Wednesday 6 March 2013

Weird & Wonderful Stuff! (Ankars & Leichtenstern)

Ok, maybe not that weird... but unusual!  Upon Marie's recommendation, I joined Georgia Seitz's Online Tatting Class.  They are currently working on Ankars tatting - had you heard of it before?

The first one is just one strand of DMC Babylo 20 (which works up a bit smaller than Lizbeth 20), the second one is Lizbeth 20 with one strand of Guttermann metallic thread added, and the third one is the same thread combination but done on a needle!

The most difficult part of this is that there are very large rings - I mean VERY large rings:  the largest ring in the motif above has 70 double stitches in it!  That makes it difficult to handle and to close.

Ankars tatting is really a rings on rings technique such as I used in my butterfly pattern for example.  But here many superimposed rings are used for an interesting layered effect.  Beads will be added afterwards I understand.  So I hope to have more to show you eventually.

The other pattern we worked on is by Eleonore Endrucks Leichtenstern and was wonderfully re-written by Martha Ess so we didn't have to struggle to decipher it!


As you can see, quite a complex pattern with lots of changes of direction.  I'm showing it to you but I won't be making a long length of it.  It's interesting in its construction but I don't really like the open spaces which are too big for my liking.

The yellow and blue thread, which was recommended to me by Frances, is Coats Puppets Eldorado in size 16 (no, it's not a typo, the thread with the unusual name comes in sizes 6, 10, 12 and 16!).



And lastly, just for Michelle, I made this quick shamrock with Jess's Forest Dusk from two posts ago.

Works for a shamrock, doesn't it?
Do you like it Michelle?

Or how about this one?
This is also one of Jess's threads,
it's a Messy Jessy, just called "green" I think



Best wishes,
Frivole

23 comments:

  1. Firstly, yes! I love that shamrock and the second too. I like first as it reminds me of the wee shamrock plant in my bedroom and the second because it's more "typical" greens. Both are fun! Thank you! I'm off to Jess!'s store, i think!
    I love the Ankara and have wanted to understand it for a while now. Is it more freestyle? Or are you following a pattern? 70 DS sounds like a disaster waiting to happen in my hands but yours look gorgeous!

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    1. There is a pattern for the Ankars but I suppose you could go "freestyle" if you wished!

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  2. LOVE what you are working on... Especially that yellow pattern. So pretty.
    Fox : )

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  3. Everything looks wonderful!! :)

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  4. very nice, I like the shamrocks.
    I also like the 2 colors of Coats Puppets thread you used together, they show the changes of direction very well. I an interested in seeing the rest of the lessons on Ankars tatting.

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    1. oh yes, large rings are difficult, they like to twist around the core. 70ds is very large, I hadn't thought the ring was that big.

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    2. It's actually one colour Ladytats, it's variegated blue/yellow. And exactly as you say for the large rings - that's why I don't like them!

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  5. I had fun with the Ankars tatting, but I missed the classes due to internet problems...sigh. Yours look great. I looked at the Leichtenstern pattern and blanched. I think I'll save it for another day....

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    1. I missed it too Suztats, and just worked with the pattern links. So I'm looking forward to the next one.

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  6. The Ankars tatting is fascinating, but I'm not sure I could handle rings that large. I did watch Karen Cabrera's YouTube video, but I haven't tried the technique yet. Eleonore's design is gorgeous! I don't mind the open space. I haven't tatted any shamrocks yet... maybe this weekend.

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  7. Hello, I love your work! The yellow/blue piece is so interesting and different! It's funny because the snowflake I made for my mom is the one that she wanted me to make more of, and she asked me to make 35 Christmas ornaments for her to give away as gifts next year. Of course it was the one snowflake I disliked while tatting it!
    I am curious- how do I get ahold of the puppet thread? And I'm new to your blog, is Ankars a technique or an author?
    Thank you !

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    1. Hi Mad Tatter! I don't know where you are based but I am in the UK and bought the Coats Puppet Eldorado through mail order from a supplier in the UK. I have no idea if it's available elsewhere I'm afraid.

      Ankars is a technique of rings on rings. In the example above for example, there are four rings superimposed on each other. I believe the name Ankars comes from the initials of the women who came up with the technique.

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  8. Thank you! I am actually in Texas. I typically buy thread from handy hands online, because the only thread I can only find sizes 10, 20, and 80 in the craft stores here. I wish there were stores with tatting materials around me but I haven't found any!
    The Ankars tatting is really neat!

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    1. I'm the same as you and struggle to find any threads suitable for tatting in local shops! So I buy online. Thank you for your comment!

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  9. Dlouho se mi líbí Ankars. Našla jsem je tady Maranta

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  10. Myslela jsem, že Ankars má hodně korálků. Pochází
    z Ruska

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    1. Yes, Ankars tatting has lots of beads! I'm not finished with this brooch yet, beads will be added soon.

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  11. Sure, and I understand, I look forward to the outcome
    thank you..

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  12. ...like your E.Endruck tatting color...
    good luck in sewing beads on your ANKARS, nice to meet you yesterday, it was amazing this hughe class of 45 ...
    Happy tatting
    Gunhild

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    1. Thank you Gunhild - yes the tatting class is a busy place!! Still not done the beads, I must get around to it. How is yours coming along?

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    2. ...I finished my "half Coral Pin", reduced it to half, because it came out that large...and I like the result, a pendant in creme gold very much, much better than the first trials in red and white:(...come and have a look at it:)..you really have to give it some trials, so don't start with your favorite ;)

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  13. Ooooohhhhh how intersting! I have been "missing in action" from the on-line tatting class, and I was not aware what Ankars technique looked like. I thought it was some heavily beaded technique I am not aprticularly interested in. I will have to look up the class logs! I like this.

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    1. Hi Creativa, you are right, it is a heavily beaded technique! But you're supposed to sew the beads in afterwards... that's why mine remains as is for now! I will try to complete it eventually but I'm not so keen on sewing beads.

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