Monday, June 15, 2015

Vintage pattern reversing chains

 One of my Etsy customers had a question about a vintage pattern from "Old and New Designs in Tatting" by LaCroix, Sophie T., c.1910. The pattern #1143 is very pretty, easy to tat but a little hard to get started and explain. I gave it a try in my "Pansy" hand dyed thread, and had to think for awhile before I figured out how to do it. The picture in the book has the lace turned the opposite way from how it is seen while tatting it, so that made it seem difficult. Also the written pattern has mistakes. So, here is my version:
 R 4 - 4 - 4 - 4. Reverse work.
Ch 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4. Reverse work.
     
    *R 4 - 4 - 4 - 4. Turn only the ring over. Bring the ball thread up into position to tat the following chain.
Ch 4 + 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 (joining first picot of chain to middle picot of previous ring). Reverse work.

Continue in the same way from * for length desired. End by tying the end of the last chain to the middle picot of the last ring.
The reason I didn't do a "shoelace trick" at the base of the ring is because the thread positions do not need to be crossed or switched there, only the ball thread needs to be brought up so that the chain can proceed in the reversing direction. That was what seemed right to me, at any rate. The reversing point between the chains does not lie perfectly flat when using ball and 1 shuttle, but is sufficient. It could be made perfectly flat by using 2 shuttles, but a description of the 2 shuttle version will have to wait for another time.

Trip coming up! Sunday, June 21, I'll be leaving on a jet plane to travel to Denver, Colorado. I'll be teaching a class there for a few days. So, Friday, June 19 I will de-activate most of my Etsy shop except for the instant download patterns, since I won't be home to do any shipping. I'll re-activate the rest of my shop by June 26.

12 comments:

God's Kid said...

That looks fabulous!! And your Pansy HDT really makes it look spectacular!!! :)

Fox said...

Love that thread!

muskaan said...

Good 'trick' ! I'm not a big fan of SLT , so this is a good alternative :-)
And, in my limited experience, if one makes the ring just the slightest bit away from the previous chain, then 'reverse'/turn the ring to start next chain, it will all lie flat. Once the 1st ds of chain is made & tensioned, it lies snugged up against the ring base & that teeny tiny thread space gets hidden.

I love the edging in this colourway .... all your threads are Fantastic !

Sally Kerson said...

What amazed me was when you said "that the written pattern has mistakes" such a simple pattern and yet there was errors!
But thanks for translating and correcting for us, it really does looks effective and agree with others the colour of this HDT is so beautiful.

craftie sylvie said...

Very pretty pattern indeed. I'll give it a try no doubt. I don't have this thread colour anymore but I still have some of your HDT so I'll try with another one. Thank you for correcting the pattern for us. :)
Sylvie

Madtatter80 said...

Love your color, and it is funny how some of the simplest things can hold us back. I am sure getting started is the hardest part great instructions!

Lace-lovin' Librarian ~ Diane said...

That's such a pretty pattern, and the thread is perfect for it. The next time we get together, I have a Japanese pattern that I'm struggling with, a very pretty insertion that is working, but not as I'd like. You do read Japanese, don't you? ;-)

Jen said...

Stunning pattern and I sure do love those vibrant colors!

Marilee Rockley said...

Muskaan, that's a great tip, thanks!

Diane, I don't read Japanese, but I'll look at the picture :-) Looking forward to getting together again!

By the way, I used HDT from a previous batch (it was already wound onto a bobbin), so the current "Pansy" colors will probably work up a little differently.

I think the reason why there are mistakes in published tatting patterns is because book publishers use their own proofreaders just to check for spelling and grammar. They've no idea what the pattern numbers refer to, because they don't tat.

Kathy Niklewicz said...

I'm a little late with my comments, as you are already in Denver! Hope you have a great time! You're certainly working hard for cause of tatted lace!

It was nice of you to take the time to explain the best way to tat this vintage pattern! Wouldn't the tatters from those times be amazed at our featuring these patterns today, a whole century later - not to mention the gorgeous HDT threads dyed by tatters themselves. Of course, you are one of the early pioneers of HDT!

Margarets designer cards said...

Thank you for working out the pattern, sorry its a bit late commenting but I have been away and trying to catch up with the blog, gorgeous thread,
Margaret

Lelia said...

thx - this is lovely