graceful enthusiasm

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Reworked pattern from Frau Eleonore Endrucks-Leichtenstern’s ‘Die Schiffchen-Spitzen’, 1920, for Endrucks 1920 Project.

When enthusiasm wanes in one person, its flame may shift to another – that is what being in a group is all about! Somebody else carries the torch. It is what happened with pattern #41 after enthusisam was interrupted.
Since the diagram and text was already done, Ninetta and I decided to ask for a volunteer to tat the sampler. Gracie Chung stepped up and worked this beautiful lace.

Gracie sewed in beads and has pinned this sampler up on her office board. She wanted to tat a much longer length and had something more in mind. However tax season rolled in and she’s had to pause for a few months to focus on her job.

With these gems, the edging could easily be adapted into a crown or tiara!

 

Imagine my pleasant surprise when Anita Barry sent in her secretly tatted sampler in 2 colours as a back-up, just in case this pattern was jinxed, LOL and got left in the lurch again! 

And this sampler is on display, too, sewed to the ribbon on her straw hat!

Isn't it wonderful when tatted lace can be seen in public as in both these cases.

In the end, the pattern pdf for #41 combines the work, tips, and ideas of 5 tatters. Hope you like the confluence.
Endrucks’ Pattern #41 pdf in modern style (click link to download)  - 

 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zl7ep8dK4-SO_rWlqltcN6Hc2g4L1-80/view

Gracie Chung sportingly shared something about herself.  In her own words –

“I didn't grow up with the possibility to ever learning about tatting. No one in my family knows about it (I think). It's not until 2007 I chance finding shuttles in Joann's Fabric that I got curious about what shuttles were for that I googled it when I got home. The more YouTube videos I watched, the more interested I became and I decided to go back to Joann's to buy my first pair of the Clover Shuttles. And the rest is history.

 

I basically learned everything online, from Karen Cabrera videos, Jane Eborall's patterns and techniques, and then from your blog too.

 

My other hobby is reading. Mystery, cozy mystery most of the time. They don't clash, tatting while listening to audio-books is my ultimate relaxing method.

 

I think that's it. That's how I discovered the joy of tatting and trying to be more involved in the tatting world.”

She also gave us permission to share her tatted lace pictures from her FB timeline. Here’s a glimpse into her range of colourful projects, starting with necklaces, bracelets, earrings, adorable butterfly hair clips, snowflakes and doilies, and flowers - both 2D and 3D!

I’m sure we can all recognise several of these designs and designers. It also showcases the diversity in Gracie’s tatting choice, though her preference appears to be jewellery.

And to gaze at some of Anita’s tatting- https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2021/09/700-and-promises-still-to-keep.html

Ninetta says:

“I join Muskaan in thanking Gracie and Anita, and take this opportunity to thank all generous tatters who share their knowledge online. A lot of tatters have self-learned online like Gracie did! I am thinking of Marina Madzar, Pina Pinto, just to name 2 of our other contributors. A great reason for loving this project is that we are getting to know each other and have discovered that we are not lonely tatters, there’s always another enthusiastic tatter just round the (Internet’s) corner willing to help!”

With love and gratitude,
muskaan & Ninetta

Related posts –
https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2022/05/enthusiasm-interrupted.html - #41 candle edging sampler using BDS
https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2021/09/700-and-promises-still-to-keep.html - thanking Anita Barry

*********************
Endrucks 1920 Project is a community project, where patterns from Endrucks’ German book of 1920 were converted to modern-style presentations and pdfs. We welcome you to join our Facebook group “Endrucks 1920 Project” (please read the group’s description and rules before joining : https://www.facebook.com/groups/1235560633606162) where the fun continues with derivative tatting, new variations, activities, etc. all within the gamut of Endrucks’ patterns.

Using the hashtag #Endrucks1920Project when posting in FB or Instagram, ensures that your pic will show up in a search.

If you enjoy sharing and experimenting, or even test-tatting, the group is waiting for you! All info and links to patterns (original and modern), including model images, are in the Endrucks 1920 Project Document, here https://docs.google.com/document/d/17LEVftXweztBIOWh4sL4BB7bX65ssoOsOn4oXIgCepY/view There is still a lot to explore and extract, derive and apply and scrolling through this document will give you an idea of the possibilities and beyond.

*********************

enthusiasm interrupted

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Reworked patterns from Frau Eleonore Endrucks-Leichtenstern’s ‘Die Schiffchen-Spitzen’, 1920, for Endrucks 1920 Project

Did Frau Endrucks enjoy a plate of lobsters or perhaps watching them frolic in the water? Is it what inspired her edging #38? Are they holding claws for a dance or to avoid the traps?! Douglas Hill spotted lobsters, too, and named it the Lobster Edging. 

Lobster Edging (#38) pattern pdf:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EiWX78pK8oY8shFVGBFjdJIO0a4Y7fLh/view

I think it will be a good idea to include a diagram eventually.

This colourway does full justice to the arthropod. One could easily add a few beads and tweaks to strengthen the lobster motif. Great for applique and cards or perhaps a charm. Or how about a brooch, earrings, or pendant?

Incidentally, he preferred to tat it with a ball and shuttle rather than 2 shuttles, as seen in this WIP model. And to get the shuttle in position, a lot of shoe lace tricks (SLTs) were used.
Will this should make it easier for a needle tatter to follow the pattern?

He presented this pattern at the Finger Lakes Tatting Group mini-conference in September 2021, thus spreading the word about our Project.

When the lobsters are flipped, as in the above image, they give a very different look!

In 2020, Douglas had also chosen pattern #41 where he visualized the paired chains as a long row of short and long candles with the end rings acting as flames.

In order to get the long chains to stand straight, he wrote the pattern using balanced double stitch (BDS) in late 2021, but by the 3rd repeat in above sampler, he decided that the BDS did not work.

He was ‘frustrated… at not getting the pattern to work or look right…’ Ninetta and I tried to help with our joint review notes and possible options. However, he could ‘no longer boost his long exhausted enthusiasm’ and left this pattern as well as our Facebook group in Dec 2021.

The above is his working of pattern #7 which he chose in mid-2021. Again, not happy with his tatting, he forfeited the pattern.

Douglas is quite accomplished with the crochet hook, tatting shuttle, knitting needles and lace bobbins, including designing some spectacular crochet coats. Although he is not a regular blogger, do check out some of his works here - https://queerqrafter.com/ or on Facebook.

 

🦞🦞🦞🦞🦞🦞

AlenAlea Rako joined our Facebook group by adapting the pattern #3 edging into 2 square motifs that can be tessellated into a larger fabric if desired. She also graciously shared the pattern.

Two Squares (from #3) pattern pdf: 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eBwjp7wtMie1k2GeqrSUOerMH87uuu4A/view

In Square #1, she turned the corner inwards along the original sewing edge. This retains the beautiful lotus-shaped motif, with minimal changes to the original pattern.

Unhappy with the open space in the center of the square, she added an insert option for those who prefer denser lace. The insert is especially useful for larger lace fabric, providing additional sturdiness and durability.

It is always fun to ask ‘what if ….?’, and explore options! Hence this time, she turned the corner along the opposite edge resulting in an in-built denser flowery center. She shows us where we need to join motifs for tiling in her diagrams.

Unfortunately, Lea abandoned the pattern presentation maintaining absolute silence despite our private and public calls over the past several months. I have cleaned up the presentation (most of which she had approved earlier) and it is now available for all of us to enjoy.

Lea, too, is an accomplished tatting designer and hand dyes her threads creating beautiful colourways.

▦▩▦▩▦▩▦▩▦▩▦

Despite our best intentions life can get in the way of our commitments. Delays happen. Sometimes enthusiasm sags. Yet communication is key. As volunteering adults we should all be able to speak freely about any changes in commitment.

We thank both Douglas and AlenAlea for their contribution and hard work.

With best wishes and gratitude
muskaan and Ninetta 

💦💧💦💧💦💧💦💧💦

Related Posts
https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2021/11/the-foster-child.html - pattern #7
https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2021/11/willing-non-volunteer.html - pattern #7 adaptation
https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2021/09/700-and-promises-still-to-keep.html - pattern #3
https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2022/01/more-multiples.html - Square #3 using 2 colours
https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2022/01/who-knew.html - Fruit Bowl from #3
https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2022/03/bowled-over.html - Fruit Bowl pattern from #3

*********************
Endrucks 1920 Project is a community project, where patterns from Endrucks’ German book of 1920 were converted to modern-style presentations and pdfs. We welcome you to join our Facebook group “Endrucks 1920 Project” (please read the group’s description and rules before joining : https://www.facebook.com/groups/1235560633606162) where the fun continues with derivative tatting, new variations, activities, etc. all within the gamut of Endrucks’ patterns.

Using the hashtag #Endrucks1920Project when posting in FB or Instagram, ensures that your pic will show up in a search.

If you enjoy sharing and experimenting, or even test-tatting, the group is waiting for you! All info and links to patterns (original and modern), including model images, are in the Endrucks 1920 Project Document, here https://docs.google.com/document/d/17LEVftXweztBIOWh4sL4BB7bX65ssoOsOn4oXIgCepY/view There is still a lot to explore and extract, derive and apply and scrolling through this document will give you an idea of the possibilities and beyond.

*********************

girl interrupted

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 Despite the best of intentions, commitments can fall by the wayside. Usha Shah and Ayşe Özgür were among our original volunteers and started tatting immediately after selecting their respective patterns, sending in the first trial pictures.

Then life intervened, interrupting their commitment, and we lost their participation. However, their trial samplers are inspiring and a wee bit different from the original pattern, making it a pleasure to share with everybody. Both ladies are highly accomplished and talented and we expected nothing less, right!

The other commonality lies in the way the tatted they ‘block’ without switching shuttles, seemingly like a continuous chain. Hence despite working with 2/3 colours, their block chains remain the same colour.

Ayşe Özgür worked pattern #7 in 3 colours! Her sampler resembles oya mekik or Turkish lace, partially because of the thread used. If we compare closely, this sampler is a modification of the original pattern not merely in colours but also techniques, direction of chains, etc. A possible variation to keep in mind when tatting.

This is the pattern that went through many hands before landing in mine and the pattern was shared here - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2021/11/the-foster-child.html

Ayşe tats a range of flower motifs, both 2D and 3D. These original designs are very pretty and colourful and impeccably made – a mix of tatting and Turkish oya. However she uses shuttles instead of needle. Besides her Facebook profile, she hosts a FB group (Tatting Ayse), has a YouTube channel, and an etsy shop. Do check out her inspiring work. 

Usha Shah of Shuttle Creations is another talented tatter, designer who needs no introduction. All one needs to say is Dot Picot! She chose pattern #39 and sent in this trial sampler.

Again, if one examines closely, it is a modification or variation of the original, with the block chains worked continuously without switching shuttles or turning work. The vertical segments stand up straight, providing a nice symmetry.

The way her chains stack up, reminds me of peacocks! Do you see birds with open plumes, too?

When Usha could not return to this project, despite wanting to, I was at a stage where it was easier to do it myself than request for volunteers and review their work. (We wanted different names on the modern pdfs than repeating the same). The entire review process is very time- and energy-consuming, without the pleasure of actual tatting ;-D If you remember, I had tremendous fun doing the pattern and adaptations - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2021/11/a-trip-to-beach.html

Usha has shared many lovely original and unique patterns for free in her blog - https://shuttlecreations.blogspot.com/. She, too, is on various social networking platforms including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp. If you haven’t yet, do check out her inspiring work.

We are grateful to both ladies for their attempts, even if they could not see their projects through to the end.

muskaan and Ninetta

*********************

Endrucks 1920 Project is a community project, where patterns from Endrucks’ German book of 1920 were converted to modern-style presentations and pdfs. We welcome you to join our Facebook group “Endrucks 1920 Project” (please read the group’s description and rules before joining :  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1235560633606162)  where the fun continues with derivative tatting, new variations, activities, etc. all within the gamut of Endrucks’ patterns.

Using the hashtag #Endrucks1920Project when posting in FB or Instagram, ensures that your pic will show up in a search.

If you enjoy sharing and experimenting, or even test-tatting, the group is waiting for you!  All info and links to patterns (original and modern), including model images, are in the Endrucks 1920 Project Document, here   https://docs.google.com/document/d/17LEVftXweztBIOWh4sL4BB7bX65ssoOsOn4oXIgCepY/view There is still a lot to explore and extract, derive and apply and scrolling through this document will give you an idea of the possibilities and beyond.

*********************

willing non-volunteer

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Sounds crazy oxymoronic? Read on …

We have just thanked our very first volunteer, Mariantonietta here https://ninettacaruso.blogspot.com/2021/11/willing-volunteer.html and now we take equal pleasure in thanking Julie, our last ‘voluntary non-volunteer’.

In Nov 2020 volunteers had chosen pattern(s) from Endrucks’ book to tat and present in modern forma,. Over time 3 of our volunteers had to step back for personal reasons and mid-2021 we opened up their selections for pickings. They were pounced upon and selection was closed.  

Direct link to pdf (updated version) - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SmqcWxtPAlvveValWZmTlq-tHucSa6wr/view

It just so happened that Julie Santos Villegas was in neither of these volunteer lists. Yet, she could not contain her enthusiasm and almost overnight she tatted pattern n.7 and shared her sampler which was slightly modified from the original. When asked if she would like to present her work in a proper pdf with pattern, she readily and whole-heartedly agreed, roping in her son to diagram it too!

Does ‘willing non-volunteer’ makes sense now? Turned out Julie was the last person to make it to the community project since all patterns were finally chosen at the time. Few changes occurred subsequently but the story will continue in respective posts. Mind you, we still have to introduce and thank many more contributors since we are not following any chronological order. And new ones are cropping up in our FB Group, too!

Throughout our collaboration and engagement, Julie has been enthusiastic, responsive and receptive in equal measure -  a true team player. It has been a pleasure to get to know her. Her son, Robbie, has been instrumental in drawing the diagram(s).

Julie had started her first sampler from the lower central ring (starred in above pic) instead of with a chain as in the original and we uploaded the pdf in July. Since then she altered the start to the side ring and also tatted a 2-colour sampler and included a written pattern so that more tatters could benefit. Robbie had to alter the diagram. They make a good mother-son team and we thank them both! 

She graciously shared her tatting journey …..

“I learned tatting in high school. I remember having a good teacher who constantly reminded me of my thread tension. I enjoyed the craft so much that I tatted a green edging for a blouse collar. It was just rings and bare thread. College and adult life followed and tatting was completely forgotten until I retired in 2008. Thinking of what to do next to occupy my retirement, I looked back to what I enjoyed most doing when I was younger. Thankfully the Internet was already dominating our lives. I googled “tatting” and the rest is history. Through you tube I learned from generous tatting masters how to make chains, cluny, split rings, onion rings and many more. There is a lot more to learn but I am not complaining. I think tatting and I will grow old together.”

Her last sentence is quite philosophical and a good way to ‘grow’…

Ninetta joins me in thanking Julie for her willing contribution, team spirit and enthusiasm.

**********************

Endrucks 1920 Project is a community project, we welcome every one of you to join in and enjoy the modern-style pdfs that have been uploaded! Please let us know where we can find your renditions and derivative tatting!

We created the hashtag #Endrucks1920Project, so please use it for your pics to show up in a search.

*** NEW! *** We have a Facebook Group (please read the group’s description and rules before asking to join) – “Endrucks 1920 Project”: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1235560633606162   

We all enjoy sharing and experimenting and the group is waiting for you!  All info and links (original and modern) are in the Endrucks 1920 Project Document, here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17LEVftXweztBIOWh4sL4BB7bX65ssoOsOn4oXIgCepY/view

Remember there are many more modernised patterns, derived and extracted patterns/ideas, already listed in the project document, with more still to come! So, do visit and scroll through.

*********************
With love and gratitude,
muskaan & Ninetta

when time flies

Pin It now! Reworked patterns from Frau Eleonore Endrucks-Leichtenstern’s ‘Die Schiffchen-Spitzen’, 1920, for Endrucks 1920 Project

When time flies the best of intentions cannot stop it! Marina was an early bird, selecting 2 patterns in Nov 2020 and starting immediately. She even went to the trouble of watching videos to improve her block tatting after her first trial. And within days she sent me a beautiful snowflake pattern from her shop so that we got an idea of how she presents her patterns! No problem … the hidden beauty of this community project is that we have an eclectic mix of presentation styles, with something to learn from each.

Time had seemingly flown so fast that it was July 2021 in a blink and time to hurry! But the more you are in a hurry, the faster time goes by, especially if your pc doesn't cooperate!

“My pc was crashing like crazy and losing data, so I had to restart drawing several times.”

Such behind-the-scene roadblocks rarely get highlighted by a crafter, but we all go through such hurdles to produce the best we can. And that she did!

Following is Endrucks’ pattern #6 where she turned the original edging into a lovely Square Motif with a simple skipping of chains. 

 

Pattern #6 pdf - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xgjOW8CBDfPEpIKPD9n_naXaf8QbPXef/view  

As with all patterns in this book, the edging uses block tatting and thrown/floating rings besides the regular chains and rings.

Look closely and you will notice the square motif is tatted in 2 colours - white and ecru.

If we skip the thrown/floating rings on either side of the block rings, we should be able to get yet another square turned the other way (as evidenced in pattern #22).

Pattern #34 pdf - https://drive.google.com/file/d/11iVy2KdXkEJKW_4Hc_E4G4P29RuD1b9O/view 

Despite being a bit “intimidated” by pattern #34 initially, she turned out a beautiful doily worked in one pass using Endrucks’ method of climbing out (I hadn’t noticed this earlier)! Resourceful tatters can use split chains and split rings to climb out. Her clear diagrams show each row with count and direction, and she has included needle tatting hints.

My ever-vigilant partner, Ninetta, noticed that her year of birth suggested she was relatively young and was curious about her tatting background. Marina graciously sent in this short write-up of her tatting journey –

"... I am from Belgrade, Serbia a small country in Europe. I found tatting through internet, by chance, while looking for next crochet project. There were some interesting earrings that I could tell were not crochet, so I did an image search, and was stunned by the beauty of this new thing I have found... That was late 2015. Here in Serbia, there is only a few people that know what tatting is, I know of 5 or 6 tatters from around here, and I only talked to one of them on the phone. Everything I know, I picked up from you tube, by rewinding videos many many times and reading blogs, like yours and few other tatters. There is no tatting thread that can be purchased here, only crochet or embroidery, so I use that or some blends I make from sewing and decorative thread. Same goes for shuttles. I used to cut plastic into flat shuttle shape, until regular shuttles I ordered online arrived. I think I love tatting so much because it is so challenging, once you think you have it figured out, new thing pops up, and there you go again... And one more thing, I have never seen tatting, that somebody else made, in person, only on photos and videos... That's it for now. Thank you and Ninetta for all the work you are doing for this lovely craft 💗"

It is truly amazing the wonderful designs she has created in this short span of time! I’ve been saying Marina, but you might recognise her as Mad Jar Tatting (sometimes Mad Zar, depending on the translator). All our contributors are on Facebook and you can visit her page here - https://www.facebook.com/mad.jar.tatting/  

Her etsy shop (https://www.etsy.com/shop/MadJarTatting) is a treasure to scroll through! Some of my favourites are her Sea Star and Dragon Egg patterns! Imagine a Dagger as a bookmark! I sorely wish I’d had the time to offer to test tat her Manohary Doily when she called for volunteers. (manohari is Hindi for enticing). Her designs span simple to advanced, 2D to 3D, jewellery to lace. Her 3D Pine Cones and Sunflower are enticing, as is her latest 3D tatted shuttle.

I had the happy chance to try out her stacked rings earrings in 2019 – a technique that immediately roped me in! Applying techniques is something this talented designer does really well and is a sure way to tempt me!

Though time flew again from July to Oct before I got this opportunity to publicly thank Marina, I know she understands the behind-the-scene issues and will forgive me for my lapse. Ninetta joins in to profusely thank Marina for her valuable contribution and perseverance against all odds.

**********************
Endrucks 1920 Project is a community project, we welcome every one of you to join in! Please let us know where we can find your renditions and derivative tatting!
We created the hashtag #Endrucks1920Project, so please use it for your pics to show up in a search.
We all enjoy sharing and the project is awaiting every one of you!
All info and links (original and modern) are in the Endrucks 1920 Project Document, here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17LEVftXweztBIOWh4sL4BB7bX65ssoOsOn4oXIgCepY/view
Remember there are many more modernised patterns, derived and extracted patterns/ideas, already listed in the project document, with more still to come! So, do visit and scroll through.
*********************

With love and gratitude,
muskaan and Ninetta

Related posts –
Endrucks’ #22 square derivatives - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2015/11/pattern-eleonores-angels.html
Endrucks’ method of continuous tatting - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2021/07/continuous-paths.html
Stacked Rings Earrings - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2019/11/sidetracked.html

stepping stones

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Life’s paths are strewn with numerous types of stones. Whether we use them as stepping stones is what matters.

Grazia Butterflies (with pattern) from Endrucks' #16

Pina Pinto stepped up thrice, choosing 4 patterns and then a 5th when one of our volunteers opted out, tatting with speed, enthusiasm and sending in-progress pictures. Oh yes, we can safely say that she became addicted, working not just the samplers but also derivatives and adaptations!

Ninetta and I stepped in to handle the presentations, which Pina was not equipped for. Not an easy task, I tell you. When you are doing it from scratch, you can decide where and when and how each step or section would be. Having to work with and work around another tatter's pics and visualization can be an onerous task as both Nin and I can attest. Especially considering some of these elaborate patterns are not easy to portray.

In the end each of the 5 patterns turned into a triumvirate of collaborative effort!

We thanked Pina for her first 3 reworkings of patterns 9, 15, & 16 here - https://ninettacaruso.blogspot.com/2021/03/crab-or-candle-holder.html . Since then, she adapted n.9 into a pendant and beaded her blue earrings from a motif extracted from n.16.

  

But the clincher is this gorgeous 3D butterfly she named after her mother, Grazia, also extracted from n.16. Ninetta has done a wonderful job in presenting the butterfly pattern despite the many travails and tribulations. I hope that effort bears fruit when we see colourful Grazia butterflies taking flight from shuttles around the globe.

After quickly completing her first 2 selections, Pina was thirsty for more! She encountered some trouble understanding pattern #17. It has been a revelation that despite the diagrams and textual pattern, many tatters have been looking at Endrucks’ tatted model and counting off the stitches. I drew the entire pattern by hand, taking and sending her stepwise pics. She sent back progress and final sampler pics.

Pina worked it as a bilaterally symmetrical model which entailed block below tatting (BBT) where the blocks are worked in opposite direction (below previous chains) requiring picots on the core thread. For a visual comparison, see https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2021/07/a-pernickety-question.html.

Both options are included in the pattern pdf.

Endrucks n.17 - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sStHg5IQmuwizC7QcKRaX951CvVoURbn/view (with cornered frame pattern included)

It has taken me close to a year after multiple interruptions (life’s stones!), frustration and apologies to complete the pdf to our satisfaction, doctoring a few of Pina’s pics to fit seamlessly. I also had to resort to tatting a sampler myself in order to get everything straight. Happily, this led to many lovely derivations – the earrings, edging, snowflake, cornered frame (pattern included in this pdf). [There will be a separate post on some surprising design possibilities of n.17. Derivative patterns from n.17 shared or in the works - earrings ; edging/insertion/bookmark ; snowflake].

This is what my partner, Ninetta says -

The patterns Pina chose, especially the n.17, still intimidates me, Muskaan wrote "these patterns are elaborate", I think elaborate is an euphemism.

In previous pattern 9, 15 and 16, Pina used the BBT and at the time of my post (13 March) we hadn't "coined" the acronym yet (and I think that in 15 I even didn't notice it, but it's there, in Pina's sample). She has been particularly accurate in tatting these patterns using strict symmetry, even if in the original models there is only BT in the traditional way. The "strict Eleonore" has been beaten in strictness! LOL!

 

Grazia Butterfly (n.16) - https://drive.google.com/file/d/10mqdUjIcdRADIuGt5il0C2PUvGn0HthK/view

Then, in the butterfly "Grazia", she showed off all her skill in that BBT technique. I had trouble and definitely I don't like tatting BBT, but in all honesty I had to prepare the document respecting Pina's design. It took me many errors and trials before I got acceptable stepwise pics... but I hadn't finished yet, because the instructions were cumbersome and I didn't know how to write them. Luckily, Muskaan stepped in to rescue me, in two ways: one directly, correcting my mistakes in more than one draft I sent her, and the second indirectly, with her blog post "a pernickety question". Just after I'd finished reading your post, dear Muskaan, I started calling it BBT!

  

Endrucks n.20 - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BF_4mbN8xDAhBb3lTyVBd3plPcEhUGDZ/view (with 2 corners, colour alternatives, etc.)with 2 corners, colour alternatives, etc.)

And then the n.20 arrived... I got only the bracelet pictures from Pina and had to prepare the document. I needed to understand the pattern, first of all. But, as soon as I tatted the first chain, I saw possible variations in the pattern! That's how the yellow and green insertion started. I really fell in love with the n.20 and visualised very many different adaptations and derivative models and I felt despair that I had not the time to tat them all! (ah, Nin, you echo my thoughts!)

  

Two corners later, I had the Purple Dandelion Garland and a document of more than 20 pages!!! My dearest friend Muskaan helped to rationalise, shorten, clean up, improve... her contribution to the n.20 doc was decisive. And finally pages went down from 20 to 10, yet respecting all versions and variations and Pina's too! Phew!

The basic pattern is fairly simple and fits in one page. But including off-shoot patterns and options takes up pages but we have more goodies to play with! And perhaps more rounds in the garland, too!

Pina has been a reliable and gracious contributor despite our mutual linguistic limitations. She has now shown interest in learning how to present pdfs! This is her level of enthusiasm, commitment and passion for our favourite lace form! We thank you once again, dear Pina, for making our life temporarily frustrating but eternally happy and hope to see many more adaptations from you over time.

Pina shares a bit about her tatting journey -

Qualche tempo fa, ho dovuto allontanarmi da casa per lavoro. La mia amica e vicina di casa, Giulia, mi consigliò di imparare il chiacchierino, mi diceva: "La mente e le mani devono essere sempre impegnate!" Così ho iniziato e in breve tempo mi sono appassionata. I miei preferiti sono i gioielli e i fiocchi di neve, per farli rubo ogni minuto libero dalle faccende e dal lavoro! Sono entusiasta del chiacchierino e sono in continua ricerca per imparare tecniche nuove.

Some time ago, I had to leave home for work. My friend and neighbor, Giulia, advised me to learn to tat, she told me: "Your mind and your hands must always be busy!" So I started and in a short time I got hooked. My favorites are jewels and snowflakes, to make them I steal every minute free from chores and work! I am enthusiastic about tatting and am constantly looking to learn new techniques. (Google translated)

Look closely – she has inserted an earring hook! She even sent me a beautiful photo of herself wearing another pair of tatted earrings, just as she said above. Because of this old book I have made yet another new friend!

Through the lens of our shared passion, we often don’t see (and show) the underlying stones life throws at each of us. This collaboration embodies that spirit of stepping around stones or using them to fly to our happy destination.

With love and gratitude 
muskaan and Ninetta

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Endrucks 1920 Project is a community project, we welcome every one of you to join in! Please let us know where we can find your renditions and derivative tatting!
We created the hashtag #Endrucks1920Project, so please use it!
We all enjoy sharing and the project is awaiting every one of you!
All info and links (original and modern) are in the Endrucks 1920 Project Document, here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/17LEVftXweztBIOWh4sL4BB7bX65ssoOsOn4oXIgCepY/view
Remember there are many more modernised patterns, derived and extracted patterns/ideas, already listed in the project document, with still more to come! So, do visit and scroll through.

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meet the lady

Pin It now!

...and the designer/author from a century back! 

‘Die Schiffchen-Spitzen’,1920, by Frau Eleonore Endrucks-Leichtenstern

- German to English Translation -

original book: http://www.georgiaseitz.com/public/endrucks/eleonoreendrucks-leichtensternschiffchenspitzenbook1920.pdf

translation of non-pattern pages: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-LzBnvzj7azCWLXJACSvcNHegXfP4fv_/view
Endrucks1920 Project: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17LEVftXweztBIOWh4sL4BB7bX65ssoOsOn4oXIgCepY/view

banner/bracelet for #Endrucks1920Project

When tatters get together, magic happens!

It was Ninetta’s brainwave and initiative to have the 3 non-pattern pages from the book translated into English. She attempted it herself first, then sought help from the facebook community and soon we had volunteers willing to do it! And I am still amazed at what emerged!

While volunteers were busy reworking Endrucks’ patterns to modern music, Simone Beyer hummed away at the transcript and translation.

It wasn’t a simple translation from German to English since the book is in Fraktur font which had to be transcribed into regular font (this German transcription is included at the end of the doc). Simone went further, seeking and adding biographical notes with help from the historical society in the town where the designer last lived and died! Unfortunately we do not know if she had any descendants and there is no portrait of Eleonore even in the gravestone. Hopefully we'll be able to glean more in future.

Simone’s excellent English translation reveals Frau Endrucks’ tatting style, thoughts, and expertise within a contextualized framework. 

‘My book shows you the way out of the eternal monotony of all tatted lace so far’ -Endrucks,1920

Frivolousness is not in this designer’s nature! This comes through in the brevity of her instructions (Foreword). She dives right into a key to decipher her patterns, leaving the basic tatting tutorials to others books. Her focus is on 2-shuttle tatting and which of the 2 shuttles is in the right hand determines how to proceed with the pattern. Hence no reverse or turn work is indicated, picots are minimal, and multiples used when segments are repeated in a pattern.

She is no fan of decorative picots and read her Pieces of Advice to know why! We may scoff at a couple of her practices, for instance she asks us to resolutely snip off mistakes...opening a closed ring to fix a mistake appears to be a later development. However she advocates what we now know as 'false CTM' and tatting over tails! It also appears that the lock join was fairly uncommon in her time and she demonstrates it - 

We have tried to list the more popular ‘modern’ terms, wherever possible, against Endrucks’ instructions in an attempt to bridge the tatting language of the past with the present. This is where my meagre contribution comes in. One sentence that warmed my heart – ‘Be clear that one always, even when working rings, works from left to right’. This is the basis of my incomplete TWoT (This Way or Tat?) series! However I hesitated adding this to the pdf – it seemed too much like self-promotion ;-D

Whether you like her patterns or not, whether you will tat any of her patterns or not, I urge you to read the few pages of English translation when you can. It is very interesting. I feel as if Frau Endrucks is talking directly to me and thank Simone for bringing her to life through the translation! I’d also like to thank Jane Potts and Jacquelin Roth for participating and proofreading. And thanks to Ninetta for thinking of this and pursuing it! In fact, if Ninetta wasn’t bilingual, she & I would not have been able to collaborate so freely for so many years.

The image at the beginning is our banner/bracelet for the Endrucks 1920 Project. Ninetta tweaked the fun alphabet designed by Edda Guastella to tat this cuteness. We chose this because it is worked continuously and the letters have long block chains - both features of Endrucks' style. The fun letters can be bought from Edda's etsy shop.

As a token of gratitude we sent the pdf to Martha Ess and Georgia Seitz and this is what Martha wrote back –

Dear Muskaan and Ninetta,

Thank you for sharing this with me. I had groped my way through the introduction and afterword with an online translator and a German dictionary, but it is wonderful to have such a coherent clear translation. I think it is wonderful you found some biographical information for Fr. Endrucks as well. Good job, everyone.

Ninetta joins me in extending our heartfelt gratitude to Simone, Jane, Edda, and Jacqueline.

muskaan & Ninetta 

We'd love to hear your thoughts after reading what Endrucks has to say! Join the project if you wish - contact us through our blogs or through Facebook....
https://m.facebook.com/muskaan.mooskaan ; https://www.facebook.com/ninetta.caruso
https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/ ; https://ninettacaruso.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/endrucks1920project - #Endrucks1920Project