thrown, floating and 8 rings

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Please note that the post and pdf have been updated on 30th August 2021. In case you already downloaded the pdf, kindly click on the link to refresh the document.

Tatting with an international community throws up interesting facts and ideas. All patterns in Endrucks' (1920) book use 2 shuttles and has plenty of rings made by switching the shuttle in hand - you guessed it - thrown rings! However, as Ninetta pointed out, a lot of Italian tatters have mastered the art of tatting with a single shuttle and ball, and adapting any pattern to suit this. It got me thinking about all the various ways in which we throw off a ring and here is the result of that exploration/stream of thought.

Thrown Ring Methods - a Ready Reckoner. click this link to download the complete document - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PhXhtq9K-WiUbys0dwwZuOIat10hGlB0/view which contains pictorials for each method as well as patterns to practice. Included at the end is a list of Needle tatting resources. 

For several of the patterns, despite having a pdf, I had to give the link to the blog post because the pdf link just wouldn't work the moment I converted this doc into a pdf. Probably some formatting glitch.

 

Following is a limited glimpse into each method. 

Gapsosis - A frequently asked question is how to avoid any bare thread/gap between the chain and the thrown ring. Above is an old pictorial I had done in response to this very question, where we have a trefoil instead of a single ring thrown off the chain - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2017/05/squirreling-away-gapsosis.html. 

1. Using 2 shuttles. I prefer this method except when I want to create a point in the chain where the ring is.

A thrown ring does not necessarily have to be floating above a chain or ring! It can lie above a join, between 2 chains, and can also face inwards.....

While this 8-ring appearance may not use the term thrown ring, the blue ring is made exactly according to any of the TR methods (in above case, with 2nd shuttle). 

Several other effects can be seen in the above model. Can you identify the thrown ring(s) in each?

NOTE: Although not shown in the pictorials, the pink ring need not be alone. We can have 2,3,or more rings below, with 1 or more TRs above!

All the rest of the methods are made with one shuttle and ball. Compare the colour of the TR and the chain curvature between each method. It is very important that chain stitches are snugged properly before attempting the TR.

2.A. Flipped-Up ring is simply a normal ring that is turned upwards before continuing with the chain.

2.B. Since I didn't like the way it sat, I tweaked it by stabilising and centering the TR with on overhand tie and keeping the ball in front of the work.

3. Loop Tatted Ring can be used to throw off a ring as well.

4. We all know that the Self-Closing Mock Ring is often used to deliberately create a pointed chain - whether it is a 1ds SCMR or a larger thrown ring.

Direct Tatting. In certain cases, it is easy direct tat a chain and throw off a ring, using single shuttle and ball. Tatting will move from right to left, but the shuttle will be in position to make a thrown ring.

Even if the shuttle is not in position, it can be brought to where we need it, by the following 2 methods -

5.A. Twist Work - I start by making an unflipped half-stitch but instead of snugging. I pull the shuttle upwards (or downwards, if required) such that the threads now switch position and I have the shuttle where I need it. I had explained it here to switch threads after a lock join - 

 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nRj_48VHK2LjhcxdQnirXBVweKO6h2ow/view 

5.B. Shoe Lace Trick - we all know this, but I avoid it and prefer other repositioning methods, including twist work. Jon Yusoff has explained this method very nicely here (wish I could get my SLT to behave so well!) - https://tatsaway.blogspot.com/2010/05/sometimes-you-dont-need-two-shuttles.html  

6. Changing Course - When another row/round follows the one with thrown rings, one can choose to shift the rings to the next row/round and make them normal rings. Obviously the direction of the rings will change, and sometimes it may cause ruffling/cupping/distortion. However, it worked fine in the above version - those purple rings were supposed to be thrown rings from the previous round, but I wanted this colour here, hence.... https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2019/06/valley-of-flowers.html 

I tatted this twice! My intention was merely to showcase the different effects when using each of the methods (lower scroll). But then somebody asked whether I had a tutorial actually showing how to do a thrown SCMR. So, I started over, taking stepwise pics for each method. 

And now I'm calling it a Ready Reckoner (RR), because as far as possible, I have included everything we'd want to know about Thrown or Floating Rings. I would love to get your feedback on this format and exercise. I already have another RR on the way that was started in July in response to a friend's request for help. 

Click to download complete pdf - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PhXhtq9K-WiUbys0dwwZuOIat10hGlB0/view 

timeless dancers

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The tribal dancers are finally here in their full glory! These gypsies took their own sweet time, didn't they?! Modern style presentation of pattern #18 from the German book ‘Die Schiffchen-Spitzen’,1920, by Frau Eleonore Endrucks-Leichtenstern is now in pdf form for the Endrucks 1920 Project. 

Direct link to #18 pattern reworked by Paola Bevilacqua and muskaan - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vib_1C2e0SuRzUsMitUCbp67Nc5iT7xQ/view 

There are 4 rows, tatted in one-pass. No modernisation here - Endrucks' herself tatted it continuously! Simple techniques - 2-shuttle tatting, block tatting, thrown rings, lock join - and voila, a complicated-looking design is born!

The single motif  is a bilaterally symmetrical version, which is also indicated in the pdf. 

Paola Bevilacqua first tatted a single motif in Dec 2020 using a ball and shuttle. Her pics are shared here, and her process pics are also in the pdf.

Row I - This is also a stand-alone pattern listed as #18/a and reworked by Paola Bevilacqua. This is uploaded as a separate pdf in the Project files.

It can be curved a wee bit by making the upper yellow rings smaller or substituting with beads. Embellish with beads and we have ourselves a beautiful necklace!

I deliberately used 2 contrasting colours in order to clearly distinguish which shuttle is in play for which element. 

Row II - The model is tatted using frontside/backside tatting and it was amazing to see that All red elements are worked backside while all yellow elements are frontside - throughout the entire 4 rows!

In this row, Endrucks uses an extra chain on one side of the block to reach the other yellow ring. It is barely discernible.

Row III - This is a chains-only row. We climb out of the previous row with a long chain. In the original, this chain is shorter because she ends row II after the 1st block despite having 2 blocks at the starting end. I chose to make them symmetrical and preferred the broader arch.

Row IV - A quick chains-only row! 

Do you see Gandhiji's 3 monkeys here? Possibility of yet another adaptation? 

TIP: Throughout the pattern I counted my joins as a half stitch. On the front side, I used a down loop for lock join (and vice versa) since it leaves a smaller footprint.

Rows II to IV also form a standalone pattern #18/b. It was tatted and diagrammed by Elisabetta De Napoli and the pdf is in the Project files. You can see all her other contributions to this project in Ninetta's post here.

I have strung beads on metallic threads and wound up my shuttles to make this 18/b into a crown!

Merely curious to see how this broad lace would look upended. What do you think?

TIP: My block tatting in this project is a midway path.... Endrucks' uses (1ds,picot) to climb out to the next chain in a block. Instead of the 1ds, I simply made the picot long enough to span the height of the current chain, and a bit extra to ease joining of next chain. I think it works well doesn't it? 

On close inspection, you can see that some rings in the red/yellow model face opposite to each other, when cut vertically or horizontally. Compare this with the 4-coloured model on the right where symmetry is 'perfect'. 

With a tiny bit of jugglery and thrown rings in place of normal rings, this lace can become symmetrical. Only one chain requires a downward picot for the adjoining ring to be linked later. These modifications are also explained/inked in the pdf. 

I used 4-colours to distinguish each row if we want to tat it in this manner. But despite 4 colours, it is still worked in one pass, and I used false ctm to add in new colour. 

Anchor Pearl cotton size 8 is used for both models. A few minor changes from the original had to be made.

I had attempted to increase the skirt by another 2 rows in a 3rd model but ran out of thread and time. Perhaps some time in future. And what about a 3D skirt that goes all around? Easy enough to tat using the same stitch count! Could be adapted for a skirt/gown or bell, etc.

It is now up to you creative tatters to adapt this pattern to your vision and share with us. If one Facebook, tag Ninetta or myself, and use the hashtag #Endrucks1920Project. You will find all details and links to original and modern in the Project files here. 

My heartfelt thanks to all the lovely ladies mentioned here - 

dancing is fun only when friends are around 💖💝💖

Related Posts

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2021/05/has-tatting-made-you-cry.html 

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2021/05/tears-of-joy.html

https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2021/05/chain-reaction_15.html

https://ninettacaruso.blogspot.com/2021/06/co-learning.html

squirreling away gapsosis

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how to avoid gapsosis in thrown rings and birdhouse squirrel !

Nothing new here for experienced tatters but do scroll down for the latter. 

Avoiding  gapsosis  in  thrown  ring clusters

Newer learners often face a problem of gapsosis in case of thrown rings and especially thrown ring clusters such as trefoils and clovers. 

Ungainly bare threads can be avoided with these 2 simple steps : 

1. fold the last ring of cluster over the earlier rings and hold in pinch ;

2. tat 1 ds as close to the base of the last ring as possible WITHOUT removing from pinch ;

voilà, now you can release from the pinch, unfold and continue with chain tatting normally – the gapsosis has been avoided and the thrown rings will sit close upon the chain.

NOTE : this same fold, pinch, and tat is equally effective with trefoils and clovers when a normal chain follows it after RW (reverse work). 

A pictorial on how to avoid gapsosis

If required, wiggle the knotting thread a bit till you can feel it flush against the last ring, 

with no core thread left.

 Release the pinch and unfold Only After 1 full double stitch has been made .

In case there is still a gap, untat the 1ds and do over.

This works for me. There may be other equally effective ways, too.

A few previous posts about gapsosis – how to avoid and also when/how it can be useful.

I will talk more about this snowflake in next post, in response to a tatter’s dilemma.

Our  birdhouse  owner !

And here is our birdhouse resident for this season. Not a bird, but a squirrel !!!

(click on pics to enlarge)

Notice how it has stuffed the house with rags n ‘riches’ ;-P

S/he does not take kindly to guests ! After a few moments of glaring motionless at each other, the ‘owner’ jumped at the intruder and it squirreled away. Our guest went back to resting on the rooftop J

We've had this birdhouse for over 2 decades and except for the first couple of years, no bird has made it's nest. Squirrels, do stash their pickings before winter, using it as a storehouse. But this time we have an actual resident for the last few weeks and can see it sprawling on the roof every evening !

These pics were taken through out French door glass. Hope to take a few more with doors open, and a closer view. 

happy tatting while bird , errr , squirrel watching  :-)

refresher

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The weather calls for frequent cool refreshments; my memory calls for frequent refreshers !

This post is a refreshed version of my previous post where I had a posted a hasty response as update. I was not fully satisfied. 

Reason : I had tatted the SQDR in 2014 ; then the RR in 2015 ; and was writing the post in 2016. During the intervals neither of the two techniques were used. High time for a refresher course, right ?! And I needed to confirm my explanation/comparison. 

This time, trial tats are included for easy comparison.

Also, as I hunted online, I found a few more tutorials/videos. Incidentally, I had already tatted samplers of some, & only later found that videos were already online. So here I go again ….

Practice Pattern Used :

SH1 – pink ; SH2 – shaded green.

2 colours used for clear distinction. Variegated thread gives more idea of the direction & progression.

I start with a 1” long lock chain to show clearly where the threads emerge after central ring is closed.

Disclaimer : This is not a tutorial but a collation/annotation of methods, with a few trials thrown in. The terminology, origin, & collection is limited to and limited by the knowledge & comprehension of the blogger, and to the resources consulted to date.

Common threads Set II : Rings On Ring

or 

Central Ring with Multiple Thrown Rings

The traditional method of tatting the ‘daisy medallion’¹ is to make a central ring with picots, then cut & restart the next round, or climb out with a mock picot. The next round consists of rings that are joined at each picot either at their base when using single shuttle (with bare thread between rings) or at their tips with chains between adjoining rings when using shuttle & ball.

But tatters have long since hit upon ways to tat rings directly on the central ring. These are called thrown off rings, thrown rings, or floating rings. No picots or second round  required – all tatted in one pass. The thrown rings can also be Josephine rings.

I was interested in seeing whether one can throw multiple rings off a central ring, yet emerge out at the starting point. There seem to be at least 4 main ways to achieve this goal :

• Loop Tatted Ring on Ring
• Wrong-Way Tatting or Reverse Ring;
• Split Quadruple Directional Ring  aka Ring Off Split Ring;
• Mock Ring or Self Closing Mock Ring

I continued the experiment a bit further, branching out to separate exit points or using 2 different ways to throw rings off the 1^st side of a split ring. But these are off-shoots of the above set. One can also tat the central split ring using Dora Young Method and throw rings off it², but it is rarely used for SRs any longer. If one is working with a single shuttle, then this can be an option.

I must also admit that with the ease of tatting a SCMR, many of the other methods have limited use.

A 3-page pdf includes the 3 pics above. Click here to download pdf . 

Since it is all tabulated/notated, I am restricting textual explanation here to comments/pointers & some tutorial links.

1. Loop Tatted Ring on Ring (LTROR)

Most useful when tatting with a single shuttle.

Some dexterity with finger-tatting is required (although loop can be inserted into a shuttle temporarily). 

Size of central ring & number of thrown rings are limited since the central ring is a true ring.

LTROR with pattern by Sabina Carden-Madden 2008 , diagrams by Jane Eborall 2012 and diagrams by Jane Eborall and by Anastasija P. Yelisejeva 2012 , video by Karen Cabrera 2013

2. Wrong-Way Tatting or Reverse Ring (RR)

Tatting direction is opposite to that of LTROR, and central ring is tatted with reverse stitch instead of double stitch. Core thread differs from stitches, hence 2 shuttles required. Care must be taken when starting the ring. Limitations similar to LTROR. 

This method of tatting may be ‘normal’ for left-handed tatters.

Rebecca Jones' 1985 book 'The Complete Book of Tatting' calls it Method Five - Wrong-Way Tatting (p26)³; Ruth Perry's Tatted Reverse Ring with Rings Thrown Off video & her RainBeau hedgehog pattern 

3. Split Quadruple Directional Ring (SQDR) or Rings Off Split Ring

The central ring is a split ring, with thrown rings on the 2^nd side. If the 1st side has a single DS as in this pattern, then the threads exit almost at the starting point as in LTROR & RR. If both shuttles have same thread, the split is almost indistinguishable. Teri Dusenbury 1998 named it SQDR, with instructions & pattern. This term has been substituted by the Ring on/off SR - diagrams by Jane Eborall 2008, and video by Karen Cabrera

The 2^nd model on right side has more DS on 1^st side for comparison, but notice the exit of threads. 

Loop Tatted Ring on Split Ring (LTROSR) 

Major limitation of Rings on SR is that thrown rings are made only on the shuttle2 side.

This limitation can be overcome by throwing LTR (loop-tatted rings) on side 1, as seen below, But threads will exit from a point other than the starting point :

video by Karen Cabrera

See also MROR below.

4. Mock Ring (MR) or Self Closing Mock Ring (SCMR)

This technique has solved all problems or limitations of above techniques. Rings can easily be thrown anywhere around the central ring; both central & thrown rings can be as large as one wants; the threads will emerge at the starting point; all tatting is from front in clockwise direction, using only DS.

The only limitation is if one wants thrown rings in 2 different colours.

Mock Rings have been around for over a century⁴, although SCMR is a relatively recently coined popular term. Diagrams by Jane Eborall 2008

Mock Ring in Split Ring (MROR)

I have included this method to compare with LTROSR. It uses MR to throw rings on side 1 of a central SR, although strictly speaking the threads will not exit at the starting point ...

 

Interestingly, side 2 is tatted first, then side 1. Multiple rings can be thrown on side 1 of the central ring, but the multiple loops are difficult to control. Moreover, since the loops remain open till the very end, size & number of rings need to be curbed. Requires quite a bit of practice, but if one single thrown ring is required, this can be adopted. 

diagrams by Ninetta Caruso 2012,  as well as stepwise pictorial with tatting ; video by Karen Cabrera

Here are my trials with the MROR ... even with these many trials, I could not control the shape & the central ring tended to lose it's curve.

Tried multiple little tweaks & kept referring back to the pictorial, diagrams & video. Finally I have come to 2 conclusions : the thrown ring has to have a certain minimum stitchcount for a good shape & control ; it may not be advisable to have a large central ring, or multiple thrown rings. One medium to large MR on a SR is ideal for me.

To Summarize :

This compilation has explored the various choices one has. But with the ease & scope of a SCMR, this has become a bit of an academic exercise. Notwithstanding, each technique can have it's advantages in specific situations, to get out of a tight corner, or for a designer.
How one chooses a particular technique of a combination of one or more, may be determined by :

• pattern requirement,
• colour placement when working with 2 colours,
• size of central ring,
• number of shuttles being used,
• number, size & position of thrown rings,
• exit or climbing out point(s) of threads,
• skill & comfort level of tatter. 

Phew !!!! Hope some of this is helpful to someone ! free pdf download

happy tatting :-)

¹ Elgiva Nicholls' 'Tatting: Technique & History' 1984
² discussed by Patty Dowden in this Craftree thread
³ cited by Judith Connors' in this Craftree thread
⁴ Judith Connors' An Illustrated Dictionary of Tatting'

Related post : Ring with Thrown Rings

Bookmark with SQDR
Hedgehog with RR