thrown, floating and 8 rings

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Please note that the post and pdf have been updated on 30th August 2021. In case you already downloaded the pdf, kindly click on the link to refresh the document.

Tatting with an international community throws up interesting facts and ideas. All patterns in Endrucks' (1920) book use 2 shuttles and has plenty of rings made by switching the shuttle in hand - you guessed it - thrown rings! However, as Ninetta pointed out, a lot of Italian tatters have mastered the art of tatting with a single shuttle and ball, and adapting any pattern to suit this. It got me thinking about all the various ways in which we throw off a ring and here is the result of that exploration/stream of thought.

Thrown Ring Methods - a Ready Reckoner. click this link to download the complete document - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PhXhtq9K-WiUbys0dwwZuOIat10hGlB0/view which contains pictorials for each method as well as patterns to practice. Included at the end is a list of Needle tatting resources. 

For several of the patterns, despite having a pdf, I had to give the link to the blog post because the pdf link just wouldn't work the moment I converted this doc into a pdf. Probably some formatting glitch.

 

Following is a limited glimpse into each method. 

Gapsosis - A frequently asked question is how to avoid any bare thread/gap between the chain and the thrown ring. Above is an old pictorial I had done in response to this very question, where we have a trefoil instead of a single ring thrown off the chain - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2017/05/squirreling-away-gapsosis.html. 

1. Using 2 shuttles. I prefer this method except when I want to create a point in the chain where the ring is.

A thrown ring does not necessarily have to be floating above a chain or ring! It can lie above a join, between 2 chains, and can also face inwards.....

While this 8-ring appearance may not use the term thrown ring, the blue ring is made exactly according to any of the TR methods (in above case, with 2nd shuttle). 

Several other effects can be seen in the above model. Can you identify the thrown ring(s) in each?

NOTE: Although not shown in the pictorials, the pink ring need not be alone. We can have 2,3,or more rings below, with 1 or more TRs above!

All the rest of the methods are made with one shuttle and ball. Compare the colour of the TR and the chain curvature between each method. It is very important that chain stitches are snugged properly before attempting the TR.

2.A. Flipped-Up ring is simply a normal ring that is turned upwards before continuing with the chain.

2.B. Since I didn't like the way it sat, I tweaked it by stabilising and centering the TR with on overhand tie and keeping the ball in front of the work.

3. Loop Tatted Ring can be used to throw off a ring as well.

4. We all know that the Self-Closing Mock Ring is often used to deliberately create a pointed chain - whether it is a 1ds SCMR or a larger thrown ring.

Direct Tatting. In certain cases, it is easy direct tat a chain and throw off a ring, using single shuttle and ball. Tatting will move from right to left, but the shuttle will be in position to make a thrown ring.

Even if the shuttle is not in position, it can be brought to where we need it, by the following 2 methods -

5.A. Twist Work - I start by making an unflipped half-stitch but instead of snugging. I pull the shuttle upwards (or downwards, if required) such that the threads now switch position and I have the shuttle where I need it. I had explained it here to switch threads after a lock join - 

 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nRj_48VHK2LjhcxdQnirXBVweKO6h2ow/view 

5.B. Shoe Lace Trick - we all know this, but I avoid it and prefer other repositioning methods, including twist work. Jon Yusoff has explained this method very nicely here (wish I could get my SLT to behave so well!) - https://tatsaway.blogspot.com/2010/05/sometimes-you-dont-need-two-shuttles.html  

6. Changing Course - When another row/round follows the one with thrown rings, one can choose to shift the rings to the next row/round and make them normal rings. Obviously the direction of the rings will change, and sometimes it may cause ruffling/cupping/distortion. However, it worked fine in the above version - those purple rings were supposed to be thrown rings from the previous round, but I wanted this colour here, hence.... https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2019/06/valley-of-flowers.html 

I tatted this twice! My intention was merely to showcase the different effects when using each of the methods (lower scroll). But then somebody asked whether I had a tutorial actually showing how to do a thrown SCMR. So, I started over, taking stepwise pics for each method. 

And now I'm calling it a Ready Reckoner (RR), because as far as possible, I have included everything we'd want to know about Thrown or Floating Rings. I would love to get your feedback on this format and exercise. I already have another RR on the way that was started in July in response to a friend's request for help. 

Click to download complete pdf - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PhXhtq9K-WiUbys0dwwZuOIat10hGlB0/view 

parallel tracks

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Ninetta’s Rings !

Update : Ninetta has called her invention/technique Curled Rings, here

A pendant from a floral beginning !

Parallel tracks. Or maybe ‘multiple tracks’ would better describe the scenario.

I’ve been sidetracked by a “sidetrack” even as I was working towards an upcoming deadline, besides the stalled progress on the Wiosna doily and my Inkscape diagramming !!! Make sense ? Well, let’s unravel it a bit…focusing on 2 main tracks

Track 1

While I waited for the ‘survey’ results of my colour dilemma on Renulek’s Wiosna doily, here, I took up sewing as a means of distancing & distracting myself. Among various odds & ends, I needed to sew a nightie as part of an anniversary gift. Hence a deadline awaited. Almost 2 Years back, I had tatted a broad lace for sleeves, for myself. But now when I decided to use them for my MIL they needed one extra repeat each. So got down to it….

Track 2

But it’s never that simple, right ?! I admired Ninetta’s inventive folding of rings here, but got literally “sidetracked” by the edging here . I just Had to give the technique a go.

In my very first attempt, the yellow ‘flower’ is folded horizontally a là Ninetta. But I can never let things be. So for the green ‘leaf’, I tried to fold it vertically. Well, it didn’t turn out neat (some of it only showed up later in the photograph close-up, boohoo), but it is definitely do-able . Size 20 scrap pieces of threads used & finger-tatted.

 

Track 1

Went back to my sleeve lace & completed the flower motifs.

While the motifs are done, there is still a lot of finishing in terms of joining, adding & extending edgings, as well as bringing it all together for the nightie. Not to mention the actual cutting & sewing of fabric, then attaching all the tatting to it! More on that in the future ….

But before getting to the attachment & lace, my itching fingers & overactive brain got the better of me.

Track 2

This time I took up size 40 threads, intending to make a proper 3D flower, with a brown centre & yellow petals. (I still have limited colours in size 40, & didn’t have the ‘time’ for silk threads, especially in a learning trial).

But here, I did not fold each ring. Instead, made 3 brown rings & then pulled out the thread through all 3 picots, made a Lock join, & got them folded.

Similarly, for the yellow ‘petals’. Made 1 large ring (52 ds total), then one onion ring, then another large ring (where the picot was a bit offset, not in center). Again, I pulled out the thread through picots of all 3 rings together, secured them with a Lock Join to form folds.

Extremely difficult to photograph the minute 3D piece!

Each ring folds differently ! I tried various angles to capture that, but it does not come through.The camera lens may capture finer details (& all the errors!!), but the reading glass lens captures the wider, bigger picture.

Now it was time to finish off the piece. For this, I made 3 concentric/onion rings in 2 colours :

Folded them over. Hey, it looked like a pendant !!! Sewed on a bead (sorry, Jane ;-P. sewing a bead later works when it wasn’t preplanned or intended. Read her valuable input here ) , inserted a gold chain through the folded triple onion rings… (The yellow rings could've been larger still, or the brown ones a bit smaller) . 

I apologize for the not-perfect, not-professional depiction. My only excuse is that I like to share ideas ASAP & don’t have the finesse for either colours, or tatting. But I do hope that some ideas will strike up more ideas & some creative tatter will pick it up to create exquisite pieces …

I believe that there is Tremendous potential in these Curled / Folded rings 

for 3D tatting, freeform stylized work,  jewelery, etc.

Okay, now it definitely IS time to get back on track. The Wiosna, though will have to wait for another few days, till I get the lace tatting & nightie cutting & sewing done. (A whacky idea for the Wiosna is causing eddies in my brain. It's a fun idea, but will definitely hurt the sentiments of purists, hence I hesitate to share it ....)

Jumping Tracks

Oh, and I almost forgot of my earlier foray into another learning Track (jumped tracks from the Wiosna to this). Again, thanks to Ninetta’s diagrammatic pictorial that she so generously shared here . She applied modern tatting techniques to a vintage pattern.

It took some getting used to (both the diagram & the tatting) ; the 1^st 2 motifs were a bit fiddly & I made some error in following the directions in the diagrams. But the 3^rd one came out right & her diagrams are truly brilliant.

I also realized that picots on the Floating Ring should be made longer than normal for the centre to lift itself vertically.

Ninetta's Layered Rings

For the 4^th ring, I tried a Josephine Ring (JR) as a floating ring (FR). While it should’ve been larger to show the characteristic undulating effect of a JR, there is still a perceptible difference between a regular FR & a J-FR. The latter seems to curl inwards, & the former seems to stand up more.

 I hope to use this technique, too, someday

My sincerest thanks to Ninetta (((hugs)))

for sharing her tremendous talent & innovation

All the discrepancies & limitations are solely mine.

Happy tatting :-)

Motif #17/II for 25 Motif Challenge