what a killing

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I actually could've said 'killing two birds with one stone' but its not an idiom I like when birds are so cute. In this case I have made a killing in more than two ways. Read on ...

There are always tons of inspiring allurements and distractions in Tat Land. But I do my best to avoid or choose only those I can weave into my own jam-packed life. This year, I came across two such almost non-structured games which I should be able to manage through the year. 

And this is my submission to both games simultaneously - the E37 Flower Flake and Star derived and adapted from Frau Endrucks' pattern #37 from her 1920 book, ‘Die Schiffchen-Spitzen’ and the modern reworking of E37 Square Diamond Motif. I had shared the prototype flower flake pattern, but it did not lay flat (https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2023/10/wanna-multiply.html).

I killed my wide picots, sadly, with untidy stitches beneath the arch. I have now learned the correct method and will share in a future post. The twist in some picots is merely because I drove the pin in too deep when blocking, LOL, and didn't bother to correct it. The patterns will be shared, too. after I make an ice drop version with nicer wide picots.

Splocik announced a new game for 2024 'Small Decorations' wherein we can tat any kind of decoration per month. Easy enough. This snowflake and star are my decorations for January.

Details can be found here (scroll to end of post) - https://splocik2.blogspot.com/2024/01/mae-dekoracje-galeria-grudniowa.html 

Simultaneously, I started with Natalie Roger's (Tat Your Own Adventure) PICOT Bingo. You can download the game here - https://www.patreon.com/posts/picot-bingo-95729145?. Uh-oh, I seem to have missed a crucial point! I thought this one bingo card would last for the year. Looks like it is only for the month. If so, I won't get any bingo this time. Must confirm with Natalie.

UPDATE (22 Jan 2024) - Phew, Natalie tells me the card remains same for the entire year. However if we complete it, we can request for a new card.

The above is for 'Tat A Snowflake'. For 'Tat Flora' I am submitting the E15 Ear of Maize Doodle I posted here - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2024/01/barely-in-time.html 

I am also entering this for the 'Graduated Picots' box. See what a killing I'm making here?!!!

Hey, I can add earring findings and enter them in the 'Tat Earrings' box as well, hehehe. Oh my, I'm devious! That's 3 in a column; the 4th can be done quickly enough, but the doily has me stymied I believe. Time will kill me this time!

Many thanks for hosting these exciting games, Natalie and splocik! See you again next month 💕

wanna multiply

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Well bowing to popular demand yesterday, I worked on the pattern presentation today. Remember, it is still a prototype pattern that could do with some improvements. If you give it a go, please do share your model pic and notes. We can finalize the best fit and include it in the pdf with due credit.

E37 Multiply Me Flower Flake by Muskaan, Oct2023 pattern - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-CSg9lDj56eogt2hLPrT8yvYP2kd7LYA/view

My notes and a couple of ideas are included in the pdf, which I don't want to repeat here.

Hope you enjoy tatting it and please do send in any feedback you have. 

UPDATE: I had another idea - using the same stitch count as the flake, tat only Five repetitions for a Star!

Related Posts - 

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2023/10/rabbits-multiply.html

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/search/label/E37 - my E37 journey! Check out the versatility of this motif.

rabbits multiply

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 This month's game in our FB group is Multiply Me Oct2023 (#MultiplyMeEndrucks). We chose one motif - the Square Diamond motif derived from Endrucks' pattern #37 and asked participants to tat More than One motif. That's it! So far we have 15 participants and 41.5 motifs in various avatars!

If you wish to play along, here's what you need to download - Multiply Me Endrucks Oct2023 - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IbrmrCCr7VD_ypIA_55kVHpAkQEGS1ZH/view  Check out the range of possible ideas. Our members have already gone beyond the listed ideas!

Since 2020, I have tatted numerous motifs for the main pattern presentation and also because I just so like the design! I had lost count but now took the time to count from my stored pics and they total 21, worked in various threads, shades, and applications.

However, for this game I will only be counting 3 earrings since I sewed in embellishments late last month, and one that I found a few days with only the starting few rounds done! Obviously I had to finish it in order to participate ethically, LOL.

E37 earrings worked from left to right in Lixbeth 20, Anchor pearl cotton 8, and Anchor MC 40. These were the only free motifs I could find in my stash and sewed in beads, teardrops, hooks, etc.

I tried a different style of embellishment for each.

E37 Square Diamond Motif pattern and options by Muskaan (2020) - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wqAPnOUZwLJ9tEUk55wDZhAMw2qCNFSj/view

Obviously the inclusion of seed beads would've made the earrings look more finished and put together, but I had no energy to tat. Even this sewing was done at the very last moment despite the idea, since I couldn't even garner the energy to gather my beading supplies. 

This is the E37 Snowflake adaptation. Multiplication of motifs not merely in numbers but in the number of repeats! I can't remember what my original design plan was (except for the 6 repeats) or even when I'd started it. However it turned out kind of okay - more like a flower. Yes, a flower flake!

Idea: If the chains on either side ot the thrown ring at the tip, were yo face inwards, it would give a pointier, more snowflakish loo, I think.

It's the first time I have used wide picots in any pattern! Each arm also has a modified stitch count. I can share if there is enough interest. It ruffled something fierce, but blocking flattened it out.

And last but in no way the least is Ninetta's Iris Pendant - a beaded version of the E37 motif adapted for a pendant. When we were planning this game, she offered to tat one in metallic thread and she came up with this beauty and also shared her pattern!

E37 Iris Pendant pattern by Ninetta Caruso (2023) - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uFUpCDxnvyD7JdqLUjPPhviq6BtwvhD1/view

Against a white background, vertically displayed.

That's all I have for now. We still have a week left and hopefully the rabbits will procreate at a good pace ;-P

hidden pathway

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I know many of you must feel that the hidden rose should stay hidden and not be seen so frequently, but what can I do when hidden assets keep surfacing?! How many secrets are hidden in this little snowflake? 

This time it is yet another pathway discovered by Melanie Cervi (or Mel as we fondly know her) who was put off by the paperclips required in my original instructions. So she set off into the woods, clearing away the trees in her path (thankfully, not literally) to leave a trail without clips!!! 

Sequence notated

When she emailed me a month back, I honestly could not figure out how she did it. Clearly my mind was blocked: any which way I went, at least one clip was required. It was only when she posted her instructions here, that I was amazed and amused ;-D In the above model (tatted by Mel), I have inked the sequence. Tatting progresses in clockwise direction and is made in one serpentine pass. 

So this takes the sequence toll to FOUR! We have 4 ways to work this snowflake ... so far ;-P 

1. Counterclockwise starting with inner ring; 
2. Clockwise starting with inner ring; 
3. Inner rings worked as circle of SRs and continued to 'outer' round; (by Natalia S) 
4. Clockwise starting with outer ring, and without paperclip. (by Melanie C) 

You can find links to the pdfs and posts, as well as the rose, ice drop, and heart adaptations in my Snowflake doc here.

Don't forget to skip over to Mel's blog to read her instructions as well as ideas for future experiments and trials - http://picotsnkeys.blogspot.com/2020/12/year-muskaan-floated-idea-of-hidden.html . I've put it on my to-tat list.

UPDATE: Mel made a tatted biscornu using the snowflake patttern! Check it out here - http://picotsnkeys.blogspot.com/2021/06/biscornu-finished.html

But before I leave, here's another lovely pair tatted by the talented Anna Tedesco and shared on facebook. Sorry for poaching the image, Anna, but it is just too cute! Anna has a facebook group - Tatting Art where you can scroll through all her gorgeous projects.

Many thanks, Mel and Anna - keep the spring of inspiration alive 💖

spinoff fun

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In Jan this this I tatted 2 more spinoffs from Folded Fun square and star. 2 six-pointed versions. I'll try to add a pattern when I get around to it, but don't hold your breath! Because as I peeked into my diary where the 25 Snowflake projects were documented, I cannot find the new ones, sigh!

This is the snowflake version, not much different from the 5-pointed star. The main difference is additional stitches in the inner rings so that we now have 6 instead of 5.

This is the Stupa version - the folded rings on the outside reminded me of the 3rd century BCE Sanchi Stupa - a world famous UNESCO world heritage site - part of Buddhist holy pilgrimage.

Here they are all together (one of the stars is a prototype), positioned as a cross. I loved tatting the two 6-point versions, even during my slump phase and the colours cheered me up.

Worked in Anchor Pearl Cotton, size 8.

I have a lot of rummaging to do! Be it patterns or actual lace. I barely complete a project than jump on to another and keep forgetting along the way. Which is why I will be uploading pics of several of my designed lace, even if sharing the pattern may come much later.

not one ring

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Snowflake #10 in Land of Laces’ 25 Snowflake Project

And you thought out of 2019, out of mind! No, I haven't about posting the left out patterns! When Anetta invited me to share a snowflake pattern and something about myself for her Meeting with Tatting series, I took the longer path instead of giving her an already published pattern. On the 1^st of every month, she intends to share a design and designer, and everybody can participate.

Rosette Enchained Snowflake & Ice Drop

free pattern pdf (click to download)

This pattern was first created in 2016 and I have since posted several models. It is made of Chains Only, for what was to be Set 2 of the This Way or Tat series of diagrams. I don’t know when that series will resume, but at least the pattern is here.

The entire motif is worked from the front, in clockwise direction.

Whether you choose 1 or 2 colours; shuttle and ball or 2 shuttles; the join used to switch colours/shuttles; the technique used to change curve of outermost chain; etc., can result in a change of direction.

Hence it was to be one of the practice patterns for the TWoT Set 2 – Chains Only. A fun way to study how our choices affect direction, and may differ from what the designer/pattern says.

The entire snowflake motif is worked in one pass. In the 2 outer rounds, there is a short 2ds chain which can be worked as a split chain by advanced tatters. But if you are not in the mood, why not try the vintage style of leaving some bare thread at the back, lock join, and continue with next round. For all practical purposes, it is not discernible! Don’t do it for a competition, though ;-D

Continuous tatting, vintage style -

In this collage, from top right –

1. last chain in 4^th round with a picot join to the right. Remember to keep both threads to back of work before making join.
2. Complete 2ds, and lock join to 3^rd round (pic shows back of work)
3. From front, pull up a loop of shuttle thread, and make a lock join leaving sufficient bare thread.
4. Continue with next round. Voilà, no split chain required.

I have already posted the choices one can adopt for the concave chain segment in last round. It is also part of this pdf. 

Ice Drop

The ice drop is probably a novelty, being made only with chains. There are 2 separate motifs – one larger (yellow), and the other smaller (green). 

 The pattern remains almost exactly the same as the snowflake, except for more repeats. 

When working the 3^rd round of smaller motif, the join is made simultaneously through Both previous round as well as the respective round of larger one. With a crochet hook, pull a loop of ball/chain thread through both picots, pass shuttle through loop, and snug tight. Hence simple picot join, not a lock join. The cabochon is inserted before the last 2 joins are made.

Click to download Rosette Enchained Snowflake & Ice Drop pattern

I hope you enjoy this pattern and play with colours, embellishments, etc.

     

Related Posts

http://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2016/12/all-in-chains.html

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2017/04/gifting-soup.html

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2018/01/ice-drop-enchained.html

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2019/02/med-to-cab.html

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2019/09/catching-up.html

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2019/09/changing-chain-curves.html

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/p/my-tut.html

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/p/tatting-resources.html

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/p/patterns-designs.html

leap into a new year

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In a couple of hours earthlings will begin to usher in and celebrate the new year. 
A couple of pics of, perhaps, my most ambitious designing challenge to date ..... the furious flurry of the 25 Snowflake Project. I thank you for patiently following my 7 month long journey, and many have thrilled me with their enthusiastic response through actual tatting and tweaking!

I wish all my beloved readers, friends, and followers a hugely creative year ahead with peace, happiness, and good health.
You have all brightened and enlightened my life :-)))

I have made a couple more versions/variations since this pic was taken and will gradually share all patterns.
Find all snowflake patterns here.
I'm glad many of these are flower flakes or summer flakes -- with record winter spell -- chilliest and longest spell for over a Century !!! 

frost flower pictopattern

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Notice the new entrant here? It is my 12-point variation of the frost flower. Didn’t quite turn out the way I had imagined – looks more like a wheel. Interesting how the entire character and focus seems to have altered!

Tatted in Lizbeth size 20, it measures 2 inches.

Should I share the pattern for this as well?

I have drawn diagrams of single motif/repeat to show sequence of elements and their stitch-count. It also has a written pattern which I found a bit difficult to write since there are numerous paths and techniques that can be chosen.

I finally decided to simply write what I have done and leave it to the tatter to substitute. In this pictorial, however, I have tried to point out the options.

Please help me decide whether the pictorial should be included within the pdf or should I simply give a link to this post for those who want to see each step? The image size will be smaller in the pdf and will add 2 or 3 pages. Of course, one can opt not to print those pages.

Once I have your answers, I will finalise and upload pdf.

  FROST  FLOWER  

snowflake pattern

© muskaan   Nov 2019

SCM(J)R with TR: Self-closing mock Josephine ring with thrown ring : Start mock Josephine ring using same half stitches, switch shuttle, leave bare thread and make thrown ring, close, switch shuttle, leave equal bare thread (a mock picot has been formed), continue with half stitches, close the mock ring.
I first shared this effect - SCM(J)R - with stepwise pictorial,  here.

Sh = shuttle ; - = picot ; -- = long picot ; rw = reverse work ; 

SS = switch shuttle ; JR = Josephine ring (worked with same half stitch) ;
TR = thrown ring (remember to switch shuttle before and after a thrown ring)

rs = reverse stitch or unflipped stitch as in 2nd side of split ring (optional)  

2 shuttles, continuous thread. Red is Sh1, yellow is Sh2

 1. Insert clip or pin on core thread (Sh1) for starter picot.

Chain : 3 – 6.

SCM(J)R: Start mock Josephine ring with 6 half stitches, leaving a loop at the base,  

 2. Switch shuttle for thrown ring but leave bare thread space before starting ring.

space, (TR: 3 -– 3), close,

 3. leave bare thread (a mock picot is formed), switch shuttle, and complete the mock JR with 6 half stitches. Pass shuttle through loop and close the SCM(J)R.

 4. Chain : 3 rs  

 5.  rw, SS, (TR: 3 -- 3), SS

 6.  chain : 3
(the above image is from the back)

ALTERNATE for steps 4 to 6 : rw, SS, chain: 3, (TR: 3 -- 3), 3.

Further reference : Changing Chain Curves

 7.  rw, JR : 6 + 6 (join to mock picot). SS 

ALTERNATE: This JR can be worked as a SCM(J)R. In this case, SS to work the mock JR, and continue with same shuttle for step #8.  

  8.  chain: 6 - 3

 9.  remove the pin or paper clip, insert hook through Both the starter and TR picots ....

 10.  ... to pull up core thread loop for a lock join.

 11.  This is how it will look after a lock join.

 12.  Chain: 2 rs - 2 rs. 

ALTERNATE for step 12: rw, SS, chain: 2 - 2, rw, SS.

One motif or repeat complete. Insert holder for picot and repeat 5 more times, joining the last repeat to the first.

With direct tatting, I didn't have to keep reversing the work, and was able to tat mainly from the front.

Waiting for your response. And I hope this pictorial helps. If it seems confusing, pick up your shuttles and work alongside. I find it helps.

Related Posts

design process

SCM(J)R or Josephine Ring cluster

Changing Chain Curves – Convex and Concave

happy tatting J

warmafrost

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Snowflake #16 in Land of Laces’ 25 Snowflake Project

Marja tells us that Kuurankukka is an old Finnish word for frost flower and since I perpetually seem to make my snowflakes warm, summery and floral, ‘warmafrost’ seemed like an appropriate portmanteau for this post which has snowflakes in very warm earthy colours indeed - the cool flake is in some subterranean layer ;-D.

Made in one pass using 2 shuttles. There are thrown rings, SCMRs, Josephine rings, starting with chain/starter picot. And I also used direct tatting and directional (fs/bs) tatting.

My starting point for the design process is a motif : the Josephine Ring cluster from this split colour edging. The rest is simply a way to create 6 arms for the snowflake. And in order to make the tip pointier, I used a normal ring instead of the JR.

The little evolutionary tweaks are evident in the image, starting with a smaller arm, to better-sized ones, and then to filling in the blank space within.

BUT, I am not a good student, repeating the same mistake which led to the mutant snowflake! (yes, I remember my promise to post the solution(s)!) There is no way I could tie off after 6 repeats. Tongue-in-cheek, I showed my amusement to Ninetta, and good teacher that she is, she marked out what I needed to do. Very helpful tips, again, but I need to become independent!

I took a lazy way out this time – snipped the outer joined picots (there were 2 joins earlier) to confirm that the flake would lie flat with only 6 arms! Phew! No drastic changes.

I had deliberately left the inner ring free. But finally gave in and joined it at the base. Now, one could tat the ring facing upward (see the single small yellow motif), but I didn’t like the look.

Meanwhile, I tried a few other tweaks in those single motifs, but settled back to my ‘first child’. Does it happen to you? I frequently find myself unable or unwilling to venture too far off the original.

A single upended motif can be worked as a quick earring. I’m not happy with my beads or their placement, and will try to do a better job. The inset pic shows the true colours.

Do you see a larger fabric with the flakes attached to each other? A challenge for another day or year ;-D

This pattern can be worked in multiple ways, using one’s choice of techniques. I followed an ergonomic path where there is least switching of shuttles and of reverse work. So the flake is worked clockwise and all from the front except for the ring inside. I have taken stepwise pictures of how I went about it, and I will share the pattern alongside in my next post.

I am tatting a slight variation ( 12 points ) and want to see how that works out in Lizbeth 20. The ones above are all in Anchor 20 (which is equivalent to Lizbeth 10) and measure 6cms; and 5cms as a motif.

UPDATE: Pattern in pictorial format and a pic of the 12-point variation - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2019/11/frost-flower-pictopattern.html

I have other ideas in mind - to increase the arm lengths, or to introduce another motif between the arms. I'd like to play with those ideas as a personal challenge.

Thank you, Marja and  Ninetta!!!