last and first

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 So this is the last thing I tatted and the first I picked up at the turn of the year. And I have my tatting buddy Anita to thank for it. She was on a determined mission to finish off her ongoing works before the new year came around. Impressed and motivated, I chose this sampler I had shared here and finished it on the night of 31st Dec 2024 with an hour to spare! 

And in 2025, I picked it up again to hide the tails, block and photograph it. Notice the thread going across at the top? I won the thread chicken race!!!

Pattern is Vandyke Border in Tatting by Mrs Ollie Romesha  published in Needlecraft Vol. VII, No. 8, April 1916 and the PDF can be downloaded here - https://www.antiquepatternlibrary.org/html/warm/tatting.htm

One headside motif showing wheel surrounded by a scroll.

NOTE - The pattern calls the circular medallion a 'wheel'. However the correct term for this classic formation is 'daisy'. https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2024/03/counts.html

My Notes - 

1. Pattern calls for starting the scroll at the ring indicated by white arrow. I started with the one indicated by orange arrow.

2. 4ds is missing in the pattern for ring indicated by blue arrow. All 5 rings are identical.

3. Pattern calls for tatting the scroll first and later tat the wheel (daisy) joining it to the scroll on the go. I preferred tatting the wheels separately and joining the scroll to each. 

A single motif turned around looks like the letter A! In Anchor size 40, it is 4cms high and just under 4cms wide.

Three repeats without the footside or sewing edge is more pliable and can be used for a collar, necklace, etc.

4. This lace is worked in four parts as per original pattern - wheels, pointed edge, two rows of a straight edge on the upper side. Worked with one shuttle (and ball only in scroll) throughout. 

5. Continuous Tatting in Wheel using Slip Stitch - Determined to keep it vintage, I did not use any continuous tatting method to climb out of the rows in the lace. However, the wheel is an exception where Mrs Ollie works it in one pass using only one shuttle. She works the central ring then instructs us to close the ring and 'fasten thread to 1st picot and tat ring ....'. Basically leave a very short bare thread space, make lock join in 1st picot, and start outward facing ring. I recently learned this is called a SLIP STITCH - leaving bare thread to span the distance in order to climb out at a different point. We've all used this in some form, some situation or other. Now we have a term (Judith Connors' An Illustrated Dictionary of Tatting, 2007 ed.) and Judith patiently clarified it for me. In a future post I will elaborate on these situations, one such being this Rosette Enchained snowflake .

6. In Anchor mercerised cotton size 40, measurements for 3 repeats: 7cms high x 17cms long. Without the footside rows, the triangle is 4cms high. 

Not happy with the bare thread lengths in the footside rows. I used a 5mm gauge. 4mm would've been better. My fear, despite the trial, came true, sigh.

From this upturned side, the peaks remind me of temples in India.

I hope to use this short length on a greeting card or card topper once I visualise what else should go into the composition. Your suggestions are welcome.

Related posts

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2024/12/incomplete.html

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2020/02/not-one-ring.html

never be late

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 I barely made it before the end date. 

This month we have a very special game in our Endrucks FB group. We were supposed to convert Endrucks' pattern #30 into a cross and those who didn't want to tat a cross, could do a bookmark, bracelet, etc. I chose to do a cancer awareness ribbon, but with beads. Beads to signify the happiness/bling of being a survivor and also to be able to wear it as a bracelet if so desired. 

It is for a very special and sweet friend who, though being merely a couple of years younger, insists on being a younger sister and calling me 'badi didi' ;-D Well, she certainly has my blessing and good wishes always 💕

And never be late to detect any lump and get it checked.

This is worked in Anchor Pearl Cotton size 8 with randomly loaded 13/0 (red) and 17/0 (clear) seed beads. They add a nice weight to the piece and it feels good to wear it. I didn't inset any findings, though, and for a 7 inches long bracelet make one repeat less. 

One can play with colours, too! Use any Reposition Method to get the desired thread/colour placement. 

This is one of the patterns I had attempted in 2015-16 and couldn't get the chains to lie nicely. While here, too, I could've done better by adding 1 stitch to each segment of the onion ring, this is merely my own tatting tension issue.

While tatting the edge on the other side, I ended up adding 2ds in each chain segment, which I should've done for the first edge as well.

Ninetta Caruso did an excellent job of reworking the pattern and sharing versions, including a corner and a square motif adaptation! Here's the pdf link - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1f7g8gIB7S3-ggRbdneLYmxfxPcDBoq7u/view . She has also uploaded a diagram-only version in here flickr account which I used - https://www.flickr.com/photos/ninettacaruso/50560777536/ . 

Why'd I use two different coloured beads? The clear ones wouldn't have shown up well in the pics and the clear red ones would dominate the ribbon. And loading them randomly on both shuttles was Dr Downplay's flexible path to quick stringing without any calculation of bead position, LOL.

Also, when I started, I had no clear idea where and how I wanted to place the beads. 

 

Shuttle #1 ran out of thread hence had to rewind and re-string beads. Shuttle #2 ran out of beads and had to add more beads. Yet, it was an enjoyable tat and something that went pretty fast considering the number of beads used. Only wish my tatting was better. Well, there's always a next time!

And I am entering this as a second submission this month to splocik's 'Small Decorations' game! I just think it will resonate with many, hence. Thank you, splocik 💖

Many thanks for all the work that went behind reworking this pattern and also creating adaptations, Ninetta!

footprints on the sands

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... of time and tatting. Today I complete 10 years of blogging and it is the 800th post. These are mere numbers but mean a lot to me. 800 posts that each contained some tip, idea, experiment, option... At times 10 years seems like a long time; and yet like a short period, not enough to accomplish all my goals. Did I leave any footprints during this journey? Some faint ones perhaps which will soon be washed away. 

Incidentally, my first post on 3rd December 2013 was on tatted edgings! 

And now these pics from Judith Connors kind of summarise and symbolise my online tatting journey. I wouldn't be here, wouldn't have improved and learned so much without the help and guidance of the community; without their willingness to share freely of their expertise, patterns, and resources.

The lace - design shared freely by Robin Perfetti; tatted by me, in Lizbeth size 80 threads gifted by Sharada R; gifted to Judith who mounted it on a plain white handkerchief. This is what she wrote - 

'If you look at the close-up you’ll see that I crocheted around the raw edge first and then slip-stitched/top-sewed your lace to the crochet. I love how it all came together. When Queensland Tatters next have a display of their lace I shall place our combined effort in there too.'

This 'combined effort' is what my online experience has taught me. It may not always be an overt collaboration but the moment we tat somebody's pattern or when we share something that gets picked up another, the community grows, evolves, thrives.

Speaking of which, Judith also sent her beaded version of the Reflections Snowflake - a gift we send to anybody who completes an Endrucks' pattern.  

I had extracted it from the 100 year old Endrucks' pattern #17; it was modified by Ninetta Caruso and Anna Tedesco; tatted by several of our recipients in their own unique versions, including this sublime beaded beauty.

Endrucks 1920 Project, a huge milestone in my tatting journey, is pure collaboration! I will never reach any pinnacle of perfection and am aware of my limitations. Yet it makes me immensely happy to be able to pass on whatever I have learnt or discovered along the way. 

While the tatting community is growing, the blogging community is shrinking. Blog Land is getting a bit lonely with bloggers dropping off in favour of other platforms. Irrespective, I join those who persevere - I find it the best long-term platform and with absolute freedom to present and express in any kind of format. Let's see what the next years will bring ....

💓Cheers! And a huge thanks to the tatting community at large!💓

playful hearts

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Hearts want to play, organise themselves into groups and shapes. Well it's not new in our tatting world (see links at the end of post), yet each arrangement takes on the characteristics of its component hearts. So, let's see what the Eye Spy (extracted from pattern #3) or #prettymeEndrucks hearts are playing at ....   direct link to the pattern pdf - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1t3DhpAeXUBi4oZegOty-q5Ux-zfntdYf/view

And do scroll down to the bottom of the post for some new spy work!!!!

Also, we have another participant who sent her pretty me heart. I have updated the round up post here - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2022/09/aug-roundup-3.html

Anchor Pearl Cotton size 8 is similar to Lizbeth size 20;

and Anchor crochet cotton size 20 is similar to Lizbeth size 10.

I Love this arrangement for an elegant bracelet or bookmark.

The hearts can be tatted continuously in pairs of 2 (like the 2 in the center) with split ring tips.

Another arabesque arrangement for a quilt block or a frame.

4 friends together form a square.

The 4 hearts at the bottom can be arranged alternately for an insertion or bookmark.

These, as well as the earrings are worked in Anchor Perle Cotton size 8. Each earring heart measures about 2.5cms x 2.5cms, and the skewed arrangement gives an earring measuring about 4cms wide and 7.5 cms long (without the teardrop).

The body of this bookmark (Margaret Davies' adaptation), also worked in Anchor Pearl size 8 measures 3.5cms x 12.5 cms.

After adding the braid and tassel, it almost touches 30cms.

A couple of my Indian tatters directed me to where I could purchase the bookmark sleeves online! And I did! Thanks, ladies.While for personal use, I still prefer bare lace (hence the tassel is attached to the bookmark, not the sleeve), the sleeves will keep them protected and flat when not in use or when gifting.

I pulled the tassel through the hole at the tip, thus anchoring it.

The maroon prototype was worked in Anchor size 20 and is 3.5cms wide and 3 cms high.

The other 2 are the enlarged hearts .....

On the left is Margaret Davies' enlarged version, with 16/0 beads. In Anchor Pearl size 8, it works out to 3.5cms x 3.5cms.

The right one is my slight variation with longer top chains and a beaded loop to insert a chain or findings. It now measures >4cms x 3.5cms.

Now for the exciting part ----- Look closely at the center .....

Eye Spy a Pentagon in this coaster ....

[In Anchor size 20 the diameter is 7cms]

.... and Eye Spy a Square in this pendant!

Both pentagon and square can be worked in one pass. Can you figure out the pathway?

It was Carol Liu's colour placement which first brought out the pentagon clearly.

UPDATE (Nov 2022): Check our Paola B's arrangement of the heart motifs to create a beautiful collar! - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2022/11/aug-roundup-4.html

All pattern pdf links are listed in https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2022/09/aug-roundup-1.html
And of course, you can go to the EP doc for the entire collection of modernised and adapted patterns and ideas - https://docs.google.com/document/d/17LEVftXweztBIOWh4sL4BB7bX65ssoOsOn4oXIgCepY/view

Related Posts -
https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2014/08/using-tiny-motif-to-create-tatting.html
https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2021/02/happy-hands-heart.html

tatting is therapeutic

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The ‘Talking Tatting’ issue 50, February 2022 (a quarterly newsletter of Queensland Tatters, Australia), brought us a new tatter/member who has enthused the FB group with her work in this short period.

Meet Antonia Lai. She started out with doily #28 which was published in the newsletter. It is worked in Lizbeth size 20. (https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2022/01/bridging-gaps.html)

Within a week she was “addicted to the Endrucks 1920 Project”!

Her enthusiasm and tatting beauty took flight with this Happy Hands Heart and Butterfly – both patterns are adaptations of pattern #1 and had been shared in our FB group.

She incorporated a body for the butterfly using a chain folded and joined back on itself, as visible in the close-up!

She recently revealed her love of elephants and this painting/print acts as the perfect backdrop for her impeccably tatted doily #40! In Milford size 40, it measures 11 cms.

Meanwhile, she also volunteered to test tat pattern #22 and sent me her notes and feedback.

She sportingly incorporated a suggestion to see whether bilateral symmetry would make a difference to the slight tilt that was inherent in this lace. The difference is clearly visible between the 2 repeats if you compare the block tatting at the top. The right pair are mirror images, unlike the left pair. She used what we call Block Below Tatting or BBT (https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2021/07/a-pernickety-question.html).
More pics and details will be shared when I update the old Eleonore’s Angels pattern #22 pdf.

The May 2022 issue n.51 of ‘Talking Tatting’ carried a bookmark/bracelet adaption of pattern #32 by Judith Connors. This, too was quickly tatted up by Antonia.

 

She made a slight mistake and decided to carry it through as a Butterfly Trim.
And there’s a heart in there, too! If we remove the 2 bottom rings on either side, we get a heart shape, which can be tweaked further.

The butterfly trim looks good on the neckline!

And her direct contribution to date has been in designing a beautiful corner for the #1 Happy Hands edging!

  

The edging can be sewn along the outside or inside of the fabric edge without losing its shape or beauty as seen in the 2 pics above. She also modified the edging slightly, making it easier to repeat motifs yet keeping fidelity of pattern.
She not only sent me her hand-drawn diagram, but also meticulously wrote down the pattern.

Happy Hands edging with Corner (adaptation Endrucks' #1) pattern pdf - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fsiET9ZJvXSD0kcAMKsuUNZt-rznFkO9/view

Lea Di Palma followed Endrucks’ original style, using the picoted side to sew on the edging as seen in this in-progress pic below. Incidentally, she is working it with a ball and shuttle instead of 2 shuttles! Check out more of her tatting in her FB timeline.

Here is what Antonia Lai says about her tatting hobby and our Project -

“I started tatting about 16 years ago. Tatting is therapeutic. Always find time for tatting; it makes me feel content. Endrucks projects is addictive. Since February 2022, I have done patterns # 1, 22, 28, 32, 40. People involved in Endrucks are into sharing and community spirits. I am looking forward to doing more.”

Antonia has proved Frau Endrucks right when the designer-author wrote - 

"It is a great fortune to create something beautiful with simple means, I hope that my book will give you the key to this happiness." 

Ninetta and I take great pleasure in thanking Antonia and Lea for their work and contribution to the Endrucks 1920 Project. Their experience, especially Antonia’s, shows that there is still a lot to explore and extract, derive and apply… if one has the desire.

NOTE: All patterns mentioned above are free and can be found in the EP doc (scroll down to the respective pattern number and click on pdf link) - https://docs.google.com/document/d/17LEVftXweztBIOWh4sL4BB7bX65ssoOsOn4oXIgCepY/view

With love and gratitude,

muskaan & Ninetta

*********************

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.

********************* 

more multiples

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 I couldn't resist! Lea Rako (of AlenAlea fame with her gorgeous hand dyed threads and patterns) turned an edging into 2 square motifs by turning it outwards and inwards! The pdf will soon be uploaded to the project doc and I will update the link here.

I tired it with colours. The insert is an optional variation to Square #1 for those who do not like large open spaces.  

This is how the square looks without the insert. I don't mind it at all. In this pattern, the edging is turned outwards and the motifs look like an open lotus to me.

This is how the edging is, which I tatted back in August. Anita Barry modernised the pattern and presented the pattern in modern style. I shared her beautiful sampler and direct pdf link here - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2021/09/700-and-promises-still-to-keep.html. And of course, you can access it from the main document.

 

I loved playing with colour positions, using repositioning methods (I don't exactly remember which was used where) - See Lock Join Plus series. I haven't cut off the threads, wanting to play some more in future. There are so many more possibilities!

In Anchor Pearl size 8, this measures 2.5cms across and 3cms diagonally. Good for a mug coaster.

Imagine the edging turned inwards; the triad lying inside and a few elements added to span the distance. That is the 2nd square pattern included in her pdf. 

Lea also tessellated the squares into a beautiful fabric! For both squares, Lea indicates the joining picots when tessellated. 

And before I sign off, Eye Spy yet another heart!!! It will require a bit of juggling to get a smooth outline since the 2 side rings tend to lie beyond the outline. Worth a try, though, right?

Endrucks 1920 Project link for all patterns and derivations - https://docs.google.com/document/d/17LEVftXweztBIOWh4sL4BB7bX65ssoOsOn4oXIgCepY/view

Thank you so much, Lea, for sharing these beautiful squares!

tiny angel with big message

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 Recently Margaret shared a memory of her cute mini tatted angels (https://margaretsdesignercards.blogspot.com/2015/12/decembers-pinterest-challenge-choir-of.html) and it reminded me of the ones Anita Barry had shared last year (https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2020/02/happy-birthday-georgia.html). 

Huh. turns out neither of us remembered to upload the pattern for the white ones, after Anita taught them at the Palmetto Tat Days 2020. Got the wheels in motion and no better time than the present to present these tiny dancing angels.

Itsy-Bitsy Angels pattern (click to download)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jWQGGWH5E5hMKZGG_cWkbEQ26o1Q0Lad/view

As you can see, this can be worked as a single angel or a row of angels. A rings-only design, the pattern uses a single shuttle, working the wings as folded SSSRs to work continuously. However these can be worked as split rings if one wishes to tat with 2 shuttles. 

The flexibility of this edging adapts to any shape we desire - a round or oval garland, a straight edging, a square or any other polygon! It can make a cute frame.

And, Laura Angel pattern- 
https://drive.google.com/file/d/12NJtxEWk6jyl_H0i2upSi_CNWZfWpaR9/view?usp=sharing

Hope you enjoy these quick tiny tats that carry a big message within them (read it in the pdf).
So get out those shuttles with leftover threads from all the snowflakes you tatted, and quickly belt out these little angels!

Many many thanks to Anita for sharing her patterns.