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!