A New Heart Design

Please note the changes/corrections to the end of Rows 2 and 3. THANKS, Katie Verna for catching my goofs in writing the pattern. That's what I get for throwing it together during lunch and not taking the time to re-tat from the instructions after I'd slept a night or two.

I haven't been inspired to do a new heart design since 2001. While waiting on my car to be serviced last Saturday, I sat down and sketched out a heart. Not sure why the center inspiration was block tatting but here is a scan of the 3rd heart I tatted. The one I actually tatted during our Guild meeting in Lexington met its demise with our new pup and his need to chew ... just as well as it really, really needed some help. Maybe I'll try that one later.

This one is simple enough. Using whatever style of block tatting you prefer (I used Jane E's braid method) and two shuttles CTM:

Row 1 Ch 4 sp 4 (odd rows have flipped stitches while even rows are unflipped).
Row 2 Ch 1 sp 4 + (core thread to picot on Row 1) 4 +
Row 3 Ch 1 sp 4 + (lj with core thread) 4 +
repeat 2nd and 3rd rows once more
Row 6 Ch 1 sp 4 +
Row 7 Ch 1 sp 4 +
repeat row 6

SR 4/4
Ch 3 - 2 - 2 - 3
R 6 + (last picot on Row 8) 6
Ch 3 - 2 - 2 - 3
R 6 + (same picot as prev ring) 6
Ch 3 - 2 - 2 - 3
R 6 + (picot between 5th & 6th row) 6
Ch 3 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 vsp 1
R 6 + (picot from row 1) 6 SS
R 1 + (adjacent chain) 4 - 1 lp 1 - 4 vsp 1 SS
Ch 1 +(adjacent ring) 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 3
R 6 + (core thread at halfway point on first row) 6
Ch 3 - 2 - 2 - 3
R 6 + (start point of block tatting) 6
Ch 3 - 2 - 2 - 3
R 6 + (same picot as prev ring) 6
Ch 3 - 2 - 2 - 3
R 4 + (turning picot on row 5) 4

Securely tie, cut and hide ends. Of course if you thought ahead, magic thread loops can be put into the last chain and within the last ring.

One more - a Baker's Dozen

I was surfing earlier today and found instructions on Jane Eborall's pattern/technique website for a variation of block tatting. I had this cross nearly completely and decided to try Jane's method for the tassel. The method is really easy to do ... I just had to determine a method of tapering. See Jane's instructions at http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~nickeb/braid.htm. This cross-shaped bookmark will be turned in tomorrow at our Guild meeting (making 13 for me for this month) for the DOTN Purple & White project.

Using the technique, I used five stitches instead of 3 for twelve rows, then decreased the number by one stitch every twelve rows. I did use two stitches on the rows where I was decreasing before doing the very small picot. The final portion of the braid is actually a josephine chain (using the second half) and I added the thread tassel.

The cross pattern is one of my favorites (from either a Workbasket from the fifties or a McCall's craft magazine from the mid 70's). With the exception of the inner rings and chains on the inner corners, all rings are 3 ds (picot, 3ds)x5 and all chains are 3 ds, picot, 3 ds. The rings are joined at two picots.

To turn the corner, chain 3 ds, picot, 4 ds. Rings of 2 ds, join, 1 ds, join, 1 ds, picot, 1 ds, picot, 2 ds. Then chain 4 ds, picot, 3 ds. The chains at the ends of the cross arms consist of 5 ds. Modern day notation, starting at the top:

• R: 3 (- 3)x3
• *Ch: 3 - 3
• R: 3 (+ 3)x2, 3 (-3)x3*

Repeat between asterisks for the desiered number of rings, continue to corner by

• Ch: 3 - 4
• R: 2 + 1 + 1 - 1 - 2
• Ch: 4 - 3
• R: 3 + 3 + 3 +(free ring of the previous large ring) 3 - 3 - 3
• **Ch: 3 - 3
• R: 3 (+3)x2, 3 (- 3)x3**

Repeat between double asterisks for the same number of rings as the top portion. Ch 5, then start back along the arm by:

• R: 3 (- 3)x5
• ***Ch: 3 + 3
• R: 3 (+ 3)x2, 3 (- 3)x3***

Continue between triple asterisks to where the last chain begins, repeat the inner corner turn and continue down the base for the desired number of large rings as indicated in the instructions for the top. Then continue with the same ring and chain combination as before. All chains with join the the adjacent chain in the previous arm/base line with the exception of the arm/base ends which are Ch 5.

Several finishing techniques can be used. The original pattern used large picots on the chains that would accommodate the lacing of a 1/4" ribbon between the arms, with the ribbon on the top/base extending beyond the tatting to form a "tail."