Joy's Split Chain Doily

Joy, from Australia, sent me this photograph of the Split Chain doily that she has completed.

Didn't she do well!

New Year Doily - PDF

This little doily pattern is now available in PDF format. Here is the link to the PDF and it is also in my Free Pattern section on the right of my blog. Happy tatting! If you find any glitches in the pattern I would appreciate your update.

New Year Doily

I neede some cluny practice and this pattern is working out so well, first time around, that I am writing the pattern out as I go. I am using size 40 thread in white and ecru. When it is finished I will PDF it and put it in my Free Pattern section.

Pretty in Pink

I've finished the pink version of my Split Chain Doily. Done in perle 12 it measures about 7 inches across. I shall now do two smaller doilies, to make the set, up to round 8.
Here is the link to the PDF pattern.

Better and Better!

I have been home for almost two weeks now and I am getting a little better every day. At first I had to have help from the Soical Services to get washed and dressed and to help with our evening meal, but I have improved so much now, that I no longer need help from the Social Services. Although I have a long way to go yet, Jim and I are managing very well between us. I am still relying on strong medication, but even that, I am managing with much less than at first.
I must be feeling better as I have started to tat again, yeahhh!!! I am doing a pink version of my Split Chain doily....using Perle 12.....very pretty and really fine. When I have finished the whole doily I have decided to make two more smaller ones (to the first round that is the same as the outside round) so that it can be used as a dressing table set. I shall give it to my neighbour who has been a wonderful friend during my incapacity.
I shall then have to come up with some more tatting to give to my other really good friends, who have all been invaluable over the last few weeks!

Split Chain Doily - edited

I re-tatted my Split Chain Doily so that I could check the pattern and here is the colour that I did. I found a mistake on round 8 and the same mistake on round 12 and have corrected it in the pattern. I have updated the link to the new PDF of the pattern.

Variagated pink split chain doily

Stephanie tatted another Split Chain Doily in this lovely variagated pink, but just to round 8 this time. As Stephanie says, it would make a great set by tatting one large one and two smaller ones.

I tatted another one myself and found a slight mistake in the instructions, therefore if you would like an updated version, here is the link!

Split Chain Doily Test-Tatted

My dear friend, Stephanie, from USA, has once again very kindly test-tatted another pattern for me.

She has used Sulky 12-weight machine embroidery/machine quilting thread, which tats up like a size 80 tatting thread. I love the colour combination and can't wait to do another for myself in a variagated thread.

Split chain doily completed

And here is the split chain doily completed. My designing hat must have been really tall as this pattern just rolled off my shuttle.....no retro-tatting needed at all!

Being able to do split chains makes such a difference to the amount of cutting and tying needed between rows. With this design, using split chains and split rings to climb out of rows, I only had to cut and tie after row 8 and the last row, doing away with masses of ends to sew in!

Split Chain - step by step instructions

Tat the first part of the chain in the normal way, to the point where you want the two shuttle threads to meet. Join the core thread to the base of the first ring with a lock join and leave enough thread to work the 5 stitches needed to complete the chain, back towards the last chain stitch worked. Always leave a little less thread, as this will stretch as you work the backward stitches.

 Using the core thread shuttle, pull a loop of thread, from the back, to the front, taking great care not to twist the loop. Thread the shuttle through the loop from the back to the front.

 Gently pull the shuttle thread until the loop is much smaller and then push the loop under the chain towards the back.

 Pull the loop at the back, gently reducing the thread and you will see the first half of the stitch taking shape.

 Draw all the way until the first half of the stitch is tightly into position, taking great care not to twist the new loop that is forming.

 Thread the shuttle, from the front to the back, through this new loop. This forms the second half of the stitch, therefore draw up the excess thread until the second half sits snuggly against the first half.

 First double stitch completed.

Latest video on split chain

Just to let everyone know that the video on the split chain is now completed and uploaded onto YouTube. Here is the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPXkMb2BV2g and also there is a permanent link on the right side bar of my blog under Video Demonstrations.

I have also included in the video, a way of doing a split ring, using just one shuttle and the ball thread.

As YouTube only accept videos to a mazimum of 10 minutes I had to do a fair bit of editing. I hope this doesn't spoil your enjoyment of the film, but I have still managed to cover the necessities!

Split chain video

Hello fellow tatters.

I am thinking of producing a short video to demonstrate the split chain. Do you think that it would be well received?

I don't mind doing it, as long as it would be useful to other tatters. For some reason, many tatters shy away from doing the split chain, and yet, once you get the hang of it, it really isn't difficult.....and such a useful tool to have at your fingertips!