who knew

Pin It now! Well we already know that so many variations, applications, and derivations have arisen from one single edging from the German book ‘Die Schiffchen-Spitzen’,1920, by Frau Eleonore Endrucks-Leichtenstern. The edging #1 was first taken apart to create a heart which was then put together to create a shamrock (and so many butterflies as shown in previous post! 

But who knew a butterfly still lurked in the folds of the shamrock leaf?! 

However, I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me first share a proper pattern pdf of the Happy Hands Shamrock by Diana Howe - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_D5xY68NyfsKMB4LDr0GUv-WYC0VCba6/view which was first posted here- https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2021/03/lucky-hands.html

As I worked the leaf I found myself following a slightly different path to tat the heart from those described and drawn by Diana or in the Happy Hands Heart pattern. The reason was that I followed the threads when climbing into the 1st heart; the threads formed a nice false picot.

However, this simply reinforces the fact that there are multiple paths and options and the tatter can decide.

In Anchor size 20 shamrock approximately measures 5.5 cms across and 4.5 cms high. (without stem)

And after completing the 2nd heart motif, look what emerged! A butterfly with a built-in head.

Folded the 'wings' a bit and loved the shape of the butterfly enough to tat another with a proper head....

Added beads for eyes, too. Everything, except a slightly tweaked count for the head, remains the same.

And the final tails make the antennae so no ends to hide. The head pattern diagram in included in the pdf. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_D5xY68NyfsKMB4LDr0GUv-WYC0VCba6/view

The Happy Hands Butterfly in different stages of flight and motion :-D

In Anchor size 20, it is 6cms wide and 4.5cms tall.

Future Ideas : 

• Add a 4th heart to the shamrock and we have a four-leaf clover. 
• Hubby thought the inverted shamrock looked more like a capsicum or apple. Hmmmm, something to think about for the future!
• How about decorative picots, and gems, etc. to embellish the butterfly?

☘☘☘☘☘

And great news! My complimentary copy of the IOLI Bulletin Summer 2022 (42-4) issue finally landed on my doorstep after 2 whole months of flight. This carries the 1st of a 3-series article on Endrucks 1920 Project.

☘☘☘☘☘

Find all original and adapted patterns, and a whole lot more, in our Endrucks 1920 Project document (EP doc) here - 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/17LEVftXweztBIOWh4sL4BB7bX65ssoOsOn4oXIgCepY/view

Many many thanks, Diana! It's been a pleasure corresponding with you ...

impeccable timing

Pin It now!

We all know and admire Judith Connors’ impeccable tatting, but her timing is, too! Remember how her dictionary arrived on International Tatting Day?  

This time her newsletter, ‘Talking Tatting’, arrived on Valentine’s Day! And a complete surprise since I was expecting a digital copy some day, not a physical one.

She has made certain I remember exactly which days her gifts arrived ;-D

What is even more special is that my pattern is part of their 10^th anniversary celebration. It is an honour in every which way, isn’t it?! Can't blame me for wanting to shout from the rooftops.

I enjoyed reading through the entire newsletter. Informative, interesting, inspiring.

I rummaged through my numerous containers/envelopes to locate all the clover wreath lace I had made and used them to cover up the text. A few words/sentences in both images are blanked out.

The printed medallion on the left is tatted by Judith, the mat on the right is an image of the actual ecru mat you see below. She drew a diagram along with the pattern (in her own words). 

Many thanks, Judith.

I had started a border/edging for the mat, but haven’t gotten very far. Only thing I am certain of is that I want the 6 ring florets to be complete around the border. For the rest, I’d like to keep it simple and a bit airy to counter the relatively dense look.

I’m eager to get started on this again and finish it off. I’ve shared the beaded poinsettia pattern, but not the actual medallion. Thought I’d do it along with the completed edging. But if anybody wants the medallion pattern, let me know and I’ll release it. I merely need to rearrange and format the diagrams, etc.

All Clover Wreath posts, pics, & notes 

the very first one

playing with the medallions

the poinsettia with pattern

Clover Wreath mats 

not enough?

Pin It now!

I’m pretty much engrossed in some other stuff but here’s a quick peek into what I did last week.

Clover  Wreath  Mats

(DIP - design in progress)

This is the one with 3 strands of embroidery thread I shared here. I’ve stopped here and will decide what to do with it later.... 

Instead I started one in Anchor size 20 (thicker than Lizbeth 20) in 2 colours. I wanted to try a swirl join in the center of each medallion but kept forgetting. So finally I remembered while tatting the 3^rd motif and used it for the center.

What do you think? The swirl seems to round up the motif, right?

I was still too focused on the original 2-colour version that demarcated the inner clover ‘flower’ surrounded by arching ‘stems with leaves’. But when tessellated, these leaves formed another small 6-petal floret which gets lost in 2 colours because the eye is drawn to the yellow flower. 

Time to try it in single colour - this time in Anchor size 40. Also, picots on the chains seemed to add some clutter, so out with them! I didn’t want to change the chain stitches, though – they arch beautifully to form a larger petal outline, don’t they?!

This one has swirl joins in all motifs.

I love how little changes go a long way in altering one’s focus. 

Colour, texture (swirl join), clean chains (picot-free) are the 3 tweaks made in this 2nd version.

Which one of these do you prefer and why ?

Hexagon is my favourite shape, and especially so for tessellation – so many possibilities ! Reminds me of quilting. One can go 'straight' or go round, with numerous in-betweens.

3 hexagons in each version for a quick comparison -

Each medallion/motif tats up pretty quickly – one a day without stretching oneself. But I wanted to experiment with an edging. I’ve sketched a few simple ones trying to outline the chain arches and even started tatting one idea. But this project is stalled for the present. Any ideas are welcome.

And before signing off, please do check the lovely earrings Carollyn made using the poinsettia  version !!! I was thrilled to see them and the model too :-)

happy tatting always J

Related Posts -

All posts on clover wreath

pattern and idea

Pin It now!

Pattern for the Poinsettia is ready!

Clover Wreath Poinsettia pattern pdf

My life has been quite scattered this entire month. Hence my disappearing acts ;-P

I do try to follow along, but leaving comments has been stymied due to erratic server on my desktop. Even this pattern and it’s conversion to pdf has been through a circuitous route through multiple devices. But I’d promised Carollyn! And the silver lining is that I learned something new!

This enclosed space medallion is constituted of inward facing clovers connected with chains and thrown/floating rings.

All beads are pre-strung and moved along the picot thread (not the core thread) – Nina Libin calls them “up’ beads.

In case of any doubts or questions, feel free to leave a comment or email me.

I hope you enjoy tatting this as much as I did.

UPDATE (Nov 3, 2017): Check how Carollyn adapted the pattern into lovely earrings using size 80 thread !!! I was thrilled to see them and the model too :-)

Meanwhile, I’ve been spending time joining the clover wreath medallions into mats. One coaster is complete & I have sketched a tentative edging for it. Need to put it to shuttles.

But here’s a peek into a bunting formation – just right for the holiday season if the colours are changed. Add a ribbon or straight header for hanging.  And if one wants triangles, simply join another medallion at the tip.

Here’s wishing I get more good days out of the server connection than bad ones :-D

My apologies for delays in responding to emails … 

happy tatting and  hope to stay in touch J

medallion stars

Pin It now!

“Tatting Patterns and Designs”

Blomqvist and Persson (Dover)

2 stars/medallions in Anchor size 40 thread

Been a while since I tatted from the book. These 2 stars were done some months back.

It is always good practice to study the round a bit before jumping in to tat. Look for the most convenient elements to start & end with, or in case of multiple rounds, the best element to climb out with. And in case of old/vintage patterns, place(s) where one can substitute techniques for ease of working or for colour placement.

This preparation helped in working Star #4 (p46)

I started with a right-side outer ring so that the round would end in a ring (easier to hide threads).

And as is so common now, the central ring was worked as a thrown ring from the first chain (with mock picot space).

Terms & Techniques : central ring medallion, thrown ring, mock picot, directional tatting. 

However, I made the joining picots too small causing this huge cupping. Will use it to cover a bauble, egg, or cabochon. The back of an Ice Drop perhaps, or without the central ring, it could well be the front.

My first thought was of a basket – tat a handle, add some flowers ! In size 40, it is fairly small.

TIP: Cupping v/s Ruffling : cupping occurs when outer round is tight ; ruffling occurs when outer round is loose.

To avoid cupping – decrease inner round or increase outer round ;

To avoid ruffling – increase inner round or decrease outer round.

Star #2 (p50)

is a very pretty medallion – simple, straightforward pattern.

Easy, quick to tat up but need to keep an eye out for which picot to join to.

Terms & Techniques : Inward-facing rings, clover, closed space medallion, picot join to the right (last to first join), long chains, directional tatting, avoid gapsosis in clovers.

I ran out of blue/green thread on the shuttle. This gives me an opportunity to pick up other shapes and colours, although I plan on keeping the ecru.

For all past and future medallions from this book, click on 'BnP' on the Label list. 
I have also updated (partially) and cleaned up my Jottings page. 

enjoy your tatting with a cuppa :-)

squirreling away gapsosis

Pin It now!

how to avoid gapsosis in thrown rings and birdhouse squirrel !

Nothing new here for experienced tatters but do scroll down for the latter. 

Avoiding  gapsosis  in  thrown  ring clusters

Newer learners often face a problem of gapsosis in case of thrown rings and especially thrown ring clusters such as trefoils and clovers. 

Ungainly bare threads can be avoided with these 2 simple steps : 

1. fold the last ring of cluster over the earlier rings and hold in pinch ;

2. tat 1 ds as close to the base of the last ring as possible WITHOUT removing from pinch ;

voilà, now you can release from the pinch, unfold and continue with chain tatting normally – the gapsosis has been avoided and the thrown rings will sit close upon the chain.

NOTE : this same fold, pinch, and tat is equally effective with trefoils and clovers when a normal chain follows it after RW (reverse work). 

A pictorial on how to avoid gapsosis

If required, wiggle the knotting thread a bit till you can feel it flush against the last ring, 

with no core thread left.

 Release the pinch and unfold Only After 1 full double stitch has been made .

In case there is still a gap, untat the 1ds and do over.

This works for me. There may be other equally effective ways, too.

A few previous posts about gapsosis – how to avoid and also when/how it can be useful.

I will talk more about this snowflake in next post, in response to a tatter’s dilemma.

Our  birdhouse  owner !

And here is our birdhouse resident for this season. Not a bird, but a squirrel !!!

(click on pics to enlarge)

Notice how it has stuffed the house with rags n ‘riches’ ;-P

S/he does not take kindly to guests ! After a few moments of glaring motionless at each other, the ‘owner’ jumped at the intruder and it squirreled away. Our guest went back to resting on the rooftop J

We've had this birdhouse for over 2 decades and except for the first couple of years, no bird has made it's nest. Squirrels, do stash their pickings before winter, using it as a storehouse. But this time we have an actual resident for the last few weeks and can see it sprawling on the roof every evening !

These pics were taken through out French door glass. Hope to take a few more with doors open, and a closer view. 

happy tatting while bird , errr , squirrel watching  :-)

Spring celebration

Pin It now!

Star Dahlia by Anna Barzyk
and

Clover by Mariya Darydova

Hexagons always appeal to me - be it in any art or craft form. Tatted snowflakes are aplenty, but the focus is on tips/points with 'invisible' or inferred sides. 

Addionally, I love when chains are used to outline previous elements, highlighting aspects with width.

No wonder this pattern was such a pleasure to tat - a clear-sided, textured, yet elegant pattern.

I follow Anna's blog and love her beautiful tatting and other projects. She shared this pattern here recently. I chose a lighter outline to represent the flower in nature.

Clover is a cleverly designed pattern. Joining to the vsp at beginning of chain in each leaflet creates a charming center which is evident in the left leaf and much more in Marya's model. http://mariyas-tatting.blogspot.com/p/free-patterns.html

The left leaf follows her pattern verbatim, split chain and all.

The right one, tatted first, is a bit of a lazy tatting attempt. Here, I worked all 4 leaflets completely, instead of a split chain,  and then tatted the chain stem. 

I'll be back with something more on clovers soon....

Many thanks to Anna and Mariya

 for sharing their pretty patterns.

I hope you, too, enjoy tatting these as much as I did