Anna Valerie published several books of tatting patterns. Recently we have enjoyed her tatted alphabet from the same book. Her instructions for tatting seem a bit quirky now as she says that one shuttle is all that is needed, using one thread for the rings and another thread for chains explains everything. But today we know that although there is much beautiful and creative work to be done with just shuttle, or with shuttle and ball, having a second shuttle as the ball thread opens so many more opportunities for design.
She does offer a page with comparisons between the sizes of thread and the same pattern. Her sample thread were size 10, size 30 and size 150. Size 150! And she teaches the traditional up join instead of today's down join.
Please take a moment to study the two instructions pages. Note the position of both hands and the handling of the shuttle. The position of the thread across the right hand is a bit different. There is no right way nor wrong way to tat. How you hold your hands and tatting tools may be specific to you. All that counts is making sure the double stitches slide when they should.
This is a two pass pattern, tatting clover leaf motifs along one side, turning and returning along the other side inserting center rings between the clovers which are missing them.
Using one shuttle and ball or needle and ball thread or two shuttles, begin with the left side ring of a cloverleaf.
*R 8 - 6 - 2 clr dnrw leave no space
R 2 + (join to last picot) 6 - 6 - 2 clr dnrw leave no space
R 2 + (join to last picot) 6 - 6 - 2 clr rw
CH 4 - 2 - 4 + (join to center picot of last ring) 4 - 2 - 4 rw
R 8 + (join to center picot of last ring of the previous cloverleaf) 6 - 2 clr dnrw leave no space
CH 4 - 2 - 4 rw
Repeat from *
Add long chain to turn the direction of the work and continue. The center ring of these clover leaf motifs will fill in the space on the opposite side.
Here's the latest article from the Tatting site at BellaOnline.com.
Alphabet L - Z Anna Valeire Book 3 The Tatted Alphabet by Anna Valeire Book 3 pg. 15. Tatted initials are handy for many projects. And added flower or decorative picots are just fine, too.
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art304516.asp
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Georgia Seitz, Tatting Editor http://tatting.bellaonline.com One of hundreds of sites at BellaOnline.com
