Doily Stencil

Dear Lynn, Just a few moments ago, as I was flipping through some of my printed tuts, I came across Jane Eborall's Pearl tatting sketches. So basically, That is what is going on here as well. RS ( reverse st) or encapsulation with both Sh1 & Sh2, But the direction of the resulting adjacent ds is opposite. NOTE, though, that in SSSCh we are working in the opposite direction -- from right to left (instead of normal left to right on core thread)

Hence, if one uses Sh2 movement in SSSCH, then one gets a clockwise curlicue ; if one adopts Sh1 movement, one gets an anticlockwise curlicue.

Muskaan, those are great explorations with great pictures! Thanks so much.

I've realised that I'm actually doing something very similar with the "bridging chains" aka split chains in Jennifer Williams' daffodil. (I don't have a good camera to show you, but you can see her PDF pattern here: http://www.cariad-tatting.co.uk/patterns.daffodilbrooch.2.pdf) The only difference is that whereas the split chain is anchored to a picot with a lock join (which is really a simple knot), the free floating curlicue is temporarily anchored with a pin (and a simple knot). And in both cases you have to tie the knot in the right place...

Muskaan, that's it exactly. I'm so glad you decided to play with this and came up with the pin answer. I like that very much, but I also like the tiny knob that a very small ring at the end would provide. This would be perfect for a butterfly's antenna. I've never liked the cut threads sticking out for antenna, but a couple of SSSCh would be perfect. And of course, those antenna are knobbed at the end.

You've got it, Grace. The SSSCh is worked the same way as a regular split chain, once you have something to anchor the end! The anchoring is the tricky bit. I don't know who originally came up with this, but it is really a stroke of genius. I'm so glad Karen included it in her exhaustive online tutorials. Like Muskaan, I find myself going through her site just to see what I don't know yet. And there's a LOT in that category.

I second Lynn ! Grace, you have hit the nail on the head :-)
This is the reason why I Love this forum !

There is often some confusion about terms & some are redundant. But this redundancy has arisen because individual tatters came up with techniques independently & gave it the best name they could think of. Discussions such as these help clear some of that redundancy & confusion :-))

Grace, I still can't get a good SCh ! I need loads of practice there. This SSSCh, however, was easy in that sense, having already worked with RS in various 'forms' (thanks to Judith). The 'tricky bit', as Lynn points out, is the anchoring -- getting a grip to begin with. With the pin, it was plenty easy ;-P
In fact, there was a short segment, while making the anticlockwise curlicue, where I pinned down the core thread at both ends, leaving enough space for the shuttle to move through ! (here, I was working the RS with caps facing outwards).

Karen's videos do have so many lovely techniques ! Just the types of picots one can make & create is ..... it's like I am Alice in Wonderland ;-P

My wholesome thanks to Lynn for sharing this link ! I like your antennae idea :-))
Many weeks back, I had visualized a piece, & floating curlicues was kind of holding me back because of the ends that would be seen or needed to be hidden. Now, I think it will be easily accomplished, yay ! Hope to share it soon ....

Yay, Muskaan! I'll look forward to your curlicue design...

Anxiously looking forward to seeing what you do, Muskaan.

Thanks, Muskaan.

A number of early patterns started with a chain. As some tatters have found, starting with a lock stitch prevents the chain telescoping on itself. Another trick is to tie an overhand knot in the thread just where you plan to start the chain. The firmer your tension, the more the chain will curl.

Some tatters who experimented with halving split chains, i.e. starting in the middle, used this idea. They left a small safety pin at the start to reserve a space for joining the second half-chain to the beginning.

I've tried this before, Judith, but my join always looks a bit wonky. It's just a bit too bumpy to really 'fit' with the rest of the pattern. It doesn't seem to make any difference how small I make that joining space - not really a picot - just a tiny space. Do you have any tips for making this join smooth and unnoticeable?

Lynn, I agree with you about its untidiness. That's probably why Dora Young's knotless method was so successful and popular for split chains. I personally would not start a chain in the middle.

However, in the the example above, 'starting with a chain', there is no need for a join. This is used in some Catherine Wheel designs. Also in 'Tatted Patterns(?)' ed. by Julia Sanders there is a useful idea with (chain) coils on a beautiful collar/bertha. There is also a fleur-de-lis which is wholly chain, with under-and-over joins and heaps of picots.

Yeah, Judith, that's about what I figured. Now I also avoid beginning in the middle of a chain. Sometimes it means more ends to hide, but at least that can be done invisibly.

Sorry, haven't been around. But I did make that 'composition' using these floating chains. I haven't been able to upload all the pics here yet. But here is the link to my post : http://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.in/2015/03/tatting-doodles.html
I had wanted to use floating chains only for the water spray. But ended up applying the technique to the base of the piston handle as well ! And for the 1st time, I had to do the 'starting chain in middle' & can so relate to the untidy bit !

Again, Lynn, thank you so much for directing us to Karen's video :-)

Oh, and besides a pin, I have just this evening taken pics of starting a curlicue with a knot on a thread (or dental floss, if one so wishes) ! This short length of thread provides enough holding space to work the first few stitches of the tip. Then it can be pulled off & one can grip the tip of the curlicue/coil being made. I am planning on uploading it as a pictorial soon.

Thanks, Muskaan.
A similar practice was in use circa 1900 with coils, Catherine wheels and any design which started with a chain. If yarn/wool is used, the bulk condenses and leaves a very tiny space, even none. However, the lock stitch (or a knot in the thread) is still handy to prevent the chain telescoping.

in reply to JudithConnors's post:

Hello Judith :-)
So reinventing the wheel yet again ;-P
The idea for thread came to me precisely because I was tatting with fine rayon/silk threads for the curlicues. And there was a small space that even a pin left!
But as regards the lock stitch ... the simple knot itself (with the temporary anchor - pin or thread - removed) acts as a lock st when the chain is pulled tight. No matter how hard I pull or snug the hitches, the chain curls but does not unravel.
I have uploaded pics of the Holi doodles (with floating chains & coils/curlicues) to Craftree finally.

And - drum roll - You've done it again, Muskaan. Impressed me, that is.
Karen's site is full of the most interesting things. All kinds of techniques there to play with. I remember when I first learned tatting - back when dinosaurs tramped the earth. A lady told me that there's only one stitch, so after you learn that, it's really easy. And while fending off said dinosaurs, that was basically true. But just look what that one simple stitch is capable of. Kind of like binary code. Just a bunch of 0s and 1s, but look where that's got us!

Lynn, you are always so kind , with encouraging words & pearls of wisdom :-)
I could not have travelled this distance without help & wisdom from so many of you tatting angels - InTatters was a watershed in my lonely tatting life.

The binary code applies to knitting & crochet, too, when considering their fundamentals .... but that never ceases to amaze - the creations that emerge from the 2-letter alphabet!

I uploaded most of the pics, and here is the project link (which I forgot to add last night) : http://www.craftree.com/projects/1261

Got around to posting some thoughts, & pics on Dead end start to split chains. I tackled clockwise & anticlockwise curlicues, and use of materials to start when tatting with thick and fine threads. http://www.tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.in/2015/03/dead-end-start-to-split-chains.html
This is based on Karen Cabrera's video demo....

The link seems to be broken, Muskaan. I get a message that this page is not available on this blog.

in reply to Lynn's post:

My apologies, Lynn. It will work now. Late into the night, I took down the post to make a few changes -- better links, and a new lead photo that would reflect the aids. It's up and running now ;-)
And in my search for links, tuts, tips, to annotate my post/Resources page, I came across an excerpt from Elgiva Nicholls' book (Tatting: Technique & History) about Multiple Dead Ends and she calls them False Chains ! I recommend a read (pp 101-2) -- she had described it so well.

Am now looking to buy the book ....

Would love your feedback on the post, Lynn :-)

Update : Yay, book ordered When I checked Craftree library, found that Judith hadrecommended it! Now the wait begins .... between 3rd and 10th April.

From the very beginning of your journey with us, I have been constantly impressed by your 'outside the box' thinking and creative solutions. Thank you for publishing your beautifully photographed tutorials. They are very clear. You did an awesome job. And as you say, once you pick up your shuttles, the instructions just click.

I tried to post to your blog, but it seems not to have worked. I don't have a blog myself. Once upon a time I tried to register somewhere or other through Google, with a silly name (nuisance) that I can't figure out how to change.

Wonderful post, Muskaan! Thanks for all your experiments, and thanks for documenting them so well for our benefit!

Lynn & Grace, you are both so sweet !
Ever since this new modern world of tatting opened to me, peeped thru pinterest, but really entered thru InTatters, I feel like Alice in Wonder-tat-land ! There is sooooooo much beauty, novelty, creativity, inventiveness that I just can't keep pace ! I guess blogging is my way of documenting for future reference ;-)

Lynn, "nuisance"? Really ? Can't stop grinning ;-D
Will you take up blogging ? (Oh, please do!) You could ask how to change it (or not - I like the connotation & sense of humour in that).
As for comments, one can try leaving as Anonymous, just in case. There are also a few who have Anonymous as their 'avatar' but leave their name after the comment. Just my 2-bits .... this is another area where learning is still in progress.

Add : Lynn, here's a tag line for your blog :
nuisance .... or new-sense ?!

Muskaan, so often we see LOL appended to messages, and I often wonder if the person was truly laughing out loud. Well you needn't wonder here, because I'll tell you outright; when I read your post I actually burst out laughing. Nuisance or new-sense... Hmmm. I'm still chuckling. I love playing with language.

I have thought about blogging for some time, but just can't seem to find the time for it. Maybe I'm too old to be taking up yet another time grabber. I very rarely remember to look at the few blogs that I am subscribed to. But whenever someone from here points out something they have discussed in their blog, if there is a link I'll usually check it out.

I enjoy wordplay, too, Lynn ;-)
Blogging definitely is , or can be, a time-guzzler ! But I enjoy it & would like to share more than time (& server mood) permits . If also acts like a personal log & documentation for future reference, besides hopefully helping readers. That's the way I approach it :-)