renewed on the third try

That is about another challenging pattern for the "Endrucks 1920 Project". 

It is a community project, we welcome you to join in! All infos and links are in the Endrucks 1920 Project Document, here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/17LEVftXweztBIOWh4sL4BB7bX65ssoOsOn4oXIgCepY/view?usp=sharing

The medallion in picture number 40 in the book drew my attention.

The original models, in the old book, were clearly tatted with a very thin thread (actually I've tatted mine with size 80 threads) but I've always thought that the thread's size doesn't affect the pattern. Anyway, in those patters there are elements very close to each other and the "heigth" of the double stitches could affect the final result. The tatter's tension looks very different from mine, it seems that they used to tat very loose, there are bare threads between chains and rings and picots are different in size, some are long and others are very small, without a clear schema/plan. Nowadays we are used to a more compact look. I also believe that the designer kept the stitch count regular in every pattern to help the tatter to easily memorise them.

On my first attempt, I followed the original pattern, but the centre looked distorted and the outer rounds cupped. The cupping disappeared after stretching it.

Thread is Lizbeth size 80, colour 154. Despite it looks almost fine, I was not happy with it, especially for the packed centre. 

Then, I reduced the stitch count for the inner rings and it was far better, all rings fitted well and was not squashed. Also the smaller centre should have helped me for the cupping problem in next rounds.

Thread for the second sample is DMC Special Dentelles, size 80, colour 818 (pink). I didn't change the stitch count in the outer rounds. The centre is a wee bit smaller than the original one, but that was not sufficient, the outer round was still cupping:

I don't like stretching my tatting because I am afraid that it will break! Then I needed a third try!

Note that in the original there are floating rings in the centre, but I didn't tat the inner floating rings in the second sample and I didn't tat any of them in the third sample. 

Eventually there was a simple solution, that was to "enlarge" the edge of last round and to reduce a little more the second last round. To make that, the ring&chain elements in the second last round have been substituted with split rings...

...and then the block tatting in the last round has been changed a little too, adding a couple of ds for each block at the outer border of the block tatting (2ds x 8repetitions means adding 16ds to the outer border):

I'm happy with the result, I didn't need to stretch it and it is almost flat even just off the shuttles!

Thread for that last sample is DMC Special Dentelles size 80, colours 3778 and 368.

I'll put in Flickr the drawing for the medallion, within few days, with notes for tatting both the original and the last modified sample.

UPDATE: Pattern is in Flickr

Ciao,
Ninetta

Eleonore, that's difficult!

Despite the name of my blog, it happens that a pattern can be difficult, for many reasons: the stitch count is not easy to memorize, the direction of work changes often, tension is an issue, switch shuttles is needed but not clear where... Or all these together!

Eleonore put me on test. I'm not yet sure that I gave it justice. The red and ocher is already finished, I added a tail and it's about to go live alone, in one of my mum's book. You can start CTM, all one colour, but I chose to tat it in two colours to better follow the pattern. Thread is DMC Special Dentelles size 80. The pattern is the #24 in the "Schiffchen-Spitzen" book, by Eleonore Endrucks, from 1920, it is available here: http://www.georgiaseitz.com/public/publicindex.html

I've uploaded my diagram in Flickr (click to see a better image):

As in previous two edgings, there is block tatting and thrown off rings, that makes it a 2-shuttles pattern. In the original, as far as I understood and tatted, the first corner of the block tatting is done simply switching shuttles, then tat 1 ds, leave a very small picot and go on. The whole pattern is completed after a finishing external round, only chains, and I regret not having left another very small picot after the point where I switched shuttles, becouse I could have better joined the outer round.

In next picture, one of those corners is pointed by the blue arrow:

Next is a bracelet, with metallic Sanbest thread, 3 strands, color is a gold-pink hue, number 133. The coloured swarovski beads, that you can see in the first picture above, are only laid on top. I still don't know how to add a clasp, I think that I need a wide type of clasp, but at the moment I haven't any at home.

Ciao,
Ninetta

UPDATE (19Jan2022) - pattern in pdf (errors corrected) :

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZpHou6AOWM3LZJVbEMNB_gurWqtjazRx/view

unusual scalloped edge

Another post for the "Endrucks 1920" project.

That is my tatting for the pattern #14 in the "Schiffchen-Spitzen" book, by E.Endrucks, from 1920, it is available here: http://www.georgiaseitz.com/public/publicindex.html

I think that I'll go on tatting that, at least about one meter, for a nice linen towel's edging. I like this scalloped edging a lot, a very unusual and original shape for tatting, it makes me forget that the pattern it's turning 100!

You can start CTM, all one colour, but I chose to tat it in two colours to better follow the pattern. Thread is DMC Special Dentelles size 80. 

As in previous pattern (the n.8, read previous post: vintage trees), the bottom part is the side of the edging that should be attached to the fabric.

In the pattern there are true thrown off (floating) rings, that makes it a 2 shuttles pattern. There are tatters who prefer tatting with shuttle and ball and transform all floating rings in mock rings. The difference is minimal but it can be spotted, because of the different effect on the chain, it changes the curve. The next is a narrow edging with mock rings on chains, that I've tatted some years ago:

I've uploaded my diagram in Flickr (click to see a better image):

The pattern starts with the little ring 6-6 on the left, but, alternatively, you can start directly with the block tatting part, omitting the first ring and the chain 6-6-6. In that case, the pattern would start with a picot, then a chain 4-4-4-4, something like in previous pattern n.8, that started directly with a chain. They usually call it the “dead end” start, but in this case it is with a starting picot. There are some links to various tutorials in Muskaan's page https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/p/tatting-resources.html, if some links there don't work, in the URL you should change blogspot.in with blogspot.com

The original instruction in previous Eldrucks' pattern number 8 was to start CTM with one double stitch, then leave a very small picot, then tat the first row of the block tatting. That is only one way to start the "dead end" chain without a clip. I think that it may be helpful to figure this method as if they started CTM in the "Diag.1" drawing in this photo: (Block Tatting how to by Julie Patterson: http://www.georgiaseitz.com/2012/blockpatterson.jpg) .

Ciao,
Ninetta

vintage trees

My tatting today is for the "Endrucks 1920" project. It is a collective project. It all started here:  https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2015/11/pattern-eleonores-angels.html

That is only a short sample for the pattern #8 in the "Schiffchen-Spitzen" book, by E.Endrucks, from 1920, it is available here: http://www.georgiaseitz.com/public/publicindex.html

(direct link: http://www.georgiaseitz.com/public/endrucks/eleonoreendrucks-leichtensternschiffchenspitzenbook1920.pdf)

It is an edging and in the book's picture it is shown upside down, that is the bottom part is the side that should be attached to the fabric. It's lovely, it looks like trees, maybe the single tree can be used in greeting cards, just an idea.

It could have been one shuttle and ball pattern but there's one thrown off (floating) ring, that makes it a 2 shuttles pattern. You can start CTM, all one colour, but I chose to tat it in two colours to better follow the pattern. Thread is DMC Special Dentelles size 80.

The dense trunk is block tatting, you can follow your favourite method to do it. I tatted the rows in a way similar to that explained in Julie Patterson's drawing (2006): https://www.georgiaseitz.com/2012/blockpatterson.jpg

Each row is connected to the previous row with lock joins. But that is not the only way to join. I have a video in my channel in YouTube, comparing the Patterson's joining method to Jane Eborall's method (2007, amended in 2013: https://janeeborall.freeservers.com/BlockTattingEasy.pdf ). This is the link to the video in YouTube: https://youtu.be/oxGV7b3xK20. I think that if you use the J.Eborall's way of joining, you would need to leave very small picots in all rows for the trunk, just after each join, but I haven't tried that.

About YouTube, I'd like sending you all my heartfelt thanks, for I reached 1K subscribers on my channel! That is amazing, I can't believe it! Thank you, thank you! It's a long time since my last video, I don't know when I will post another one. With the "kids' restrictions" they deleted all comments and I lost the infos like the date posted, but I hope that it's not a problem! Videos are still there!

I've uploaded my diagram in Flickr (click to see a better image):

You have already noticed that in the diagram and in my tatting the first row was tatted, then I reversed work and tatted the first ring, then I didn't reverse work and switched shuttle, tatting the second row for the trunk. On the second row, there's no need to leave small picots because the lock joins itself let a very small space.

If you tat only one "tree" and attach the last ring to the first, a little tube will pop up. Sometimes it happens that you find things by chance, so... That are the earrings that sprung up from the tree:

The bottom part is a separated element, 4 rings flower (all 6-6-6-6 rings joined at the first picot), that contains the 8mm pearl, topped by a 6mm bicone swarovski; the "leaves" below are two rings, (21ds-3ds, and 3ds+21ds). I put 2mm bicone swarovski on picots, added one onion ring at the base of the "vintage tree" and finished with an SSSR, like in Miranda's tutorial -  http://tattingfool.blogspot.it/2011/07/finishing-with-sssr.html

Ciao,
Ninetta

xmas, angels and friends

The following xmas' scene has been made with the help of my friend "Dalì L'Artista" (the lady that decorates the shuttles that are in my photos).

She suggested how to set the scene and I found the perfect way to show my tiny tatted balls and the snowflakes tatted with the silk (https://ninettacaruso.blogspot.com/search/label/silk+snowflake).

(Update: read this post too: https://ninettacaruso.blogspot.com/2019/11/tatting-sphere.html )

(Update: here is a short video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1W9G5ltCDNtjIOpGIAijbI1W9UDu2fR8X/view ) 

Then, in the next picture, there's "Another Christmas Angel", I'm not joking, that's its name!
Pattern is by Jennifer Williams. I tatted it because friends of the Italian group in Facebook chose it among others by J.Williams and I helped with the translation and the instructions.

Pattern is here: https://www.cariad-tatting.com/christmas-patterns

It is a gift for my mum, she loves it! We put a small light under the dress. I tatted it with silver embroidery thread DMC E168 (polyester skein). For the head, I tatted one ball with white DMC Diamant D5200.
Pattern for the ball is one of mine (https://flic.kr/p/2hN8Y28)

There are beads, too. For sleeves and dress I used bugle beads 2mm, then for wings I used silver transparent rocailles 15/0, and for the head dress 2 rocailles 15/0 and one swarovski 2mm. I haven't stiffened it, since the polyester is firm enough and it stands alone without any wooden shape. Also, the ball (head) is empty.

About the snowflakes I've been tatting, I've exchanged some other messages with Sue Hanson. She is really helpful and a sweet lady! She found another snowflake with block tatting. She rescued it with the wayback machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20050403221520/http://www.tattings.com/snow2/
So, I already updated the list in previous post.
Here it is:

Direct link to the pattern by Carol Rasor: https://web.archive.org/web/20050215131532/http://www.tattings.com/snow2/snow2_12.shtml

The site went down after that Ron Solomon, the owner, went tatting with the Angels and nobody else stepped in. All snowflakes are by different designers, they are all worth a try, all original and it would be a great loss for the "Tatternet" community if they will disappear. I would like to make a plea to all tatters, if someone can suggest a virtual place for saving all those patterns. I would suggest Craftree...

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and today I like leaving you with a phrase about friendship:

"...A faithful friend is a sure shelter, whoever finds one has found a rare treasure. A faithful friend is something beyond price, there is no measuring his worth. A faithful friend is the elixir of life..." (source: The Bible,Ecclesiasticus)

Ciao,
Ninetta

E-learning

I'm learning a lot from this project. I committed myself to tat a dozen of snowflakes that contain block tatting.

Those in pictures are the last three I've tatted.

The first thing that I learnt is that very few designers have used block tatting in snowflakes, and you can count on one hand those who posted for free.

The second thing that I learnt (actually I confirmed my view) is that block tatting is an advanced technique. You always need to tweak it a bit, depending on the pattern, whether you are literally following designer's instructions or whether you want to tat it in the way 'you think' it's better for you.

This is the updated list of free online snowflakes that I've found till now:

1)pattern by Jane Eborall: http://janeeborall.freeservers.com/MotifCatherine.pdf

2) pattern by Sue Hanson: https://www.georgiaseitz.com/classes2/blocktat/hanson.html
3) Pattern by Bettina Lauth:  https://www.georgiaseitz.com/classes2/bettinaflake.html 

4) pattern by Adelheid Dangela: https://www.georgiaseitz.com/2013/adelheiddangleberlinflake.pdf

5)pattern by Roger L. aka Freedman: https://craftree.com/patterns/5001

6) pattern by me, my "fior di filet" snowflake, here: https://flic.kr/p/2hR6LeP
7) pattern by Jennifer Williams ("star using block tatting"): https://www.cariad-tatting.com/
8) pattern by Ben Fikkert: http://bentats.nl/Carrevlok.html
9) pattern by Jane Eborall: http://janeeborall.freeservers.com/Coriolis.pdf
10) pattern by Jane Eborall (block centre): http://janeeborall.freeservers.com/Snow3in2013.pdf (***)
11) pattern by Jane Eborall: http://janeeborall.freeservers.com/MotifWhirlygig.pdf (***)

Those with the (***) are two patterns where Jane Eborall uses the "new to me" technique of block tatting done with lock stitches chains, she has a technique page here:
http://janeeborall.freeservers.com/LockChainBlock.pdf
That is very intriguing, for sure I want to try it soon. Every Jane Eborall's pattern is an enjoyable learning experience, I'd rather say E-learning 😉!

UPDATE:
12) pattern by Carol Rasor: https://web.archive.org/web/20050215131532/http://www.tattings.com/snow2/snow2_12.shtml

Ciao,
Ninetta

spotted white

These two snowflakes are designed by Jane Eborall and Sue Hanson

Thread is dmc cordonett special B5200, size 80.
White thread is beautiful for this subject, but it gets dirty very easily, even if I try to keep it clean washing my hands often.

It was my intention to tat more snowflakes with block tatting in them, at least a dozen, but this time Mr.Google gave me a poor help, bringing me back only these two.

Then I remembered that in Craftree there's a wonderful patterns' library, and I found another one, that I will tat soon.

But my goal will be hardly reached.

Luckily I received a sweet message from Sue Hanson, she is so kind, she spotted other free snowflakes' patterns with block tatting in them, that I'm going to tat soon. There aren't many snowflakes that have block tatting, some of these are in books and then not free.

This is the very short list of free online snowflakes that I have in this moment:

1)Jane Eborall's "Catherine wheel motif", pdf is in her page (among a storm of other snowflakes) here: http://www.janeeborall.freeservers.com/MotifsSnowflakes.htm

2) https://www.georgiaseitz.com/classes2/blocktat/hanson.html

3) https://www.georgiaseitz.com/classes2/bettinaflake.html

4) https://www.georgiaseitz.com/2013/adelheiddangleberlinflake.pdf

5)https://craftree.com/patterns/5001

6) my "fior di filet" snowflake, pattern is here: https://flic.kr/p/2hR6LeP

UPDATE: sorry, I forgot to add in the list that one designed by Jennifer Williams, you can find the pattern in her site, that is https://www.cariad-tatting.com/

Ciao,
Ninetta

days of december

These are Eight and Ninth of December, snowflakes' patterns by Lene Bjørn:

Thread is DMC Cordonett Special B5200, size 80.

In both cases there's block tatting and that is the main reason I wanted to tat them. The other reason is because I've bought 12 wooden frames, to make little xmas gifts.

At a first reading, the drawings were pretty clear, but then, with shuttles "in action", I realised that photos and diagrams are facing different direction, that caused me a little confusion...

... and that is the reason why the "8th of December" is not a faithful reproduction of the original. Anyway, I tatted the two rounds continuously.
All in all, that is a lesson for me as someone who presumes to draw patterns for others, I think till now I didn't pay much attention to keep consistent drawings and photos.

I would love making more snowflakes that have block tatting. If you please, in case you know any other free pattern, I will be happy to tat it, ❄❄❄ possibly 🤞 within these days of December ❄❄❄
I've found one by Jane Eborall and another by Sue Hanson, I will share my white versions next week.

Ciao,
Ninetta

fior di filet - pattern for a snowflake

"Fior" is the contraction of the word "fiore", that in Italian means flower.
Pattern is in Flickr : https://flic.kr/p/2hR6LeP

There are two rounds, worked continuously without cutting the  thread after the first round. 

I used Jane Eborall's method to join rows of block tatting, you find all links and a video in previous blog post.

I switched shuttles after the first ring (I put a "swirl" in the drawing in that point), but I didn't reverse work, I continued with flipped stitches in the normal way. I was uncertain if I should write DNRW but at the end I decided to let the tatter choose her favourite way). I didn't reversed work because I wanted my tatting front side, both rings and block tatting.  But that is my personal choice. 

I tatted all the first round from the front, in counterclockwise direction, taking advantage of the fact that I learned to tat also in "direct tatting", that is how they call the method in which (without changing the position of your hands) you tat unflipped stitches, like when you tat the second side of split rings "the dead spider way". It is very useful, I think, because it speeds up the tatting a lot. 

After the round with block tatting, I didn't reverse work passing to the second round, my shuttles were already in position to start the outer round with the chain, but I changed the direction of my tatting, going clockwise. Where the swirls are in second round, you can choose to switch shuttles, instead I just changed to direct tatting. If you like, you can tat that chain all the same direction, it will look like a flower's petal.

I should thank Muskaan, she was so kind to test tat the pattern (she suggested the idea of the flower petal), her help has been precious. I learned that whatever direction you take, the journey and who walks with you are what matter. Happy tatting 🥰🥰🥰

❄❄❄❄❄

I also wanted to blog about two other snowflakes I've just tatted, patterns are by Lene Bjorn, 8th & 9th of December, but that is for the next week!
❄❄❄❄❄

Ciao,

Ninetta 

oops a snowflake

I've brushed up on my block tatting. That happened because I found that my printed copy of Jane Eborall's drawing was not up to date with the last one in her site. My copy was from 2007, while that online in her site is from 2013. That's my fault, of course. I follow her blog and I know well that she often updates her patterns and technique's pdf, that is a wonderful thing, at least if only all her students paid attention, oops, um...

I noticed that many tatters join rows of block tatting in a way similar to that explained in Julie Patterson's drawing (2006): https://www.georgiaseitz.com/2012/blockpatterson.jpg
Me too, I use that. But sometime other ways are more useful or convenient, like the one I used in an edging, to have blocks in one colour and rings in another, it is showed here: https://www.georgiaseitz.com/2012/ninettecarusopattern.motif.5.jpg

So, when I remembered my printed copy of the drawing by Jane Eborall (2007, amended in 2013: https://janeeborall.freeservers.com/BlockTattingEasy.pdf ), I had to try it again, to better look at the final result, comparing the two joining methods.

That is a great method of joining, I like it a lot and it also inspired me to offer you a new video.

Sorry dears, this time I wrote the video text in Italian. Another news is that I added an audio (music) to the video, please forgive me if you don't like it.

This is the link to the video in YouTube:
https://youtu.be/oxGV7b3xK20

On the left the J.Patterson's way of joining rows, on the right J.Eborall's.

❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄ 

Christmas is coming fast, I had started tatting snowflake earlier this year but life (and tatting distractions) happens and now I have to catch up.

The one in the first picture from up top is a pattern of mine, modified from a square to a six pointed motif. The squared design is "fior di filèt", if you like the snowflake version I could share this pattern, too.

Thread is DMC Cordonnet Special B5200, size 80.
((((UPDATE: Pattern is in Flickr))))

The second snowflake I've tatted this week is designed by Jennifer Williams, you can find the pattern in her site, that is https://www.cariad-tatting.com/

Ciao,
Ninetta

the right angle - trebles and block tatting

What to do when you just need the right "right angle"? 📐❓

Every tatter knows that the tatted chain loves curving. (There's a nice tutorial online, about how to tat squared rings, that originally was an idea by Anne Dyer, but you need a third thread.)

So, I've been playing with an idea, that - if you like - you can compare with other methods, like adding a very very small mock ring or adding half stitches or doing the shoe lace trick.

The method starts as though I was doing a suspended chain, or a SSSCh:

1) Fold core shuttle's thread and finger tat 3 double stitches

here they are:

2) Now pass the shuttle inside the loop of the SSSCh

3) Pull the core thread on the left in next picture, to completely close the loop

4) Then pull the core shuttle

5) Tat at least one stitch with the core shuttle

6) firmly pull the shuttle to make the core thread disappearing

That is the chain after some more double stitches:

The "change of direction" in next pic has been done reversing work and exchanging shuttles.

📐📐📐📐📐📐📐📐📐📐📐📐

The "right angle" is very useful for using treble tatting stitches in block tatting.
In fact, the problem is that the height of the tds is a problem when you try to climb up to each subsequent row.

The 'angle problem' is solved with a "right angle" with 2ds and 1tds: 

Reverse work after each row:

👌👌👌👌👌👌👌

I think it works fine, but is the right angle something 'right' also for you? 
Well, you just have to try it out, I'm listening...

Ciao,
Ninetta