2 Tat & Scaloped Braid edgings WB 6/1948

2 Tat & Scaloped Braid edgings WB 6/1948
Tatting & Fancy Braids

The June 1948 Workbasket magazine offered these two tatted edgings which actually puzzled me at first. What kind of a header was that one side? Was it a lock stitch chain or maybe pearl tatted chain? So I stopped and went back to the instructions. Ah ha. I broke my own rule about reading the pattern first which naturally explained it all.

Workbasket June 1948 pg 14 two edgings tat and braid
These edgings were designed to be attached to a style of trim or braid not seen as often today. Look in the racks of rick rack and bias tape. You may find them in packages with a "picot' like loop of thread. i.e., a scallop, on one side.

The tatting is very easy and good practice for beginners. It has both rings and chains which means one shuttle/tatting needle and a ball of thread or two shuttles.

R = ring, CH = chain, # = # of ds in a row, + = join, clr = close ring.

Another abbreviation used here is "turn." However, turn is not clear in this case. It would take an experienced tatter to know which method of "turn" is needed.
1. RW = Reverse work = to turn the tatting so that the top becomes the bottom. So, finish tatting a ring and close it, reposition the ring so that it is facing downward. Imagine the line of your tatting as the horizon and as you tat you move along that line progressing to the next element.
In simplest terms, the ring is above the horizon (line of progression) and the chain below.
2. TW = Turn work = turn the tatting along the line of progression as if turning the pages of a book.
3. Rotate = Rotate = move in a circular fashion like a clock moves. So if the place where the ring closed = 6 o'clock, for example, rotating the ring 90 degrees right, moves the place where the ring closed to the 9 o'clock.

In this case, both of these edgings use the term "turn" but both intend for the tatter to reverse work.

Edging 1 *R 3 + (join to scallop) 3 clr rw CH 4 rw
R 3 - 3 clr rw CH 4 rw
R 3 + (join to same scallop) 3 clr rw CH 4
R 3 + (join top of ring 2 ) 3 clr rw CH 4
* Repeat for the length needed.
Many places to embellish with beads on this one.

Edging 2 Begin this edging by joining directly to a scallop on the manufactured braid first
*+ (join to scallop first) CH 6 rw
R 6 + (join to next scallop) 6 clr rw, CH 6 - 6 rw
R 6 + (join to same scallop) 6 clr rw, CH 6 - 6 rw
R 6 + (join to same scallop) 6 clr rw, CH 6 - 6 rw
* + (join to the next scallop and repeat.

Workbasket June 1948 pattern pg 14 two edgings tat and braid

One change to this pattern might be to use two colors and alternate them between the rings. The lower edge chains have picots which would be perfect for beads, too.
Enjoy!





RSS
Related Articles
Editor's Picks Articles
Top Ten Articles
Previous Features
Site Map





Content copyright © 2023 by Georgia Seitz. All rights reserved.
This content was written by Georgia Seitz. If you wish to use this content in any manner, you need written permission. Contact Georgia Seitz for details.