Thanks to Sue Manger!

This is an unusual blogging day for me.  You've had 2 tatting posts and now I have even more to say!

Sue Manger, a friend I have made through internet tatting groups, sent me a package as a thank you for the picture tutorial for Renulek's doily.  Totally unexpected!

A bracelet she made with "hand made" on the little hand charm.

Win!  Purple is my color, girl, and it fits my fluffy body!

 A La Cossette shuttle.  Omgosh, I was SOOO thrilled.  Sue, this is beyond generous!  They are a bit pricey and so pretty.

A spool of pretty glittery blue thread.

 And last but not least, some hand dyed lace yarn for knitting.  Oh, it's so smooth and soft! I can't wait to try it!  I don't knit much right now, but I have been wanting to try knitting lace for a long time, so it will be used and loved.  Thank you, Sue!

Renulek Summer Napkin 2014: Round 8 DRAFT WITHOUT PICTURES

We had family reunion this past week, and I am trying to catch up on my blogging now!  Wow, it was fun, and we got to keep my niece and nephew who live out of state for an extra week.  Bonus!

This entry provides step-by-step instruction for Renulek's 2014 Summer doily.  You will notice I have added a bead to each ray that is not in her pattern.

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

For Round 8 you can use a single shuttle and ball thread if tatting in a single color if you like.  I used two shuttles because I am using two colors--and I prefer two shuttles.  I like the weight of the second shuttle hanging from the back of my hand.  It creates additional tension.

If you wish to use beads, you will need seed beads as pictured at right.  You can easily follow these instructions without using beads.

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.

I'll begin with stitch count for the round so that if you don't need the pictures, you can get moving without further ado!

R 8+ (join to front of doily) 8  RW
** Ch 8 RW
R 4-4^4-4  (if you wish to add a bead, make sure these decorative picots are a good size)  RW
Ch 8 (if using beads, add it with a 0.4 mm hook here to picot from ring, then join to this chain--see pics below) medium decorative picot, ch 8
Lock join to small picot on ring
Ch 8 RW
R 8+ (join to same doily picot as the first ring of the round) 8
R 8+ (join to next doily picot) 8 RW

Repeat from ** around doily.

Pictorial instructions:



Set doily aside.  Begin by creating a ring, 8 double stitches.  With right side of doily facing, join to previous round at any picot.  Finish ring, 8 double stitches, close ring.


Reverse work.  Add second thread if you are not using CTW (continuous thread winding or ball and shuttle).

Motifs 19 and 20

This is Mrs. Odum's Daisy.  My rule for the challenge this year is that I can only count one of any motif.  However, I am allowing a second entry here because of the beading modification, which required an adjustment to the pattern.  I also used onion technique on the final 2 rows of the beaded motif.

This color is more true to life.  Forgive the bad selfie.  

Renulek Summer Napkin 2014: Round 7: BEGIN AND FINISH

Isn't Round 7 of Renulek's Summer Doily  gorgeous?  So lacy and pretty.  Renulek said this is one of her signature motifs to include in her work.  I'm excited to show you how to complete it.

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

For Round 7 you can use a single shuttle and ball thread if tatting in a single color if you like.  I used two shuttles because I am using two colors--and I prefer two shuttles.  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.

Completed Round 6 

To begin:  

R 2-2-2-2^2-2-2-2 (pictures 1 and 2)

Add second thread for the chains (pictures 3 and 4)

 Pic 1                                                          Pic 2                                                      Pic 3

 Picture 4 (left)

Tatting over tails:
Chain 6^7

It appears I have reversed work to complete the chain.

 Now attach to FRONT of doily at any picot on the edge.

Ch 7^6

(See above)

 Join to very small picot on the side of your original ring with a lock join.  (above)

Chain 6.  (above left)
Flip work to back of doily. (above right)

 R 2-2-2-2^2-2-2-2 (below left)
Reverse work (below right)

We are now looking at the front of the work again.

Ch 6  (above left)
RW (above right)

R 2-2-2-2^2-2-2-2  (left)

Reverse work (right)

Chain 6.
Join at very small picot, as seen at left.

Chain 7 (right)

Join to doily, ch 7.

 Ch 7^6 (above left)
Lock join to very small picot on the ring.  (above center and right)

 You've done a full repeat of the motif!  Not so bad once you get it attached to the second doily picot and can see where you are going with it.

Full stitch count for Round 7:

R 2-2-2-2^2-2-2-2
Ch 6^7+ (join to front of doily) 7^6
Lock join to ring.
**Ch 6  Turn work to back.
R 2-2-2-2^2-2-2-2 RW
Ch 6 RW
R 2-2-2-2^2-2-2-2  RW
Ch 6+7+ (join to doily) 7^6
Lock join to ring.

Repeat from **

FINISHING:

After 45 repeats, you're almost finished!

Now what?

It took me about a week to complete this round.  See how much my nail wraps have grown out since the beginning of the post?   :)
 From the final join to the doily, your stitch count will be:

Ch 7, join to FIRST very small picot.
(see left)

Ch 6.













Lock join to very small picot on the final ring (left)
Chain 6 (right)

Turn work over (left)
R 2-2-2-2^2-2-2-2 (above)

Reverse work (above left)
Chain 6 (above right)
Join to first ring (below) as indicated.

Cool flat sycamore shuttle, purchased from Jane Eborall's Etsy shop.

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!