PAGE 1 TATtle TALES VOLUME III, THE OMEGA ISSUE JULY 1990 RIEGO'S FALSE CHAIN and the use of the LARK'S HEAD KNOT In the beginning of tatting's infancy there were only picoted rings and bare threads. Then came the joining of picots and from there the evolution of the chain. Before the chain (that is widely used today) there was a technique practiced by Riego referred to as the "false chain". In studying this technique further, I've discovered that the stitch she used to tat her false chains with was none other than the Lark's Head Knot. Even though this technique soon became obsolete, due to the fact that it was more practical to tat the chains in progress than to go back and fill in the bare threads later, I have found that the false chain will enable a tatter to accomplish certain feats normally not achievable with the chain technique we use today. How Riego came to developing this stitch in itself is a miracle. The single fact that she tatted with a needle is probably what enabled her to accomplish the stitch since the bare threads were already fixed at both ends they could not transfer over like the rds or ds when tatted. The only other option left to Riego was to tat the stitches using the needle thread, sliding each stitch into place. Riego referred to the stitch as an overcast stitch, but we all know this stitch as the Lark's Head Knot. The fact that the chain thread was fixed at both ends probably kept Riego from discovering the true traditional chain at this time. The best way to comprehend the "false chain" technique is with hands on experience. You will want to measure about one yard of thread off a ball and wind on a shuttle, leaving the ball thread attached as well. Tat a R5-5-5-5. Leave about a 1 inch of bare thread between rings. R5+(j to last p of prior R)5-5-5. Remove thread from shuttle and turn the rings so that they are facing down. Place shuttle thread onto a needle and tat the first hitch of the Lark's Head Knot. The hitch does not transfer over but is made with the needle thread and is slid into place. Tat the second hitch of the LHK. Remember the hitch does not transfer over. Tat a total of 5 LHK - 5 LHK. End.

One of tatting's next evolutionary steps might very well be to take the thread off the shuttle and place it on a needle. The question then is: When does tatting stop being tatting and become needle lace?

© 1990 TERI DUSENBURY TATtle TALES, 806 HARRISON AVENUE, PORT ORCHARD WA 98366-4212

PAGE 2 TATtle TALES VOLUME III, THE OMEGA ISSUE JULY 1990 RIEGO'S FALSE CHAIN and the use of the LARK'S HEAD KNOT I have found that you can tat your regular ring and chain (hopefully, using the rds to tat your chains with) until you come to the last chain and ring. (This application works just as well for rounds as it does for rows.) In this example we will be tatting rows. You will need to wind approximately 3 yards of thread onto a shuttle, keep ball thread attached. R5-5-5-5. Chain RDS 5-5. R5+(j to last p of prior R)55-5. Chain RDS 5-5. R5+(j to last p of prior R)5-5-5. Measure a ½ inch of thread off shuttle and then start next ring. R5+(j to last p of prior R)5-5-5. Remove thread from shuttle and place on a needle. Turn rings so that the top of the rings are facing to the left. With shuttle/needle tat 5 LHK. Measure off about one yard from ball thread and cut. Place ball thread on a needle. Tat 5 LHK with ball/needle. Look where the threads are, right in the middle of the last false chain.

Tat a split ring using the shuttle/needle thread as the ring thread. SR SN: 5-5, BN: LHK 5-5. Wrap shuttle/needle thread around finger and tat ball/needle thread. Chain DS 5-5.

double stitches with the

RW DR SN: R5-5+(j to chain p of row 1) 5-5. Measure approximately a ½ inch of bare thread from the SN. Commence with next DR from that point. DR SN: R5-5+(j to chain p of row 1) 5-5. RW

Hold work so that the rings point to the left tat a split chain of 5 LHK with BN. Tat with SN the other side of the split chain using 5 LHK. The two threads re in the center of the false chain. Tat a split ring of SR SN: 5 – 5, BN: LHK 5 – 5. End.

© 1990 TERI DUSENBURY TATtle TALES, 806 HARRISON AVENUE, PORT ORCHARD WA 98366-4212

PAGE 3 TATtle TALES VOLUME III, THE OMEGA ISSUE JULY 1990 A MATTer OF TAT Materials: 2 Shuttles, #20 Anchor Mez one ball. FLOWER Using shuttle only. R5-5-5-5. *R5+ (j to last p of prior R)5-5-5. *Repeat 3xs. R5+(j to last p of prior R)5-5+(j to first p of previous R) 5. End. SECOND ROUND Using shuttle and ball thread. R5-5+(j to p of flower)5-5. *Chain RDS 5-5. R3+(j to p of prior R)3-3-3. Chain RDS 5-5. R5+(j to p or prior R)5+(j to p of flower) 5-5.* Continue around in pattern. End. THIRD ROUND Using shuttle and ball thread. *R6+ (j to p of chain) 6. Chain RDS 5-5. R6+(j to same p as last joined p)6. R6+(j to next chain p)6. Chain RDS 5-5. R6+ (j to same p as last joined p)6. Chain RDS 5-5. R6+(j to same p as last joined p)6.* Repeat in pattern around. End. FOURTH ROUND Using shuttle and ball thread. R5-5+ (j to any chain p) 5-5. *Chain RDS 5-5. R3+(j to last p of prior R)3-3-3. Chain RDS 5-5. R5+(j to last p of prior R)5+(j to next chain p)5-5.* Repeat in pattern around. End. FIFTH ROUND Using two shuttles wound CTM. *SR Shl: R5+ (j to chain p) 5, Sh2: LHK 5-5.* Repeat in pattern around. End.

© 1990 TERI DUSENBURY TATtle TALES, 806 HARRISON AVENUE, PORT ORCHARD WA 98366-4212

PAGE 4 TATtle TALES VOLUME III, THE OMEGA ISSUE JULY 1990

A MATTer OF TAT

VICTORIAN HAT © 1990 TERI DUSENBURY TATtle TALES, 806 HARRISON AVENUE, PORT ORCHARD WA 98366-4212

PAGE 5 TATtle TALES VOLUME III, THE OMEGA ISSUE JULY 1990 Materials: Two Shuttles, Anchor Mez #20

VICTORIAN HAT

STEP ONE Using shuttle and ball thread. R3-3-3-3. Chain RDS 5 – 5. *R3-3+(j to second p of prior R)3-3. R3-3-3-3. Chain RDS 5-5 * Repeat in pattern. 6 joined rings total. End off. STEP TWO Using shuttle and ball thread. *R3-3+(j to p of joined Rs)3-3. Chain RDS 5-5. R3-3+(j to same p as last)3-3. Chain RDS 5-5.* Repeat around. End. STEP THREE Using two shuttles wound CTM. *Sh1: R3-3-3-3. Chain RDS 5+(j to chain between ending and beginning R)5. Sh1: R3-3+(j to second p of first R)3-3. SR Sh1: R5-5, Sh2: LHK 5+(j to p of chain separating Rs)5. * Continue in pattern around. End. STEP FOUR Using a shuttle and ball thread. R3-3+(j to joined Rs of Step 3)3-3. Chain RDS 5-5. R3-3+(j to same p of previous R)3-3. Chain RDS 5-5. R3-3+(j to SR p)3-3. Chain RDS 5-5.* Repeat in pattern around. End. STEP FIVE Using shuttle and ball thread. R3-3-3-3. R3+(j to p of prior R)3-3-3. R3+(j to p of prior R)3-3-3. Chain RDS 5+(j to p of chains in Step 4)5. R3-3+(j to second p of last R)3-3. Repeat in pattern around. End. STEP SIX Using shuttle only. R3+(j to p of chains from Step One)3+3+3+3+3+3. End.

© 1990 TERI DUSENBURY TATtle TALES, 806 HARRISON AVENUE, PORT ORCHARD WA 98366-4212

PAGE 6 TATtle TALES VOLUME III, THE OMEGA ISSUE JULY 1990

VICTORIAN HAT SCHEMATICS

© 1990 TERI DUSENBURY TATtle TALES, 806 HARRISON AVENUE, PORT ORCHARD WA 98366-4212

PAGE 7 TATtle TALES VOLUME III, THE OMEGA ISSUE JULY 1990

VICTORIAN HAT SCHEMATICS

STEP FOUR

STEP FIVE

STEP SIX

© 1990 TERI DUSENBURY TATtle TALES, 806 HARRISON AVENUE, PORT ORCHARD WA 98366-4212

PAGE 8 TATtle TALES VOLUME III, THE OMEGA ISSUE JULY 1990 TATbit's QUICK & EASY CAMEO EARRINGS Materials: A few yards of #20 Anchor Mez, Ear posts w/flat pads-2, 1OX8 Venetian Style Cameo-2, 2 shuttles. Supplier: Florida Jewelry Crafts, Inc. P.O. Box 2620, Sarasota, Florida 34230 (813) 351-9404. Mail Catalog is $2. Mail order source for cameos and jewelry findings. Since this project only takes a few yards per earring, you may choose not to place ball thread on second shuttle but opt to finger tat instead.

CAMEO LACE Using two shuttles wound CTM. Shl: R2-2-2-2-2-2. Climb out with enough thread between to look like other picots. SR Shl; R5, Sh2: LHK 5. *Chain RDS 2-1-1-2. Shl: R5+(j to p of prior rnd)5.* Repeat twice. Chain RDS 2-1-1-2. S hl: R5+(j to same p as last R)5. *Chain RDS 2-1-1-2. Shl: R5+(j to p of prior rnd)5.* Repeat twice. Chain RDS 2-1-1-2. Shl: R5+(j to p of prior rnd)5. Chain RDS 2-1-1-2. End. Rethread threads back through and let dry. Glue tatting onto earring post and let dry. Glue Cameo into place. These cameos could also be used instead of ribbon roses in the Rose Bud Earrings & Bracelet pattern. You may even want to try and use the mini porcelain flowers that are so popular today in crafts. Experiment! You never know what works best till you try it out.

© 1990 TERI DUSENBURY TATtle TALES, 806 HARRISON AVENUE, PORT ORCHARD WA 98366-4212