bigger flower

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 Over the years it has often happened that in response to a technique question or a blog post generous tatters have sent me scans of relevant portions of tatting books. While I saved them, I don't always remember who shared them. One such is the following - 

This is the Big Flower pattern from Anne Dyer's 'To Boldly Go Where No Shuttle Has Gone Before', 1995. I have scans of some of the technique pages from a while back and stumbled across them recently while organizing my digital storage.

I invited Anita Barry to work through the pages. This was back in April when I wasn't feeling too well. She agreed immediately - she owns a copy of the book! We started with page 13 - Lines for Chains or Rings and had a lot of fun with the chains, effects, and tossing ideas. I'll share those some other time. Already the book was worth it's name! 

Above is my first attempt at the Big Flower pattern using Anchor size 40. But I was dissatisfied with those unseemly 'thorny' points and discarded it.

Started afresh with Anchor Pearl cotton size 8, using one shuttle and ball - after all it is a chains-only pattern. Much better and smoother, right?!

I had to write the pattern to suit my preference - the short notation format. The frequent turns due to inward/downward picots was quite confusing to keep track of.

Later, Anita found an alternate way to write the pattern!

We also noticed several omissions in the original which were included in our notes. 

Anne's diagram (only half drawn) would have 9 or 10 repeats. At 7 repeats mine seems only halfway there. The reason is the shorter picots I used.

This is a very springy/elastic piece, reminiscent of a 'samvadini' or hand harmonium being played. 

This reminded me of a collar I had once crocheted using a single strand of white silk thread on a printed silk top/blouse. It was a chains-only scalloped rounds and was large enough to cover my shoulders, yet so delicate and lacy.

Of course, the crochet collar was worked in a circle, rojnd after round. 

This tatted motif is cleverly worked outward-inward for the desired width, ending in a broad circle. A clever construction where the width can be increased easily.

Like I said it is such an elastic pattern that I finished off at the 12th repeat and it still lays flat! I have been waiting to fill in the center before posting, but didn't get around to it.

Those are mogras (Arabian Jasmines) from my potted plant. It has given us so many fragrant flowers these past several months! 

Anita completed her flower, too, and also tatted a center. I'll share her pics after seeking permission.

I continued with page 14. While many of the effects are already known to us by one name or the other, there is one stitch that was absolutely new to me and I loved how it came out! Hopefully I'll remember to use it in future.

With other projects jostling for attention, we haven't continued further. But it was a good decision to work together with exchange of ideas, tips, trials, and the fun element obviously! Working together also ensured we read the instructions correctly with inherent motivation.

So I did manage 4 posts in as many days! And there's still so much to share. 

Many thanks to my unnamed benefactor for sharing the scans!

not one ring

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Snowflake #10 in Land of Laces’ 25 Snowflake Project

And you thought out of 2019, out of mind! No, I haven't about posting the left out patterns! When Anetta invited me to share a snowflake pattern and something about myself for her Meeting with Tatting series, I took the longer path instead of giving her an already published pattern. On the 1^st of every month, she intends to share a design and designer, and everybody can participate.

Rosette Enchained Snowflake & Ice Drop

free pattern pdf (click to download)

This pattern was first created in 2016 and I have since posted several models. It is made of Chains Only, for what was to be Set 2 of the This Way or Tat series of diagrams. I don’t know when that series will resume, but at least the pattern is here.

The entire motif is worked from the front, in clockwise direction.

Whether you choose 1 or 2 colours; shuttle and ball or 2 shuttles; the join used to switch colours/shuttles; the technique used to change curve of outermost chain; etc., can result in a change of direction.

Hence it was to be one of the practice patterns for the TWoT Set 2 – Chains Only. A fun way to study how our choices affect direction, and may differ from what the designer/pattern says.

The entire snowflake motif is worked in one pass. In the 2 outer rounds, there is a short 2ds chain which can be worked as a split chain by advanced tatters. But if you are not in the mood, why not try the vintage style of leaving some bare thread at the back, lock join, and continue with next round. For all practical purposes, it is not discernible! Don’t do it for a competition, though ;-D

Continuous tatting, vintage style -

In this collage, from top right –

1. last chain in 4^th round with a picot join to the right. Remember to keep both threads to back of work before making join.
2. Complete 2ds, and lock join to 3^rd round (pic shows back of work)
3. From front, pull up a loop of shuttle thread, and make a lock join leaving sufficient bare thread.
4. Continue with next round. Voilà, no split chain required.

I have already posted the choices one can adopt for the concave chain segment in last round. It is also part of this pdf. 

Ice Drop

The ice drop is probably a novelty, being made only with chains. There are 2 separate motifs – one larger (yellow), and the other smaller (green). 

 The pattern remains almost exactly the same as the snowflake, except for more repeats. 

When working the 3^rd round of smaller motif, the join is made simultaneously through Both previous round as well as the respective round of larger one. With a crochet hook, pull a loop of ball/chain thread through both picots, pass shuttle through loop, and snug tight. Hence simple picot join, not a lock join. The cabochon is inserted before the last 2 joins are made.

Click to download Rosette Enchained Snowflake & Ice Drop pattern

I hope you enjoy this pattern and play with colours, embellishments, etc.

     

Related Posts

http://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2016/12/all-in-chains.html

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2017/04/gifting-soup.html

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2018/01/ice-drop-enchained.html

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2019/02/med-to-cab.html

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2019/09/catching-up.html

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2019/09/changing-chain-curves.html

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/p/my-tut.html

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/p/tatting-resources.html

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/p/patterns-designs.html

changing chain curves

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The outermost round of Rosette Enchained (shown in previous post) pattern is a chain where the middle segment faces inwards. Since the side segments face outwards, we can consider them as convex, and this middle one as concave.

Please note that convex/concave is relative to a specific design and reference point in case of tatting. For instance this example by Sabina Carden-Madden.

Changing Chain Curves : Convex and Concave

click here to download in pdf format

There are various ways of accomplishing this change in curve, and I wanted to experiment with each to compare the effect. It’s always good to have a menu of options, allowing the tatter to choose based on project or skill specifications.

• The first 4 methods can be done while working with a ball and single shuttle, but the 5^th one needs 2 shuttles.
• Some create a sharper point at the changeover.
• Some methods create a mono-colour chain, or the main shuttle colour can show up in the concave segment.
• For directional (fs/bs) tatting, the concave segment is usually tatted backside.

Do you have any other method to share? I would love to hear it.

IDEAS : Any of these methods can be used to create a long undulating chain. One can use it as a bookmark tail. Or each long chain can be linked to previous one to create a broader lace or latticed/reticulate fabric. Add beads and picots for a wonderful effect.

UPDATE: Bonnie Swank has demonstrated these options in Needle Tatting - video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ9BRdZ2Zl8 .

Related Posts

Chains in shuttle tatting  

Chains in shuttle tatting pdf 

med to cab

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This has been on my mind for a long time. I’ve shared pics of the Rosette Enchained medallion back in April 2017.

It was designed specifically for the This Way or Tat? (TWoT) series (Set II).

Then while re-tatting some of my snowflakes in Lizbeth 20, I worked this too. (it measures just over 4cms). 

Since then, an ice drop adaptation/version has been on my mind. With numerous distractions along the way, I finally completed it a couple of days back.

Chose this dark purple shade in order to reduce my stash (I bought 3 balls thinking it was a grey). But huge mistake using it during prototype stage. Moreover it masks the slight layering effect. My excuse to tat more ;-P

Worked with one shuttle and ball, ctm.

In Anchor Pearl size 8 (≡20), it measures about 5½ cms with the cab just short of 2cms.

Only chains front and back. Back is worked separately from front, and then linked while working it’s last round. Hence the cabochon can be inserted at the very last stages with just a chain or 2 to go!!!

In above collage, the close-ups are of the back. 

Once I have the ice drop worked in solid but light colours (going to use 2 colours in one of them for a 3D floral effect!), I’ll share the pattern. Hopefully both patterns.

I had experimented with entrapping the cabochon with chains only. There I used inverted tatting technique.    

This time it is simple chains and lock joins with some decorative picots thrown in and a change in chain direction for that inward curve of 'petals'.

 

My Ice Drops (original & adaptations) -

 magnifier & mirror drops

 sea shell with pearl drop

 space ship drop

 pendant drop

Lining up the Chains

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Bored with the same old chains ?

Looking for some new chain effects ?

Stumped or can't remember which chain is which?

Fall in line but don't yank my chain !

I fell. I fell hook, line & sinker.  

Elgiva threw me the hook, Sharon followed a persuasive line, & Susan got the concept to sink in !

Looking back I have already used many chain effects in my various patterns (some without knowing the names), yet I keep getting confused when a term crops up & I have to hunt down the tutorial. Hence a sampler reference , along with stitch notations of how it is worked seemed like a good starting point.

I share it here, as a pdf for anyone who is interested. In case of any omissions of errors, please let me know so that it can be rectified post haste.

Design Element : Line

Tatting Element : Chain

Chains in Shuttle Tatting (click to download pdf)

All tatting is done using Anchor Mercer Crochet Cotton in size 20. Thread size, brand, & tatter’s own tension can bring in individual differences. Hence the sampler is indicative only.

Bullion Knot

There has been some confusion regarding the working of a Bullion knot. For starters, please refer to any Roll Tatting tutorial.

A bullion knot is a small roll-tatted ring, without any stitches, and a limited number of wraps/rolls.

It is started like a ring, with thread around the hand; but instead of making DS, one simply starts to wrap the shuttle thread around the thread on hand, & transferring these to the core/shuttle thread. 

I do this simultaneously : wrap by taking shuttle through loop front to back & in same fluid motion tensioning the thread around left hand so that the wrap gets transferred to core thread. I don’t wait to wrap a few times then transfer or snug. But this is an individual choice (I don’t even add DS in my roll-tatted rings & chains).

After about 10 wraps maximum (depending on requirements & thread size), close the ring carefully. Depending on the extent of closure, the bullion knot can look like #15 or #16 above.

I used #15 style in my Hibiscus Doodad here. 

This knot takes some practice; if pulled too tight, it will distort or create bare thread spaces; if wrapped too tight, the ring won't close easily.

Karen Cabrera sent me these 2 links for Bullion knots earlier this week :

MaryM's Original Daisy Bullion Edging. This is how a bullion knot looks. It is a cro-tatted edging & she has crocheted the bullion segment.  

Ruth Perry’s Bullion Stitch Cross. This is an excellent effect with many possibilities. However, it is not a ‘true’ bullion knot (going by even embroidery & crochet terminology). Along the length of the taut thread(s), a half stitch is being wrapped in the manner of an encapsulated Josephine chain (refer to #24 but instead of complete stitches, only unflipped half stitch is wrapped). It is a form of Dora Young’s knotless bridging/split chain.

Omissions/Errors in document (page 2 above) : 

i)  #29 & 30 - Include the term ‘Floating Chains’ for Curlicues – please add it if you download/print.

ii) Sampler #24 has been glued incorrectly, The caps of stitches in the encapsulated chain should be facing downward.

iii) #27 & 28. Please note that the core threads are different.

There are limitations to this sampler – coils & rosettes are not included ; braids with complete rings are not included ; no decorative picots or elements are added ; mainly straight-line chains have been lined up.

Chains in Shuttle Tatting : This pdf contains 4 pages - p1 & p2 with 30 samplers & stitch-count; p3 with glossary, notes & resource links; p4 with images of chains applied to tatting - both in 2D & 3D patterns.

The list is a compilation but by no means exhaustive. It is a point in time & the line will continue to evolve.

Each chain has it’s unique characteristics & applicability. It is a journey of discovery. It is also a good exercise down the line from beginners to designers.

Happy tatting & discovering :-)

Related Posts : Bullion Knot in 3D pattern