better than nothing?

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free bookmark pattern

I wanted to insert some bookmarks in a book to give away as a gift. Rummaged through my stash and chose a few. But an incomplete bookmark caught my eye. Remember I had promised a pattern back in 2014 at the end of the magic square deconstruction?

At the time all I did was the basic/central row derived from the magic square, 

but I couldn’t quite get the next row to work. 

You can see my woeful attempts along the left side before I had set it aside.

Slow forward to 2018 - This time when I laid it on paper, I could easily create a satisfactory design (sketched on the right side).

The recipient loves yellow. I Had to use it.

Combo of Lizbeth Falling Leaves & Anchor yellow both in size 40.

This combination looks even better in real.

The 2 rows were worked separately since I wasn’t sure what size ring was needed.

But if the same colour placement is followed, we can throw rings off row 1 chains using 2^nd shuttle. Then the outer row will be mostly chains all around.

It can be worked continuously if we climb out with a split chain.

With requisite beads, it can make a lovely bracelet or choker or perhaps adorn a headband.

Struggled with naming it. Thought of ‘magic square bookmark’ to mark the end, & remind me, of that exercise years ago. But the overall design barely qualifies as a magic square, right?! And the outer row is nothing special either. So what better name than: “Better than nothing” from the heading above ;-P

The book is "Einstein. In his own words" by Anne Rooney. It is a fairly good collection of his thoughts and ideas on varied subjects, with some rare images thrown in. A hardbound copy, good print, and one can pick up reading & leave off anywhere.  

Better than Nothing bookmark pattern

stitchcount

ROW 1 : shuttle and ball

R1: 5 vsp 2 vsp 5. rw

Ch: 6 – 6 – 6. rw

R2: 5 + 2 vsp 5. rw

Ch: 5

This forms 1 motif. Repeat for length required.

To turn corner, omit the 5ds chain. Instead make chain: 6 – 6 – 6.

Then turn back, joining the rings as you go. First ring will be joined to R2, and next ring will be joined to both the previous ring and R1. 

sequence

ROW 2 : 2 shuttles

Attach threads to one of the side picots.

R: 8 + 8. rw

Ch: 10 lock join to same place as ring, 8 lj , rw.

Repeat till corner is reached. To turn corner :

Ch: 10 lj 8 rw

R: 6 + 6 rw Switch shuttle

R: 10 switch shuttle

Ch: 8 lj 10 lj 8 lj 

Continue with ring as before. 

Turn other corner in same manner.

Add decorative picots if desired. 

a question :

Do you think it should have a tail? If yes, any suggestions?

Enjoy  J 

dancing or flying ?

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free tatting pattern

Peacock is the national bird of India and today we are celebrating the adoption of our Constitution in 1950. Seemed like a good day to share the pattern inspired by peacocks – one of my favourite birds.

Dancing Peacocks

Medallion & Earring patterns pdf

 UPDATE : Dancing Peacock Earrings updated pattern with count 

See blog post here. 

It all started with my desire to make a medallion enclosed with onion rings. If you remember I shared the design process & trials here...

There are reasons for choosing certain techniques and effects, most of which I have already explained in that post. I have detailed my own working in the pdf. 

However, it is left to the tatter’s own preference to work the pattern as s/he sees fit. I have deliberately not tried to work it in one colour, though.

I found it Extremely difficult to take a photograph of the blue/green model alone without having something else beside it. It always turned out hazy. Below is the only pic that survived the dump.

I find that if picots are added to the thrown rings, we can join medallions for a longer lace. Placed side by side, this is how they would look.

The previous post contains some more details and pics of the earring adaptations.

I got back to Inkscape after more than 2 months and it took a few moments to recover my motor memory for icons, etc. But once I got going, it was exhilarating. Which is how the earring schematic came about ;-P

And in the process I figured out another Inkscape hack on how to quickly draw an over-under thread - as a continuous curved line undulating around a previous element. Hope I have time to make a proper post.

Lots of links are included in the pdf. Click on the blue text to go to the source.

There are also suggestions for some variations and adaptations of the pattern.

download pattern here.

Republic Day is also celebrated by flying kites. The late afternoon/evening sky is filled with colourful kites! I don’t know how to string and fly a kite, but I can sure string and let my shuttle fly!!!

hope you dance & fly with this pattern as I have :-)

floating with tatting

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updated Jan 24, 2018 with schematic for earring

Pozdrawiam ciepło (I greet warmly).

This month’s task for “I Love Tatting” is titled “Goose Circle” – isn’t that cute! Justyna listed some tutorials and examples of bead(s) within rings and also alternate forms of beading. I’ve already used the bead in SR and in SCMR in a few of my own patterns & other projects. Since “floating beads” was also a listed option, I chose to float along :-).  

Peacock earrings and Charmed Cross pendant

I used the floating bead (FB) method to add both teardrops in the Charmed Cross pendant – yes, this is the final version. I’ve added more crystal beads and the horizontal arms don’t look like stumps any more. But more on that when I share the pattern.

There are 2 versions of the Peacock earrings. 

These are derived from this dancing peacock medallion.

Worked with 2 shuttles, 2 colours.

Anchor embroidery threads are used : 3 strands of each colour woven with 1 strand of silver.

The bead in the center and the teardrops were added when required, using floating beads method. Seed beads are pre-strung for the overlying string.

For outermost round, one can use seed beads instead of picots, but I didn’t have any in suitable size/colour.

In version 2, I tried a little heart shape in the green, and a slightly tipped point in the blue. 

For outermost round, one can use seed beads instead of picots, 

but I didn’t have any in suitable size/colour.

After working the outermost blue chain to required length, 

I used a shoelace trick (SLT) to lock it in place. This also created the sharper tip.

These earrings are free-style and I didn’t follow any strict stitch count. But I will share the sequence :

1. Start with topmost ring, attaching the findings.
2. Add large bead (red crystal or gold) using floating beads method (or pre-strung).
3. Work innermost ring in blue around the bead, with picot small midways.
4. Bring forth the seed beads and create a layer around blue ring. Lock join to base of ring.
5. Switch shuttles and work green chain. Join to blue ring. In version 1, add a small picot for linking next round; in version 2, make chain longer and lock join to blue ring.
6. Over and under or Alligator join across base of rings, switch shuttles, and work the outermost round in blue with decorative picots. In version 1, join to green ring then add FB teardrop midways. In version 2, make chain longer, SLT, add FB teardrop, continue around.
7. Tie and cut; hide ends.

UPDATE : Diagram included in the Dancing Peacocks pdf. Click to download

Beads give us the opportunity to add more colours without having to use extra shuttles!

One can pre-string the teardrop (or sew it on later) instead of floating bead method. But I like how the FB makes the bead dangle a little further from the stitches. Also, since I use Pony shuttles that are too small to load large beads, this is a convenient alternate.

I hope you take the time to check out what the other talented participants have created. 

to the love of tatting, with beads