multiplier effect of mistakes !

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Doubling the Fun …

Mistakes can double the enjoyment; can double the opportunity. That's the reason you see 4 'snowflakes' instead of the desired 2. There is a common thread running through both ‘mistakes’ which involves a thread size mismatch.

The Snowflake Within

Remember ‘The Flower Within’ series where I tried to highlight the flower within various snowflake patterns ? Well, this time I reversed the trend, trying to bring out the snowflake within – oh what a cold heart this snowflake flower has ;-)

The Twenty-First Day of December Snowflake

Lene Björn

from 24 Snowflakes in Tatting

for 2016 Snowflake Challenge on Craftree

Threads : Anchor embroidery 4615-1335 ; Anchor MCC size 40 (4054) black & white.

Techniques : Josephine Rings (JR), thrown/floating rings, Lock join (LJ), Catherine Wheel join (CWJ), directional tatting, 2 shuttles

Mismatch of threads !

 

I started with 2 strands of the variegated embroidery thread . Only one black JR could fit in the cramped center space! Further, the size 40 white in Round 2 was much stiffer & thicker. Made a few stitch adjustments - decreasing chains by 1ds. Interestingly, black thread is 'normal'.

Yet, I realized that continuing on to Round 3 with 2 strands would’ve definitely cupped the piece. It was looking so pretty, that I went ahead to complete the present round, and stop at Rnd 2. I like the smaller size as well – just over 2 inches.

Measurements : Rnd 1 : ¾” ; Rnd 2 : 2¼”  

 

Started a new one right away, this time with 3 strands of embroidery thread along with the size 40 crochet cottons. Went smoothly & lay flat.

Measurements : Rnd 1 : 1” ; Rnd 2 : 2½” ; Rnd 3 : 3¾” 

TIP : I used 1 CWJ to anchor the trefoils in Rnd 3. This was counted in the chain stitchcount. Experimented with placement, & found that it did not matter whether the join was made before or after the trefoil.

• Perhaps the JRs in last round could’ve used fewer half stitches. They are too close to each other; compounded by variegation it all looks too dense & busy :-( 
• This is a great pattern to showcase fancy variegated threads or expensive HDTs because a lot of the tatting is on chains. 
• One thing that escapes me is why the black JRs seem to fill the inner space. Need to see whether it is a matter of using 2 different threads/colours or just my own tatting goofs.  

The Twenty-Second Day of December Snowflake

Lene Björn

I’ll start with the correct version (left one in pic), and then recount my mistake, which of course occurred prior to this & was shelved for over a month.

Threads : Anchor Mercer size 40 (4054) – black, tinted pink – 1203, & green - 00229

Techniques : Josephine Chain (JCh), thrown/floating rings, Lock join (LJ), Catherine Wheel join (CWJ), 2 shuttles

 

• A Lock Join causes a slight dip in the chains & this would’ve given a more petal-like effect in round 2, but with the black core thread blip showing. In order to avoid this colour blip, I chose to do a CWJ. 
• Again, as in previous snowflake, it made no difference whether CWJ was made before or after the thrown ring. CWJ was counted as 1ds here.
• I couldn’t get the star-like points that Lene has in her tatted model. Probably had to do with smaller size of green thread. 

Measurements : Rnd 1 : ~2⅜” ; Rnd 2 : ~3¼”  

• For the Josephine Chains, I went for a mirror effect, using all 1^st half stitches on one side, a very small picot, & all 2^nd half stitches on other. (In the correct version I did the opposite - shs on the way up & fhs on way down).
• The pattern doesn’t call for a vsp since the thrown rings are on the Josephine chains of round 1. Since I wanted to play with colours, the ring was thrown to 2^nd round & a vsp was needed in round 1 for joining.
• This is a pretty straightforward pattern. However, to keep tabs on the half stitches, I drew tally marks for every 10 half stitches, while dropping & 'posting' the shuttle after every 5 !

Now for the "forced adaptation" due to mistake in first attempt ....

The Heart Within

Day 22 adaptation

Doubled Up !!!

So here’s what happened … I got confused about the stitch count for the Josephine chains & got no answer when I asked on Craftree. Was the number meant for each side of the chain or for the complete chain ?! I went with the former, resulting in Double the chain lengths !!!

This pic shows the correct version on top. Inset, to the left, is round 2 which required doubling of the stitches too.

But doubling also brought an opportunity to try something different.

I played around with the long Josephines (they actually looked like a large flower - it is over 4" wide across)! Folded them over, and I saw Hearts being formed !!! 

The collage showcases the process I went through - very very fiddly, since this was an afterthought. If one has to make it again, one can add picots for joining & securing as one tats. In the collage below, I used sewing thread to join temporarily, snipping it off in the end.

In this case, though, a mismatch in thread sizes actually came to the rescue ! It is probably the first time I’ve tatted with different thread sizes in a regular pattern. The larger size 20 for round 2 helped me keep the same stitchcount that was used for size 40, but it spanned the distance & avoided the cupping issue. Easier to change thread size than to rework stitch count.

Threads : Anchor Mercer size 40 (4054) – black & tinted pink – 1203 for round 1

Size 20 vintage maroon (022) & black for round 2. The new black thread is much thicker than the vintage thread.

Techniques : Josephine Chain (JCh), thrown/floating rings, Lock join (LJ), an adaptation of Join on Smooth Side (JSS), shoe lace trick (SLT), very small picot (vsp), split ring (SR), reverse join (RJ), 2 shuttles

Measurements : Rnd 1 : >4” before folding ; 2½” after folding . Rnd 2 : 3¾”  

Pattern for Round 2 of adaptation :

Shuttle (SH) 1 – black ; Shuttle 2 – maroon

abbreviations listed in Techniques above ; fhs - 1st half stitch ; shs - 2nd half stitch.

Join to a folded arm of chain from the previous round . (refer to enlarged pic above)

With SH1

Ch : 6, 4shs, vsp, 4fhs, 6. JSS to next arm BUT instead of completing the JSS with a shs, make a SLT in order to switch shuttles.

With SH2

SR : 8/7 .

R : 8-8 .

SR : 8/7 . RJ to next arm thus switching shuttles.

Repeat from chain all around.

NOTE : If only 1 colour is used, simple LJ can be made instead of JSS & RJ. The latter were used only to regulate the colour blip.

Okay, I’m off now … apologies for boring you out of your wits … but you know I’ll never learn ;-p

happy tatting

&

happy Tat Days to all who are attending

Flakes n Flowers

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Snowflakes - “The Flower Within”

Snowflakes are beautiful. Tatting patterns of snowflakes are beautiful & enticing. Hidden within these cool snowflakes can be a spring flower to warm the heart ! This is my attempt to keep spring alive during the cold winter months.

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(click on asterisk for link to pattern/site)

Maranta’s Star 4*

Anchor #40 . White & Aqua Blue 4054-0185

Rnd 1 :1¼”    ;    Rnd 2 : > 2½”    ;     3½” tip to tip

I try to avoid using SLTs. But that creates a problem if one wants to customize the placement of colours. After 1^st round (the picots are not even enough, hence the swirl), I planned on using 3 shuttles with some encapsulation to hide the unwanted colour. Doable. But the mood left me – perhaps another time. I ended up continuing a 2^nd round with only the aqua blue chains, adding a tiny picot at tip for joining. T&C.

Then I did the remaining white part as a 3^rd round ! Again, instead of Split Chains & Split Rings to climb out/connect, to tat in one pass, I ended up doing it in segments ! Cutting & hiding ends after each segment. This was the phase when I was writing up my pds post here & was tatting only for pleasure – experimentation had to take a backseat..... 

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Robin’s Winter Frost Snowflake*

(Pattern can be bought at her etsy shop)

AMC #50 White & #40 Variegated Maroon (4054-1206)

Rnd 1 : ¼”  ;  Rnd 2 :  1”  ;  With twisted picot : 4”  ;  Without twisted picot : 3¼”

Remember my test tat here, with the twisted picots ? I just Had to make a 2-colour version.

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Nancy Tracy’s Tatted Ice snowflake*

Anchor #40 White & Lavender (4054-098)

Rnd 1 :1”   ;   Rnd 2 : ~2”    ;    ~3½” tip to tip

A breeze to tat up ! And the picots give such a lacy flurry look.
Update : Realised months later that I inadvertently tatted 7 points/sides !!! Yet it all stayed flat & pretty :-)

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Robin’s Design Tut Snowflake*

Anchor #40 White & Lavender (4054-098)
Rnd 1 : 1¾”  ;   3¼” tip to tip

Tatted & posted last year, here, but have not been happy with the pic. Love the pattern !

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Coats Unknown

Anchor#20 Blue (0131) & White

An old motif. Made quite a few just coz I liked the pattern ages back. Haven’t used them anywhere yet. Want to make another in #40 thread this time. I can see the difference in my tatting of 15 years back & now …Anybody know the source ? Please let me know so that I can give due credit.

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I enjoyed tatting all these snowflakes – relaxing, with a touch of colour for added excitement. I’ve been tatting many more snowflakes – hope I don’t forget to post.

Thanks to All designers for sharing their wonderful creativity 

happy tatting :-)

Motif #14/III  for 25 Motif Challenge

Related Post update : Day 2 Snowflake as part of the flower within series.

Tatting Pattern: Tiny Heart Poppy part 2

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Tiny Heart Poppy

 A  3D  Tatted  Flower (contd.)

Tiny Heart Poppy - spot the difference ;-)))

The 2^nd and final part of the Tiny Heart Poppy pattern. The first part of Flower (petals) pattern is here. 

We’ve completed the 3 red petals. Now to add ‘embellishments’ to bring it to life ;-) : the flower centre made of yellow & black, a couple of free-standing buds, a leaf sprig, & then the main stem. 

Poppy Flower Centre :

Materials

AMC Size 20 , Yellow 0289 , Black

2 shuttles OR 1 shuttle with yellow tied to black ball

Techniques & abbreviations :

JR – Josephine Ring , with Perpendicular arrangement of Rings

Floral Picot   (click for tut)

Ch – chain

fhs –  1^st half stitch of ds

shs – 2^nd half stitch of ds
Wind yellow thread in one shuttle & black in 2^nd shuttle/ball & tie together. No need to hide the tail ends as these will be required to provide stiffness to encapsulated stem later.

Yellow Pistil/Carpel :

With shuttle 1 (yellow) :

JR 1 : 10 hitches / half stitches

Perpendicular Arrangement of Rings : (click for detailed tutorial)

Before starting JR2, try to turn JR1 at a 90° angle on Y axis. So instead of making a concentric, onion-ring type of overlap, we will get an overlap Across the 1^st JR, vertically, at right angles. Hopefully the image & diagrammatic representation below, will give a clearer idea.

JR 2 : 15 hitches …

Before closing, adjust this ring over the 1^st JR so as to snug neatly over & around the latter. If required, add or subtract the half stitches. Since there is no picot in JR1 to which JR2 can be joined, one needs JR2 to fit snugly over, yet without distorting, JR1, Nor falling over itself !

I kept positioning the open ring stitches over JR1 till I felt the length was just right, then close JR2, keeping it positioned perpendicular to JR1.

Yellow Pistil in center

 

 

Black Stamens :

Place/position the yellow centre over the space between the 3 petals. (Pass the tail ends through this open centre, so that they are now Under the flower). 

Working from top, join to picot at the base of any petal, keeping the yellow JRs centred.
Now start a chain made up of medium length Floral Picots (I have used the term described by Ring of Tatters)

Ch : ** ( 2FHS , p , 2 SHS , p ) …. Repeat ** for desired length, joining to the picots at the base of each petal at regular intervals. The chain should be long enough to go all around the yellow core. Lock join into place.

I made the length slightly longer so that it overlapped a bit, before ending. If you look very carefully, this overlap of picots can be seen towards the right side in image. Overlap ensures that the black picots will never show any gap.

Pass all the tails through the center, to the back of the flower, to be encapsulated later.

The Poppy Flower is now complete ! 

If one is looking for only a flower, one can stop here (hiding all tails). This can be sewn on to decorate or adorn headbands, bracelets, rakhi, gifts, etc. etc. Add a green calyx, if desired.

I decided to add some stem, leaves, & buds to the flower to make it a stand-alone entity such as a nosegay (spritz your favourite perfume ;-) ), a lapel flower, brooch, or a boutonniere for men. Add a couple more flowers & paraphernalia to make a cute spray !

Buds, Stems, Leaf Sprig

AMC Dark Green : 0844

2 shuttles, wound CTM

Buds :

JR 1 – Josephine Ring with auxiliary thread

JR 2 – Josephine Ring using Jane Eborall’s alternative technique

Perpendicular Rings arrangement

JC – Josephine Chain or Spiral chain

Encapsulation with JC / spiral tatting

UPDATE : For detailed tutorials click : Starting with Auxiliary Thread & Ending with Auxiliary Thread

2 Shuttles wound CTM.

Here is something I hadn’t tried before, hence a detailed log :

1. Wind an extra (auxiliary) piece of green thread along with the thread in shuttle, just enough for the 2 JRs.
2. Make JR1 (15 half stitches) using this double thread, for added thickness.
3. JR2 (20-22 half stitches) made with Jane Eborall’s method of Josephine Rings   
4. JR2 is made perpendicular to JR1. Before closing the ring, make sure it sits over the 1^st ring just right, without falling over.
5. Cut the extra length of auxiliary thread & hide it in the JC that follows, or keep it for encapsulation.
6. JC for about 5½ cms (or as desired).
7. Note : Since one is encapsulating, the half stitch of JC/spiral chain will remain unflipped.
8. End JC with a small picot with which to join to main stem later. Do not cut. (This step can be skipped. After leaving a short tail, cut threads. Repeat from Step 1 for 2nd bud).
9. JC going back up for 2^nd bud. This stem is shorter ~ 4 cms long.
10. Unwind shuttle & double up the remaining thread (or wind another auxiliary thread).
11. Use this doubled thread to make the 2 perpendicular JRs as before.
12. Tie, cut & hide the tail or sew it in.

Note : The 2 buds have been made in one pass. But looking back, it is better to make them separately, each one starting from the bud end & moving down to the stem. Threads can be encapsulated later.

TIP : JCs can be done with 1 shuttle & ball. But the ball (working) thread tends to twist a great deal & untwisting the ball after every few stitches, becomes cumbersome. Hence it is advisable to use 2 shuttles. I speak from experience ;-((

 

Leaf Sprig :

Twisted Picots (unjoined)

JC – Josephine Chain / Spiral tatting

3½ cm stem which is again a JC

Twisted picots at regular intervals (2½ - 3 cms long each)

Start with a twisted picot on a JC. The picots are closer initially, then the spacing increases slightly. Do as many as you want. When desired length is reached, stop & cut threads, leaving a tail of 2-3 inches.

TIP : JC stem spirals around, so the twisted picots spiral around too, instead of sitting flat on a single plain.

Another reason I used a JC chain, is to replicate in an abstract fashion, the fuzziness of a real poppy stem.

UPDATE : Refer to Tutorial for Twisted Picots (Floating) 

Main Stem :
Encapsulation using JC ( spiral chain)

< 5 cm long.

Preferably 2 shuttles, CTM

Hook the green thread to any one picot at base of petal. Then make JC, encapsulating all the floral thread tails.

Note : Since one is encapsulating, the half stitch of JC/spiral chain will remain unflipped.

After about 2 cms from base of flower, start attaching the buds’ stem & the leaf sprig. Make sure to encapsulate these from a little higher than the point at which the tails start; this will ensure free-standing stems that hold the buds & leaves.

Also start cutting off tails, at different stages but After at least 1 inch of encapsulated main stem, for a tapering kind of stem. If an evenly thick stem is desired, then encapsulate all tails right till the end.

Continue the stem further to desired length. Tie & cut.

When encapsulated with all the tails, the stems remain stiff enough & no extra stiffening is required. It is also essential that a short part of the buds & leaf sprig stems be encapsulated within the main stem from the point where they are joined, so that they stay erect & in place without any support.

NOTE : Each element holds it's shape. However,  in case thread specifications demand, one can add an extra/auxiliary thread for encapsulation of stems.

Final Dimensions : ( ” – cms ; ’ – inches )

Flower : ~ 4”/ 1½’ across

Yellow centre : ~ ½” x ½”

Black centre : picots are ~ ½ cm long each, with slight variation if desired.

Buds & Stem : 1^st pair : 1”x 1”, on a 4”/ 1½’  long stem.

2^nd pair : >1”x 1”, on a 5½”/ 2’ long stem.

Leaf Sprig : Twisted picots vary between 2½”-3”/ ~1’-1’+ in length, along a 3½”/ 1½’  long stem. The total length from tip to base, comes to about 6”/ 2½’ .

Main Stem : <5”/ <2½’ long, from base of flower to end.

Total length of entire Spray : 9”/ 3½’

Some Variations :

For a fuller, more ROSE-like look, add another layer of 3 petals below the 1st three, before starting with the stem, etc. (in pic below)

One can add a calyx at base of flower. A set of long twisted picots, joined to the free picots at base of flower, might look good.  It will also make the flower “complete” in case one does not want to follow up with a stem, etc. Once the sepals are in place, start with encapsulation for stem.

A potential ROSE ?!  2 layers of petals.

In Remembrance of all those from whom I have learned,  & am learning, 

all who have graciously shared their knowledge, patience, & skills .... 

Sept 5th, Teachers' Day (India). 

UPDATE : See Coretta's tweaked pattern here

and Helen Walters' Poppy Ice Drop adaptation here.

Related Posts : padded tatting solutions 1

padded tatting solutions 2
twisted picot (floating)

how to make the flower center and buds

free together

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The florets fell off the tree and got threaded into a bracelet! This is my Independence Day bracelet, with a stylised representation of our tricolour (or Tiranga,  as in Union Jack or Stars and Stripes).

I remember using the Indian flag colours in tatting twice before - unintentionally in the Spring Garland , and intentionally in Ninetta's Girotondo . But neither had any blue in it.

Each colour has a meaning attached to it. Saffron for strength and courage; white for peace; green for growth and prosperity. The blue crystal in the center represents the Dharma Chakra - wheel of truth, or righteousness.

I'm sure you can choose colours to symbolise your own flag if you end up tatting it.

FREE  TOGETHER  BRACELET (aka Tiranga bracelet)

This is a very simple pattern. Worked in Anchor Pearl Cotton size 8. 

Each of the 12 rosettes is tatted separately. 5 rings of 5-15-5, linked in a circle, made with one shuttle.

The 'toggle' is made as follows :

Rosette : [4-12-4]x5 . To reduce tail ends, work the last ring as a split ring (4+12/4), joining to 1st ring. Then add new colour to make the chains. Each chain is 14ds, lock join. After completing the round, snip off one thread and add 3rd colour. Each chain here is 16ds, lock join.

Tat over tail at the start of each round, and hide previous tail within new element or whip stitch. Refer False CTM and/or Adding new thread to chain (tutorial links In case a link does not work, substitute .in with .com)

I had to improvise a lot while assembling the flowers! Lots of false moves and backtracking, but I am more than happy with the result - the overlapping of flowers is exactly how I'd visualized it.

Without boring you with details, here's how the final assembly happened - Start 3 spiral or Josephine chains, one in each colour. At the beginning, I held open each chain with a paper clip. In the end, it was through these tiny open spaces that thread was inserted to secure the tassel.

We no longer need the shuttles. Beads and flowers are strung through these 6 strings in this order - blue crystal, flower, 2 pearl beads. Repeat till all 12 flowers are strung. End with desired length of pearl beads, 1 blue crystal, the 'toggle' flower, 1 more pearl, knot together, leave a length like a stem for the flower, and knot again. Snip. 

This bunch of threads makes it easier to grip and insert through the spiral chain spaces and pull the flower through, to hold the bracelet in place.

Now here's a behind-the-scenes solution. It turned out that the blue crystal could carry only 4 threads, and was small enough to pass through the flower center. My solution : Depending on the colour of the flower which follows the blue bead, thread the crystal and flower with 4 threads of the other 2 colours. The 2 remaining threads are inserted Between 2 rings of the flower, on 'opposite' ends, and knotted securely Behind the flower. This holds the beads in place, takes care of the unstrung threads, and maintains the overlap!

I could've snipped off 1 thread in each colour, but I liked this solution and nothing is visible. Hence, make sure you have everything pre-planned and pre-measured ;-D

@@@ 

Almost every Indian household starts the day with "utterly butterly delicious" Amul butter ;-P

As I scroll through this 50th year celebration book (2012) - Amul's India - it is like refreshing and revisiting the various facets of India and Indians - a fun way to review history through their weekly slogans! It would not be an exaggeration to say India's Amul. 

They usually avoid controversial topics, focusing more on the positives and achievements. To tell a story in a few short words using clever puns, portmonteaux (mostly bi-lingual), and wordplay - just too good! It is a great book to spend some moments with any time of the day!

To my Indian readers, how many of you look forward to Amul's ad every Wednesday? I still remember almost leaning out of the train on my way to college, to catch a first/early glimpse of the new hoarding every week! Now of course, I quickly skim through the newspaper to see what the polka dotted girl has to say.

the poinsettia !

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a snowflake poinsettia.  ‘twas the season after all!

Realised I hadn’t used beads in any of her snowflakes. Beads are such an easy way to add another colour, and perfect for my visualization & easy execution of this pattern.

Twentieth Day of December Snowflake

Lene Björn

from 24 Snowflakes in Tatting
for 2016 Snowflake Challenge on Craftree 

Remember my ‘the flower within’ (and here) conceptualisation where I tried to highlight the flower within a snowflake pattern ? Well, here the entire snowflake becomes a flower !

I strung 18 beads on shuttle #1 .... 

and wound shuttle #2, CTM for Round 1. This helped me climb out with a split chain.

Then I joined in the green thread on shuttle #3 and used encapsulation for chains, carrying the hidden green thread along till required for 'leaves'.

One can tat this round with only 2 shuttles, by using SLTs. I prefer avoiding SLT .

Encapsulation offers so much freedom if one can handle thread entanglement ;-) 

Also, instead of sticking to designated/conventional thread, one can chose to do elements & joins with whichever shuttle is closer, keeping colour format in mind. 

Thus, I used the red chain shuttle for the SCMR instead of the red core one. This also ensured that the chain arch remained a bit smoother, without a break at the SCMR point. And I used the red core for lock join.

A further bit of experimentation : making the first ring a SCMR with thrown ring. 

But experienced designer knows best ! It is prettier & easier to follow Lene’s diagram path, which I used for the remaining leaf sets.

I think it's a bit cramped at the central leaf joins, thus distorting the shape of individual rings. Or perhaps it's my own sloppy tatting and the 3-shuttle entanglement.

There was a tiny bit of ruffle in this flake and I could’ve tatted it better, but I am satisfied with the overall floral image.

Techniques & measurements : split chain (SCh), mock ring (SCMR) with thrown ring, encapsulation, beads on ring picot, simultaneous joins.

In Anchor size 40, (hued red - 4054-1206 & green 4054-00229) 

Rnd 1 - 1½” ;  Rnd 2 - <3½”  ; the 'flower' only is 2"

Future Idea : How about adding more chain-only rounds to increase the petal layers? Think chrysanthemum, dahlia, rose, etc.


That's it for now. Off to tat another snowflake ☺

happy tatting always :-) 
Z

enclosed space medallions

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Enclosed Space Medallions

I have no idea where I got this lovely pattern or when. UPDATE Nov, 2017 : This is Medallion #84 with pattern on page 23 of Il Chiacchierino Vol 1  1999.

Years back I had made several (in blue and white) and have since given them away to my MIL, except for a couple. This was shared as part of “the flower within” series of snowflakes.

Last couple of days I tatted these afresh, for a document on medallion classification I was preparing (for Design Class). It will be shared soon – with explanation and respective samples.

Based on Elgiva Nicholl’s book (Tatting: Technique & History), these medallions come under the category of ‘enclosed space’.  

Notice that there is a central negative space surrounded by rings.

Traditionally this medallion is tatted in 2 separate rounds – the inner rings-only round and then the outer one with clovers and chains. When done in this fashion, the rings face outwards and we also have a choice of using 2 different colours for each round.
(We can climb out with a split ring,  though. Even with single shuttle and ball, pull a length of tail to be used for the last split ring).

20^th century tatters like to tat in one pass. The easiest way in this case is to work the inner round as thrown rings off the chains, using 2 shuttles.

Notice anything?

Yes, the rings are now facing inwards ! We thus have an enclosed space with inward facing rings. And the inner rings will take the chain colour, being tatted with 2^nd shuttle.

More on Inward and Outward Rings (Ring as Fish)

I like the flower within medallions, but the one-pass medallion is quicker and easier to tat. The 8 rings of the ‘flower’ tend to overlap until joined (one can add tiny joining picot at base of each ring to stabilize).

Notice the difference in the size of each medallion ? These are all worked with Anchor Mercer Crochet Cotton. But –

The white-only is in the new size 20 (probably close to size 10 or thicker in Lizbeth);

The blue center one is in vintage size 20 (equivalent to size 20 in Lizbeth);

The variegated (embroidery, 3 strands) center one is in size 40 (equivalent to size 40 Lizbeth).

How can one combine threads (same brand, same ‘size’) for a pattern ??? Anchor (Madura Coats, India) has really gone down the dumps – not just in size ; even the smoothness and silky sheen are missing!

‘Picots’ is the topic for ‘I Love Tatting’ series, posted this time by Renata. It actually translates to “picnic” !!! Either way, it was an enjoyable picnic tatting these and the picots do perk up the medallions :-)

I was hoping to create something new - I have something in mind, but in case I don’t get the time, this is my entry for now. Do check in the other entries – lovely tatting as always !

tatting is always a picnic to be enjoyed thoroughly !