Norma Benporath (1900 - 1998) designed lovely tatting patterns which were published by SEMCO in the pre- and during the WWII years. There was a great struggle to get permission to use scarce paper for that purpose and it was a tribute to her affect on morale that it was possible. She was also published later in the Australia Home Beautiful magazine and others. Although blind in her latter years, she was a member of the Tatting Guild of New South Wales. They are now the holders of her works some of which are back in print.
Norma received the highest distinction for a tatter of which I have ever heard. She was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for work in tatting.
On page 13 of her book, "Tatting", Norma offered a set of four designs. These were intended for bridge mats or tablecloths. The symbols are the heart, diamond, spade and club.
Samples tatted by Jon Yusof
All four bridge symbols are based upon this foundation cloverleaf pattern. Then a ring and chain border is added to build the outline of the individual motifs. Here is the pattern from the diamond. The other motifs will be added to the articles list under "Bridge, Cards, Games."
Foundation Four Leaf Clover
Ring 1 R 3, 12 p sep by 3 ds, 3. clr Leave no space. dnrw
Ring 2 R 3 + (join to last p of ring 1) 3, 7 p sep by 3 ds, 3. clr Leave no space. dnrw
Ring 3 R 3 + (join to last p of ring 2) 3, 11 p sep by 3 ds, 3. clr Leave no space. dnrw
Ring 4 R 3 + (join to last p of ring 3) 3, 6 p sep by 3 ds, 3 + (join to first p of ring 1) 3. clr
Finish off ends.
(There may be a way to climb out into the border but the photo is too small for me to see it. If we find a new model for this pattern I will add it here.)
Border around the 4-leaf clover.
* Ring 1 R 3 - 3 - 3 (join to first picot ring 1 of the clover) 3 - 3 - 3. clr rw
CH 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 rw
Ring 2 R 3 - 3 + (join to next to last p of last ring) 3, + (join to next p of clover ring) 3 - 3 - 3 clr rw
CH 3, 8 p sep by 3 ds, 3
Tat a similar pair of rings joined to the next 2 picots of clover ring with this chain between.
CH 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 rw
After second ring, CH 3 - 3 - 3 rw
Ring like the first ring, joining to the third picot of the next ring of the clover. clr rw
CH 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 rw
Ring like the second ring. clr rw
CH 3 - 3 - 3.
Repeat from *
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Here's the latest article from the Tatting site at BellaOnline.com.
Clara Haase pats #2 #4
These are two more designs are by Clara Haase. Her name appears more than once in Needlecraft Magazine.
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art32524.asp
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Georgia Seitz, Tatting Editor
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