The cold just won't leave, so wrap up in a warm blanket and get to tatting!
This antique pattern originally called for the first round to be tatted, cut and tied with the second round attaching to it. This creates two sets of ends to hide and tatters hate ends! So let's look at this pattern in terms of creating the inner six rings by throwing them off a self-closing mock ring (SCMR).
Begin by winding two shuttles continuous thread method (CTM.) Work a small outer ring first. If you want to create a definite front side be aware that it may mean tatting some elements of the design in reverse half stitch order.
Shuttle 1 (SH1) Ring (R) 2 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 2 close ring (clr) do not reverse work (dnrw)
Rotate 180 degrees and hang a space holder (paper clip or safety pin) on the foundation cord (SH1)
Begin to chain self-closing mock ring (SCMR)
CH 7 - 4 dnrw
Shuttle 2 (SH2) R 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 dnrw
CH 4 - 7 close SCMR securing it to the space held in reserve by the space holder and reverse work (rw)
CH 7 rw
SH1 R 2 + (join) 2 - 2 - 2 rw
CH 7 rw
Repeat motif five more times joining as indicated in diagram.
These small changes in the original vintage directions make it possible for tat this entire snowflake without cutting the thread! Instead of working from the inside out, the flake begins on the outer row with the small ring with 4 decorative picots. A change of direction begins the first part of the self-closing mock ring. Midpoint on the scmr, the second shuttle is used to throw off the small inner ring (called a floating ring). No reverse work is needed after this small ring is closed) Continue the chain and shuttle lock join it to the space held free with the paperclip. Move then to the plain chain of 7 ds, rw and make the small ring, rw plain chain 7 again and repeat from the outer ring.
Detail with stitch count.
Here's the latest article from the Tatting site at BellaOnline.com.
New Tatting Works - Korean New Tatting Works 2015 Ring & Picot; a collection of tatting patterns by the Korean Tatters' Society Ring & Picot
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art302688.asp
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Georgia Seitz, Tatting Editor http://tatting.bellaonline.com One of hundreds of sites at BellaOnline.com
