Made in size 30 cordonnet the vase will be about 4.5" tall. It should be blocked over a glass that is tapered from 2" at the bottom to 3 inches at the top. It is suggested to make the body of the vase white with the outer edge in yellow, with the two rows of flowers tatted in pink and blue flowers and green leaves.
Make 4 sets of flowers, two pink one separated by a blue one:
Pink Flower = R 5 - 5 - 5 - 5 clr repeat 3 x for set of 4 rings (make 8 flowers)
Blue Flower = R 5 + (join to pink flower) 5 - 5 - 5; R 5 + (join to same spot) 5 - 5 - 5
R = 5 + (join to second ring) 5 - 5 +(join to second pink flower) 5
R = 5 + (join to same spot) 5 - 5 + (join to first picot of first ring) 5
Leaves: Join green thread to a picot on the pink flower,
*CH 5 ; R 6 - 6 ; R 6 - 6; Repeat from * twice, eventually forming two wreaths of flowers/leaves.
Using 2 shuttles in white thread begin vase.
Row 1 = R 4 - 5 - 5 - 4 clr RW; CH 3 - 2 + (join to picot on wreath) 2 - 3 RW
*R 4 + (join to picot on prev. ring) 5 - 5 - 4 clr RW; CH 3 - 2 + (join to picot on wreath) 2 - 3 RW
Repeat from * around the wreath.
Row 2 = attach thread at point where two rings joined on previous row.
*CH 3 - 3 - 3 - 3; + (join center picot of previous row's chain); Repeat from * around.
Row 3, 4, and 5 = CH 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 joining as above and repeat around.
Row 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 = 3 - 2 - 2 - 3 joining as above and repeat around.
Row 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 = CH 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 joining as above and repeat around.
Row 16, 17, and 18 = CH 2 - 1 - 1 - 2 joining as above and repeat around.
Here the vintage directions instructed the tatter to "fill in bottom with thread." I suggest continuing to chain and form a coil for the bottom join to itself using a Catherine's Wheel join. (see Debbie Arnold wonderful illustration for this technique: http://www.ds9designs.com/patterns_free/CatherineWheelJoin.pdf)
Begin top of vase by rotating the work so that the wreath side is closest to you as the next 5 rows begin by attaching to the opposite side of which you have been working. You are now making the top part of the vase. Continue to use white thread.
Row 1 = R 4 - 5 - 5 - 4 clr RW; CH 3 - 2 + (join to picot on wreath) 2 - 3 RW
*R 4 + (join to picot on prev. ring) 5 - 5 - 4 clr RW; CH 3 - 2 + (join to picot on wreath) 2 - 3 RW
Repeat from * around the wreath.
Row 2 = attach thread at point where two rings joined on previous row.
*CH 3 - 3 - 3 - 3; + (join center picot of previous row's chain); Repeat from * around.
Row 3, 4, and 5 = CH 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 joining as above and repeat around.
Switch to two shuttle with pink and green thread.
Pink = R 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 clr (normally a RW would follow, but it is not given in the instructions)
Green = CH 4 - 3 - 2 --- (large picot) 2 - 3 + (join to picot on chain) 4 RW
CH 6 ; R 6 - 6 clr; R 6 + (join to chain) 6 clr RW ; CH 7 RW
R 6 - 6 clr; R 6 + (join to chain) 6 clr RW
CH 6 + (join to picot on pink flower, continue in like manner joining to picot of pink flower then to 2 picots on blue flower and to the next 2 chains repeating to the end of the wreath.
On the other side of the wreath using the white thread,
*R 5 + (join to a center green picot) 5 + (join to a first picot on chain) 5 - 5 clr
CH 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 RW; Repeat 5 times joining last picot of ring to a green bud*
CH 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 join to first picot on spray, repeat joining to all picots on wreath.
Repeat from * to *; attach thread to a center p picot, CH 3 - 4 - 4 - 3 ; repeat twice around vase.
Using yellow repeat chain pattern on the outer edge.
Dip tatting in wax, sugar water, or stiffener and mould to water glass curving the top edge.
Original Pattern directions. Please bear in mind that vintage patterns are notorious for errors. If in doubt, draw it out.
