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Monday, February 17, 2014

Mardi Gras and 1800's Tatting


On Saturday I listed Mardi Gras hand dyed thread in my Etsy shop

This morning there were questions about 1800's tatting patterns in my Craftsy class, which required some research on my part.

A wonderfully detailed article about Mid-19th Century Tatting written by Virginia Mescher posted on the website of Georgia Seitz provided me with many of the answers that I was looking for. 
Then, I challenged myself to decipher the Lily of the Valley pattern in The Royal Tatting Book by Riego, written in 1867. I think I've figured it out, as seen in the photo above - though, of course, tatters of that era would have probably used white or ecru colored thread. The longer picots at the top will be joined to a crocheted heading later.  Perhaps another day I'll have time to write the pattern out in modern tatting terms; it's really a pretty design. 

If you like antique tatting patterns, one of many sources is the Antique Pattern Library, run by the non-profit group New Media Arts, Inc.

19 comments:

  1. Looks wonderful!! And I love it in the colors!!! :)

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  2. I looked at the antique pattern link but none of them seem to have a way to view them yet, or am I doing something wrong?

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  3. Some of the books aren't there yet, but if it has a PDF symbol by it, click on that to download the book. If the book doesn't show in the browser window, click on the "open with" symbol at the upper right, and open with Adobe Reader. Then, save the book to your computer in the folder you want to keep it in.

    Another site for antique tatting patterns is the Archive of Tatting Books in the Public Domain on the website of Georgia Seitz http://www.georgiaseitz.com/public/publicindex.html

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  4. Okay, thanks I just need instructions sometimes with this computer stuff :)

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  5. Both the Mardi Gras thread and your 1800s tatting are lovely!

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  6. I'm thinking Mardi Gras will make lovely Feather Earrings from your latest book! Karen in Or

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  7. Love the thread colours, the pattern looks interesting in a modern thread.
    Margaret

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  8. Lovely pattern and thread!!! No size 20 listed on Etsy - I suppose there was one and I was too late and some lucky tatter already bought it. I know your threads are one-of-a-kinds but all the same are you planning on making something similar again? (Green and purple are two of my three fav colours)

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  9. Beautiful colors in your thread! It definitely looks like Mardi Gras to me. I read your post them jumped over to read the article on 1800's tatting. It's a very interesting article. Thanks for this link.

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  10. Thanks, everyone.
    The response to the Mardi Gras thread on Etsy was overwhelming! Will dye more of it, soon.

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  11. Like this colorful information :) well masks are the major part for Mardi Gras festival have a look at http://www.venetianmasksociety.com/ for variety of masks.

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  12. hey Marilee I put your book on my blog today and a partially done necklace I haven't been feeling that great lately and wanted to do a better job at it, it's my way of saying I got your book :)

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  13. Hi Marilee, I was surfing fro Mardi GRas tatting patterns and came across this page:
    http://yarnplayertats.blogspot.com/2014/02/mardi-gras-and-1800s-tatting.html
    You had a sample of the edging from Riego's 1867 Royal book on pg 10 and 11 tatted in that fantastic mardigras color thread. I am using that pattern in a class I submitted yesterday for Palmetto Tat Days.

    I have just written the pattern for it and you are welcome to use it.

    start with large ring
    R 3 - 5 (- 2) x4, - 5 - 3 close ring (clr) reverse work (rw)
    *small header ring has two picots which are extra long (lp)
    R 3 - (long picot = lp) 3 - (lp) 3 clr leave 3/8" bare thread space rw
    5 small rings
    R 4 + (join to last p of the large ring) 4 clr leave small space of bare thread
    R 4 + (join to next p of the large ring) 4 clr leave very small space of bare thread
    R 10 clr leave very small space of bare thread
    R 4 - 4 clr , join to thread between second and first small rings leave very small space of bare thread
    R 4 - 4 clr , join to thread below first small ring leave 3/8" bare thread space rw
    small header ring has two picots which are extra long (lp)
    R 3 - (lp) 3 - (lp) 3 clr leave 3/8" bare thread space rw
    large ring
    R 3 + (join to small ring adjacent)5 + (join to next ring)(- 2) x4, - 5 - 3 clr rw
    *repeat from * for desired length joining large ring to the previous small rings three and
    four, etc.

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  14. Thank you, AKTATTER, your translation of the pattern into modern terms makes it much easier!

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