whimsical interlacing

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INTERLACED  RINGS  using 2 shuttles

(SSSR – single shuttle split ring method)  

When I first experimented here by reducing the number of shuttles, I thought this was a do-able but whimsical technique with very limited application. 

However, a couple of interested tatters, including a request, led me to post this pictorial. And as I went about it, a few designs cropped up in my head. I will try to tat 1 or 2 motifs for practice patterns later.

Skill required : how to make SSSR, Mathew Takeda style. Several resources, including Sabina’s pdf, are listed here (scroll down to RINGS -> SSSR).

This pictorial covers only front to back (over-under) movement in detail. The same concept applies to back to front movement as shown in my earlier posts here and here.

For practice, wind 2 shuttles with thick threads in different colours. Join them. I made a short picoted S-chain.

Each ring is : SSSR: 5-5/10.

The starting pair of rings is closed a wee bit differently than the rest of the braid.

For 1^st pair of rings :

1. Leave a bit of bare thread at the base, before starting ring.

Using shuttle1, start Ring 1: 5-5

2. Pull up a long loop from the shuttle

 3. and finger-tat 10 ds to complete the ring.

 4. Partially close the ring leaving just enough space for shuttle to pass through.

 5. Pass shuttle2 front to back through the open ring and tat 5-5

 6. Again post shuttle2 front to back through the same open ring

 7. This is how the 2 rings will look. Ring1 is still open, and interlaced Ring2 is partially tatted.

 8. Now start closing Ring1 by pulling the core thread part of the loop

 9. Ensure the loop is at the back of work, hence pass it through Ring2

 10. Then pass the starting tail through this loop in order to anchor the thread (otherwise the ring will unravel)

 11. and completely close the ring. Pull out a loop of shuttle2

 12. and finger tat the 2^nd side of the ring.

 13. Tug on the loop to close ring

 14. Pass tail through this loop to anchor

15. and pull shuttle2 thread to remove all slack from the loop.

The starting SSSRs are interlaced and complete.

For 2^nd and all subsequent pair of rings :

Leave a tiny bit of bare thread before starting each ring.

 16. With shuttle1, tat Ring3 just like Ring1, closing it only partially.

 17. Interlace shuttle2 ring and tat the first half.

 18. Close Ring3 but leave the finger loop open.

 19. Complete tatting Ring4 and close it, leaving the finger loop open. Notice the loops from each shuttle at base of respective rings.

 20. Now, pass the tail through BOTH loops simultaneously, to anchor the rings,

21. and tug the respective shuttle threads to remove all slack from the loops.

Second pair of interlaced SSSRs completed.

Repeat steps 16 to 21 for desired length.

The next 2 pairs shown in the above pic are interlaced back to front. All steps remain same (from #16 onwards), except for posting shuttle2 back to front twice.

Interlacing with SSSR - My Thoughts and Comparison :

1. Fewer shuttles required. But this also limits the number of colours that can be used.
2. Basic interlacing movement and effect remains same as for split rings.
3. Each pair of SSSRs is brought together at the base (due to the anchoring loops) unlike the linear path/separation for SRs. This is a visual effect, too.
4. When using interlaced SSSR in a motif, the pair has to remain unattached to previous elements in order for the anchoring loops to pass through unhindered. Some patterns may get around this dilemma, but the range becomes limited.

I had also wondered whether Dora Young’s knotless rings can be used in such interlacing. As I thought over it more, I realise it will be very cumbersome, if at all, to accomplish the interlacing. One will have to go back and forth to tat a pair of rings completely. I’m not in a mood to try it ;-P

Click here to find all posts - pictorials and patterns for Interlaced Rings technique.

intermixing

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As indicated in my previous post, I will be sharing ideas as patterns since there is no way I can make everything that comes to mind even as I tat. 

There is immense scope for intermixing - be it

• the way we start or finish,
• the number and placement of colour(s),
• technique,
• function,
• decorative elements &/or embellishments used, ....
• and for those who dislike too many shuttles, using SSSR &/or Dora Young rings! Yes, slash the number of shuttles to Half!!!

But first let me get one pattern out of the way with a promise of more to come (I am especially excited about the next one which uses 4-shuttles) …

My earlier dissatisfaction ended up with snipping off the side braid and finishing off in this manner –

Lock-Laced Bracelet / Choker

pattern

I’m calling it Lock-Laced because the central braid is actually interlocked and only the side braids, with a free edge, are interlaced. But this is mere semantics; the method remains same.

PATTERN – 

6 shuttles with desired colours, worked in pairs with 3 split rings in each row, worked from left to right.

Sh1: Split Ring1: 6 --- 6 / 12. Interlace Sh3 through open ring.

Sh3: Split Ring2:12 / 12. Close 1^st SR; interlace Sh5 through open ring.

Sh5: Split Ring3: 12 / 6 --- 6. Close 2^nd and 3^rd SRs.

Repeat. 

You can choose the movement and effect (back to front or front to back). For more details refer to my post here, and the pictorials listed below.

Since I wasn’t sure how it would take shape, and I wanted to try options, long tails (around 6-8") from each of the 6 shuttles were left dangling. Thus one need not start CTM; one can use leftover lengths. The tails can be braided into decorative chains such as S-chains, Josephine chains, pearl tatted chains, etc.

BEADED TRIM –

Pre-string beads on a shuttle.

With a crochet hook load 3 beads on 2 adjacent long picots.

Make a lock join through 1^st picot, pass 1 bead from shuttle, make a lock join on 2^nd picot, pass 9 beads from the shuttle. 

Continue along the length, ending with a string of 10 beads.

Tie to the bundle of tails, and snip off leaving the same length.

Repeat this on the other side.

If you want symmetry, ensure you have an even number of long picots. I like the slight off-set taper.

I inserted a spacer bead, knotted the tails together, added another spacer bead. On one of the tails extra beads were strung
I was fixed on seeing it as a bracelet, but when I showed it to my hubby he immediately thought of a necklace/choker or an ornamental armband (bajuband) traditionally worn by brides and the rich.

Worked in Anchor size 20 (≡ Lizbeth 10), with size 11/0 bicone crystals (28 maroon and 78 yellow) and 14 gold 10/0 bicones for trim. Some more beads were added to the tails on either end.

Interlaced SSSR Trial !

4 or 6 shuttles too much to handle? Try interlacing using single shuttle split rings (SSSR) – Mathew Takeda style.

This is my first attempt. Look, only 2 shuttles instead of 4!

It can be done. However, it is not necessarily easier since there are open loops; but tangling of 4 threads can definitely be avoided.

I’m not happy with the final look here – will practice make it better, or should I stick with normal SRs?

My next experiment will be with Dora Young’s Knotless Rings which are also split rings using one shuttle. In theory, they should work. Want to give it a go? Join me....

Interlaced SR pictorials -  

http://www.tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2014/11/how-to-start-interlaced-rings.html

http://www.tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2014/06/interlaced-split-rings-i.html - front to back

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2014/06/interlaced-split-rings-ii.html - back to front

Links to other tutorials - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/p/tatting-resources.html