Rose methods

As I mentioned last post, there are a few different ways you can go about tatting this rose.
First off, by looking at them you can’t tell a difference visually in the methods so it is really about how you are comfortable tatting it. I can see the benefit of each and depending on what is on my shuttle or how I feel that day would choose any if them over the other.

Method 1

The original way I designed it. Shuttle and Ball.  I just arranged the threads in the right position at the arc changes. A shoelace trick could have maybe should have been used here but it worked so well without it, I didn’t bother. It was smooth and easy and lies flat. No added bulk. A benefit is you only need a small amount of thread wound on a shuttle. 

Method 2 

Per Judith Connor’s suggestion to use the reverse join. It is an easy join. Shuttle and ball. I think it does add a wee bit of extra bulk compared to method 1 but is considered the more proper way of doing it. It does get threads in the right position and lies flat and you only need a small amount of thread wound on a shuttle. 

Method 3

Per Muskaan’s suggestion as she and I worked on getting the pattern ready to share: CTM with 2 shuttles. Of course it also lies flat and you can use the appropriate shuttle at each arc change without issue. I liked this for clarity on diagraming and reading the pattern as you learn to tat it the first go around. It helped keep arc direction more obvious. My only issue is I mismeasured thread getting shuttle in hand and thread source mixed up when I was doing math. I have notated that so I don’t make the same mistake as easily again. 

Have Fun! 

I have stems to tat. 

Valentine variations

When I first adapted Vicki’s “Roses are Red” pattern I used the method she had used (shuttle and ball) to make the adaptation. My early notes looked like this.

ADAPTATION for Rose 

by Coretta Loughmiller 

Oct 2016
rw= reverse work 
tw=turn work 
lj=lock join
vsp=very small picot 

R: 5-5 rw 
1Ch:1 vsp 9 lj turn work
2Ch: 4 vsp 12 vsp 3 lj 12 to vsp on ring turn work
3Ch: 6 vsp 21 lj (2nd vsp on ch 2) tw 
4Ch: 8 vsp 19 lj (vsp on ch 3)
5Ch: 3 vsp 9 vsp 4 lj to (1st vsp on ch2) tw
6Ch: 5 (2nd half 2d) turn 3 lj to picot tw 
7Ch: 9 vsp 6 lj 6 vsp 15 vsp 5 lj tw
8Ch: 7 2nd half ds turn 7 lj turn 14 vsp 7 vsp1 lj 2 vsp 13 Tie and cut.

I was just moving the thread where I wanted it at the arc changes. When Muskaan started helping me go through the pattern she suggested 2 shuttles. This always gave you the option of having enough thread in the right direction. It made good sense. We went ahead and diagrammed and layed out the pattern that way. 

Upon posting it on Craftree Judith Connors suggested the reverse join. Therefore being able to use shuttle and ball and not having to wind and unwind shuttles at each arc change. I am pretty sure I have heard of this join and used it, but never put the two together. Sometimes you just do something because it works and you don’t know the name for it. 

I had hopes to try out the pattern using the reverse join before today and share what is great about each method, but I am a mom with 4 kids and a husband that travels, to say the least. So it’s up to you to choose which method suits your knowledge and tatting style. 

In the mean time here are some I tatted using the two shuttle method. All the ones on the previous post used my original adaptation notes and method. 

The great thing is if you have a preference you can tat it according to your preference. As many have said before me, though perhaps different context: 

The knot cares not how it is made. 

Happy Tatting! 

I am trying to pick back up blogging, but in the mean time if you are on Instagram you can find my tatting and other art @corettadeesign

A Valentine for you

A while back I was looking for a rose pattern to tat. A friend had requested rose bookmarks for her two emergent readers. I went hunting for a pattern assuming there would already be one,  I found Vicki Clarke's rose and liked the premise but needed a bit different angle for what I had in mind. You can find Vicki's rose here. Since her original pattern was free I figured my adaptations would be too. It has been a long time in the making getting it ready to share though. I had my pattern notes and good intentions to diagram it and lay it out in PDF and had reminders as people kept asking for it. however, I rarely sit down to the computer these days and some things I just have to do at the computer. Add in a myriad of other things in life, sickness, and technology and here we are over a year later. That's embarrassing.

 

So it came up again and I decided it was time to get moving on it. I started to lay it out but found days going by without more work on it. Enter Muskaan who has delighted me with her "how else can it be accomplished" and "look what else you can do with this" etc. Seriously take a look at her blog. She contacted me and offered to help me on it. At first I was like, "naw, I'm a graphic designer, I can do this." Then I remembered that can and doing and done are different things. Besides it's always good to have a test tatter and another set of eyes looking at and proofing. And I couldn't have had a better set of eyes on it. Muskaan asked the right questions and we reorganized the method of tatting the pattern. It can be done with shuttle and ball as I originally did it based off of Vicki's pattern or it can be done quite simply with two shuttles CTM. I decided to use the latter for the pattern instructions. 

Over the course of all this I have tatted the rose part a number of times and then added options like a stem with a bud and a version for earrings. These are also on the pdf. There are so many more options, a bigger leaf, thicker stem etc. etc. So put your own touch on it, and then come back and share it with me. I'd love to see it! So get to the good part right? See the PDF below. If you tat this item please make sure you give credit where it is due, and for the love if you pin it, make sure it links back to the source! Happy Valentine's Day! Share the love.