CQJP July Block

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Tatted Trees

Tomorrow, my good friend and painting partner Shirley is arriving for a too-short visit, so I won't be blogging for several days.  Maybe we'll paint, or stitch, but whatever we decide to do I know it's going to be fun!But here's something to tat while I'm spending time with my guest.

I designed a tatted tree pattern. It is dimensional, rather than flat, and I shared it with The Online Tatting Class. I thought I would share my pattern with you, too.

 Free-Form Tatted Tree    Created in Celebration of  2010 International Tatting Day


Tree #1
R = 3 - 3

R2 = 3 + 3

CH = 5 - 5

SR = 3 / 3

Set = C = 4d,4s where d = 1st half of ds, s = 2nd half ds

Ca= 1(-2d-2s)10


Since this pattern uses multiple repeats, I have attempted to use a short form rather than write out the patterns repeats individually.




Tree Leaves Canopy

Step 1)  R,(Ca,R) x6, Ca, SR folding picots together after each chain.
Note that the size of the picot determines the size of the 'leaves'. Varied sizes of picots would make for a less uniform look to the canopy.

Step 2)  SR, (Ca,R2) x6, Ca, SR where R2 joins to R row 1. Fold row 1 onto row 2.

Step 3)  C, R, C + (join between the attached, doubled rings of rows 1 and 2).

Repeat across the row. Tie. (Use ends to secure to surface if applicable. If not, hide ends.)






Tree Limbs and Trunk



1) Cut five lengths of thread, 48", fold one in half and thread the needle



2) Take the needle through the picot of ring 1 of the last row and begin to tat: 3 Sets-1 Set. Knot and leave ends. 



3) Proceed as above, but take the needle through the picot of the second ring of the last row. Tat 3 Sets + 2 Sets - 1 Set, (join to the picot in step 2)  Leave the ends.



4) On the sixth ring of the last row, using a double thread as before, take the needle through the picot and tat: 5 Sets - 1ds. Leave the ends.

5) On the seventh ring of the previous row, using a double thread as before, take the needle through the picot and tat : 5 Sets-2 Sets- 2 Sets. Leave ends.

6) Cut a 60" length of thread, fold it in half and thread the needle. Take the needle through the picots on rings 3, 4, and 5 of the previous row and tat : 5 Sets + 2 Sets ( join to first picot in steps four and five) + 2 Sets ( join to second picot step 5) Leave ends.

7) Take the thread ends of steps 2 and 3 and tat 1 Set, then add all thread ends from all steps and tat together as many Sets as desired to create the trunk base. Short threads may escape from the tatting. Knot when desired number of Sets are completed. Trim escaped short threads. Use the long thread ends to attach to an ATC or other surface, or hide.



Please note that Tree #2 was designed with 6 chains of canopy rather than the 7 chains of the original. The tree limbs and trunk were also somewhat altered, although the basic concept is the same. Tree #2 was tatted with Yarnplayer's "Leafy" in pearl cotton #12 for the canopy and "Tourmaline" size 50 for the limbs and trunk. Tree #1 was tatted with DMC Cebelia #30 in white. Tree #3 was tatted with Yarnplayer's " A Leaf Falls" in 3-cord cotton, size 10.

Tatted Tree #3

R = 3 - 3

C = 5 - 5

Set = 4d,4s where d = 1st half of ds and s = 2nd half of ds

Ca = 1 ( -2d - 2s) 10

SR = 3 / 3

Tree Canopy

Row 1= R (Ca,R) x 6, Ca, SR folding picots together after each chain

Row 2= SR (Ca,R) x 6, Ca, SR flip row 1 onto row 2

Row 3= C + across row, joining each finished chain to the picot of the corresponding ring of row 2


Tree Limbs and Trunk


1) Cut the remaining ball thread to a length of 20", and fold it back on itself to create a double thread of 10". Tat as follows: 2 Sets - 2ds and leave the thread ends.



2) Cut three 24" lengths from the ball thread and one 60" length.



3) Double one 24" length of thread, thread the needle, take the needle through the next chain picot of row 3 and tat as follows: 2 Sets + 1Set - 2ds (join to picot of first limb)



4) Double one 24" length of thread, thread the needle and going through the picot of the last chain in row 3, tat: 2 Sets - 1 Set - 1 ds



5) Repeat as above going through the next chain picot in row 3 and tat: 3 Sets + 1ds ( join to second picot of limb in step 4.



6) Double the 60" thread and thread the needle, then take the needle through the picots of the middle chains, tat: 3 Sets + (join to 2nd picot of limb in step 5 and 2nd picot in step 3) and gather all loose threads and tat as many sets as possible with the remaining thread, allowing shorter threads to fall to the side until desired length reached.



7) Shorter threads may be cut from the trunk. The remaining threads may be used to attach the tree to an ATC or other material as desired, or finished as usual.



Happy tatting!
Thanks for visiting. Hugs from Suz.

9 comments:

  1. These trees looks like the Acacia tree! Thanks for sharing the pattern.

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  2. That's absolutely fascinating - I hadn't realised just how flexible tatting could be!

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  3. Once I learned about the fancy picot stitch (leaf canopy) and the node stitch, it opened up a lot more options for tatting. Next time, I shall post a pattern for a seahorse-- again in a dimensional tatting style, probably on Wednesday. Happy tatting and thanks for your comments.

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  4. I agree your trees look like the real things. Thanks for sharing your lovely work with all of us.

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  5. This is super, I always want to learn to tatt but I didn't found the time.....

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  6. This is just wonderful! I never knew anyone who tatted so that I could learn from them. I tried to teach myself, and finally gave up.

    FlowerLady

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  7. Thank you FlowerLady. I learned to needle tat during an evening class, and picked up the basics, but didn't progress much from that point until I joined the Online Tatting Class ( it's free!) and learned there is so much more than just rings and chains! They also have beginner classes if you're still interested in learning. Now, too, there are lots of Youtube tatting tutes and vids that may help. I'd be happy to help, too.
    I've received two gifts of tatting shuttles recently, so I may just have to try shuttle tatting. ;-0
    Hope you're having a great day.
    Hugs from Suz

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  8. These trees are quite nice, I think I will give them a try thank you for sharing.

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  9. You're most welcome, Deb. Let me know if you have any questions. Have fun!

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I love to read your comments!