a lasting lacy legacy

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 Marigolds are an auspicious flower, present in almost all Hindu religious ceremonies, festivals, rituals, and pujas. Garlands made of marigolds (often combined with mango leaves) commonly adorn entrances, houses, temples, halls, etc. Garlands are used to welcome guests and dignitaries, placed around statues, even on a new car or vehicle. The florets are used for floral rangoli, natural dyes, etc. Not merely for happy occasions, even in death marigolds are an indispensable part of the ritual, adorning the body as well as the pyre reminding us that life is transient and we are here for a short period. 

It was sheer coincidence that hubby and I had taken pics of two fully bloomed yellow marigolds in our little garden when my buddy Anita sent me this heartfelt and heart-wrenching article. It was as if the universe was trying to send auspiciousness and peace to my friend and to her friend. 

Here is the full article which I have also saved as a PDF since Anita feels that this article is an incentive to tat everywhere and to tell people you tat, too. And I'd add - keep your lace stock as full as you can; share and replenish frequently. 

It is so interesting that what looks like a fully blossomed flower is actually a collection of a large number of little flowers or florets! Hopefully our lace collection reflects this - lots of lace to give away and spread cheer or fulfil a wish. 

A Lasting Wish by Anita Barry, Oct2025 - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vYhQCPt5LREnw6ULUcMuY3g69tjPItpY/view

A lasting wish.

We’re Lacemakers. We receive requests for items. Requests may be for family, or for friends, maybe for churches or for historic places or societies. Grab a tissue. I received this recent heartfelt request.

 

A friend I knew 15 years ago contacted me on Facebook Messenger. I recalled her name in an instant. We had been in an organization together.  I responded to her correspondence and she later telephoned me. She updated me.  She had been stricken with Covid last year and again this year. Her heart had been severely compromised. She hopes to live through Thanksgiving and hopefully till Christmas. I was speechless.  She is younger than I am.  She’s only 60 years old.

 

Like me, she has two sons who are about the same age as my sons. Both her sons are married. One son already has a daughter, my friend’s granddaughter.

 

She told me when she was married on her wedding day, it was sentimental for her to carry her grandmother’s lacy handkerchief.

Now, with a short time to live, she wanted to provide lacy handkerchiefs for her granddaughter and for her future unborn grandchildren for their wedding days. She was asking for four lacy handkerchiefs from me. She was guessing maybe her sons would each have two children of their own and she’d need a total of four handkerchiefs. (Yes, you better believe I was grabbing for tissues as I was trying to steady my voice. Steadying my voice was a monumental task, but I needed a strong voice on the phone to keep her from crying.)

 

Remembering me as a tatter, she sought me out for this last and lasting gift. 

 

Absolutely. Absolutely!

With chills, rolling along my spine I responded I would surely provide her handkerchiefs with tatted lace in a quick manner.

 

I checked my stash. I sorted through my handkerchiefs with attractive tatted lace edgings, examining each one. I counted three suitable for her future grandchildren on their wedding days. I didn’t have enough in my stash to honor the request. So, I contacted another tatter to assist me.

 

I telephoned my dear friend and fellow tatter, Bonnie Swank. Although Bonnie and I now live many states away from each other, I knew Bonnie would have a collection of handkerchiefs with tatted lace. While on the phone Bonnie and I talked about our assortment of handkerchiefs, and about the request, and about future weddings. She selected two very lovely handkerchiefs in her collection trimmed with tatted lace appropriate to be carried on a wedding day.

 

Within two days, miles away from each other, Bonnie and I both prepped the handkerchiefs, ironed them, wrapped them in tissue, placed individual notes with the handkerchiefs, packaged the handkerchiefs, and mailed them destined to my friend.

 

Within days the handkerchiefs arrived in the mail and were received with deep appreciation. 

As Lacemakers, we were able to fulfill a last wish.

 

Lacers, you never know when you’re creating a memory.

You never know when your lace making is becoming a lasting memory to someone else.

You never know what type of request you’ll receive.

You never know when your talent, your skill, and your passion will be used to create a lasting wish for someone else.

 

Hugs to all of you who make lace,

Anita Barry

If you wish to save, print, and share the article here is the link again....

Julie's Request A Lasting Wish by Anita Barry, Oct2025 - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vYhQCPt5LREnw6ULUcMuY3g69tjPItpY/view

Feel free to share it and we can only send our wishes that Julie gets to spend Christmas with her family and has a peaceful transition.

Related Posts with my tatted marigolds

my tatted marigolds, with pattern PDF - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2017/03/marigolds-in-row.html  and

  

spring garland with pattern PDF - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2017/04/sights-n-scents-of-indian-spring.html  

sights n scents of an Indian spring

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a free tatting pattern

I had just finished my Block Heart patterns in early Feb when Georgia threw me a hint about thinking ahead towards spring, ITD, etc. (groan !!!)

Coincidentally, earlier that week the advent of spring had been celebrated in India . Having already tatted an an impressionistic collage for the end-of-spring celebrations called Holi, I looked up some details of the former. 

The beginning of spring ‘basant’/‘vasant’ season is heralded by a burst of flowers and celebrated in large parts of India as Vasant Panchmi, with floral tributes, religious ceremonies, joyous singing, dancing, kite flying,…

You know how I love tatting flowers – what better than a garland incorporating some of that joyous spirit in an Indian leitmotif. 

This pattern (and the mustard fields) is going to be shared with the Online Tatting Class on Monday, and length of post was unavoidable due to pics ...

Spring Garland

a tatted floral veni/jadai

UPDATE (Apr 21, 2017) : Spring Garland pattern is now in pdf here.

This is my attempt to capture a few of the colours and spirit of this spring festival with attached symbolism – auspiciousness of marigold flowers, the swaying yellow fields of mustard, and the fragrant white jasmines – as a garland around neck or as a ‘veni’ worn by women in their hair. (pronounced ‘waynee’. A broad floral garland also called ‘jadai’ in Southern India and worn by brides)

Before I dive into the pattern details, I urge all tatters to please check out this video on flower veni making – the first few minutes will reveal something I'd never noticed before. I’ve seen many methods, but not this !   

The scents !!!! Pure floral essence or attars and an exquisitely hand-carved sandalwood box.

I have already shared the 3 stand-alone patterns. Here, they are joined to create a broader garland. 

Marigold braid acts as the foundation row ;

Mustard fields acts as a filler middle row ; and

Jasmine braid tops the ensemble. 

Recommended thread size : between 30 to 50. The tatted model is worked mostly in vintage 40 which is equivalent to size 50. The measurements work out to :

Marigolds : ½ inch wide; 3 flowers = 1 inch

Mustard : ¾ inch wide (~ 4½” long)

Jasmine : ½ inch wide; 8 buds = 1 inch

Row 1 : Marigold Garland

UPDATE : Marigold Necklace pattern is now in pdf here

This row is tatted exactly as per pattern shared here, for desired length.
The first flower was mistakenly left unattached (see "Oops" below). 

Part of this length is for the main body, the rest for a tail or tie.

One fully loaded bobbin is sufficient for the 23 flowers in size 50, and a bit less for the green.

Row 2 : Mustard Fields

Attach thread to any of the marigold flowers and work a fabric of these single-shuttle picot flowers as per pattern & instructions here. This row is worked from right to left overall, but in a to an fro fashion as seen in next pic ...

The work grows from side to side as seen in the marked sequence – this is only a guide. 
There could've been a couple more flowers at the beginning (see "Oops" below)

On one side, the flower is attached, using a normal picot join, to the row 1 marigolds before returning back to the other side. But leave some slack on the joining loop to resemble a picot, as described in pattern.

To keep the 'open' edge relatively straight, I initially used grid paper – place your work on the grid, and see that the work is aligned to desired width.

Continue for desired width and length.

One fully loaded shuttle (size 50 thread) sufficed for this 4½” long segment.

Since we are working with a single shuttle and flowers are randomly arranged, some bare thread is required, old-style, to span the distance between 2 flowers. This, however, stays hidden on the wrong side. (a wrongside view of garland is shared below).

For a dense effect, keep the flowers close, and bare thread minimal. The texture & feel in fine thread is quite exquisite !

Row 3 : Jasmine Braid

Attach threads to a marigold nearest to the edge of body. The first ring is joined to an adjacent picot after closing, to anchor the braid well.
Basic pattern, shared here, remains the same, except that the left column of flowers is attached to previous row of mustards as follows ...
SR (on left)  : 8 + 2 p 6 vsp 2 / 2ushs p 1 p 1 .
SR (on right): 10 p 6 vsp 2 / 2ushs p 1 p 1.

In response to some confusion about direction of 3rd ring, I have drawn a diagram : 

Download pdf of Jasmine braid pattern with diagram 

To turn the corner : after tatting the right-side ring (numbered 1 in above pic), tat another ring without turning work. This ring 2 is joined to the vsp of ring 1. After closing, lock join to the vsp of previous left-side ring, and without turning work, tat ring 3.

 Ring 3 is lock joined to the picot of previous left-side ring as shown by the + sign. 
(see "Oops" below)

Now turn work and tat a regular left-side ring, joining to previous row and continue to desired length.

A gauge from the practice piece : It was not always easy to gauge where to attach the jasmine ring. A short practice piece of 5-8 flowers was very helpful in correct attachment! When it came time to join, I placed the gauge over the braid, matching the flowers, and knew which picot on row 2 would be needed.

When it was time to join, I placed the gauge over the braid, matching the flowers, and knew which picot on row 2 would be needed (crochet hook used as an indicator here).

TIP : If one does not want a straight-ish edging, join the jasmine at any stitch along the 10 stitches instead of after 8.

Only 2 instead of 3 continuous jasmine rings would've sufficed to turn this corner. The first ring actually got hidden under the previous right-side ring ! But 3 rings would work for a full turn.

 The jasmine braid is continued unattached to form a tail or tie. 

as seen from the wrong side.

I deliberately went with a different braid at each end in order to showcase them separately and also to keep a bit of freestyling. Obviously, the tatter is at liberty to use any combination of braids, or repeats of the same braid, to create many variations !

By altering the row widths, and combination/placement/addition of beads, or changing the thread colours, the pattern can become a necklace, a bracelet, anklet, belt, etc. or individual flowers/groups can be used as appliqué, brooch, and so on. How about a floral henna for a bride's hand ?!  

I am going to use it as a bookmark, hence no beads.

Oops !

Parts of this garland were tatted on the go, and a few mistakes crept in. Here is a listing to quell any confusion, hopefully :

1. Marigolds – the first flower is not joined. It was a mistake which I incorporated as a design modification in order to get the curve.

Since I did not know how long a tail was needed, the wip pics show 2 threads of this row at right end where I left the shuttles ‘dangling’, and completely the unattached braid tail at the end.

2. Mustard – the first few flowers are not as closely situated as the rest. I could’ve added a few with scrap thread later, but have left it for now.

3. Jasmine – the given pattern & diagrammed pdf starts with the first ring on the left, which is how I started the row initially. 

 

But it left an unseemly gap on the right side. Hence, for this garland, the first ring is on the right, BUT it is tatted backside just as in pattern. 

Close-up pics in Jasmine braid show that I did not keep the green thread at back of work while starting the next ring, thus the bare thread is visible on top.

Corner : For an gentle angle, instead of 3 continuous rings, 2 would suffice. The first of these is now hidden behind a previous ring on that side – one tatted & joined as usual, the next joined to the long picot of right side flower, and then turn work and tat the right side flower as usual.

Okay, I think I need a break from all these long posts, as do you my dear readers :-) 

Dear hubby misses my company due to the long hours spent daily in front of this PC ;-P

Hope you are enjoying fair weather and happily tatting away :-) 

see you in class !

marigolds in a row !

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a free pattern

This is the first of 3 patterns celebrating spring.

A garland (‘toran’) of marigold interspersed with mango leaves is often seen on entrances and is considered auspicious. My visualization here is a symbolic of the explosion of marigolds with advent of spring in India and can be used as a necklace. Incidentally, marigolds are centuries-old migrants from Brazil !

UPDATE (Apr 21, 2017) : Marigold Necklace pattern is now in pdf

Spring Garland 1 –

Marigold Necklace/‘Toran’

This garland tats up straight but has enough play to be worn as a necklace. Single flower(s) can be used as applique, brooch or other embellishments. A cluster of flowers can be tatted, too. Add beads and the applications/uses multiply.

Materials : 2 shuttles - orange in shuttle 1 for flower and green in shuttle 2 for foliage.

Techniques : Layered Onion rings (OR), long picots, thrown rings, onion ring join (ORJ), long picot join or decorative picot join.

Measurements : A little over ½ inch wide and length as required.

Abbreviations :

R	ring		RW	reverse work		CH	chain
ds	double stitch		DNRW	do not reverse work		SS	switch shuttles
p	long picot		ORJ	onion ring join		–	normal picot
italics – worked backside in fs/bs tatting (optional)

Basic Pattern :

Since there is an element of freestyle in this pattern, the instructions can be considered as guidelines.

With shuttle 1, start first flower :

R1: 1ds, ( p, 1ds )x7. DNRW                               (7 picots total)

R2: 1ds, ( p, 1ds )x7, ORJ, ( p, 1ds )x7 . RW       (14 picots total)

CH: 7ds  SS

R3: 4 – 4 DNRW

R4: 7 – 7 DNRW  SS

CH: 7ds . RW

Repeat for required length, joining R2 to previous flower at 3^rd picot. Keep the joining loop long to imitate a picot. 

Please NOTE:

1. all picots (p) are long, including while joining.

2. for layered onion ring : (pictorial A )

all picots on inner ring are long ;

fold inner ring forward and start outer ring at base from behind;

when making the onion ring join, pull loop of chain thread through inner ring picot, pass shuttle, tension and make 2^nd half stitch only. 

Continue with pattern to complete the other half of ring.

One pair of unattached marigolds made.

3. joining to adjacent flower : ( pictorial B)

Start As before, fold the inner ring forward and start the outer ring from behind.  

 Make a normal picot join to the 3rd picot of previous ring, but.... 

 ...leave some slack on the loop - equal in length to the long picots. You will notice an extra length of thread, but it adds volume for a denser look.

Once the ring is closed, the extra thread is not visible. This method of joining at a distance keeps the flowers symmetric and equidistant. I termed it long picot join or decorative picot join.

A bead in the center of the flower would look great, wouldn't it ? 

And may be one could turn back joining either on the flower side or the leaf side for an insertion, bracelet, or .... I leave it to your imagination and creativity. Surprise me :-D 

This is it for now. I hope you like the pattern and enjoy tatting it as much as I did ! I will update the pdf link here, as well as on my Patterns page later.

happy tatting always J

UPDATES (April 10) : the complete pattern is now posted ....
Part 2 - Jasmine braid
Part 3 - Mustard fields
Spring Garland

This pattern was shared with Online tatting Class on April 3, 2017