Sunday 29 March 2015

and options

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Renulek’s  Wiosna  Doily 2015
Rounds 8 & 9 



Last year I was amazed at how the same doily pattern, Renulek’s Spring Doily 2014 (my version here), took on a character of it’s own, changing appearance with the colour choices, placement choices, etc. that each tatter made.
But tatters don’t just have the option of colours, threads, & thread sizes. We can also make choices with regard to which/what technique to apply to each round, to best suit our requirements & our comfort ! Many paths to the same destination :-)

I have just started on Round 9 & would’ve ideally posted only after completion. However, since this is a tat-along, & there seems to be some interest in my earlier tips, I decided to upload my thoughts so that they may be of timely help, if required …. as it is I started late & am lagging behind ;-P

UPDATE (March 10, 2017) : For a simpler working of Round 9 see pictorial here with options for different colour placement,  too.

This is what worked for me for Round 9 of the Wiosna

I have used single colour for entire round. Hence both shuttles are loaded CTM.
For those using 2 colours, you may switch colours using the SLT wherever necessary. Carollyn has posted some excellent how-to pics for 2-coloured Round 9,here.


Firstly, some pointers :
  • Work this round counter/anticlockwise ! While all previous rounds were done/could be done in clockwise direction, this one Has to be tatted in opposite direction.
  • It requires Directional Tatting. Hence a knowledge of Reverse Stitch (also called 2nd half of Split ring method, lark’s head knot,  unflipped stitches/hitches, encapsulation, etc.) is required.
  • All tatting is done on the Front Side Only. Do Not Reverse Work at all !!! I learned this from tatting Teri’s Dandelion Chain Link Bookmark here.
  • If one is not too experienced with this type of tatting, it is best to use single colour, so that any small mistake will not be easily apparent.
  • I always find it less complicated to use 2 different types of shuttles since it is easy to keep track of which is Sh#1 & Sh#2. Or else, mark them.
  • Lock Joins are made with the shuttle closest to the joining point.


The Process (Directional Tatting)

To Begin :
*** With Sh1,
Ring : start with the central ring normally (ds) . Close ring. Switch shuttles.
       With Sh2,
Ch1 : Reverse Stitch.  LJ with Sh1, to ring picot.
Ch2 : Reverse Stitch.  LJ with Sh1, to ring picot.
Ch3 : Reverse Stitch.  LJ with Sh1, to base of ring.
Ch4 : Normal ds , join to picot on round 8, continue ds chain.
Switch Shuttles. *** 
Repeat from *** to *** till end (72 total motifs/repeats)

The first ‘motif’ is complete. For all subsequent repeats, the 1st side chain will be joined to the adjacent previous side chain in this manner : LJ with Sh2, to chain picot UPDATE : As pointed out by Ninetta in the comments below, instead of a LJ here, one could easily use the Split Ring or Lark's Head Knot Join. That would not only bring about neatness, but keep the core thread in play. Thanks Ninetta :-)

Continue in similar fashion for rest of the round.

To Summarize :
Work Only the Ring with Shuttle #1, and the Lock Joins to ring from the 3 chains going around it.
All the rest will be tatted using Shuttle #2 – the 3 chains around the ring, the chain joining to previous round, and the Lock Join when connecting to chain picot on previous repeat.


I am thoroughly enjoying this round – both for it’s beauty , the colour I’ve chosen , And for the option of using yet another technique learned earlier. The only minor irritant is that one has to unwrap the chain thread from one’s pinkie to make those LJs ;-P

Abbreviations used :
CTM – continuous thread method
SLT – shoe lace trick
Sh – shuttle
ds – double stitch
Ch – chain
LJ – lock join

Just a couple of lines regarding Round 8 :
It is a simple round, which can be done with single shuttle & ball, although I went with 2 shuttles.
I added a tiny picot at base of each chain (after 1st ds & before last ds) , joining adjacent chains for better anchorage & stability, just as I did in the previous round 7,here.
I’m not too happy with the long chains – there is some ruffling – but  am hoping that Round 9 will flatten it out.

And to repeat, there is no Single correct way of tackling round 9. One should choose what one is comfortable with. This can, however, also be a challenge to learn new techniques & applications.

UPDATE :
Well this post Is about  Options!
Optional  Process (Traditional tatting) :
Bernice mentioned in the comments below, that she was also working counterclockwise but was reversing work. This morning, as I continued my directional tatting, it suddenly hit me that this is Essentially the Same ! All I was doing was tatting from the front with no RW, while Bernice was tatting ‘normally’ ie., with normal ds & hence had to use RW.
I had to confirm it of course ;-P Yes, it worked great (the last 2 repeats in the pic). Looking closely, I think, in fact, these turned out better looking than the previous ones !



Note : 
Ring is made on the front side of the doily. Hence when work is reversed, we are on the backside, & you might need to make a Down Join to avoid colour blip if working with 2 colours.

Also, use SLTs when required if working with 2 colours. Carollyn has demonstrated this.

So, when one looks from the front side, one is tatting Counterclockwise, but with normal ds. 
In fact, if using a single colour, then one can even work with 1 shuttle & ball through the entire round, by doing just 1 SLT before each ring.

The ring is like a Thrown Ring - a ring on the long chain! 

Another option -- if working with 2 shuttles & single colour,  every alternate repeat will be made by the next shuttle.  If you started with Sh 1, next repeat will be with Sh2, then 3rd repeat with Sh1 and so on.  No SLT required. 

The Process
Make Ring . RW . (you can see the solitary ring in the pic on top right)
Work Ch1 & join to previous repeat (ch picot) using a Down Join.. LJ to Ring. DNRW.
Ch2 . LJ to Ring. DNRW.
Ch3. LJ to base of Ring . RW .
Long Ch . Join to previous round. ……


Please feel free to share how you are tatting/have tatted this round. Ideas multiply when we share :-)
happy tatting :-) 

Related Posts : Wiosna Rounds 1-5



14 comments:

  1. I like the colors, gives a kind of old fashion quilt look to it, great tips as always :)

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Carollyn :-)) I do think the black & especially this ecru/cream row has finally 'elevated' the doily to some extent, bringing it all together ;-P

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  2. I had completed 4 repeats and started looking for some tips on this round. I was using the LJ but I was also reversing the work, I am working counterclockwise. I found it difficult to join back to the ring and keep the repeats symmetrical. I was not having a problem on the long chains. Oh my Row 8 was frilly to but Row 9 seems to be pulling it flat. I will give your suggestions a try.

    Love your Blog

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    Replies
    1. Bernice, I hope this process works for you - will appreciate any & all feedback on how it worked or didn't work. Will wait for your post :-)
      I am enjoying this row immensely, with no RW .... the doily is always "neatly" to the left side while I tat away along the edge ;-P
      Thanks & hugs :-D

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    2. Bernice, I have just updated this post. Based on your comment, I tried out your method & it worked great, & just as easy. I actually did not have to move the doily around, only kind of 'flip' the round to the left (backside) when RW & back to the right (frontside) when done.

      Love it when ideas are shared :-D

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  3. Oh, I wish I had this Good info before I started this round.I'm too far into it to start over! Thank you for your explanations :)

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    Replies
    1. Cindy, it's still not too late. Leave the edging as is (or tie off at the end), & begin from the first motif, working counterclockwise :-) You don't even need to cut anything out, simply continue from other direction& join to the previous one till the end ...
      I did something like this in the previous post ...did not cut out an 'iffy' segment, but started a new segment some distance away, so that I could compare & decide later.
      It was after reading your post, that I decided to do this hurried post for anyone who has still not started with this round, & will then have more options to choose from .

      Hope you enjoy your doily ... looking forward to the next rounds :-)) I like the way your doily is shaping up - nice colours :-)

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    2. Silly - I never thought of tying off and starting from the other end. Thank you! I'll have to practice a little more :)

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  4. The doily is going to be beautiful. When tatting those chains with reverse stitches, instead of a Lj, have you ever tried this? : http://janeeborall.freeservers.com/JoinSecondSideSR.pdf

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    Replies
    1. Aarrrrrgggggghhhh ! I am so miffed with myself !
      Yes, Ninetta, I have used this join so many times before, but don't know why it slipped my mind this time. Ugh ! No wonder the join did not look neat.
      Thank you so much for pointing it out. I have added an update, to both the text & image.
      Hugs :-)

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  6. I am still working on round 6 with all your tips it does make it easier! I thought I would get 6 and 7 done while on vacation in New York but just too busy with family. Great job on your doily (:

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