interwoven beaded bracelet

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As promised, here is another pattern and technique reveal from my bead tatting post back in May. All relevant links are listed at the end of this post.

A simple name - Muskaan's Interwoven Beaded Bracelet, made using four shuttles with pre-strung beads on each and Barbara Arango's variation of the Interlocking split rings technique.

Above is a practice pattern I am sharing. As you can see in the inset, traditionally 4 shuttles are used and the split rings are tatted simultaneously, lying close to each other. The idle pair of shuttles is passed through the open SR and then the ring is closed so that the next SR will is encapsulated and overlap with the previous. video link at end

Barbara used the flexibility of 4 shuttles to distance the SRs with a chain between two SRs. She used it to create the desired effect in a round doily! 

Practice Pattern: 

To keep track, I used 4 different thread colours in each shuttle....

Sh1: yellow; Sh2: cream; Sh3: pink; Sh4: blue.

I started with two normal rings.

Sh1) R1: 18. dnrw, SS

Sh2) Ch1: 6.

Sh3) R2: 18. dnrw, SS [insert R1 through R2]

Sh4) Ch2: 6.

Sh1) SR3: 9 / 9. dnrw, SS  [pass shuttles 3 & 4 back to front through SR3 before closing it]

Sh2) Ch3: 6.

Sh3) SR4: 9 / 9. dnrw, SS  [pass shuttles 1 & 2 back to front through SR4 before closing it]

Sh4) Ch4: 6.

Continue the SR steps for desired length.

Posting the shuttles front to back will give the opposite overlap.

Having 4 shuttles meant I could have beaded strings instead of Barbara's chains between the SRs! Which led to the bracelet above. 

Muskaan's Interwoven Beaded Bracelet   ©May2025

String all 4 shuttles with seed beads. In my model worked with Anchor Pearl Cotton size 8 ---

Sh1 & Sh2 with teal thread, CTM, and purple seed beads

Sh3 & Sh4 with dark purple thread, CTM, and yellow seed beads

Follow the process and instructions as explained in the practice pattern. However, instead of chain, slide beads from both shuttles before starting the next ring or SR. 

Sharing only the repeated portion of the pattern ---

Sh1) R1: 3 [- 3]x7. Slide 5 beads from Sh1 & 2. dnrw, SS

Sh3) R2: 3 [- 3]x7. Slide 5 beads from Sh3 & 4. dnrw, SS [insert R1 through R2]

Sh1) SR3: 3 [- 3]x3 / 3 [- 3]x3. Slide 5 beads from Sh1 & 2. dnrw, SS [pass shuttles 3 & 4 back to front through SR3 before closing it] 

Sh3) SR4: 3 [- 3]x3 / 3 [- 3]x3. Slide 5 beads from Sh3 & 4. dnrw, SS [pass shuttles 1 & 2 back to front through SR4 before closing it] 

Repeat SR3 and SR4 for desired length. 

Posting the shuttles front to back will give the opposite overlap.

I ended with a curled ring (see inset) that works as a toggle for a quick & lazy finish.

Note: The beads are a slightly different size. Unfortunately I can't find my notes but I remember there was a little TIP I wanted to share. Oh well, perhaps I will find it some day and make a proper PDF presentation. 

Future Ideas - Add more beads in place of the picots. Throw off rings or decorative picots on one or either side. Attach more braids with same or additional colour for a broader version. The alternate SRs can differ in size or different sized threads can be used.

UPDATE (18th Aug, 2025) - Splocik has used the tweaked braid as a foundation, adding rounds around it, for two bookmark versions here - https://oczka2.blogspot.com/2025/08/zakladka-na-podstawie-motywu.html

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INTERWOVEN  versus  INTERLOCKING

Often the two are used interchangeably in tatting terminology. Confining myself to the split ring braids,  there are several techniques and effects that tatters have created over the years. These may range from a single row of split rings (called a SR braid or cord), or a double row where the SRs are interlaced and lie adjacent to each other. 

Or the braids may lie 'stacked' with overlapping SRs. These are the SR braids that are interwoven where the SRs from two braids lie intertwined through each other. These are also called interlocking SR braids and can be made with either 2 or 4 shuttles - two independent braids woven through each other; a foundational braid encapsulated within the second on-going braid; simultaneously tatting the SRs using 4 shuttles. 

Then there is the 3D chain maille effect where each subsequent SR lies at right angles to the previous one just like in interlocking chains and links in jewellery. I prefer to call these 3D SR braids Interlocked and the 'flat' ones Interwoven. This gives a more exacting visual especially since there are several ways to interweave and interlock the braids, whether 2D or 3D. 

Related Posts and Links -  
Simple interweaving - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2024/03/exciting-firsts.html 
Interlocking split rings 2 Karen Cabrera Lesson 79 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZR04RLHdmA0   (2 shuttles)
Interlocking split rings 2 Karen Cabrera Lesson 80 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBrDRLFibO8   (4 shuttles)
How to start and end SR without a knot - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2016/11/beginning-or-ending.html 
SR braids, including beaded, some with pictorials - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/search?q=SR+braid 

Interlaced SR braids with pictorials and patterns - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/search?q=interlaced+SR
Tatting with Beads - a few effects - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2025/05/bead-tatting.html

overlapping interests

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Barbara Arango first caught my attention on FB several years back when she tried to recreate a design at the back of a hand mirror into a tatted motif! Since then she has successfully recreated more fabric prints into tatted lace. And in order to get the desired effect, she comes up with her own solutions. Some of these are clever adaptations or applications of existing techniques, though they evolve from her own trials and errors, the fruit of her own labours, without realising prior existence.

My recent post showing a tatted ring made with her overlapping split rings generated quite some interest and a couple of requests to show the steps. With Barbara's permission, I am sharing my pictorials along with pics of a few projects where she used them ... see for yourself how wonderfully they can be applied. Some quick practice patterns are also included but let your imagination take you places! All you need to know is how to tat split rings!!!

In the end, for immediate comparison, I have also included my own 2016 effect where I first coined the term. Links to a snowflake using the effect are also listed at the very end.

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Abbreviations used: Sh=shuttle in hand; CTM=continuous thread method; SR=split ring; vsp=very small picot; ds=double stitch; Ch=chain; - = picot; + = join to; LJ=lock join to.

There is no need to reverse work. The motifs are worked from the front continuously in clockwise direction or from left to right.

A]  Overlapping  Split  Ring  Braid, Barbara Arango style (2019)

2 shuttles (CTM if working in single colour). For pictorial I used two colours - Sh1: pink, Sh2:cream - Anchor knitting cotton size 10.

1. SR1: 8 vsp 5 vsp 8 / vsp 5.

NOTE: While the first ring can be worked as a normal ring, I prefer to start with a SR here so that the shape of all rings remains the same.  

2. Start SR2 leaving a very small false picot.

SR2: 8 +(SR1) 5 vsp 8 / 5.

3. 2nd split ring tatted and is being closed.

4. Two split rings made and you can see the overlap between them.

5. Repeat SR2 for desired length, joining to previous ring as you go.

Practice Pattern for ring, bracelet or choker - 

6. Above is the braid I had shared in the post, using the same count. This can be started CTM as a normal ring, too.

After tatting a few more rings, I joined the last ring to the first, keeping the overlap consistent. Think of this as an ANKARS joining, positioning one ring above the other before joining. 

Pre-string beads to embellish as desired and use as jewellery.

I like the rectangular shape created by the rings with the above count. Got to thinking how even SRs would overlap. 

So, here I used 8ds between each vsp. Rings are rounder, but the overlap is consistent. To get them to overlap more, the overlapping segments need to be longer.

And here are Barbara's projects (2019-2022) using the braid style -

Notice how the rings get smaller?

The applique and embroidered designs on the left inspired her to recreate it in tatted lace and she used the overlapping SR braid effectively.

And to remind you of the practice pattern I shared in my previous post: 

Little 3D Flower pattern - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2025/02/vee-bit-late.html . 

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B]  Overlapping  Split  Rings , Barbara Arango style #2 (2021)

The same technique as above but used in a kind of onion ring formation, in one pass. Here Sh1 has cream and Sh2 has pink thread.  If working with single colour, use continuous thread.

1. SR1: 5 vsp 10 / vsp 5.

2. Leave a very small false picot and start 2nd split ring.

SR2: 10 +(SR1) 5 / 5. Switch shuttle

3. With Sh2 in hand, continue for chain...

Ch: vsp 10 - 10 LJ(SR1) 10 - 10 LJ(SR2). Switch shuttle

4. One motif of overlapping split rings made, all worked from the front.

5. Start 2nd motif with Sh1 in hand, leaving a very small false picot.

SR3: 5 vsp 10 / 5.

6. Repeat from SR2 onwards for desired length. 

TIP: Instead of a lock join  through the false picot, one can make an under-over or alligator join from the 2nd motif onwards.

Wouldn't this make a lovely bracelet or choker when embellished with a few choice beads!

And here's how Barbara applied it in a doily (2021) -

This is the doily inspired by a design behind a hand mirror. And to get the effect, she cleverly used this formation of the overlapping split rings! Since then she has created several more designs which you can view in the Just-Tatting FB group.

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 Overlapping Split Rings , Muskaan (2016)

It was back in 2016 that I first shared my nascent trial and coined the term Overlapping Split Rings. As you can see from the pic below, my method involves a braid of uneven split rings which are folded and joined back to create an overlap in the center. The SRs remain free in the center creating a distinct 3D and faux Celtic effect. 

SR-A: 9 / vsp 12.

SR-B: 4-1-1-4 / 12.

SR-C: 9 / 12.

Lock join to vsp of A.

One motif created. 

I used this motif to design a snowflake. Despite the immediate help of my trusted test-tatters, I haven't published the pattern here. I called it the Mutant Snowflake. Following are respective posts - 

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2016/01/tatting-effects-patterns.html
https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2018/02/i-love-tatting-3d.html

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2019/09/the-jinx-of-13.html

We can also increase the number of rings to get polygonal shapes and interesting overlaps!

I realise this is a long post. However, if I didn't post now it would further get delayed. Thanks for your patience in reading this and hope you try and experiment with some of them.

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In case you wish to use leftover threads for trials, here are a couple of pictorials that will help you start knotless with a split ring without CTM - 

How to start with a split ring - PDF: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lKYLoLFEhMycP4YFsemIEyk4TUjn69Q-/view

How to start a split ring with a picot - PDF: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OS_9VdZSoWVSsOtQYT8UVb4nV6exmf2p/view

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Many thanks to Barbara for extending the boundaries! All in the eye of the beholder!

pleasure and pondering

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 Something old something new with loads of fun and possibilities. I found it listed in Karen Cabrera's Lesson #151 - Double Chain. At the end of the video is a model which was clearly a Jane Eborall pattern. However when I went to Jane's Techniques page, there is no listing for it. Finally I traced down the pattern where she used it - Butterfly with Fancy Edging (2001 rewritten 2011).

And I went a couple steps further, playing with some effects. This is merely a small window into possibilities which can be explored in future. In the above pic you see the three samplers and details follow ...

Abbreviations used: SH = shuttle ; SS = switch shuttles ; DS = double stitch ; RORS = reverse order reverse stitch (as in RODS) ; DC = double chain

Original Double Chain using 3 threads. All double stitches, but you switch shuttles and core threads. 

Step1: SH1 is the active shuttle (lavender) and SH2 thread forms stitches (green). Make 1DS and SS.

Step2: SH2 is the active shuttle (green) and SH3 thread forms stitches (brown). Make 1DS and SS.

Repeat steps 1 & 2 to desired length.

If using 3 colours, the first one remains hidden.

What if we added another thread? 'Double Chain' or should we say 'Triple Chain' using 4 threads. At least 3 shuttles are required while the 4th one can be a ball.

The process is exactly the same, except for the additional thread requiring an extra step.

Despite how they've been photographed, these are not straight chains. When I tried to straighten the DC variation, the SH1 core thread (green in this case) became visible between the stitches. Does make for a nice effect, though. The more threads you add, the wider this colour blip.

TIP: Yes, they can become straight if we use a thicker thread in SH1. 

NOTE The SH1 core thread remains free throughout but the other core threads become 'locked in'. Hence care should be taken to snug each stitch properly.

Since multiple shuttles are used, we can throw off rings and make chains! Imagine the free-styling one can do! And of course we can add beads in so many wonderful arrangements and colours!

In the above sample, I allowed the chain to curve.

TIP: This double chain can be used to make mock rings.

When I showed Ninetta a sneak peek, she sent me a link to Edda Guastalla's site where she has used and diagrammed the double chain technique.

https://digilander.libero.it/chiacchierino/tecnica/bordooro.html . Not sure about the year yet.

Its not just fun and games. There are several lessons and some startling observations that emerged from this project! Let me share these with you and would love to read your insights and feedback.

Comparing Double Chain with other Techniques

1. Is it Pearl Tatting? 

To the extent that there are extra/auxiliary/additional threads, it can be considered pearl tatting. However there are differences - 

    the chain is not straight ;

    stitches face the same way, not opposite ; and

    the stitches are in two separate tiers, not on a common core thread.

2. Is it a Cord or cord tatting?

No, because the chains have a tendency to curve just like regular chains. The reason is obvious because the broader stitch caps are all lined up on one side. See TIP above.

3. Is it similar to Daisy picot?

Yes, it can be considered a chain version of the daisy picot technique. This is something I tried on the last few stitches and it worked.

    the stitches are two-tiered ;

    the double chain can be worked with only one shuttle (SH2 in the tatted sample) and 2 balls, making DS with one thread and RORS with the other thread. The reverse order reverse stitch (RORS) has to be coaxed gently to face outward (like the DS) and then repeat. 

    

4. Is it Helix Tatting?

Now here's the clincher! It is actually a precursor to helix tatting! It is the 2D version with exactly the same technique/process.

If we add more threads and join it back to the first thread, voila, we have a hollow tube as in helix tatting! 

5. Is it ATT?

Alternate Thread Tatting is a term coined by Shuttle Brothers where two threads (and often two shuttles) are used to make rings and chains incorporating an array of effects involving picots, thrown rings, colour switches, etc. 

    stitches all face outwards and they use the daisy picot a lot ;

    but the ATT chain is made with only two threads, not three (or more) ; 

    While rings (ATR) are made with two threads, the double chain (with 3 threads) can only be joined back as a mock ring. 

I think we can clearly rule out ATT.    

6. Is it TATHing?
Tatting with Alternate Thread is a term coined by Judith Connors where two shuttles are used alternately on the core thread as in pearl tatting, Maltese rings, daisy picot. 

    In this double chain, the stitches or picots (if any) face the same way, but it can be tatted using the daisy picot method. 

    However, the chain does need three threads to be made.

So where do we stand on this point? I'm not sure. Does TATHing include effects where the stitches face the same way? 

This is it for now. Hope to hear your thoughts and input.

UPDATE (10th Sep 2024): In Priscilla Tatting Book No.3, a 'double chain' is illustrated (Diag. 7) for the Tatted Centerpiece made with Needle and Shuttle pattern. Here some stems are worked as normal chains with a shuttle and then a second tier of stitches are inserted between the stitches below using a needle. Thank you, Mary A!

Many thanks to all mentioned. Its always a productive day when we learn something!

exciting firsts

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 Editing the book, 'The Six T's of Shuttle Tatting' is creating opportunities to try out exciting techniques and effects, long in my to-try list. And learning a Lot in the process. The author, Net Best, had created one glossary for her book, and another more comprehensive glossary for her group and possibly for later digitization. We decided to combine both to make the glossary as updated as possible, which was her main goal. This also means we have to add missing sampler images. I have reached out to several of my tatting friends to contribute some specific pics (with due credit), and so far everybody has graciously given permission. 

While I won't be sharing all pics, here are a few - I love the way these turned out!  

1. BROOMSTICK PICOT - 

I followed Karen Cabrera's Lesson #104 - https://youtu.be/yp5W6ZrDF9I

And since the long adjoining picots need to be joined to create the effect, I allowed my shuttles to create this little motif - like a flame within a flame. 

Is it interesting enough for the pattern to be shared?

Although I'm sure there are tons of tatters who will simply count the stitches and tat it up, and we all know who will get the credit ... yes, Pinterest, LOL. 

I used really thick thread (probably a size 3) so that the effect shows up in thumbnail pics.

2. DANCING PICOTS -

I followed Karen Cabrera's Lesson #107 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DX7Ig978Xg4

This is a variation of the Daisy Picot and requires 2 shuttles.

I encapsulated the 2nd shuttle thread within the first half-stitch at the start and the last half-stitch at the end. (Judith Connors' tip).

While I tatted over the shuttle 1 tail at the start, I didn't do it for the Sh2 thread, although it can be done.

NOTE: All picots here (bare threads) can be both decorative and functional (for joining).

3. INTERWOVEN  SPLIT  RING  BRAID / CORD -

This 2-shuttle variation is attributed to Wally Sosa, and I referred to Jane McLellan's Choker pattern - https://janemactats.blogspot.com/2012/04/choker-pattern.html  [In the right panel on her blog page, you can find the pdf links for the lovely beaded versions of choker as well as a necklace].

All split rings are 8/8. This time I used Anchor size 20.

It comprises a red foundation cord tatted to desired length. Then the teal cord is worked, weaving the red cord alternately over and under through the open ring before it is closed. 

It is such a lovely piece! However, I have no idea how to use it. It is a bit short for a friendship bracelet coz I ran out of thread and don't wish to add more. 

Any ideas how I could use it?

I hope you enjoyed seeing and reading this, and will try to use these techniques in future tatting. And adding beads for even more variations. I certainly hope to incorporate my new learnings some day. For the present, I am busy tatting more samplers and working on the book, to the exclusion of all else. If I don't concentrate on it it will never get done. Our target is to finish it before year end.

And there are more to share ....

going wide

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 Remember when I posted the E37 flower flake and star and was not very happy with my wide picot? I couldn't always get the stitches under/within the picot to stay consistent and neat. So, I explored some more which I should've done at the beginning, having the links in my Tatting Resources page already! Well, my oversight gave me a chance to study it better.

Download my pdf of Wide Picot Pictorial here - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ejb7tVOk15VQHV0omhUt-HIb1CzYAI7I/view 

All tuts I referred to had the wide picot on a ring. This means there is the ring loop besides the loop(s) for the picot, etc. Unnecessary confusion. I decided to do the steps on a chain where I could employ two colours.

This is the main step that differs in different online tutorials. As always, we have options to choose from and see what works best for us.

In all tuts, the wide picot is encapsulated only in the 1st half-stitch while the 2nd half-stitch is worked normally.

The oldest tutorial I found was by Dan Rausch (tatmeister, 2003) - http://pages.suddenlink.net/tatmeister/widepicot.html?  However I found it difficult to follow his written instructions, oops.

Now this was a technique that Georgia loved to ask every new batch in her online classes.

Shannon (mytattingplace, 2011) had uploaded a video based on her understanding of Dan's technique and it is so clear to follow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qONlAylfXIQ

In this method (above pic), one needs to hold the loop on the left hand and make the 1st hs on this loop.

This is a little rosette I made using the wide picot and am fairly happy. Lizbeth size 20 used.

One can make smaller picots inside the wide picot, too. A floating Josephine ring would look good too! See Claudia's pictorial linked below.

 

Added leaves and stem in order to show that the picot in not merely decorative, but functional as well.

Added beads and findings for an earring.

TIP: After making the number of stitches encapsulating/within the wide picot, it is good practice to tug on the picot to remove any slack.

One can add pre-strung beads on the wide picot, too, but I don't see the point. I would much rather make a double picot, loading beads at the time of joining.  

When I showed Ninetta Caruso my pictorial, she shared her own method which involves simply twisting the loop for 1st half-stitch once before inserting the shuttle and snugging. She even made a video to demonstrate it - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XsqlFZHcVpopvRFBhTgR6_oQWqf98Bw7/view

For the E37 flake I had used Karen Cabrera's Lesson #34 video (kcabrera74, 2011) which is the easiest to perform - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaT-Pktx9nw . It is like making a normal join!

And just to complete the list, there are 2 pictorials by Claudia Meza (2010) in Spanish - https://howtotat.blogspot.com/2010/04/wide-picot-picot-ancho.html and https://howtotat.blogspot.com/2010/04/lochness-monster-picot.html?

So, each method is good. It is up to the tatter to practice and work them properly.

Ninetta has used the wide picot, aka Monster picot, quite often, including with treble tatting - https://ninettacaruso.blogspot.com/2018/09/a-wide-choice.html. Her Falbalà doily is a marvelous play with wide picots - https://ninettacaruso.blogspot.com/search/label/falbal%C3%A0 .

This time again, I am using the Wild Wide Flower earring as my entry for both Natalie Rogers' PICOT bingo (the Tat Earrings box which makes 3 boxes in a column) and splocik's Small Decorations.

Check out what others sent in as small decorations for Jan 2024 here- https://splocik2.blogspot.com/2024/02/male-dekoracje-2-galeria-styczniowa.html .

I haven't really played with the wide picot, satisfying myself with a very basic motif. Hopefully some day ....

Many thanks to all for sharing their knowledge, skills, and ideas so people like me can widen our own repertoire!

about Helix Tatting and more

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In late October, while working on the Dictionary part of ‘The Six Ts of Shuttle Tatting’, Anita introduced me to the term Helix Tatting and the developer of the technique, Richard Embrey. We worked on a definition or description to include in the dictionary and I also tried my hand at a quick trial to get a feel for it.

My very first trial (with mistakes) without shuttles

While I don’t want to reveal the definition, I will certainly do a sort of comparison to put things in perspective. Richard came up with this technique in 2019 while trying to make an I-cord in tatting when he couldn’t find a tatted equivalent. It started out as a tatted tube or cord but has since evolved and diversified into many more shapes, including a coronation cord and a fish! As always, it is our imagination that gets us soaring into new skies.

UPDATE - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2024/01/helix-tatting-pictorials.html  -- Includes PDF OF HELIX TATTING Pictorials 

Let me list down the major characteristics of Helix tatting (HT) as well as include links to visually similar techniques. Please note that a lot of these are my own thoughts and notes. Feel free to critique or suggest.

1. It is basically a 3D hollow cord or structure, made solely of chains, using multiple shuttles (4 or more). The outward appearance is like a spiral, especially visible when different colours are used.

2. Each shuttle alternately and sequentially acts as an active shuttle to become the core thread, and then  as a ball thread to form the stitches.

3. It is NOT bauble tatting, though it can be considered to be a variation. No separate ‘ribs’ are added for a scaffolding. Instead, each shuttle, in turn, acts as a core thread and provides the necessary stability to the structure. It also 'locks in' the previous segment when shuttles are switched.

4. It is NOT a continuous spiraling chain since short segments are made with a sequential change of shuttles. Each segment can consist of merely 1 stitch or as many stitches as one desires to create a broader shape. Two or more stitches give a more distinctive spiraling of the colours. The spiral is directional and there are ways to determine beforehand which direction one wants the spiral to run.

For instance this 3D Pond Reed prototype I had made back in 2014 using 2 shuttles– it is a continuous chain spiraling around itself, where I used the slope and roll joins to hold the shape. Clearly it is very different from HT.

5. It is NOT block tatting, though chain segments are apparently ‘stacked’ over each other. No lock joins are used. However the outward appearance can be confused with tatted ropes, with or without beads. Ninetta has done a wonderful study of various ways in which these 3D tatted ropes can be made, with links to respective tutorials. A couple of them even create a spiral effect! https://ninettacaruso.blogspot.com/search/label/stacking

6. HT is not limited to merely spiraling chains. With so many shuttles in play, it is easy to throw off rings and chains, use beads, add picots, and so on. Versatile.

7. There is another tatted tube example where we use stacked or layered split rings. No chains involved, only rings. And if the picots are shortened, the stacking will be that much closer. Clearly this is not HT in any sense of the term, except that it is also a form of continuous tatting for a 3D hollow tube.

tatted beaded rope made with stacked or layered split rings - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2019/10/tat-beaded-rope.html

See Ninetta's version of a spiraling tatted rope made with interlocking rings - https://ninettacaruso.blogspot.com/2020/08/gold-rope-chain.html 

8. BUT, there is something that definitely follows the same principle and concept as HT, and also gives a directional spiral! It is called Mac-Tatting (MT) and was first developed by Usha Kota in an attempt to imitate a crochet braid in tatting – it was a flat braid, worked too and fro. However, when I understood what HT was, it immediately crossed my mind that MT could be similar if worked continuously. And YES, it is the same, except that we work with unflipped or reverse stitches rather than flipped or double stitches! And you get a spiral, though the stitches face down while in progress. 

Mac-Tatting in the round (3D)

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2014/07/turn-work-in-reverse-stitch.html
https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2014/07/mac-tatted-braid-pattern.html
https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2014/07/mac-tatted-braid-written-pattern.html

Helix tatting & Mac-tatting trials, together

In my first attempts, I found it easier to work the Mac-tatting version - I had a better control of the threads and there was no tension issue. Helix tatting is fine once you get into a rhythm, but it requires more finesse. And managing all those shuttles can of course be an issue.

A couple of weeks back, Richard was invited to TOTC as a guest teacher to demonstrate the Helix Tatting technique. You can watch the video here - https://youtube.com/live/DXO9Pm0fq1U
Bonnie Swank shared her notes on how to do HT with needles. Richard also shared a practice pattern called Watermelon Dreams, with the class. https://www.theonlinetattingclass.com/patterns

Creative members have already shared a couple of clever ways to organize their shuttles to avoid tangling. I simply laid them down spread-eagled, on my bed. I did find that it is better to leave a longish length of thread to avoid frequent winding/unwinding; and since it is only 1 or 2 stitches each, the long length is not a bother. 

I am test-tatting a pattern for Richard for his upcoming book. It is called Watermelon Dreams Beaded Helix Embellished Earrings. 

It took me a few hours to find and empty all my shuttles, glue the numbers (I did it on both sides, LOL), string beads and wind the shuttles. 

In progress.

I've completed Round 7. My version is a Caps In spiral where the double stitch faces inside the cord and tatting progresses in a clockwise circle. 

That’s it from me for now ….. Welcome your thoughts.

Many thanks to Richard, Anita, and all the creative minds mentioned above!