Craftree Forum Tree > Round Robin > Round Robin Designs
OK sorry I've had a crazy week so finally here is my pic of my round 2. I couldn't decide what to do so I got my sister to pick her favourite of 4 patterns that I tried. I will post asap I still have to write up the pattern properly though.
@taryn, that's an amazing continuation of an amazing beginning! 
Okay, I've finished my "Round 3" of Doily 4! 
I am quite pleased with it. I tatted my own model for experimenting with. I did a lot of trials where I tatted blocks - also SCMR and chain flowers - and laid them beside the model without actually joining them. Then I settled on a two-block corner with an arch between them. Then I thought of a ring & chain thing in-between, then I started tatting around the model and improvising as I went.
I thought I would go with this design (on the top edge):
But by a happy accident I joined to the wrong picot, decided to try that out, and then decided that I liked it better. So this is my final design (top edge - side edges show my almost-final):
Yes, I like it, too. Those blocks really work well with the rest of the piece. Nice job!
Wow! Great. The blocks compliment the negative spaces in the center. A reverse repetition of sorts.
Thanks, everyone! After PattyD's Round 4, it seemed to me that there was more density at the corners and in the middle of the sides. So I basically tried to extend those shapes, as well as framing the open spaces from Round 1.
I now have Doiley 1 and Doiley 3. I am settling into design mode and will get to work asap
@PattyD I'm confused by the balanced double stitches. I was going to use them in my round to get the pointed chains to tie in with your centre, but my chain doesn't point it just looks like a normal curve (but chunkier). Any tips?
Yes. When closing each BDS, make sure that both loops are evenly tightened. I slow down the closure to allow this to happen.
Post removed by muskaan for the following reason: Duplicate.
in reply to taryn's post:
You could also add a teensy weensy picot to assist/enhance the pointed curve, perhaps ?
Seems like a long time since we saw a new round ;-) Eagerly awaiting ....
I did it backwards again - I should have added the picture here first instead of as a project. Anyway - here it is, the final version of round 3 of @Coretta doily.
With the change in stitch count this round ruffles just a little but flattens out nicely with little work. I think it will be fine with another round added. See my project page for what my sample/trial looked like. I almost went with those stitch counts but thought it might cup for some people and it does let the single rings stand up a bit better. I still have to finalize the written pattern.
Ok so I've come up with my design for your doiley @PattyD and am tatting a test round to work out stitch count BUT I am going insane trying to do the josephine knots - or more specifically the twisted thread. It just keeps untwisting as I tat on and I have no idea what else to try :-(
Technically I could tat the test without it, but I am determined to succeed now haha
This is beautiful, @tattrldy! I really like the way this doily is shaping up - the way you've echoed the butterflies and petals.
@Taryn, if you mean a Josephine knot (looks like a flat coin), the trick is to make the number of first halves of a DS and make sure they are all the same height. Also, the first halves should be snugged up together.
If you mean a Josephine Chain (or twisted chain), what I do is this: make a uniform number of first halves of a DS and make sure they are snugged up together. Then put the shuttle over the core thread in the direction that the worked first halves are going. If you use the first half, the shuttle should go over the core thread away from you. If you use the second half, then the shuttle should come back toward you from beneath the core thread. I almost always use the first half and take the shuttle over the core thread.
This process allows the half stitches to snuggle up together and you don't have to fiddle with them after making them.
in reply to PattyD's post:
Sorry, I just read my post and it wasn't very clear. I'm referring to the little josephine knots in your pattern centre and you've twisted the bare thread back around itself after closing the knot. Getting the knot part is fine but I can't seem to twist the bare thread and get it to stay that way once I start on the nest chain.
Oh! I finally understand your problem.
Leave a short distance of thread and make a josephine knot.
Then twist an equal length of thread and hold it tight.
Bring the untwisted bit from the beginning and let the twisted thread wind the untwisted thread into its spiral.
The whole thing usually twists about 2-3 times and it is robust.
So you don't twist first, you twist last.
Ooh... sounds like I should also give it a try, when that doily comes my way... 
