Saturday, 22 February 2020

not one ring

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Snowflake #10 in Land of Laces’ 25 Snowflake Project

And you thought out of 2019, out of mind! No, I haven't about posting the left out patterns! When Anetta invited me to share a snowflake pattern and something about myself for her Meeting with Tatting series, I took the longer path instead of giving her an already published pattern. On the 1st of every month, she intends to share a design and designer, and everybody can participate.

Rosette Enchained Snowflake & Ice Drop
free pattern pdf (click to download)

This pattern was first created in 2016 and I have since posted several models. It is made of Chains Only, for what was to be Set 2 of the This Way or Tat series of diagrams. I don’t know when that series will resume, but at least the pattern is here.


The entire motif is worked from the front, in clockwise direction.

Whether you choose 1 or 2 colours; shuttle and ball or 2 shuttles; the join used to switch colours/shuttles; the technique used to change curve of outermost chain; etc., can result in a change of direction.

Hence it was to be one of the practice patterns for the TWoT Set 2 – Chains Only. A fun way to study how our choices affect direction, and may differ from what the designer/pattern says.
The entire snowflake motif is worked in one pass. In the 2 outer rounds, there is a short 2ds chain which can be worked as a split chain by advanced tatters. But if you are not in the mood, why not try the vintage style of leaving some bare thread at the back, lock join, and continue with next round. For all practical purposes, it is not discernible! Don’t do it for a competition, though ;-D

Continuous tatting, vintage style -
In this collage, from top right –
  1. last chain in 4th round with a picot join to the right. Remember to keep both threads to back of work before making join.
  2. Complete 2ds, and lock join to 3rd round (pic shows back of work)
  3. From front, pull up a loop of shuttle thread, and make a lock join leaving sufficient bare thread.
  4. Continue with next round. Voilà, no split chain required.

I have already posted the choices one can adopt for the concave chain segment in last round. It is also part of this pdf. 

Ice Drop
The ice drop is probably a novelty, being made only with chains. There are 2 separate motifs – one larger (yellow), and the other smaller (green). 
 The pattern remains almost exactly the same as the snowflake, except for more repeats. 


When working the 3rd round of smaller motif, the join is made simultaneously through Both previous round as well as the respective round of larger one. With a crochet hook, pull a loop of ball/chain thread through both picots, pass shuttle through loop, and snug tight. Hence simple picot join, not a lock join. The cabochon is inserted before the last 2 joins are made.

Click to download Rosette Enchained Snowflake & Ice Drop pattern

I hope you enjoy this pattern and play with colours, embellishments, etc.
     

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Wednesday, 19 February 2020

a chained heart

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I fell in love with it right away. It is such a wonderfully elegant heart with a bit of freeform thrown in – just the way I like it. So it had to go to The Most Special person in my life for our very special day.

This is Renulek’s Serce Od Serca or Heart from the Heart. Such a beautiful conversion of a bobbin lace heart to a tatted lace heart. The pattern is free here.
Made with Anchor size 40, it is <7 cms high and 8½ cms wide.

I must apologise to Renulek for bungling up. Despite frequent referencing and such clear diagrams, I ended up joining the last chain on 1st round on a picot rather than at the base of ring. Realised only when I reached it after the 2nd round. Had to wing it, which is why you see a long chain and no small ring.
My eye keeps getting drawn to it ;-(

TIP : Notice how the orientation of my heart is opposite to that of Renulek’s? In traditional tatting this wouldn't be a problem, but with directional (fs/bs) tatting, there is only one distinct front side.
TWoT (This Way or Tat?) Notes - The reason lies in the very first ring. I followed the pattern, and tatted the ring frontside, starting with 8ds. Realising it was going to face the other way, I peered closely at her photos. Huh, her rings were backside, and chains frontside - knotty naughty ;-D. This same orientation was used in diagrams, hence the confusion.
However, if you want the heart to face like her’s, in frontside/backside tatting, 
start the ring by reversing the order of half stitches (shs then fhs), 
OR,
start the ring as 5-5-3-8.

It seemed a bit forlorn all alone on the card. These S-chains made with scrap threads, saved the day. There’s more tatted lace and stuff inside, but that’s our secret ;-P

Meanwhile I’ve been hooked on the S-chains, clearing out my scrap lengths. I have a few ideas to cook them in SOUP* when I have a good stock ;-P (This is how the S-chains look with picots)


Many many thanks, Renata,  hubby loved it !


Sunday, 16 February 2020

impeccable timing

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We all know and admire Judith Connors’ impeccable tatting, but her timing is, too! Remember how her dictionary arrived on International Tatting Day?  

This time her newsletter, ‘Talking Tatting’, arrived on Valentine’s Day! And a complete surprise since I was expecting a digital copy some day, not a physical one.
She has made certain I remember exactly which days her gifts arrived ;-D

What is even more special is that my pattern is part of their 10th anniversary celebration. It is an honour in every which way, isn’t it?! Can't blame me for wanting to shout from the rooftops.

I enjoyed reading through the entire newsletter. Informative, interesting, inspiring.
I rummaged through my numerous containers/envelopes to locate all the clover wreath lace I had made and used them to cover up the text. A few words/sentences in both images are blanked out.

The printed medallion on the left is tatted by Judith, the mat on the right is an image of the actual ecru mat you see below. She drew a diagram along with the pattern (in her own words). 
Many thanks, Judith.

I had started a border/edging for the mat, but haven’t gotten very far. Only thing I am certain of is that I want the 6 ring florets to be complete around the border. For the rest, I’d like to keep it simple and a bit airy to counter the relatively dense look.

I’m eager to get started on this again and finish it off. I’ve shared the beaded poinsettia pattern, but not the actual medallion. Thought I’d do it along with the completed edging. But if anybody wants the medallion pattern, let me know and I’ll release it. I merely need to rearrange and format the diagrams, etc.

All Clover Wreath posts, pics, & notes