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!

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.

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 Doily - correction

Just to let everyone know that Brenda has been tatting my Split Chain Doily and found a mistake in the instructions. I have corrected the mistake if you would like to download the new PDF http://freepdfhosting.com/4f94885271.pdf
Otherwise, just alter the one you already have. The end of round 6 should read DNRW and not RW.
Please note, this is because I do my split chains WITHOUT reversing my work to complete them....sort of do them from the front, as can be seen from my video demo. If you do your split chains by turning your work round, then you have to do the opposite to the pattern....in other words, RW. I hope this all makes sense!

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 doily

When I did the little motif to demonstrate my method of doing a split chain it seemed a shame to waste it.....and so I just carried on. I used a thick thread for the demo and I don't normally use such a thick thread for doilies, but I thought, "what the heck" and this is the result so far. I have no idea what I shall do with it when it is finished, probably give it away, as usual, LOL!!!

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!

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 Pattern

Here, as promised, is the pattern for my split chain doily. I have not checked it....so if someone would like to test-tat it for me, I would be delighted.
Here is the link to the PDF, but you can also find it in my Free Pattern section.

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.

Round doily

My dear daughter-in-law asked me to make her another doily in brown and cream, to match her decor, to go under a vase.

On the journey to visit my mum on Tuesday, I came up with this design and finished it last night.

I used split rings and split chains to climb out of the rounds to prevent tying and cutting, but this shows up as the wrong colour. I decided that it didn't matter as the centre would be under the ornament and not seen.

I eventually worked out how to do the split chain with just one colour, but I couldn't remember how to do a single shuttle split ring, which might have solved the two-colour problem in the rings!

I really enjoyed doing this simple pattern and I am going to do it again with a single variagated thread and write the pattern out at the same time. When it is done I will post it here on my blog.

DVD now completed

My tuition DVD is now finished! Originally I had produced my tuition for beginners as a computer disc for PCs only, but now, thanks to my genious son, it is available on DVD.

This means that it can now be played on any computer or DVD player. So much better to be able to see it on decent sized TV screen and play, pause and rewind, as much as a new tatter needs!

My DVD not only shows the very basic beginnings but also shows how to join in a new thread without a knot, split rings, self closing mock rings and the dreaded split chain!

I haven't uploaded it onto my web site yet, but if you would like to purchase a copy please email me.

Toffee Tin for Shuttles

 

This little toffee tin (now empty of course, yum-yum!!) measures about 4 inches square, which is perfect for keeping spare shuttles in. As it was very plain I decided to pretty it up a bit with some beaded tatting. The thread is Anchor perle size 12 with tiny purple seed beads.

This has been my first bit of tatting for months! But it has kick started me into action again and I have started my Split Chain doily in pink perle size 12, which I am hoping to get done before I go into hospital on 18th Feb.

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.

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 Set

Here is the pink set completed. It turns out that my neighbour is not really into delicate lacy things so I shall keep this as a "stock" item to give as a present to someone else in the future.

This is my next project - a square motif that can be put together as often as the tatter wishes. The first square was not quite right, but I was pleased when only my second attempt worked very well. I am now in the process of photographing the motifs as I make them so that I can produce a pattern for them. The 4 squares above have not been pressed and so do not look as good as they could. When I have completed the pattern I will post a better picture.

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.

Snowflakes in bangles

Some of the snowflakes I have been working out. I am happiest with the top 2, this being my final design. I have used size 40 thread with varying bead sizes. The centre sequin is 6 sided (like a snowflake) and I have made a hole in each arm, using a red hot needle, to attach the thread to. The design is chains only and using split chains to climb out of each row. I also found a way to incorporate a bead on the split side of the chain!

A Thank You Gift

I'm well and truly back in the land of tatting!

I did not have surgery to my spine this time. I had, instead, an injection into the offending disc and vertabral joint. It worked very well indeed and my pain levels have reduced drastically! I am keeping everything crossed that this will last for a long time - if it does, I can just have it repeated - but if it doesn't, then it means that I will probably have to have the op!

The nurses and doctors were, as usual, wonderful and were dutifully thanked in the usual way, but my unsung heroine was Joan, who kept our ward immaculately clean and did everything she could to make my stay as comfortable as possible. As a special "thank you" to Joan I have designed this bookmark. She works tirelessly for her church and so thought that a bookmark in the shape of a cross would be just right.

This split ring version was my first attempt and although I liked the alternating colours I wasn't happy with the overall dimensions. I felt that the "arms" were not broad enough.

I opted for a very simple ring and chain design that met my own idea of the correct dimensions.

I used Lizbeth size 20 for the yellow/orange and purple/yellow ones and Lizbeth size 40 for the variagated one.

This is a close-up of the one I have decided to give to Joan.

This is such a basic design that it could well have already been achieved by another desgner. If you think that it is new, and you haven't seen it before, then I will write out the pattern and publish the PDF.