Renulek Summer Napkin 2014: Rounds 5 and 6

Thanks for being so patient!  As a reward for waiting, you get a bonus round on today's post.  I'm going to demonstrate and give instructions for Rounds 5 and 6 of Renulek's 2014 Summer Napkin (doily).

NOTES:  (Please review all instructions for round before beginning.)

For Round 5 you will need 2 shuttles for throwing rings as in Round 2.  For Round 6, you can use a single shuttle and ball thread if tatting in a single color if you like.  I am doing so for this demonstration, and it reminds me why I almost never do this, but rather wind two shuttles in the continuous thread method.  I like the weight of the second shuttle hanging from the back of my hand.  It creates additional tension.

Instruction key:
The - represents a decorative picot, and the ^ represents a very small joining picot.  If you blow up the picture, you will be able to see the difference in picot sizes.  If you see +, that will mean joining picot.

I am left handed, so keep in mind that your pattern may be traveling the opposite direction around the doily.  On close up photos for technique, you will need to flip-flop them mentally and envision the mirror image if you are right handed.

So let's get started! First we have a ring with the count R2-2-2-2+2-2-2-2.

Lay doily aside.  Make the ring, tatting over tails to hide your end, R2-2-2-2.  Now lay the doily over your hand as pictured, left.  Make your join on the tip of the flower (right) and then complete the ring, 2-2-2-2.  (See untrimmed tail dangling there in picture at right?)

Completed first ring of Round 5 before closing.

Close ring and reverse work.  Add chain thread (see right).

















Now, tatting over tails, chain 11 and joining picot.  Here's where I trimmed my tail off.  (Left)

Chain 11 more, and reverse work (right).

We are going to make another ring and join to doily.  Please note that Renulek designed this so that the chain 11^11 goes between flowers and the chain with the thrown ring should be centered above a flower from Round 4.

R 2-2-2-2+2-2-2-2.  RW (reverse work)

Chain 8.  SS (switch shuttles) Pictured at left.

Your chain thread will now be the working thread.

Create another ring in center of chain arc, 2-2-2-2^2-2-2-2. SS

Chain 8 and RW.  Pictured below.

 Make your next ring, attaching to doily.  Note that all rings in this round have the same count, with thrown rings having a very small construction picot at the center and the lower rings attaching to the doily.

R 2-2-2-2+2-2-2-2.

Continue in this manner around the doily to complete Round 5.

Round 5 stitch count:

*R 2-2-2-2+2-2-2-2  RW

Chain 11^11 RW

R 2-2-2-2+2-2-2-2  RW

Chain 8 SS

R 2-2-2-2^2-2-2-2  SS

Chain 8 RW

Repeat from *

I am cutting and tying here because I'm changing colors.  IF YOU WANT TO CLIMB OUT OF THE ROUND INSTEAD, the best way would be to start the round so that it ends with the chain 11^11 and do a split chain with toptattyhead video method on YouTube.  In which case, your count would be:

*R 2-2-2-2+2-2-2-2  RW

Chain 8 SS

R 2-2-2-2^2-2-2-2  SS

Chain 8 RW

R 2-2-2-2+2-2-2-2  RW

Chain 11^11 RW

Repeat from *

Ready to finish and tie off!  Cute shuttle!  Connie Thweatt thx!

 I used a new end-hiding method, thanks Sue!

Video link

Then I wet just the few design bits to the left and right of the join and let it dry.  BAH.  I have a rule that you don't join your new round where you finished off your old round.  It puts too much tension on the ends you sewed in, and you don't want the slight irregularity created by the end hiding to be all in one spot on your project.

But I did it accidentally.  BOO.

On the small ring on new round (below left), see that little tuft sticking out?  I pulled out my hidden ends by putting tension on that chain where the end was hidden.  My solution was to give it a firm yank with my tweezers (below right) and NOT trim again.  I will do that after this round is complete so I don't have the issue AGAIN.

At right, I'm starting where the tweezers are marking my spot, on the center picot of the 11^11 chain of Round 5.  This round is super easy, and if you've been following my blog you will know how to do it by now, I think.  I will still give you pix and all, but here's the stitch count.  If you have this baby figured out, you won't have to keep reading from here.

*R 8+8 RW

chain 7^7 RW

Lock Join to small picot at top of the thrown ring from Round 5

chain 7^7 RW

R 8+8 RW

chain 7^7 RW

Repeat from *

So, so simple.  You'll have Round 6 done in no time.  :)

My photos on this session look a little different.  I was doing this all after the family was in bed, so flash on all photos.  To Begin:

I'm using continuous thread with my shuttle and ball on this round.

Set aside the doily.  Create a ring, 8 ds.  Lay doily over your hand and join ring to doily (right).  At this point, I'm finding the doily a big pain in the you-know-what while I'm trying to work.  I flip it to the side (left) to finish ring, 8 ds, and close.  Below.

 Reverse work.  Chain 7^7.  Lock Join to small picot at top of thrown ring from Round 5. (below right)

Ch 7^7. RW (below left, middle)
R8+8 (below right)

RW (below left)
Chain 7^7 RW (below middle, you are going to join next ring to same picot as previous)

R8+8 RW

Again, lock join to top of ring from R5.  (below)
You're on your way!  See cumulative stitch count above these pictures.  Enjoy!

Lost and found: Sassi the Serpent pattern

SassiSerpent Bookmark

Another wonderful design by Brenda Bonilla. This would be so cute to add to a book as a gift for a child. If the child is very young you might want to go for the sew down type of eyes. I want Sassi slithering over my shoulder on a sweater. Maybe a metallic Sassi?
Have fun and send Brenda a big thank you for this design

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Directions when you click to actual webpage which I have reproduced part of here.  These are not my snakes!  Thank you!

One flower left on Summer Napkin Round 4, and new motifs 16, 17, and 18

Seriously, only one flower left on the Renulek, but let me post a few things I've done lately that are complete.

My daughter's prom earrings, size 10 Lizbeth with a Swarovski crystal drop.  The red is also lovely.

Pattern here, by Kelly Luljak.  Motif 16 (this year only counting new things I do, so I can only count one).

My daughter, Keara, with her friend after they got ready to leave.  And me trying to fix her hair. *blush*

One in 10, one in 20, and one in 40 wt thread.

Terrible pictures of Sassi the Snake. 

Motif #17, Sassi the Snake.  I gifted two of these to my knitting students in 7th and 8th grade, one for each class.  I have managed to lose the pattern for this again.  I got it from BellaOnline but no longer there.

 And motif #18, Julie Patterson's Hearts and Flowers bookmark.  I made this for Brenda Novak's Diabetes fundraising auction, as well as another Glady's Angel.

This cross is made in Honey Drizzle 40 wt Lizbeth.

 You can see my items (though I'm sure you won't want to bid on those but maybe others) at this link.  Kinda cool to see them there.  :)

Renulek Summer Napkin 2014 Tutorial: Round 4

Congratulations on making it this far!  Today I'm going to demonstrate and give instructions for Round 4 of Renulek's 2014 Summer Napkin (doily).

I think this is my favorite round so far, although I really like the triplets in Round 2.  :)

You can use a single shuttle and ball thread if tatting in a single color.

 Instruction key:
The - represents a decorative picot, and the ^ represents a very small joining picot.  If you blow up the picture, you will be able to see the difference in picot sizes.  If you see +, that will mean joining picot.

I am left handed, so keep in mind that your pattern may be traveling the opposite direction around the doily AND your larger rings may be pointing the other way.

We are not ready to work with the doily yet, but I'm giving you this photo to show where we are starting.  Choose any set of triplets on Round 2 and mark the arc of chain stitches directly above it, as in the picture at left.  This is the first picot where we are going to attach a large ring.

Now, set the doily aside for a moment.

With your ring thread and shuttle, create the first half of a double stitch, flip it but don't pull tight.  I'm going to show you how to hide the end in your ring.

With your first half of double stitch flipped but not tightened, insert your hook, grab your starting tail, and pop it through (see above right).  Now tighten.  Below left, second half of stitch is flipped but not tightened, and the tail is dangling below touching my ring finger.  You're going to insert your hook into this half of the stitch, snag that tail, and pop it out, as below right.  Continue in this manner for 6 stitches or so and then let the tail hang to trim it off later.

The stitch count on ring 1 is 3^3^3^3^6+6.

Work this much of the ring: 3^3^3^3^6
Position the doily as you see at right, ready to join to the marked picot.  Pop that thread through the tiny joining picot on the doily, and then do your last 6 double stitches.

Your doily will look like the one at left:




Do not reverse work.  If you are using two colors, now make a join to the ring.  Tatting over tails as demonstrated above, chain 6^6 (below left).

Above center, reverse work.  Make a small ring, 6+6.
Above right, reverse work.  Chain 6^6.

Below left, reverse work.  Small ring, 6+6.











Not pictured, reverse work.  Chain 6^6.
Reverse work.  Small ring, 6+6.
Reverse work.  Chain 6^6.  Lock join.  Flower complete.

Pictured above right, you are going to make the curved chain emerging from the side of the flower.

If you are using two colors, you will need to use a shoelace trick before moving on.  If you are using a single color, ignore this next part.  :)

A shoelace trick is usually abbreviated in patterns as SLT.  It is so named because it is the first half of a square knot, like the knot used at the beginning of tying your shoes.  SLT is used to switch which thread is the working thread.  SLT is needed both BEFORE this curved chain and AFTER.  The below pictures were taken after the chain was complete.

After SLT
Dark thread is above light.

Before SLT
Light thread above dark.

Actual shoelace trick before snugging up.

Instructions for this little curve are:
SLT (if you are using 2 colors).  Pull the core thread color taut while snugging up your SLT knot.
Reverse work.  Chain 6+6.
SLT.  Again, pull the core thread color taut while tightening knot.

A lot of explanation for a teeny piece of work!

Ready now for your next flower to begin.

Do not reverse work.  Using your ring color, R 6+(attach to previous round as pictured below)6^3^3^3^3.

Close ring.  Reverse work, and your doily should look like this picture.

Now that I've walked you through making one flower, the lower arc of chains, and making a new ring/starting new flower, it would be helpful to list the stitch counts all together.  So, starting again with the stitch count for the current ring (don't start tatting it over again though!)--

R 6+6^3^3^3^3  (joins to previous round of doily)
Chain 6+6  (join to previous flower)
RW (reverse work) R 6+6
RW chain 6^6
RW R 6+6
RW chain 6^6
RW R 6+6
RW chain 6^6
Lock join, SLT
RW chain 6+6 (join to previous round)
SLT

Repeat around the doily.  :)