Onion Ring Magic Square by Robin Perfetti

Square #1

Square #2

Magic Square #1

Magic Square #2

The magic square is an expandable pattern that can be built to any size, all in one round. (Please see the visual guide on the next page for more details). If you are new to tatting magic squares, I recommend sticking to the diagrams and written instructions at first. As you become more comfortable with the flow of the pattern, you will be able to move beyond the diagrams to build larger works such as a shawl or a tablecloth. Each square is repeatable, and can be joined to similar style squares to form a larger piece of tatting. This pattern is free, and you are welcome to share it with others. www.tattingbythebay.blogspot.com

All patterns follow the same basic stitch count. You can make any sized magic square by building up larger triangles, and then turning to form a square as desired. Be careful to tat the correct corner for each turn. Clockwise turns are tatted using opposite facing rings, while counter clockwise turns are made with an onion ring. Start

Choice A: Turn counter clockwise to complete the square

Square #1

Choice B: Turn clockwise to make a larger triangle Choice A: Turn clockwise to complete the square

Square #2

Choice A:

Magic

Choice B: Turn counter clockwise to make a larger triangle

Turn counter clockwise

Square #1

to complete the square Choice B: Turn clockwise to make a larger triangle Choice A: Turn clockwise to complete the square

Choice B: Turn counter clockwise to make a larger triangle 1

Magic Square #2

Reading the Patterns Abbreviations p

picot

Red

Shuttle 1 thread forms the stitches

-

small (joining) picot

Blue

Shuttle 2 thread forms the stitches

--

medium (decorative) picot

SS

switch shuttles

+

join

RW

reverse work

prev

previous

DNRW

do not reverse work

*

repeatable section

CWJ

Catherine Wheel Join

Two shuttles, wound using the continuous thread method

Color Coding All diagrams and written instructions have been color coded into red (Shuttle 1) and blue (Shuttle 2) work. These colors refer to the visible stitches formed by the thread on each shuttle.

Sample Diagram

See the example on the right for a closer look at how this works. Shuttle 1 has been filled with red thread and Shuttle 2 has been filled with blue thread. The colors in the finished tatting are identical to those in the diagram.

Sample Tatting

Tatting Onion Rings (suggested method, use your own method if preferred) 1. DNRW from the previous chain. Use Shuttle

1.

2 thread to form the large center ring. 2. Reverse work and tat the next chain using Shuttle 1 thread. Snug the chain, then lock join to the base of the large center ring. 3. Reverse work and continue tatting as usual. 2

2.

3.

Square #1 *Ring A: 3 - 3 -- 3 - 3 (During repeats 2 through 4, join the 1st p of this ring to the previous onion ring) Ring B: 3 + (last p of prev ring) 3 - 3 -- 3, RW Chain C: 5 - 6 -- 6 - 5, RW (During repeats 2 through 4, join the 1st p of this chain to the previous Chain C) Ring D: 3 -- 3 + (2nd p of prev ring) 3 - 3 Ring E: 3 + (last p of prev ring) 3 -- 3 - 3, RW Chain F: 5, DNRW, SS Onion Ring Ring G: 10 - 10, RW Chain H: 2 + (last p of Ring E) 8 - 3 + (CWJ to Ring G) 3 - 8 - 2 + (lock join to base of Ring G), RW, SS Chain I: 5, RW* Repeat the steps between asterisks (*) three more times, joining new elements to old ones as needed. Remember to join the final Chain C back to the first Chain C, and the last onion ring to Ring A. Cut, tie, and hide ends. Tip: Multiple squares can be joined together using the outer picots on each onion ring. Make a Catherine Wheel Join (CWJ) at the top of each onion ring. Do NOT count the join as a stitch.

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Square #2

CWJ = Make a Catherine Wheel Join at the top of each onion ring. Do NOT count the join as a stitch. Multiple squares can be joined together to form a larger fabric. Written instructions for this pattern appear on the next page.

Use these picots to join multiple squares together

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Square #2 Written Instructions *Ring A: 3 -- 3 - 3 - 3 (During repeats 2 through 4, join the second picot of this ring to the previous Ring P) Ring B: 3 + (last p of prev ring) 3 - 3 -- 3, RW Chain C: 5 - 6 -- 6 - 5, RW Ring D: 3 -- 3 + (2nd p of prev ring) 3 - 3 Ring E: 3 + (last p of prev ring) 3 -- 3 - 3, RW Chain F: 5, DNRW, SS Onion Ring (During repeats 2 through 4, join the 2nd picot of Chain H to the previous onion ring) Ring G: 10 - 10, RW Chain H: 2 + (last p of Ring E) 8 - 3 + (CWJ to Ring G) 3 - 8 - 2 + (lock join to base of Ring G), RW, SS

Chain I: 5, RW Ring J: 3 + (last p of Chain H) 3 -- 3 - 3 Ring K: 3 + (last p of prev ring) 3 - 3 -- 3, RW Chain L: 5 + (opposite chain) 6 -- 6 - 5, RW Ring M: 3 -- 3 + (2nd p of prev ring) 3 - 3 Ring N: 3 + 3 - 3 -- 3, RW Chain O: 5 - 9, RW Ring P: 4 + (2nd p of prev ring) 4 -- 4 - 4, RW, SS Ring Q: 8 - 4 - 8, DNRW, SS Chain R: 9 - 5, RW* Repeat the steps between asterisks (*) three more times, joining new elements to previous ones as necessary. During the final repeat, join the last onion ring back to the first, and the last Ring P back to the first Ring A. Cut, tie, and hide ends.

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Magic Square #1 CWJ = Make a Catherine Wheel Join at the top of each onion ring. Do NOT count the join as a stitch. One repeat is numbered in the diagram below. Complete four repeats to build a magic square. Magic squares can also be joined together to form a larger fabric.

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Magic Square #2 CWJ = Make a Catherine Wheel Join at the top of each onion ring. Do NOT count the join as a stitch. One repeat is numbered in the diagram below. Complete four repeats to build a magic square. Magic squares can also be joined together to form a larger fabric.

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