutorials on how to sew tatting to fabric from my Stitches & How-tos board, including using crochet. This later changed since MIL bought fabric & stitched the hankies. And logistics didn't work out anyways ...
So off went the edging, along with a tiny freeform floral motif to sew to a corner ...

 

The motif is 1¼” high & ¾” wide, tatted in size 40 green, & 2 strands of variegated pink silk thread.

The edging is slightly over ½” wide & 3 repeats (of trefoils & JR clusters) are 4" long.

A total of 32 repeats were required for a length of a little over 1m or 40" approx.

Retracing My Steps

A few words about the pattern itself …

It is made of alternating trefoil & Josephine ring cluster.

Each trefoil has 2 split rings at base & a normal ring with graduated picots in center.

Each JR cluster starts with a self closing mock ring (worked as a JR), with a thrown JR on top. The SCM(J)R, after completion, is followed by a short chain & then a normal JR.
It is a very quick tat, if we know the techniques.

A quick pictorial on how to tat the Josephine Ring Cluster ….

Josephine Ring Cluster pictorial

TIP : Make the half stitches 'lose' so that the Josephine rings look & function better.

Step 2 is very important in order for the ring to lie flat later. Do not leave any space/bare thread between the mock ring & the top JR.

TIP : I ended each JR with a shs, which I don’t normally do. In this case it seemed to reduce the twisting of the JRs, allowing them to lie flat.

I tatted the short chain with unflipped/reverse stitches (direct tatting), thus avoiding reverse work (RW) totally. Although one can RW & tat the chain normally, it would be very good practice to try out direct tatting, especially since one is already familiar with split ring & the same technique needs to be applied to a chain setting.

One can add a half stitch at either end of the chain, if desired. I liked the slight layered look.

TIP : Use Down join if Josephine ring is made with 1^st half stitches (fhs) because it imitates the fhs.
Use a normal Up join if JR made with  2^nd half stitch (shs).

The 3-page pattern pdf contains the diagram, written pattern, and the JR cluster pictorial (without text).

Final Lap

Download pdf here : Split Colour Edging pattern

Phew .... my race was not against any tortoise (or pin chicks), but against time, desires, temptations, late decisions ! And also against erratic internet servers :-(
But what are the talented pic chicks up to ? Let's take a little 'de'tour, shall we ;-P
I'm going a-blog-hopping ; have a LOT of catching up to do .....

Suzanne

Margaret

Carollyn

Imoshen

Margaret (II)

the pinterest challenge race is open to all hares & tortoise; come join us ...

happy tatting, happy pinning :-))))

Related Posts : my 5 previous pinterest challenges