The Crafts and Lace Site

Flower 3

© Gillian Buchanan 2001

MATERIALS

• 2 Tatting Shuttles
  
• No. 20 Crochet Cotton
  
• Paper Clip

SIZE

5 cm across

This piece uses some rather unusual techniques. The rings at the centre are not made in the usual way but with mock rings which can then be made to carry rings made with the second shuttle. The centre is neatened by an original use of lock stitch to form a tight curve at the base. I have not seen these techniques used in this way before, although they are used in a number of the pieces on this site.

1. Wind two tatting shuttles without cutting the thread between them.
   
2. Start with a Chain but do NOT make a Lock Stitch at the start of the Chain. Instead, thread on the Paper Clip and make the 1st stitch over the Paper Clip. Leave the Paper Clip in place.
   
3. SH1
   C 6 DS, P, 2 DS, P, 2 DS, do not RW.
   
4. SH2
   R 2 DS, J to adjacent P on C, 2 DS, 2 P sep by 2 DS, 2 DS, cl. R, do not RW.
   
5. SH2
   R 2 DS, J to adjacent P of previous R, 4 DS, 5 P sep by 2 DS, 4 DS, P, 2 DS, cl. R, do not RW.
   
6. SH2
   R 2 DS, J to adjacent P of previous R, 2 DS, 2 P sep by 2 DS, 2 DS, cl. R, do not RW.
   
7. SH1
   C 2 DS, J to corresponding P of previous R, 2 DS, P, 6 DS, do not RW.
   
8. Tighten the core thread of the Chain to the correct tension.
   
9. Remove the Paper Clip - you should find that there is a small space just big enough to put a fine crochet hook through.
   
10. Draw the SH1 thread through this tiny space, and make a Shuttle Thread Join.
    
11. Make two unturned stitches with the 1st SH to form a neat turning at the bottom of the mock ring. Reinsert the Paper Clip over the SH1 thread and push up next to the last Stitch.
    
12. SH1
    C 6 DS, J to adjacent P of mock R, 2 DS, P, 2 DS, do not RW.
    
13. SH2
    R 2 DS, J to adjacent P of C, 2 DS, J to adjacent P of small R, 2 DS, P, 2 DS, cl. R, do not RW.

Repeat the above sequence from No. 5 onwards six times more.

14. SH2 R 2 DS, J to adjacent P of small R, 4 DS, 5 P sep by 2 DS, 4 DS, P, 2 DS, cl. R, do not RW.
    
15. SH2 R 2 DS, J to adjacent P of previous R, 2 DS, J to free P of 1st small R, 2 DS, P, 2 DS, cl. R, do not RW.
    
16. SH1 C 2 DS, J to free P of small R, 2 DS, J to free P of 1st mock R, 6 DS.
    
17. Shuttle Thread Join to base of current mock R as before, make 2 Lock Stitches to turn, J to base of 1st R and finish ends.