The 1912 Emmanuel Bocher Tatting Book was originally published in French. The original pages which were once translated by Rose Rogers were lost to us for many years. In 2009, the Online Tatting Class began a project to restore this work to the public. And then Rose made contact and shared all the patterns that were translated and she posted them for our tatting enjoyment. (That was a real gift to tatters, many thanks, Rose!) These files are available through a YAHOO Group. emmanuelbochertattingbooktranslation-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Among the many patterns for which members of the Online Tatting Class rewrote methods in 2009 and prepared samples, several are still available in the class files. This particular pattern inspired both earrings by Sue MacLeod and a bracelet, too. In the reworking of it, the no cut method was used. This meant the tatters needed to learn the split ring, split chain, bump or vsp picot and shuttle lock join.
The diagrams shown here were done by an unskilled hand (mine), and need some instructional notes to make it tat smoothly.
The Bocher motif double stitch count
The Bocher motif suggested order of work for a no cut method of tatting.
Order of work
Center has 6 rings which face outward. Ring F is a split ring to climb out into next row.
Rings A - F have 3 ds between each picot or join.
R 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 clr leave no space
R 3 + (join to last picot of previous ring) 3 - 3 - 3 clr leave no space
Continue to Ring F
F R 3 + 3 / 3 + 3 clr rw
G CH 2 ( bump picot aka vsp or very small picot only used for a later join +)
H CH 2 - 2 - 2 + (join to picot of ring E)
I CH 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 + (join to picot of ring D)
J CH 2 - 2
Split chain K + (join to picot of ring C) split chain of 2 ds back
Rings L - M have 3 ds between each picot or join
Ring L is a split ring R 3 - 3 / 3 - 3 clr
Chains M,O (and, later, X, Z) have 3 ds between each picot or join
M CH CH 3 - 3
Floating ring N R 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 clr dnrw
O CH CH 3 - 3
Ring P is a split ring R 3 + 3 / 3 - 3 clr rw
Split chain Q + (join to base of ring C) split chain of 2 ds back
R CH 2 - 2 - 2 + (join to picot of ring B)
S CH 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 + (join to picot of ring A)
T CH 2 - 2 - 2
U Split Chain + (join to base of ring F) 2 back, continue to ring V
Ring V is a split ring R 3 - 3 / 3 - 3 clr
X CH CH 3 - 3
Floating ring Y R 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 clr dnrw
Z CH CH 3 - 3
Ring ZZ is a split ring R 3 + 3 / 3 - 3 clr rw
Attach ends to the bump picot and finish off.
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