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.  :)