PART III: LINKED CHAINS |
Linked Chains: WARNING! The pursuit of Frivolous Frivolité may impair your sanity. |
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This little motif is a small "linked chain" circle made up of eight rings linked together.
Any number of rings, of course, may be made. In fact, they don't even have to be
linked into a circle at all. They can be left as a chain... the choice is yours!
It's preferable to use a size 10 thread when trying out something new so that you can see what's happening with the stitches. Once you are satisfied with the results you can go on to a finer thread. Thread on one shuttle only (no ball). Leave a 2" tail before... |
| RING 1: 16 ds DON'T CLOSE RING YET!
Hold the last ds between thumb and index finger of left hand - don't re- move fingers from the loop. Before we go any further, let's establish that the core thread (the one coming through the last ds and leading to the shuttle) is the one to pull on to close the ring. BUT before you do that, turn the fingertips of your left hand pointing up- wards. Drop the shuttle down through the loop - let the shuttle go. From above the loop, pull on the established thread (right next to the last ds - don't pull the shuttle back up) and close the ring. The loop you have now pulled up is the one which will go over your left hand in preparation for starting the next ring. Don't let it flop or twist. The part of the loop on which you pulled to close the ring will be the section which goes over the back of your left hand. Before you start the next ring, make sure the shuttle thread is positioned above (or beyond) the thread which is over the back of your hand. Leave a space of just over 1/8" on the thread coming from the base of the previous ring before making the first ds. Work this next ring as you did the first one. Don't forget to drop your shuttle through before closing the ring! Work a total of seven rings then before making the final one - which has to be linked to the first one - make sure all the 'links' are flattened out with the right sides facing up - especially the first one which tends to have a mind of its own. Shape them into a circle so that the first one meets and slightly overlaps the seventh one. Release the loop over your left hand and pull it through ring #7 then lay it over your hand again in the same position it was in - don't let it twist. Work the final ring (leaving the 1/8+" space) and close it - you don't have to drop the shuttle through this time. You may have to maneuver the last link into place. Cut off the shuttle thread leaving a 2" tail. Take both tails to the wrong side, tie together and cut. |
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Here is another version of these linked chains. This time the rings are larger and a picot has been added to each petal. You may even try adding a double or triple picot - let's get really frivolous! |
Happy Tatting