Wednesday 18 September 2013

Square Motif Revisited

I had a comment on this post recently.  It reminded me how much I liked this motif when I tatted it.  And also that I'd not taken notes on making it so I decided to tat it again, write everything down and have another go at making a centre for it.

The motif is from Ann Orr's Classic Tatting Patterns.


The top one, in green, is the original without a centre.  The blue one has interlocking rings in the centre and finally the dark pink has little rings.  I also moved where the rings are attached at the base of the onion rings.  In the end, I prefer attaching lower as in the green.  I may redo the shape of the green with little rings in the centre.

The interlocking rings are interesting but add extra thickness to the tatting which may not be appropriate if you wanted to use the motif to make a doily.

I do like it without a centre but the space is just a little too large for my liking.   Just a bit smaller and you could leave that space empty.

What do you think?  Do you have a favourite?

Best wishes,
Frivole

31 comments:

  1. The pink one is my favorite. Your center rings are perfectly proportioned, and together with the chains they make for even more interesting patterns in the design.

    And my goodness, all of them look better than Anne Orr's original! She was an excellent designer (although interestingly, not a tatter herself), but she really should have taken the time to work out the proportions better on this one.

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    1. You're right there Miranda! When I tatted this the first time, I quickly realised that there was no way I could make the centre fit as written in the pattern. The chains of the sample are very loose and all over the place! As I said in the original post... I'd have to call them "spaghetti-chains"!

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  2. I think the bottom one is my favorite, followed closely by the interlocking rings one. Lovely tatting!

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  3. My fave is definitely the middle one - very pretty, Frivile!
    If I could only tat those pesky interlocking rings, I would give it a go. Not going to happen!
    Fox : ))

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    1. Hey Fox, these interlocking rings are only interlocked at the picots so they are much easier. In this particular pattern, it's just the last ring that's a little fiddly and in fact needs to be done with a sewing needle so you can weave it the right way. The other rings are just woven by attaching to the ring before last, through the last ring... (again difficulties of explaining tatting with words!)

      Ah, perhaps another video is in order?

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    2. Video would be fabbo!
      Fox : )

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  4. C'est dingue comme le fait de rajouter un centre "habille" le modèle! Je préfère celui du milieu car j'ai un faible pour les entrelacements mais il doit falloir une grande dextérité pour le réaliser.
    Le rouge est très beau également.

    Je ne sais pas quelle taille fait le centre du modèle initial mais si c'est possible, on peut imaginer y faire pendre une petite breloque pour éviter ce grand vide (mais est ce que ça ne déformerait pas l'ouvrage à cause du poids de celle-ci?)

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    1. Une breloque serait joli si on en faisait une décoration pour accrocher.

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  5. They are all so beautiful and each has it's own charm!! I really like the interlocking rings in the center for something special!! :)

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  6. I like the center in the dark pink, but not sure it would work with the chains joined further down as the green one is. The swirl effect of the overlapping rings looks really nice, I like the look, but understand the bulk issue.

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    1. I guess I'm going to have to tat another one to find out! :-)

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  7. I prefer the small rings of the lower dark pink motif. It fills the space just enough. The interlocking rings seem to fill the space too much for my taste. That said, they are all beautiful.

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  8. This is such a lovely pattern. I like the last one best, I think, although there is something nice about the interlocking rings.

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    1. All3 are nice, but i prefer the last one because of the stability of the pattern and the harmony of the design. In general, i like interlocking patterns, but they are of a different style from the rest of the motif. It clashes a little- too heavy in the centre.
      BY the way : what thikness of yarn have you used here?

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    2. Hi Tally, I think I agree with your point about being a different "style" from the rest with the interlocking rings.

      It's Lizbeth 20, the thread I use most often for general tatting.

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  9. Oooh - pomegranates!
    Visually I think I like the blue one best, but the green is making me think Baroque/Renaissance edging. Which Anne Orr book is this from, if you don't mind?

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    1. Never mind - I went back and read your original post, and found the book title! :)

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  10. I like the bottom pink one, but do wonder what size thread are you using and what does this measure across? Cause I do like the plain look too. In any case you do a fine job all the stitches are very nicely done.

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  11. All three are beautiful, but I think I would choose the pink. I agree that the green looks a little too open, and the rings in the center of the pink really appeal to me.

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  12. The last one (red) has my preference. I found that it is very well balanced between the elements and the space.
    *************
    Je préfère le dernier (rouge). Je trouve qu'il y a un équilibre très harmonieux entre les éléments et les espaces.

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    1. Bonjour Claire, merci pour ton message bilingue! :-)

      Yes, a good balance between the elements on the red but nearly too balanced, as in too even overall. I think I like the slight contrasts of the green better.

      It's nice to see so many responses to this design!

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  13. The red one is my favorite.Excelent execution like always.

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  14. I like the pink one best too, though I rather like the open space of the top one. The middle one seems a bit too busy to me. I like the square look, they'll be fabulous joined together.

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    1. Yes Jane, joined together will be interesting... that would be the next part of the plan... but I often get distracted by other stuff so I don't know when the next instalment on this will be! :-)

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  15. je vais chercher ces modèles ils sont tellement élégants !
    votre travail est parfait ! compliments ...
    ancolie

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  16. I like them all, the green one would be nice if joined together as a mat, in thinner thread, but there again I like the dark pink one which I feel could even make a pendant, of course it depends on the size of the thread, I really do like the pattern which ever way you do the middle, and I do like onion rings which are not everyone's favorite.
    Margaret

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  17. I really like the pink (fushia) on on the bottom. Is this your pattern?

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    1. Hi Willnnabel, no this is a vintage pattern but I was trying to make a new centre for it as the original didn't work out at all for me with the stitch count provided. I love the shape of that motif and plan on using it again at some point.

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  18. Hmm- Maybe this could be made into a reticule....

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    1. Oh yes, I bet a series of those would look pretty put together. I've always meant to try it but haven't got around to it yet. Depending on the size of your reticule, these squares may perhaps be a bit big though?...

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