influential intrusion

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It all started when Grace Tan saw the intruding picot and brought out her long-stalled pattern. She thought it could be used in her serpentine pattern and simplify the working instructions. And I was one of the first few she roped in to test tat Endless Hearts Braid with Corner.

Grace adapted her heart patterns into an undulating length of lace - a clever symmetry - and a larger heart for the corners. The frequent directional changes take a bit of getting used to, but soon one can set a rhythm. It still needs some concentration, especially if one resorts to fs/bs tatting as I did, in two colours, trying to keep the blips at the back. I had to draw my own diagram for reference initially.

 

Inward facing  picots - She substituted the Intruding Picot (ip) with Ninetta's Face Inward Picot (FIP), although the ip worked for me (above pics) in the 3rd and 4th corners. FIP was my first time and it was not easy to tease out the leg in perle cotton. I followed instructions for the braid, using FIP in first 2 corners.
Encapsulating Picot Join (EPJ) - I got to try out this new blipless join that can link several elements together at a later time. As the term suggests, it is a picot join that encapsulates or traps another element or picot. More elements can be linked to the same point later as well.

Sometimes I got the EPJ looking almost invisible from the front, at other times a thread bulge was visible. I played with many tweaks, such as up and down loops, etc, but need more study in thicker thread to figure out how best to avoid that thread to make it consistently indistinguishable.
Layered Picot Join - My 'easier' alternate to EPJ -

1. Make a longer picot on the ring such that it can span the chain(s) that it intends to encapsulate.

 

2. Keep this picot at back of work and make a normal picot join through Both picots simultaneously. 

3. This is how it looks from the back. 

Note - these pics were taken when I was working backside. 

 

4. This is how it appears from the front - the join is invisible here.

5. This is how the hook will be inserted through both picots when working frontside.
And a 4th element can be joined to that same picot through the back. I love how clean the chains look - the join is invisible.
Drawback - the rings tend to lie slightly below the chains, but with sufficiently long picot, it can be avoided. Mainly, there is a colour bar at the back (clearly visible in #3).
Turn Chain (tc) - Of course there are several other ways to work this, as outlined in Grace's post. Overall, I limited myself to very few tweaks and substitutions, trying to largely stay true to the pattern. I have used many ways to turn a chain, but stayed with her version of turn chain which was to simply rotate the stitches in such a way as to reposition them, like this Twist Work (TwW).
There are also several applications to this versatile pattern! -

Add a drop crystal and beads for a beautiful V-shaped necklace or collar; or a square collar to sew on!

Without the corners, it is easily a braid, bracelet, bookmark, ring, choker, etc. 

In Anchor Pearl cotton size 8, the braid is 1" broad ; 2 hearts = 1.5" long. The entire frame is 3" on the inner edge and just over 5" at the outer edge.
All in all, a good learning experience with tons of ways to work it.

Romancing With Life - an autobiography by Dev Anand -

This all-hearts pattern seemed a fitting frame for this true karma yogi's life, work, and joie de vivre perspective. Ageless, who died at 88 with his boots on and with more energy and curiosity than his juniors by generations.

Dev Anand needs no introduction to Hindi film buffs and Indians in general (isn't that top left pic just great?! - the 3 great contemporary heroes). But my international friends, can you identify who he is with in the top right pic?! This hardbound book is a feel-good read for the most part, dwelling mostly on his various loves - be it nature, mountains, films/film-making, women, beauty, etc. There are more areas and depth one would have liked to read about, but it is understandable how the entire focus was on romancing.

applying techniques rakhi

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It's that time of the year again - Rakshabandhan is round the corner and Indian tatters are already posting lovely tatted rakhis. Here's my rakhi for 2020 ... AppliTech rakhi/bracelet!

The portmanteau 'AppliTech' refers to the fact that it is kind of a test or trial or experimental piece for applying a few techniques. It started as an observation piece for the Lock Join Plus methods as posted here - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2020/07/lock-join-plus.html where lock join, reposition threads, SLT, and reverse join (and switch shuttle) were all used in batches, resulting in randomly placed colours on one side.

Then, in response to a question on facebook, I re-demonstrated what I had discovered last year - whether you hold the gauge above the core thread or below it (as in Ninetta's Tuft picot), provided it goes through the leg of half stitch, the final result is the Same!

All tutorial links here, including my study of picots (Interlocking, Mrs Mee, Tuft} - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/p/tatting-resources.html

I will share my detailed comparison in next post, along with more observations.

I continued on to make the 3rd Josephine Ring placing the gauge above core thread.
Each ring starts and ends with 1ds, and has a picot after every half-stitch.
Each JR is made of 20 1st half-stitches with a 5mm gauge.

Many of us have already come across this beautiful Lavender sprig by tatting_art on pinterest or Instagram and she has uploaded a how-to video here (thanks for sharing the link, Karen Cabrera).

Next, I started mock rings with treble tat stitch. I started each chain with an Intruding picot which served as the starting picot for first tds, also to join back the chain into a mock ring!

Why mock rings, you ask?! Because I did not know how big the ring should be, what the count should be.  With mock rings,  I had the freedom to keep 'bending the curve' to gauge the chain length.  Hence, no tds count. 

Close-up of the dimensional/stacked flower. Bead was added before starting the last mock ring, by pulling up a loop...

Continued with the Priscilla edging (Fig 29 from her Tatting Book 3), though this time I followed a symmetry in colour placement. Lock Join and Reverse Join are used in alternating chains to move up to the next chain. By direct tatting (unflipped/reverse stitches) every alternate chain, I could tat all from the front. No RW or turn work!
Added findings after it reached 7" length. Anchor Pearl Cotton size 8.

Perhaps with a bit more effort, I could work the 2nd part of the edging to face opposite, rather than appear continuous. But there are a lot more things on my over-full plate ;-P
See you soon ....

Oh, but before I go, Sue Fuller taught my 2017 rakhi (in March) and Bonds of Love rakhi/bracelet (in April? she liked the blue, red, white version) in the Online Tatting Class earlier this year. I didn't get a hold of the logs, though, so have no idea what transpired in the class ;-D

she's all heart

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Certified Master Tatter, Anita Barry, shares 2 of her latest creations with Tat Land! And I am honoured that she graces my 600th post!
What could be better?! It took a full community and some extra special friends to get me to where I am today.

So first, her Rainbow Coin Tatting Purse. It has several interesting features.
Notice the mock toggle in the center? This knotted chain was taught by Karey Solomon.
The main body uses a picoted lock join that Dora Young used effectively in recreating crocheted doilies in tatting in her book ('All New Knotless Tatting').

Such a thrill to see the new intruding picots being used in the foundation row with all subsequent rows worked around and above. Alternating regular and intruding picots allowed the initial single chain to have joining picots along both edges. Clever!

This tiny purse has a wealth of knowledge stored within! Will certainly tat it ...

click to download the pdf (with detailed instructions) - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bW9PEKLdbh9KgexmIehU2c3G3u8chfgr/view?usp=sharing

I Love You More Necklace and earrings patterns! I see Karen Bovard Sayre's influence here, with all these split rings ;-D
I was hoping to tat the heart while posting, but it will have to wait for another day. Wonder if I'd be able to flesh out the necklace heart a bit - more curvaceous ;-P

click to download pdf - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p-Visi8RyqgMD6AWMxTo__9cArDYvjxt/view?usp=sharing

Hope you enjoy all these patterns. I know these are on my to-tat list!

Many many thanks, buddy , love you !

welcome intrusions

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It has been amazing - the interest and the exploration that has already moved far and wide ... almost overnight! I cannot thank my tatting mates enough for their enthusiasm and for embracing the potential of Intruding Picot (ip)!

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2020/07/what-intrusion.html

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2020/07/picot-is-posted.html

In chronological order -

Wally Sosa - This multi-talented and creative lady had also discovered this picot, calling it 'Evil', and dismissing it! Above is a nice comparison between, and combo of, normal and intruding picots.

Wally Sosa - Introducing the Rolled intruding picot! She combined her rolled picot with the ip to create such an interesting effect. And there's more - she has already tatted a beautiful motif/pendant using these and will be sharing a tutorial soon. Can't wait ....

Ruthie May - She interrupted her doily to try out her first intruding picots (thankfully she didn't close the ring - who wants to open a ring?!) and she has created this lovely pearl tatting/Maltese ring effect! It is something that had not occurred to me.

Ninetta Caruso - Can't keep her away from metallic threads and beads ;-D
Such a wonderful Beaded ip - as seen from front and back! Think of the scope for play....

Anita Barry - Independently, she came up with the Pearl tatting effect.
In the trefoil, one can see the dimpled effect in the side rings, and she has pulled up the ip in the middle ring! Creates a matted/woven effect.

Anita Barry - sent in this exploratory trial piece as well. The messy one on the right makes me think of snipping the ip and ruffling them!

This is my Filled Ring trial using ip. Didn't come out right, but I can put it down as proof of concept at this stage. Had thought of twisting them, but that was too fiddly. However, it can be quite easy if done on a chain.
I want to try it with SCMR. I also want to try it with folded rings and chains. Could we weave them as well or am I getting way ahead of my skills, head in clouds?
Lots of homework ;-D

UPDATE : Jane McLellan created a lovely bookmark using interlaced rings and intruding picots! Check it out - https://janemactats.blogspot.com/2020/07/muskaan-bookmark.html

Present Summary -

So, what a spread, with many more ideas to try out besides a downward facing picot - Rolled, Pearled & Maltese (using a single thread is now possible!), Filled, Beaded, Dimpled, Ruffled (inside!), Mock rings, Onion rings, bead in center of ring and other functions ..... this is just the start of the Intrusion!
UPDATE : I have used it successfully with dot picots, dot picot strings, double picot, twisted picot, and even a half-closed ring with twisted picot as it's base!


And speaking of welcome intrusions, a few more prettified butterflies flew in after 2 years! Did they get lost in migration - I hope not. Care to send in more Make Me Pretty Butterflies?

Corinne worked her cute version for an event by Association Francaise de Frivolite.

 Krystyna Mura posted her version - I couldn't even recognise it - so great is the transformation!

Madhur Dadlani was inspired by Corinne's version and posted this cool freshness!

Original skeleton - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2018/04/make-me-pretty-please.html

Flown in versions - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2018/05/not-one-but.html

Local variants - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2018/05/i-love-butterflies.html

Keep Intruding, dear tatters. No 'stings' attached :-))) 

picot is posted

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I am so happy with the interest and response here and on facebook! Hence worked quickly on the pictorial. For those who know what ‘posting a shuttle’ means, you don’t even need to follow the pictorial. Yes, that’s how simple the answer is – Post the Shuttle, leaving some bare space that will become a picot! So pick up your shuttle and play :-D

I had more names (posted, double-duty,  upside down, 2-way picot),  but due to my haste, and the need to notate my pics, I am continuing with ....

Intruding  Picot  Pictorial

Intruding picot proposed symbol/notation : ∫ or ip

Ring: 5 – 5 ∫ 5 – 5.

1. Start ring 5ds, picot, 5ds.

2. Post shuttle – pass shuttle front to back, through the open loop of ring.

3. Once shuttle is posted, pull core thread to transfer the thread (not seen here), leaving some bare thread length. Hold in pinch …
NOTE: Just think of it as starting a 1st half stitch, with bare thread for picot, but instead of making the 2nd half stitch, make another fhs & shs. 

4. … and immediately work 1ds. This is how it will look.

5. With just a slight touch or brush, the picot falls down!

6. Adjust (notice the intrusion?) and continue to complete the ring working 4ds, picot, 5ds. Close ring.

7. 1 ring with intruding picot made.

Follow the same technique to make ∫s in chains as seen in previous post. Practice first on rings, then move to chains. There is a tendency for the chain to flip around after posting the shuttle. Hence, hold the picot in pinch till chain segment is worked and all stitches snugged.

My Initial Thoughts

• This is still in a phase of exploration, development, and refinement.
• Intruding Picot is made with the ball or working or knotting thread, hence it remains in position though facing downwards. In the drop, down or inward-facing picots (tutorial links compiled here - http://ninettacaruso.blogspot.com/2017/10/fun-or-fan-in-direct-tatting.html), we hold a picot space on the core thread (using a paper clip or any holder) till a join is made. The intruding picot holds it’s shape and position without any help.
• Now that I think about it, it is like a single interlocking picot (picots in a Josephine Ring after each half stitch)! links here - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/p/tatting-resources.html
• Intruding picot is a double duty picot as we have seen in the ‘lollipop onion ring’ (termed used by Colette G) where the picot can be extended in both directions – down and up. https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2020/07/what-intrusion.html
• It is a textural picot when left free as seen in the bare thread over the line of tatting. It does not lie flat, and may not be acceptable to many tatters or in classic patterns.
• It is of great functional value as evident in the onion ring and mock rings. It can also be used to add a bead(s) in the center of a ring after closing the ring! I will show it next time. 
  
• It can be measured. There is a little trick to use the picot gauge here, but I need to study it further. With the trick, this heart-shaped ring is formed.
• A lot of uses and applications are still left to try. Hop in and play around. But please do share your thoughts, experience, experiments, and of course, pictures! happy playing :-)))

what an intrusion

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A few weeks back, while tatting the doily, a simple mistaken intrusion brought on the realisation this could become a new picot method! Hence I'm calling it the Intruding Picot for now. Suggestions for a different name are welcome.

And as I thought over it, more and more applications arose, making this picot not just practical, but versatile. Some applications are not visibly elegant, while for others it seems tailor-made. A peek into my first trials .....

The topmost scroll shows a picot, including 3 graduated picots in 3rd, intruding in the ring space.
In the 2nd ring, a direct comparison can be made between normal picots and this slightly textural one.
On chains, I tried directional tatting with these new picots.

Tried it on onion rings. The sequence of tatting is altered - outer ring made first, with one intruding picot in the middle. Then the inner ring is worked and joined to that picot. The extra length works as a decorative picot.
I first came across this altered sequence by Ninetta (please see details in section 1.3 here). But there is no need for 2 picots with this unobtrusive intruding picot as you can see below ....

Next the outermost chain/mock ring was worked and joined to that Same single intruding picot!
Nifty, eh?! And pretty invisible, too.

And finally for the present - mock rings. No more holding the core thread with a paper clip! Make intruding picot, tat the 'ring' segment, and join to the picot. That's it!
Oh, no there's more... unlike the paper clip inward or core thread picot, we can actually alter the length of the picot. Notice the difference in the base of each mock ring - the variability in 'distance' is deliberate.
There is a slight twisting of chain segments near the picot - needs work and practice.

There are a couple more ideas I want to try out (one as a ring filler), but couldn't resist sneaking you a peek! So, what do you think? And can you guess how it's done? It is so simple, you'll be stumped!
Do you think it is worth sharing - will you be willing to try it/use it? Can you think of more applications? Waiting eagerly for your comments and suggestions .... please don't disappoint :-)))