tracking both sides

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So, Life got majorly in the way! You indulged me, but ALL my plans to utilise my time on blogging and ticking off my check-list, while keeping my personal correspondence staggered, got way-laid. Where did this entire week go?! I literally lost track of everything beyond the very personal.

But life's train runs on 2 tracks - there are 2 sides to everything. So there was some good mixed in and everything is back on track, fresh ‘n’ fine.

And look what I discovered on the other side of the picoted S-Chain! 

Isn't it pretty? In my previous cords, this intricate weave did not reveal itself so clearly. Obviously, there needs to be greater contrast in colour or tone between threads. It may also be lost in finer threads.

The above cord uses Anchor size 20.

We can now choose which side we want to show up front and which to hide!

picoted S Chain cords

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Ever since I shared the S-chain cords using scrap threads, there has been a renewed interest in this beautiful effect. Last week Madhur asked for help with the picoted S-Chain I had used in a bookmark tail here. 

I took pics and prepared a quick pdf to send to her. I’m sharing some background notes here along with detailed steps and large pics, if you are interested.

S-CHAIN WITH PICOTS or faux Pearl tatting!
- PICTORIAL -

NOTES :

1. Sabina Carden-Madden first wrote about the S-Chain, along with instructions and comparison. 
2. 1 double stitch is followed by 1 reverse stitch or lark’s head knot. In other words, 1 flipped stitch is followed by 1 unflipped stitch/hitch, and repeated to desired length.
3. If picots are added before every stitch, the cord looks like Pearl Tatting, without the hassle of 3 threads or even 2 shuttles.
4. It can be tatted with single shuttle and a ball, but the effect is best seen when there is a contrast between colours.
5. For initial practice, use a thick thread and 2 colours.
6. For even picots, a picot gauge can be used. Scroll down to page 3, III-A – Direct Tatting, to see how a gauge is used in direct tatting or reverse stitch.  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Above pics show vertically and horizontally measured picots in 2^nd side of split ring which uses reverse stitch.

Double Stitch v/s Reverse Stitch :

1 double stitch is made of 1^st half-stitch (under-over) followed by 2^nd half-stitch (over-under).     1 ds = fhs, shs

1 reverse stitch is made of unflipped 2^nd half stitch (over-under) followed by unflipped 1^st half stitch (under-over).     1 rs = ushs, ufhs

UPDATE - 1 reverse stitch is made of 1st hitch (over-under) followed by 2nd hitch (under-over). 1 rs = 1st h, 2nd h

Pictorial shows coloured thread in shuttle, and a ball of cream thread.

Tie threads or start with a ring in order to get a good grip.

The 1^st image shows a ring (with tails hidden within) followed by (1ds,1rs)x4 already worked.

1.  
Start chain with picot followed by 1 double stitch. 

2.

The next stitch is a reverse stitch or unflipped stitch (as in 2^nd side of split ring).

Bring shuttle over-under to make an unflipped half stitch.

Do NOT snug tight. Leave picot space at the beginning. See next pic for a better idea.

3.

Notice the bare threads after previous ds? This will later become the picot.

Make next unflipped half stitch (under-over) to complete 1 rs.

4.

Now snug the stitch.

The space converts into a picot at the beginning of this reverse stitch.

Also notice that the reverse stitch faces downwards as opposed to the double stitch.

IMPORTANT : Snug properly only after you are satisfied with picot length because each stitch locks the work in place. See above on how to use a picot gauge.

5.

Leave picot space and make another ds.

6.

Repeat the 2 stitches (p,1ds, p,1rs) for desired length.

See bookmark tail made using a doubled-up cord. It is also linked into a mock ring that resembles a Maltese Ring! 

Hope to see this cord being used in patterns - it can easily be substituted for regular chains, mock rings, etc. Vary the length of picots to create feathery effects! Let your imagination free

UPDATE : If distinctly contrasting colours in size 20 or thicker thread are used, a beautifully woven pattern emerges! Check the image in this post -  https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2020/05/tracking-both-sides.html

coronet doily for snood

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I need snoods or hair bun nets. In different colours and designs to go with my mood ;-P

This time I chose Linda Davies’ Coronet Doily (the larger version) with the beautiful center and a clever end round.

The initial rounds ruffled but I continued tatting, and a quick rolling-pin blocking after 5^th round flattened it out neatly. However, a bit of overlap re-emerged in Round 7.

After Round 9 there is pronounced ruffling (overlap clearly visible in pic), which will get masked when pulled into a snood. Tatted continuously till the end, as instructed in pattern. 

In Anchor size 40 this now measures 6½ inches in diameter.

Round 10 is beautiful with a very interesting construction, but had to be forgone here. Perhaps I can adapt that pattern into a bookmark?

TIP : One can work round 10 but string the tie through round 9. When worn, the final round will create a nice trim or frill around the hair bun.

My first snood (also a Linda Davies pattern) lovingly slogged daily for over a year and half. Finally binned it when many of the outermost chains wore out due to friction with the tie.

I used a satin ribbon in the next (yet to blog) but am not very keen on it.

Hence this time I used my homemade French knitter to weave a loose cord, also in size 40 thread. Let’s see how long this works – it is very soft unlike the previous lock chain tie/cord. 
And for those who had asked how the hair bun holder looks, I've stuffed a bun net with some cotton to give an idea. Cover the hair, make a simple overhand tie, and hide the long tails around the base.

I have another in the pipeline. 

Many thanks to Linda for generously sharing her beautiful patterns for us to enjoy and use. 

Related Posts

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/search?q=snood 

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2017/07/forgetfulness.html

I laced it !

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Beginner’s Armenian lace on Romanian Cord 

We’ve all been admiring Totus Mel’s gorgeous Armenian lace doilies and when she put up her first video, it looked pretty simple. Have wanted to try Romanian lacing for a long time, too – ever since I came across it on pinterest.

This is my very first attempt at both ….

Romanian Point Lace Cord video tutorial by Wendy Harbaugh

Armenian Knotted Lace video tutorial by Totus Mel

The videos and instructions are excellent and easy to follow.

I used size 20 Anchor Mercer Crochet Cotton 4054-0241 for the cord and an unbranded crochet perle cotton for lace – perhaps a size 30.

I'm very pleased with my point lace cord - unfortunately no separate pic of it.

The thread seemed to get stuck when pulling the needle. Till I started to pull the needle towards my left and sort of guiding the double thread over my left thumb. Then knotting went smoothly.
UPDATE (later in the day) : I cut off the lace and started again with size 40 Anchor Mercer and knotting is so much easier. It was the perle cotton that was 'knotty' !

I need a lot of practice, especially climbing up/down. At present I’m happy that the main lace seems to be evenly spaced out.

For first triangle, I spaced each arch further apart. For second, there is only one ‘picot’ space.

What I like about both techniques?

-         no special tools required

-         no strain on eyes

-         easily portable

-         no need to remember a pattern (at least as yet)

-         there seems to be tremendous scope for freeform

Can't say how, when, where I'll use these techniques, but I’m sure thrilled to learn something new!

This was lesson #1 – a basic knot. Eager to see what the future holds …

Z Many many thanks to Totus & Wendy  Z

happy knotting J