Doily Stencil

My cousin bought this stencil:
https://decoart.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Session_ID=9f423aa341633ba2dc690c8c87f3c49e&Screen=PROD&Store_Code=D&Product_Code=ASMM10-K&Category_Code=AS

I'm wondering if anyone knows what pattern it is based on? There are a lot of elements I'd simplify if starting from scratch, all those dangling curly-ques should be rings, and some of the interfaces between rounds are are impractical.

It doesn't quite look like a tatting pattern to me. If it's based on one, it's taken some liberties with it...

It looks to me like it was generated from a drawing program by someone with a little knowledge of tatting. If you look at the ring with the curlicues, it looks like it is just copied and move outwards from the center to make three rounds with curlicue bits that don't connect within a round to each other. The long straight line joins on the third of these rounds don't even line up with a picot on the next to last round. The last round doesn't look continuous - there's a break between the bits that attach to the trefoils. There is no continuity that I can see in any of the rounds, and the joins do not make sense.

Hmmmm. Is this another tatting challenge?

I can see lovely hearts in the central circle, overlapping with larger spindles !!! I like that round - kind of Celtic or Ankars possibilities. Although the curlicues can be made with long chains, it would need too many ends to hide. Rings are a possibility, but I would prefer to keep it all like inverted hearts which would complement the inner hearts !
Just my 2-pence ;-)

Fascinating idea, Lynn! I wouldn't want to tat anything with so many one-ended curlicues, though!

Nor would I, Grace. I'm thinking SCMRs there instead. This definitely has some fascinating possibilities. It would be interesting to see how many different interpretations we could get out of it.

in reply to dlskidmore's post:

I agree that while the design is interesting and suggestive of tatting, it doesn't comply with all the tatting requirements. So feel free to interpret the parts that don't match tatting (or anything else!).

Does look like it came from a drawing program and would make a great challange.

I just discovered a technique that I think would work well for all those one ended curlicues. Single shuttle split chains or floating chains, ala Karen Cabrera's excellent site. (http://entrelanzaderas.blogspot.hk/2010/10/clases-de-frivolite-tatting-lessons.html) It's lessone # 38. That would eliminate the ends, Grace, and give an elegant, if unusual, look to the tatting. A tiny ring at the end would be enough to begin the chain, and I think the resulting little knob would be interesting. What do y'all think?

Lynn, that is a Superb Idea !! Very easy too ! And the technique has so much potential for freeform tatting :-)

In addition, if one does not want a ring at the end, one could try to start with a picot on a clip & start & work the chain.
At least I think it is do-able ... so one gets a pure curled chain without even a ring.
Must give it a go ....

Only today, I have learned Three new techniques from Karen's videos ! So much to learn & make :-)
Thanks for sharing, Lynn .

Hear! Hear! That's a sweet solution.

It's also possible to use beads to start the chain. Now that would really be interesting. Muskaan, I think without something at the end of the chain, you risk it becoming distorted as you shorten the core thread to curl the chain. Worth a try, though.

Lynn, you were right ... The chain would unravel once it is snugger, if the clip were removed early. However I might've "solved" that by starting the SSSCh with a Lock Stitch. I have uploaded this tiny composition but don't yet know whether it will show ....
Does the curlicue look fine ? No ring !

ADD:
Yippee, the image shows up ! Just wanted to add that this was All made with single shuttle, variegated leftover size 10 thread.
I should however remember to use 2 shuttles Always, for more options ...

Good job, Muskaan! The lock stitch holds it, right?

There is a technique where you can start on a chain and it won't pull through/out. I learned it here. Let me go see if I can find the location. It was originally suggested by a gentleman from Germany and then De Frivole created a video to demonstrate it. Basically, you start the chain with the second half of the stitch (don't count for your project) leaving it partly open like a loop, while you tat the required number of double stitches. Then you gently pull the foundation thread taunt, leaving as much curl as you like. That first stitch will flip itself and lock in place. If you are careful, in the event you need to connect back to it you can leave a very, very tiny loop to join.

I found it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjC87H__AYc&feature=plcp.

Yeah, Muskaan. Now we know it is definitely possible. And yes, your curlicue looks great. Do you have any pointers as to how to tat a lock stitch when encapsulating a thread? Just trying to wrap my mind around that. Since you have to hold onto the thread somehow, in my mind, I don't have enough hands! Ah! Did you put a striver on the thread to begin and snug the stitch against it? I think I see enough of a thread at the very tip of your chain for that to be a possibility.

Elfiona, that's a great tutorial, but it assumes you are tatting a normal chain. The Single Shuttle Split Chain would work out quite differently, I think.

I've used Frivole's tutorial before - it's great! I THINK it would work the same with the single shuttle split chain. The only thing is that you have to be very exact about where you make the starting loop.

In response to all above queries/loud thinking, And to satisfy my own curiosity, here is another set of pics, with text within. And this time I used nicely twisted Anchor Mercer in Size 20.

The freeform one I made earlier was in size 10 thread & the thread did leave some space, Lynn (I was working at night, & while I may be a night owl, I am relatively blind ;-P).

The Lock Stitch did hold up very well, Grace. I tugged at the chain real good & nothing gave :-)

Elfiona, thanks for sharing. I do this for normal chains - no clips, shrivers required. But I did not have the skill to do it here because
a) there was absolutely nothing to hold on to. Remember, in a normal chain, you have the core thread in one hand & the working thread in the other to help make the stitches. Hence, the clip acts as some sort of anchor.
b) the stitches in this case are worked as Reverse Stitches And in Reverse Order. Quite a lot going on there, and "not enough hands" ;-))

Lynn, your query about Lock Stitch in encapsulation has me stumped ! Yet, I gave it a try. No luck. UNLESS, one starts the stitches a short distance away from the inner threads & then encapsulate those ends within some later element. But can't figure it out for curlicues. There is one point, though. If one encapsulates while making a curlicue, do you think the curve will be as rounded & elegant ? I doubt it.
Calling on all our "tatting angels" to solve this :-))

Okay, here are the pics :

Muakaan, I don't know if you realize it or not, but you just gave us another way to do this. If you look at Karen's tutorial, you see that she is actually using the same encapsulation technique of unflipped DSs that you use for split rings and split chains in climbing out of rounds. (Hence my query concerning encapsulation.) Your right curling chain is made that way. But your left facing chain is actually tatted 'straight' - the same way as a normal ring or chain. This opens up even more possibilities, especially for free form tatting. I confidently expect PattyD to jump all over this. Using a simple knot on a pin that can later be untied is simply brilliant.

in reply to Lynn's post:

Lynn, Both are Unflipped stitches. For the left curlicues, you are correct .... It is the Reverse ds as used in SRs I encapsulation. I thought you were talking about encapsulation when we have multiple threads as core thread (padded tatting). That is where I don't know how to make a Lock St.

As regards the other curlicue ... That is again Unflipped stitches, although they look like normal chain sts. It is what we tentatively called 'Twist Work in Reverse Stitch' . I did a comparative post here :http://www.tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.in/2014/07/turn-work-in-reverse-stitch.html

They cannot be done as normal chains because that would mean using the shuttle thread as core thread & the short length will be flipped. Dunno if I can explain this more clearly. Only remember that the floating chain is Not made with 2 threads (2 shuttles or shuttle and ball), but with only one shuttle and a very short length as core thread.

Judith had started a thread on InTatters called "Reverse Stitch" and we had a great discussion therein. I hope you check these out whenever you have some time. It was great fun, besides being enlightening :-)

I do hope Patty & Judith & our other wise tatting angels chip in :-D

That pin & knot didn't leave any telltale space this time, did it ?! Yeah, I was so happy with it. Thanks :-)

Lynn, I did not untie the knot. The fine pin barely leaves a space/gap, and right after making the half st (Reverse st), I removed the pin, snugged the st & pulled at the core thread. Everything tightened without a visible gap.

Gee, I need to go back and look at your photos again. I understand what you're saying about the single shuttle method, and if I'd just thought it through a bit more clearly, I would have seen it for what it is. Funny how late night eyes don't see the same as morning ones do.

Well, leaving the tiny knot in the thread and simply removing the pin is still brilliant!