encapsulating

The strawberry in Italian is "fragola", that comes directly from latin, in fact it is the diminutive (in grammar) "fragula" from the plural latin word "fraga" (strawberries, source www.treccani.it).

Basic instructions: http://www.georgiaseitz.com/2003/encap/encap.html

Stems in the "mediterranean tatting diet" bookmark are made by encapsulating all tails with series of second half stitches, making the "Z" chain (http://www.georgiaseitz.com/setstitch.html). There isn't a proper pattern for this. Length must be adapted to your taste and thread's thickness.

I tatted the last leaf, I didn't cut the thread coming from the shuttle, then took other two leaves and put together in a bunch the long tails left. With the shuttle in my right hand and the bunch of threads in the left hand (stretched), I tatted unflipped second half stitches.

With the long tail left from the calyx, in the same way (shuttle in right hand and threads in left hand), I tatted 2nd half stitches to make a short stem for the fruit. I did the same also for flowers. That because I didn't want fruit and flowers directly attached on the main stem, but that was just my choice.

Back side for the strawberry:

 Back side for flowers:

I suggest to follow your style to put all elements together. Be creative.

Tip: there's many ends to deal with, also different lengths, so I attached shuttles one for each tail with a weaver's knot, to have a bundle.


At the end, I finished with a tassel, in this way:
I didn't cut the shuttle's thread, not yet. With the same shuttle, I tatted 3 little rings around the end of the "Z" chain. The stiches' count for this rings must be adapted to the thickness of the bunch of threads. Ends coming from the "Z" chain were split in two, then I added another bunch of short threads (about 12cm) and tied them in the middle with two ends from the "Z" chain, very close to the end of the chain. This bunch of short threads and the ends coming from the chain were folded in half and blocked with a ring, tatted with the same shuttle I used for the chain (leave a short bare thread to create the tassel's appearance). Again, the stiches' count for this rings must be adapted to the thickness of the bunch of threads. I made 3 rings of 14ds and left a long tail (about 6cm). 

Comb and trim the tassel.

Phew! This long post has been very difficult for me, all these English words and very few pictures! I hope I didn't forget anything, otherwise tell me off!

What can I do with this second one? A present, for sure!

แล้วพบกันใหม่   ค่ะ
(hope that is right! This writing is amazing, isn't it? rings an chains...)
(http://www.thai-language.com/id/801644
http://www.thai2english.com/ )
bye bye
Ninetta

Related posts:

edible flowers

yet another leaf, yet another butterfly

ready?

mediterranean tatting diet