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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
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.
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 :
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 :-)
