Square/Diamond Pattern

Here it is!  The pattern for the little one-shuttle square.  Actually I think I will use two shuttles for the demonstration because it's quicker to make the split ring (and join) and then also hide the end which I'll show in a new video.  But it can be made with just one shuttle and, as for the medallion, use just the thread to finger-tat the second half of the split ring and mock picot.

Here are four of them joined together properly (they were just placed side by side in the previous post, not actually attached).  As you can see there is a bit of overlap of the side rings but I think it's okay.  Or you could choose to make a shorter centre picot or even omit it altogether perhaps?  Something to try.

Something interesting happens when you join them together...  Do you remember I showed the medallions joined together and how visually they seemed to become square?  Well, look at the squares joined together... visually, they become round!  I think it's easier to see in the smaller photo below where your eye is less distracted by the details.  The outside shape is still square of course but if you squint, the shapes you see are round.  Do you see what I mean?

And here are the rounds joined together:

They do look square, don't they?

Anyway, just an interesting fact I noticed!

Clicking on the image above will take you to the pattern.

I hope you enjoy it!

I plan on making a new demo video for this pattern in the next day or two,

so keep an eye out for it if you're interested/would find it useful.

Best wishes,

Frivole

New Square/Diamond

I was exchanging emails with Cindy (who sent me the lovely tatting bag) and she said she had made the medallion... only to find out that that particular motif didn't feature on her own bag!  She sent me a photo of her bag and I discovered that although it didn't show the round medallion, it did however feature a nice little square or diamond that isn't on mine!

I had to set to work straight away to work out this new design because as we all know... I like squares!

Here's photo of the fabric of Cindy's bag with the square/diamond on it:

I decided to make the smallest rings as JKs because that's what I thought they looked like although as you can see the image is not really clear enough to see individual stitches on the fabric.  They could also be made as regular rings if you wish of course.  I did add two stitches to the largest rings on the corners so that they would stand out a bit farther than the rings on the sides to be able to join the corners if wishing to repeat the motif - though it's a detail, I'm not yet sure whether I prefer that version or the version without the extra stitches.  I also guess the original on the fabric would have been made in two rounds because all the central rings point to the centre whereas I decided to use one split ring to be able to make the motif in one round.  As you can see, this means that one ring is of a slightly different shape to the others but I can live with that if it means I can make the motif in one round.  I also thought of reversing the centre rings so that they all faced the other way...  I've still to make a sample to see what that would look like.

As a square:

And repeated:

They are not exactly the same as these were my samples and I was still

making changes as I was tatting.  But that still gives a good idea

of how the square would look like repeated.

I also tried a different arrangement:

That could be interesting too:  some of them as diamonds

and some of them as squares, combined.

Pattern for this one too?

Best wishes,

Frivole

Square or Rectangle? (Pattern Available - and Video!)

I'm just one short of 25 repeats of the medallion... photographed on the patio under the setting sun.

I'm now wondering whether I should keep going with a square or carry on at this width and make a rectangle, like a runner type of piece.  What do you think?  I'm already thinking of what sort of border I could come up with to complete the piece when I feel it's the right size... or when I've had enough of tatting medallions!  :-)

Here is the pattern for anyone who'd like to give it a try.  

One-Shuttle Medallion

Clicking on image will take you to the pattern.

I hope you enjoy it!

Update:  I have now also published a video that shows how to make this medallion from start to finish.  You can find it here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odFya2noWwE

Best wishes,

Frivole

Medallion Repeated

I carried on making the little medallions.  They are relaxing to make with just one shuttle, and when I don't forget to add my magic loops - which I still do regularly! - , they are quite quick to complete too.  I love working out patterns in one pass.

Don't know where I'm going with this yet.  But here is a set of nine.

Doesn't look quite square but I think it's a bit of distortion from my photo.

... or maybe I need to block it.

It's interesting that a cross forms between the motifs.  I tried attaching them differently but this seemed to me to be the best way.  I wondered about filling in the spaces with something else... but I don't know yet.  It's also interesting that when the medallions are attached on all four sides (as in the very middle one), they end up looking square instead of round.

I've added another few more since this photo.  And I've also written the pattern for the motif if anyone might be interested?

Best wishes,

Frivole

Lovely Gift

I recently received a lovely surprise in the post...  a beautiful handmade bag - with a matching small pouch inside too - in a fabric that features tatting!  Isn't it great?

I really like it.

I was looking at it today and was suddenly inspired to re-create one of the motifs from the bag.  Tat, tat, tat...

After a bit of trial and error...

I think this may be as close as I'm going to get to what I see on the bag.

The one on the bag is a bit more "open", maybe tatted a bit looser, or slightly longer bare threads and picots but I think the general shape and proportions are not too bad.

It was interesting trying to work out how to make it in one pass, with one shuttle only.  I found a way!  My guess is that it is an old design where each round was cut and tied.

Here is another photo that shows a smaller version of the same motif on the fabric with my tatted version next to it on the right:

Maybe a few of them put together might look nice?

Best wishes,

Frivole

Earrings in the Sun

Not doing lots of tatting still... but needed a new pair of earrings to match a blouse.  I always like making these flower earrings.  They are light and comfortable to wear but also keep their shape due to the layered design.  The pearl in the centre also adds strength and stability.

The thread I used is a lovely hand-dyed thread made by Karen Solomon of Graceful Arts Fiber Studio.  I do like her threads and the way the colours are more random rather than in a sequence as in most other variegated threads.  The thread is called "Watermelon".

Best wishes,

Frivole

Braiding in the Garden

Oooh, it's been so hot!  It's still hot.  Well, hot for the UK anyway.  I did try to modify the tatting pattern from the previous post but didn't get to a satisfactory solution (without spending a lot more time on it).  So I'm afraid that one's been put on hold for now.

For a change of scene, I decided to make a few braided bracelets.  Something really easy, that doesn't require any thinking - perfect in this hot weather.

Just a bit of simple fun...

which results in rather nice braids.

I've also been working on the crochet bag pattern (which was a lot harder and took a lot longer than expected).  I think I'm getting there with it.  One of my readers kindly offered to test the pattern for me and I've been making several samples so I could take photos and make sure everything corresponds, makes sense, is clear enough to understand.  Like many crafts, it can be really hard to clearly describe in words what you are doing with your hands.  

I've not made so many blogposts lately.  Children are now on holidays so having a bit less time for online activities but I'm enjoying a house full!

How are you?  Is it hot where you are too?  

Best wishes,

Frivole