more options & a curly pattern

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O, the layers hidden in a curl !!!
Who would've thought that a simple experiment to showcase the various styles/effects/options of Ninetta's Curled Rings, here would lead to a pattern as well as a serious learning of some basic bead-adding methods ?!
As you scroll down, you will see for yourself how the pattern emerged from randomness.
But first, to continue with a few more effects (that have been used in the pendant) 

(click on picture for larger images & slide show)

OPTION  4

Curl Features : Onion Ring, Up , Out ,  Lock Join 

Onion Ring

Curl Up (ring tip lies over ring base)

Curl Out (the cup-shape is outward facing)

Lock Join

TIP : I find that a Lock Join works better at times, as when curled in Option 4, 

& especially since an onion ring is 'heavier'/bulkier & here it is 'free-standing'.

Ninetta has made exquisite use of this option in her edging with curled rings here. In fact, the onion rings in her clover fold upon themselves, with no chain or ring in between.
I used a triple Onion ring to act as a hook for my pendant here

OPTION  5

Curl Features : Onion Ring, Up , Around , In , Picot Join 

Onion Ring

Curl Up (tip of ring will lie upon the base),
Curl Around (ring being curled around a chain)

Regular Picot Join,
Curl In (the cup-shape faces inwards)

Bird's-eye view of 5 styles/effects of Curled Rings

Ninetta has used this along the entire outer edge in her bookmark pattern here.  

Also used in my pendant in round 2 - the 2nd ring, in the middle of 2 large rings.

OPTION  6

Curl Features : Multiple Rings around single element
Up , Around , In , Picot Join  

2 Curled Rings around a single larger ring.

I curled 3 single rings around a single larger ring in the Curly Cross Pendants

6 Options depicted so far.

And does it not look like a cross ?! 
No option but to create a pattern ;-P So here it is ....

Curly Cross Pendant

© muskaan  May 2015

I will share the written pattern in pdf soon. Till then, here's the notation in the pic below.
I will upload pictures of how I added the beads at base of curled rings (shown by red asterisk) in a later post. More for my own records coz all of you are already adept at adding beads :-)
However, the tutorials I used were these : 
Karen Cabrera’s Lesson 100 (how to add bead in center of rings)
Jane Eborall’s Placement of Beads in Work 

Pattern notations for Curly Cross Pendant

I hope you like the cross pendant. This one, worked in AMC size 40, measures 2½” x 1” . 2 beads are loaded in Shuttle 1, 1 bead in Shuttle 2, & 6 loose beads.
The gold one above, worked in size 20, measures 3” x 1½”. But there are a few errors in it ....

UPDATE : Curly Cross pattern, with beautiful stepwise pics published in De Frivolité(k)ring 2017 #2 (34)
  

happy tatting :-)

Motif # 19/II for 25 Motif Challenge

Related Posts : Concept of Curled Rings

3 Styles of Curled Rings

Pendant
Final curled ring styles

Tatting Tutorial : Curled Ring Options

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Curled Rings . 3 Options

Bird's eye view of 3 Options - front & back

Finally starting with the pictorials on some of the options/variations on how to make the Curled Rings pioneered by Ninetta, and the resultant effects. For the most part, the pictures, & notations therein, will do the talking . And for quick referencing the terms used, I am copy-pasting a part of the previous post on concepts here. It relates to the minor differences in making the curl, joining the curl, the final look of the curl, etc.
(Please note : the terms below are for reference & not necessarily part of the tatting lexicon unless it catches on.)

• Curl Up / Curl Down : Is the tip of the ring (picot) brought up to lie over the base when curling ; or is the tip folded in downward direction so that the base lies on top of the picot when joining ?
• Curl Over / Curl Around : Does the ring curl over itself or does it curl around a chain or ring, thus encapsulating that element?
• Curl In / Curl Out : Does the curl face inwards or outwards ? Usually, a Curl In encapsulates an element.
• Join : Curl can be anchored using a Normal Picot Join, Slope & Roll Join, or a Lock Join.
• Curl can be Single or Multiple – in the sense that the curl/join is made through a single picot (normal ring, onion ring, split ring) or the join is made through several rings simultaneously.

♤ The initial options have more detailed steps, which will peter out going forward to avoid repetition.

♤ There is no particular sequence that is being followed. Just trying to cover as many bases as possible in some cogent fashion.
♤ 2 colours have been used for clear distinction & demarcation of elements, joins, etc.
♤ Stitch counts are indicated for each element/round, for practice purposes.

OPTION  1

Curl Features : Down , Over , Out ,  Lock Join , Multiple

Curl Down (folding ring downwards), 
Curl Over (folding on itself)

 Images 3 to 6 are views from the back, to show the join at work. 

Curl Multiple (3 rings being curled & joined together)

Lock Join (through 3 rings simultaneously)

TIP : A Lock Join is preferable in this case, as it will secure the multiple rings firmly in place.

Image 7 shows the curled rings from front. 

Curl Out (rings curling/facing outwards)

I used Option 1 for the brown center of the Pendant here, except that the 3 rings were not joined to each other.

OPTION 2

Curl Features : Up, Over, Out, Picot Join , Single

TIP : A Slope & Roll Join could also work in 2 coloured tatting, to avoid colour blips !

I used Option 2 for the calyx in the Morning Glory flower, here.

OPTION 3

Curl Features : Up, Over, In, Normal Picot Join , Single

Ninetta has photographed this option in her earring pattern here.

UPDATE : 

This style is demonstrated by Karen Cabrera in Lesson 145 here. She calls them Folded Rings. 

Did you notice or have an Eureka moment for this last Option ?
Does it not strike you as being an attachment to previous round/row ?! We always use a picot for this purpose  ; and here, an entire ring is performing that very function, with a fashionable turn :-D
It's really that simple and brilliant . So while designing, if you forget to put a picot in previous row, but feel the need to join while working the subsequent row, you now know what to do !

That's it for this time. If you feel inspired, please go ahead and play & experiment & enjoy :-)

happy tatting :-)

Related Posts : concept

pendant
calyx
more options & cross pattern
many more options (final)

Tatting technique : Curled Rings Concept

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Ninetta’s Curled Rings - The Concept

This little ditty is dedicated to you & your rings (Layered & Curled), Ninetta,

that I have been going round & around & around ever since you posted about them ! ;-P

‘Ring’ing in the new !

Universe is made

of swirls and curls

Not straight lines

but quanta and rings

Not flat and visible

but waves and strings

Not uniplanar

but 3Ds and multi-Ds

So here  is  Nin

With her Curled Ring 

and Floating Layers

In Modern Tatting !

muskaan

April 25, 2015

You’ve heard me talking (ad nauseum?!) about, & applying Ninetta’s Curled Rings these past few weeks.

She graciously granted permission to do a tutorial on these rings. And that is how it would’ve been – a pictorial series of options on how the curled rings could be made, used, applied ; the possibilities, the potential. But options kept growing (including valuable suggestions & tips from the designer herself) & my brain went into a swirl with so much ….

Now, after stepping back for a few weeks, & a few posts later, I came back to this.

Something had changed, though. Something had evolved. 'Behind the scenes' ! 
If I had the perseverance, I would approach the pictorial that will follow a bit differently. But I don’t have the inclination to start afresh & re-photograph each step (My apologies. You are welcome to ask questions, & contribute suggestions, though).

Now, as far as I know (& I don't know much about history, diversity, evolution of tatting, so jump in to correct ), Ninetta's Curled Ring is a completely New & Original technique .

Hence, a bit of conceptualization, an overview seemed in order, instead of simply jumping into a how-to pictorial . The following is my own perspective/understanding, based on my limited experience & experimentation with this …  I have tried to add some collated images & relevant links to images/patterns wherever possible.

1.  What is a Curled Ring ?

It is a normal closed ring, folded over itself, which may or may not encapsulate another element such as a chain or a ring. This horizontal folding over creates a cup-shaped dimensional effect, due to half the ring ‘disappearing’ behind.

• Any ring can be curled, so long as there is a picot towards the tip, to anchor the fold neatly.
• The ring is made normally ; closed normally.
• Then it is folded horizontally & a join is made through the picot, at the base of the closed ring.
• Voila ! A curled ring is formed.

And the thread is back in position to where the ring had been started , ie. at the base of the ring ; and pattern can continue as desired.

2.  Can all Rings be Curled ?

Any, & I stress, Any ring can be curled . And the ring is made “normally”, & the curling is effected only after closing the ring. All it needs is (1) a very small picot in the right place (ideally at the very tip) which will anchor the fold/curl ; and (2) a ring large enough to make the curling possible & visible.

One can make it with a normal ring, onion/concentric rings, split rings, large rings, single shuttle split rings, & so on. ( I have tried all these myself. One can play with more types of rings, rings within rings, .... )

Beads can be added too ! 

3.  What about Folded Rings ?

 (click on each heading for link to respective page) 

	Martha  Ess’  Folded  rings	Ninetta’s  Curled  rings
1.	Fold made before ring is closed	Fold made after ring is closed
2.	Fold due to insertion of half sts	Ring is normal, all ds same
3.	A Segment(s) within ring folds	Entire ring folds in half
4.	Ring takes on diverse shapes eg. crescent, paisley, …	Ring shape remains constant ; after curl, a cup-shaped half circle
5.	Dimensionality negligent ; manifests thru’alteration of ring shape only	Clear & distinct dimensionality ; ring has ‘2 layers’ after fold

 

Wonder how Folded Rings would look when Curled ?! Another experiment down the line ;-P

4.  Can there be Differences in the Curl ? 

Yes, minor differences can exist , although basic concept remains same . The differences can be due to personal preferences, or requirements of a pattern. eg.

• Curl Up / Curl Down : Is the tip of the ring (picot) brought up to lie over the base when curling ; or is the tip folded in downward direction so that the base lies on top of the picot when joining ?
• Curl Over / Curl Around : Does the ring curl over itself or does it curl around a chain or ring, thus encapsulating that element?
• Curl In / Curl Out : Does the curl face inwards or outwards ? Usually, a Curl In encapsulates an element.
• Join : Curl can be anchored using a Normal Picot Join, Slope & Roll Join, or a Lock Join.
• Curl can be Single or Multiple – in the sense that the curl/join is made through a single picot (normal ring, onion ring, split ring) or the join is made through several rings simultaneously.

• The length of picot that is anchored while curling, Or a space of bare thread left before anchoring, can also alter the look of the curled ring ! A vsp will curl the ring into a perfect half folding over itself. But a longer picot or bare thread space can ‘show’ more of the curled ring, like an cascading overlap. 
• A picot that is offset, ie. not in the centre of the ring, will give a slight unsymmetrical curling of ring. 
• Very large rings may also behave differently especially when curled over themselves (as in the image above)   

5.  Why Curled Rings?

• Curled rings, besides being decorative, add dimensionality to any ordinary flat tatting. 
• They add elegance & interest & a certain character. 
• They can transform any old/common pattern with a modern flair . A "simple clover pattern" edging here, is transformed with curled Onion rings ! 
• They add some depth, some weight/bulk & hence work Great on jewelery eg. Ninetta's earrings, here
• Curled rings can be substituted for a picot when trying to join to a previous element, row, or round ! Such as her segnalibro-aprile (Bookmark for April) here, where she uses them on split rings in the tail.
• And of course, these can be used for all-out 3D tatting, as in the pendant I shared here , or the calyx of my Morning Glory flower!

But beyond that, I believe I found a couple of other practical uses, especially, if like me, you don’t have the necessary jewelry-making supplies on hand.

• As in my pendant above, where I used a triple onion ring as a pendant hook, through which the chain can be inserted. Not only is the curled onion ring sturdy, but it also continues from the pattern itself.
• Similarly, for a bracelet, I made a curled ring at one end & a normal/Josephine ring at the other. The curled ring can be inserted through the normal ring & bracelet can be 'locked' in place; to ‘undo’, simply tug on the curled ring. It acts like a bracelet toggle !

6.  Notation for Curled Rings

Can we denote them as CR or C-R ?

eg. for a normal ring, CR would’ve sufficed.

But if it was a split ring, then CSR or C-SR ? Or in case of a single shuttle split ring : C-SSSR ? 

Or should we simply say 'Curl Ring' after the stitch count for ring is given ?

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I believe, after reading the above, it will be clear that the technique is extremely simple & all it needs is creativity application. I hope at least a few of you will be tempted to try it out without the need for any tutorial . I will, however, start posting the tuts, especially after having worked on them for so long (And made you wait ;-P)

Your thoughts & all suggestions are most welcome

& eagerly awaited. 

I thank you for reading through, if you have ;-P

happy tatting & experimenting :-)

Related Posts : my 3D pendant & flower doodle
Morning Glory 3D flower calyx

Curled ring how-to with 3 options

more curled options & application