DAL2026 roundup 4

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 And the final round-up of my design-along or DAL 2026 Challenge is here! I do have a commitment from a designer that she is working on it, but no images so far. And just as I am writig this, one more has come in! Despite my intention, it took me several weeks to post the challenge in the 3-D Tatting group and we have two models, each constructed so differently!

Scroll to end of page for relevant blog links

We also have a surprise extension of a motif! Last time it was tessellation of motifs, this time it is Barbara Arango's extension of her motif into a round doily with the addition of several rounds! She's calling it 'Rachel'.  

(extended pattern received)

19. Kaye Brown-Judt - saw an oval in the starter motif and designed 2 rounds around it! She shared it with her tatting group and several of them will be tatting it for their next show-and-tell!

(pattern ready)

I find Kaye's design videos/lessons which she uploaded for TOTC are exceptionally good ... to me she is the best design teacher in terms of her approach, clarity, ease, and perspective! So much to learn from her.

20. Jiamrat Supapol - a beautiful design and shape with lots of thrown rings thrown in! I think it has an oriental appeal.

(pattern ready)

21. Richard Embrey - If I remember correctly, nobody so far has used either beads or doodads in their designs. So Richard has that honour along with a 3D version! ! 

Version 1 - He had these butterflies stashed from years back and decided to use them for his design

(pattern ready)

Version 2 - Such a different look simply by extending the arms! 

(pattern ready)

Version 3 - a 3D cup holder ....  

(pattern awaited)

... which also doubles as a lid!

Richard has written the pattern but Palmetto Tat Days prep has gotten in the way of his review. Hence a delay in the pattern.

22. Liyarra - faced a bit of a cupping problem at the final join and it was a fun learning experience trying to figure out how to flatten it out. 

Notice all the different meandering designs-within-design?!

(pattern ready)

23. Margaret Davies - always ready to participate, created this expandable pattern with simple rounds!

(pattern ready)

24. Vicki Clarke (Victats) - answered my call in the 3-D Tatting group for 3D versions, with this pumpkin or apple. The center rosette is modified inspired by the 3D centres by Teri Dusenbury.

She explained her process and count but has offered to send a better presentation soon.

She has since tatted one more model in red and larger, which she shared on Instagram!

(pattern shared)

25. Sally Biggers - despite her busy schedule, played with the design creating this snowflake-like motif!

She's caught up with Palmetto Tat Days hence the pattern will be delayed.        

(pattern awaited)

26. Padma Mandayam - sent this lovely version with 3 additional rounds just as I was about to finish and upload this post!

(pattern ready)

There are two more tatters who had participated, one of who did not continue beyond the starter motif, and another who worked out two trial pieces but hasn't found the time to continue. Their pics are in the master copy, but the roundups are only for completed pieces.

So, a total of 28 participants, with 26 completing their challenge and so many who tatted multiple versions or numerous rounds!

With additional patterns arriving almost daily, I am neck-deep in doing the presentations. Nevertheless I hope to share the master doc with you early next week. The PDFs that remain will be uploaded and the doc updated in the near future.

Related posts - 

how to participate in the challenge - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2026/08/time-to-play-again.html

1st roundup - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2026/08/dal2026-roundup-1.html

2nd roundup - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2026/08/dal2026-roundup-2.html

3rd roundup - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2026/09/dal2026-roundup-3.html

Many many thanks to All participants for playing along with beautiful projects and also sharing their patterns for the community!

DAL2026 roundup 3

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Blogger is refusing to update our blog feed so I can't say how many in blogland will be able to see this post. But let's focus on the beauty that has been pouring in, requiring a 4th roundup post, soon, after which I will make the patterns public! Relevant links at the end of this post. As usual, the order of presentation follows the chronology of who started the design-along DAL 2026 Challenge first. 

There's a lot happening like when I woke up this morning there were 3 new participants along with a couple of patterns from earlier participants waiting for me!!! Oh, what fun! 

And you might recognise the individual motifs in the lovely mat below? This is Linda Mazerat's Arborea, made by joining 9 of her motifs! She received lots of accolades and requests for the pattern. I have been working on the English presentation and should be able to upload it soon. 

Donna McDade - is back with the rest of her motifs!!! Some of them were sent at 4-30 in the morning - does she ever sleep?

Version 5 - has a 3-D center and a chains-only outer round!

(pattern ready)

Version 6 - has a nice colour-play and another chains-only round!

(pattern received)

Version 7 - Donna felt this was a very simple round with only a split ring braid. But I like the shape that emerged and the potential to add more if picots are added.

(pattern ready)

Version 8 - Now isn't this just too cute with a great shape?

(pattern received)

15. Sue Bradham (His Kid) - added 3 rounds, two of which involve a repetition of the center rosette with a very floral appeal overall! 

(pattern ready)

She has been sharing her progress in her blog - 

https://hiskid66.blogspot.com/2026/08/tatting.html

https://hiskid66.blogspot.com/2026/08/muskaans-daldesign-along.html

https://hiskid66.blogspot.com/2026/08/muskaans-dal-continued.html

16. Jon Yusoff (Tat-a-Renda) - True to her designing prowess, Jon designed a single round covering a large space, seamlessly  moving in and out!

(pattern ready)

Check out her blogpost - https://tatsaway.blogspot.com/2026/09/muskaan-ms-dal-design-along.html

Her first attempt was the one on the left which is also pretty, don't you think? She worked the 2nd version in variegated thread which she felt masked the design. Hence the final model in pink.

17. Sara Dougan - This is Sara's very first attempt at designing! The picot flowers really perk up the scroll.

(pattern ready)

18. Paola Bevilacqua - has given staunch competition to Ninetta's model by designing 8 rounds! She also added a bit of dimensionality with curled rings. 

(pattern ready)

As you can see, most patterns are already completed in PDF form with inked images as well as short notation text. A few have diagrams. The previous two roundup posts are also being updated as and when the pattern is ready. My aim is to release the document by the end of this week, after the 4th roundup.

Hope you are enjoying scrolling through these lovelies!

... to be continued ...

Related Posts
Muskaan's DAL 2026 Challenge - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2026/08/time-to-play-again.html

roundup #1 - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2026/08/dal2026-roundup-1.html

roundup #2 - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2026/08/dal2026-roundup-2.html

Many many thanks to all participants ranging from budding to experienced designers, playing with such enthusiasm and determination! 

DAL2026 roundup 2

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 So let's just continue to enjoy what emerged from Muskaan's DAL 2026 Challenge where you have to design additional round(s) on the given base/foundation motif. Details: https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2026/08/time-to-play-again.html   

Continuing from https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2026/08/dal2026-roundup-1.html 

7. Anita Barry - She has played so many of my games! And this time she has remembered Frau Endrucks through the little blocks in her round.

(pattern ready)

8. Donna McDade - the one who put it into my head about the next DAL and because of whom this 2026 challenge came about! And as always she tatted 8 starter motifs to add rounds to, 4 of which she has already completed with patterns! She says her motifs are not blocked yet.

Version 1 - her upside down clover round.

(pattern ready)

Version 2 - Using up some of her leftover stars from her award-winning quilt.

(pattern ready)

Version 3 - Clever application of colour with frequent use of the shoelace trick! I call it the Mind-Twister motif.

(pattern received)

Version 4 - Snail!!! Who would've thought to use the square motif to create a snail?! And she has something up her sleeve which will be revealed at the very end .... curious.

(pattern ready)

9. Ninetta Caruso - If Donna takes top position in the number of versions she is tatting, Ninetta is at the top for the number of rounds she has added - 9 rounds!!!

(pattern awaited)

10. Linda Mazerat - created 2 rounds for this very elegant motif with 'trees' in the corners. But guess what? She only learned tatting in February this year!!!! And this is her first attempt at designing. Could've fooled me - it is so professional and masterful.

"I had a great time participating in this challenge. That's when we realize that creating a pattern is not that easy." 

She has also started tatting more of this motif for a runner. She uploaded a video on Instagram.

(pattern ready, French & English)

11. Marie-helene Longau - She readily 'accepted the challenge' and added 3 rounds in this beautiful motif!

(pattern ready in French & English)

12. Silvana Buonvino - has been quite active in our Endrucks group and here she added several rounds to the base motif. The 7 additional colourful rounds create a rangoli or mandala effect.

Silvana let her shuttles do the work and is regretful that she does not remember the counts.

(no pattern) 

13. Muskaan - I've already shared my thoughts here - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2026/08/my-round-3.html and no progress on the pattern presentation. Got busy with all the rest that have arrived ;-P

(pattern in the works)

14. KRine créatif - This is KRine's first attempt at designing, too! I think she did a really nice job and I love how well her colours fit. She even sent in her diagram!

She tried many and finally chose this as her last model for now. She has decided to train on patterns shared by professional designers to understand and learn and return to improve on the above piece when she has gained more experience. We wish her well!

(pattern ready)

There has been some incidental consequences and learning pertaining to this challenge. I have already touched upon some and will share more in the next post. 

... to be continued ...

There are no words that can fully express my gratitude to each of you for participating so enthusiastically and creating more beauty!

DAL2026 roundup 1

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 So many DAL 2026 models have come in that it is better to start sharing in batches than to wait till the end. Fewer pics also mean you get to enjoy and admire each one at a better pace. For now I have arranged them according to the designer who first uploaded an image whether it was competed or not. But for the roundup, I chose only the completed projects. Plenty of time for the WIPs to work on their designs and/or tatting. 

I have privately shared the Google doc with all participants - it contains all details and entries and pattern links, but will make it public at a later date when more patterns are converted into PDFs. So let's just enjoy what emerged from Muskaan's DAL 2026 Challenge where you have to design additional round(s) on the given base/foundation motif. Details: https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2026/08/time-to-play-again.html

1. Sheetal Kakodkar - Her very first time designing and after her 3rd round design she was so motivated that she added two more and was happy with the result!!! I'm happy, too.

(pattern ready)

2. Carolyn Craig - went on a spree belting out Five additional rounds, one of them with 'flat solid tatting'. Then she thought that since the center motif was square, perhaps I was looking for an ultimate square. So, she got to work again with another round and also filled in the large open space with pretty motifs. And now she has gone back to her 3D birds, refreshed with this break. 

(pattern ready)

(combined pattern ready)

3. Barbara Arango - tried out her round in one pass but later modified the design and added two rounds. She even tatted this twice since the first piece had some experimentation.

(pattern ready)

4. Jagruti Joshi - quickly worked a 3rd round which imitated the 2nd round. Her use of vibrant colours makes it look like a flower in full bloom.

(pattern ready)

5. Julie Villegas - created a nice square motif with lots of thrown rings.

(pattern ready)

6. Wanda Salmans - was in a tatting slump and this challenge brought her out of it! She created two versions and shared her thoughts in her blog here - https://wandasknottythoughts.blogspot.com/2026/08/muskaans-2026-dal-design-long.html

(pattern ready)

(pattern awaited)

As you might have noticed, several patterns have been received and are in the process of being presented as PDFs. Instead of putting all patterns in the master doc, this time I am creating separate PDFs for each and sharing the link there. I think it looks more organised and focused and tatters might also find it easier to download and work with it. 

to be continued ....

Many many thanks to each and every one of my dear participants!!! You make these challenges worthwhile!

angels needed

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 Tamie Montgomery who has taken over the baton from Georgia Seitz and has been successfully conducting classes through The Online Tatting Class (TOTC), has organised a Heavenly Angels Challenge for a charity drive. She is looking for angel patterns and designers who can share their patterns for the drive. 

She has been asking in several FB groups, including in our Endrucks group. So when I contacted her, this is what she wrote to me some days back - 

"There is a charity foundation that I am trying to get involved with to share tatting around the world. I have students from all walks of life and different countries. I thought a good way to get everyone involved in sharing their love of the art is to open up a charity drive and make it a challenge.

The rules are this. I will start the challenge off by nominating 5 tatters and they each have to tat 5 angels. Each one must be different. Then once they tat their 5 angels and send them to a local branch of this particular charity then they nominate 5 tatters to tat 5 angels. Where the designers come in is we need more angel patterns to choose from and I am asking designers to design 1 angel then everyone can choose from the patterns listed on the website from each designer. The patterns will be located on the designers page. This will also drive traffic to each designer's website who participates. So if they are monetized then they will make a few dollars for their time and effort.

The charity is Angel Tree Foundation. They put paper angels on the Christmas trees and people pick an angel off the tree and the angel will have a child's name on it. They will then purchase a gift for that child for christmas and it will be a gift from an Angel. Churches and childrens hospitals all participate in this charity all over the world. The children that the Angels on the trees in Churches are underprivileged Children. Children's hospital's participating are children who are very sick and may not see another Christmas. It gives them hope and love. The person donating the gift keeps the tatted Angel as a thank you for being an Angel.

Now for the overseas people we want them to give to the local children's charities in their country if there is none then give a sick child an Angel to watch over them. Small things to sick little ones are big to them.

 The Challenge's name is Heavenly Angel's Challenge."

She has now opened a dedicated page for the event with details and links to patterns/sites and you can read about it here - https://www.theonlinetattingclass.com/tatting-angels-tribute

- 3D model only -

On behalf of the Endrucks 1920 Project, we are offering the patterns we already have. You can find them in the Angels and Tree Ornaments from Endrucks directory here - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MVEEhKE79euDmOY65Es95rYihb5P9UcqmAJWG5qw4Ws/view or scroll down for individual PDF links.

E7 The Slim and The Chubby Angels by Ninetta Caruso (2022) - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sHQfHC2Al-o5dGE0tTRhuhwajN0QRB5D/view

E12 Angel in White (one pass) (page7) and its coloured version E12 Sky Blue Angel (page11) by Krystyna Mura (2021) - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1E26K3FFgHygdkEKUvVHn-f0MFlENDsqA/view   

The 3D model of E12 Christmas Angel at the lead is also part of this document but without a dedicated pattern. 

E22 Eleonore's Li'l Angel by Muskaan (2015) - https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5MqI5ByadI4RmRhS3ZBeDVjcnc/view

E37 Endrucks' Angel n Bell by Margaret Davies (2022) - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aq202-ESOzP_DLlA1bQ1mz3unyTTrpwr/view 

For different versions of this E37 Angel with beads, halo, etc., scroll through the images in these posts -
https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2022/12/tagme-roundup-1.html 

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2022/12/tagme-roundup-2.html
https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2023/03/tagme-roundup-3.html

All the above patterns are free to use but please give credit to the designers and use the hashtag #Endrucks1920Project if you post online. 

Many thanks to all designers for their willingness to share.

With best wishes ... keep your shuttles busy ...

incredible spirit

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Indomitable, indefatigable, inspiring spirit! This is how I see Donna McDade, my incredible 86 year old friend! You might remember her previous participation in my DAL 2023 where she belted out 5 Celtic snowflakes. This time she broke her own record. Read on to be impressed again .... 

All the DAL 2025 challenge entries can be found here - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mQmdXWXQmcbXQ48nRz9FBeTJf_DoJqKz/view

This post is long long long delayed! My main delay was because I wanted to diagram all her versions for clear patterns. Unfortunately only one has been done so far. But the task is still in my to-do list, just pushed further ... And then I couldn't get my head to cooperate and so many other distractions kept creeping in. There is also lots of celebratory news from Donna's creativity, too, which I will share in a 2nd post. 

Donna started by tatting 6 DAL 2025 motifs as seen below ... Note that there are only 6 motifs here while later she added a 7th and a larger 8th, too.

And following is how the outer rounds designed and tatted by her turned the basic motif into such lovely versions!

Version 1 - Curled Ring at Chain

This is very interesting. At first glance it looks like a repeat of the previous round. However, using two shuttles, she makes two rings one of which curls over the previous ring. I think it is a clever application. 

Version 2 - Topped with Trefoils

I was able to complete the diagram for this single-shuttle round that she designed.

Version 3 - Spot Me

I chose this name because I couldn't really spot the 'mistakes' which had Donna cursing the 'Evil Tat Demon'! The pink shade, though, is the red bleeding into the white. 

Version 4 - Flower

The model says it all!

Version 5 - X & O Rings

 

This is what Donna called her 5th version (A and B) with simple split ring round and then weaving another split ring braid through the former. It suddenly gets uplifted from a simple split ring round, doesn't it.

Version 6 - Curls and Folds

Can you identify the variety of rings used in this version? Besides the normal rings in the center, there are curled, split, and folded rings and well as folded chains! Some of the folded rings didn't quite measure up since it was her first attempt at them inspired by my Folded Fun motifs published in the IOLI Bulletin.

Version 7 - Beaded

Quite festive! With plenty of potential for more embellishments.

BONUS! Curled Rings Cross

Donna increased the repeats from 6 to 8 enabling her to design the cross with lots of curled rings. The cross is already sewed on to fabric. 

And all the 7 versions together. These motifs also found their spot on a quilt as seen in the lead pic above! Donna's twin passions - quilting and tatting. Most of her tatted motifs are appliqued to her handmade quilts.

I would like you to return to read my next post and see the creative talents of this incredible lady. Adding it here would not do justice to her work and accomplishments.

💦💦💦

If you wish to try your hand at designing more rounds, jump in any time and contact me with your version.
Pattern: https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2025/02/dal-2025-challenge.html
1st round-up: https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2025/03/colour-me-happy.html
2nd round-up: https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2025/06/design-tatting.html

All participant patterns:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mQmdXWXQmcbXQ48nRz9FBeTJf_DoJqKz/view

Many many thanks for your enthusiastic participation ... hope your indomitable spirit rubs off on me, too!