shagun tatting

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 'Shagun' is a Hindi word derived from Sanskrit which denotes good omen, auspiciousness, a token, .... Though it it is associated more with Hindu rituals, we also use it in daily life to commemorate an event, an occasion, or any good news with the elders blessing the young with a symbolic token. Or if we cannot perform an entire task, some small part of the ritual/task is started on an auspicious day.  

This is what I try to do every International Tatting Day! This day is also very special for personal reasons and I tend to be busy elsewhere. Yet I make it a point to pick up my shuttle and thread and tat at least a ring or two and not let the day 'pass by' ;-D Despite a very busy first half, I managed to find time from evening onwards and actually completed not one but two motifs! One had only 2 rings and a chain left to tat (I'll share this tomorrow) while the heart motif I started from scratch and completed! 

doesn't it look like a possible angel?!

My new version using graduated and 'erect' vapour stitch which is more like a picot here. I was inspired by a recently shared Turkish Tatting video by Eftelyanin Mekikleri where there are many more than 3 wraps and the bare thread is not pulled down so that the stitch/picot stands erect. Also, the wraps are followed by a complete stitch rather than the 2nd half-stitch. 

I did it all in tatting. But it was not easy and many of my stitches are not as neat as they should/could be. I had started one in perle cotton but the thread unraveled so much that I snipped it off and started afresh with this Anchor size 20 thread. 

TIP: I suggest using 2 shuttles so that the thread can be balanced again by suspending the shuttle frequently. And use tightly twisted thread, polyester, silk, ....

I winged it and don't really have an exact count for the decorated chain. I started and ended with vapour stitch (3 wraps) but graduated up to 7 wraps.

The motif is 4cms wide and 3cms high.

For more Vapour Stitch info and links - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2024/09/variably-padded-lines.html and a few effects - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2025/01/the-years-flow.html

My previous E28 hearts & pattern from prototype to tweaked versions and a beaded jewel version - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2023/06/yet-another-heart.html   and  https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2025/04/happy-tatting-day.html    Pattern PDF - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-rWqmDAd51VwxOqtt9spD-FIX5zYDAUE/view

I had more shagun tatting to share - something tiny and fun, but will continue in a couple of days. Time to juggle ;-D Meanwhile I also have much more to share on the vapour stitch as well when I can take some pics .... 

I hope you did much more than shagun tatting, like I ended up doing ;-D

girl interrupted

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 Despite the best of intentions, commitments can fall by the wayside. Usha Shah and Ayşe Özgür were among our original volunteers and started tatting immediately after selecting their respective patterns, sending in the first trial pictures.

Then life intervened, interrupting their commitment, and we lost their participation. However, their trial samplers are inspiring and a wee bit different from the original pattern, making it a pleasure to share with everybody. Both ladies are highly accomplished and talented and we expected nothing less, right!

The other commonality lies in the way the tatted they ‘block’ without switching shuttles, seemingly like a continuous chain. Hence despite working with 2/3 colours, their block chains remain the same colour.

Ayşe Özgür worked pattern #7 in 3 colours! Her sampler resembles oya mekik or Turkish lace, partially because of the thread used. If we compare closely, this sampler is a modification of the original pattern not merely in colours but also techniques, direction of chains, etc. A possible variation to keep in mind when tatting.

This is the pattern that went through many hands before landing in mine and the pattern was shared here - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2021/11/the-foster-child.html

Ayşe tats a range of flower motifs, both 2D and 3D. These original designs are very pretty and colourful and impeccably made – a mix of tatting and Turkish oya. However she uses shuttles instead of needle. Besides her Facebook profile, she hosts a FB group (Tatting Ayse), has a YouTube channel, and an etsy shop. Do check out her inspiring work. 

Usha Shah of Shuttle Creations is another talented tatter, designer who needs no introduction. All one needs to say is Dot Picot! She chose pattern #39 and sent in this trial sampler.

Again, if one examines closely, it is a modification or variation of the original, with the block chains worked continuously without switching shuttles or turning work. The vertical segments stand up straight, providing a nice symmetry.

The way her chains stack up, reminds me of peacocks! Do you see birds with open plumes, too?

When Usha could not return to this project, despite wanting to, I was at a stage where it was easier to do it myself than request for volunteers and review their work. (We wanted different names on the modern pdfs than repeating the same). The entire review process is very time- and energy-consuming, without the pleasure of actual tatting ;-D If you remember, I had tremendous fun doing the pattern and adaptations - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2021/11/a-trip-to-beach.html

Usha has shared many lovely original and unique patterns for free in her blog - https://shuttlecreations.blogspot.com/. She, too, is on various social networking platforms including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp. If you haven’t yet, do check out her inspiring work.

We are grateful to both ladies for their attempts, even if they could not see their projects through to the end.

muskaan and Ninetta

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Endrucks 1920 Project is a community project, where patterns from Endrucks’ German book of 1920 were converted to modern-style presentations and pdfs. We welcome you to join our Facebook group “Endrucks 1920 Project” (please read the group’s description and rules before joining :  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1235560633606162)  where the fun continues with derivative tatting, new variations, activities, etc. all within the gamut of Endrucks’ patterns.

Using the hashtag #Endrucks1920Project when posting in FB or Instagram, ensures that your pic will show up in a search.

If you enjoy sharing and experimenting, or even test-tatting, the group is waiting for you!  All info and links to patterns (original and modern), including model images, are in the Endrucks 1920 Project Document, here   https://docs.google.com/document/d/17LEVftXweztBIOWh4sL4BB7bX65ssoOsOn4oXIgCepY/view There is still a lot to explore and extract, derive and apply and scrolling through this document will give you an idea of the possibilities and beyond.

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Fill in the rings

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Turkish tatting and filled-in rings 

BD Angel 2017

Wally Sosa

Wally has been sharing a birthday motif annually for the last 17 years ! This time she chose an angel with Turkish Tatting or Oya Makuk (lace shuttle). She has shared an excellent stepwise pictorial, as well as Karen’s video for this technique. Both made it easy to follow along.  

I used various shapes of sequins to create a wing-like effect, along with a beaded star in the center. 

So that I remember in future : thread the left wing sequin, red star, round sequin and bead on the shuttle (core thread). Then bring the thread back through the 3 sequins, thus securing the bead over the 3 layers. Snug into place. Then load the right wing. This can be done over a picot, if desired.

I also increased the stitches in the head ring so that it showed up nicely over the ‘wings’. 

I had to decrease the skirt length because it was becoming too wide (I need to practice controlling my hand loom). Instead of 15 weaves, I only did 10 or 11. The increased width also called for a longer chain below.

The above pic shows the angel from behind. I like this woven edge too - feels 'sunken'.

It was tremendous fun learning a new technique on such a cute, quick pattern. One suggestion in the OTC was to add beads on the long picots ! Wouldn't that be awesome. 

Many thanks to Wally for sharing her immense creativity.

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  My Experiments with Solid or Filled-In Rings

It was my first attempt at Oya Makuk above, but many months back I did experiment with filling in rings. You might remember that tiny 3D spiderwort doodle.

The images below are all prototypes. I haven't been able to work on them since.

In this first experiment, graduated picots are made on a normal/true ring. Then on the way back, keep joining to each picot. Close ring. The effect closely resembles oya, but can be done within a true ring. 

Requires tremendous practice to get it looking nice ; size of ring is a limiting factor ; joining is a bit fiddly.

On the plus side, no need for any other thread or shuttle ; no extra thread ends to hide ; can make spot decisions.

Could I fill the entire ring ?

The graduated picots were made along the edge as before, but at the tip I added a twisted picot for spiked effect, and went back from above, joining to each picot and adding a few extra stitches to get the larger arch. One can use a folded ring for this. When Inverted tatting fails us, this faux inverted tatting can come to the rescue !

I found this leaf ring much easier to close than the petals, and could make it larger, too. 

Again, requires a lot of practice. And one must be careful while closing the ring.

Now this is something I have never come across !

It is a ring made and filled up Entirely with chains !!!

Start the chain (I used 2 colours to differentiate between core and chain/stitch thread). At regular intervals, insert a paperclip to hold an inward picot space. I have 3 such picots as evident from the clips.

Continue with a long chain ; fold at desired point, turning back and joining to inner picot, fold and move to right, and so on. It is one continuous chain, being joined back to picots along it's inner lengths. 

Pretty fiddly, of course, with all those dangling clips. But fun to experiment ! And do-able too. And no limit to size of ring !!!

In balance, of course, one has to admit that Oya makuk is the way to go. Turkish tatting is a much simpler, quicker, neater way to fill in a ring of any size or shape ! And so much easier to add beads in the filling picots !!!

Hope you enjoyed my little whimsical meanderings ....

happy tatting always :-)

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