2015 Beginner's Mystery Tat-A-Long

When I first tried tatting it sounded so simple with one stitch made up of two halves to create rings or chains. How wrong I was, the more I get into it, the more techniques I find and I'm loving it. I've just finished round 9 of the mystery tat-a-long using a needle, I did start another one with a shuttle and am noticing that the shuttle version has kept it's shape a lot better and looks ten times neater although it took a lot longer to do. Now off to find a smaller project to practise with my shuttle ready for the next tat-a-long.... there will be another one won't there Kersti? Pretty please?!!!

The mystery doilies will be one per year. But we must be due for another regular tat-a-long...

I'm discovering a lot of small details that each are a challenge which need to be dealt with. Here is my needle tattled version, this is my 3rd doily, you can almost "feel" the struggle with this. I learn a lot as I go along, this is a very nice Mystery Tat-A-Long and a lot more fun than sit by oneself :)

Sorry for this simple question, but for some of the rounds it stands: "Chain – 4ds, 4ps sep by 4ds, 6ds, p, 8ds, join by shuttle thread to base of next ring on previous row". This should be clear, but I'm still confused - which thread is this for needle tatting? The one on the needle (so you should use the needle), or the one from the ball? It seems to "bulk" at the bottom, and I would really like to find a way to avoid this...

in reply to annna's post:

This picture has the problem areas marked. If anyone have a good solution to avoid this, I'll be very happy.

Post removed by muskaan.

Post removed by muskaan for the following reason: In triplicate !.

@annna
I don't needle tat. But here's one answer I found on Yahoo!Answers .... Hope it helps ....
"The difference between a simple join and a lock join is that the former slides and the later does not. Tat normally to the point where you want to make the LJ and pull the needle through the stitches already made. Snug them how you want them. Insert the tip of the needle into the middle of the last ds or ring made and pull it through, leaving a loop. Put the needle through the loop and snug. "

Also check out these basic lessons & illustrations ... They might come in handy. http://www.georgiaseitz.com/newtat/nt/needletattingbasicspt2.html

Hope you get a better reply soon
happy tatting :-)

@annna I would complete the first chain and pull off the needle then pass the needle through the base of the ring where you are making your join and pull all the way through before starting the second half chain - so the join will just be the needle having gone through the point.

Thanks a lot for advices, muskaan and kersti. It seems like I have neglected to snug the front/needle thread so that it do not cross the back thread/loop thread, and in addition the ds's gathered up at the turn when I tightened the thread. It helped to loose them up a bit in the area. I will try out what you suggested, thank you!

The badge for this one is still working on finishing - some of you are faster than expected! We'll have this sorted as soon as we can!

I don't suppose there's any way to estimate the amount of thread used by round 8, is there? I'm using Lizbeth size 10 if it makes a difference...

I started with two half-balls (to try to clear them out of my stash) but I've been using mostly the dark green and I'm beginning to suspect I'm going to run out before the end of round 8. I'm trying to decide if I should risk running out of the green halfway round. I have a matching green variegated thread in the right size, but I'm not sure it wouldn't look funny to use it in just one round. I guess I could just order another ball of green ... but I wanted to clear out some old thread, not order more.

Edit: Nevermind. I figured out a way to do half of round 8 in the red. Fixes all my problems and gets more of the red out of my stash! Winning plan all 'round!

in reply to cateranllama's post:

The link below shows you how to work out how much thread you will need :).

http://ladyshuttlemaker.blogspot.com.au/2008/10/predict-future-save-your-thread-thread.html

I'm really enjoying this tat-along! Does anyone else think this doily looks like a rose window?

My Tat a-long 2015

My completed tat-a-long. Thank you Kirsti, I loved taking part in this and I've learnt quite a few bits along the way.

Super convenient for this pattern as Kersti already worked out how many stitches each round has. Thank you.

My last row so far. It's going very slow, despite that I enjoying tatting it, I can not wait to finish it! :)

Completed, but want to add few more pics, & update materials, etc.
Very happy with the way it turned out, especially with size 40 thread.

Measures 9-1/2" across !
I've used graded picots, but without a gauge . Unfortunately not easily discernible ...

Enjoying the projects being completed ... such a range of colours !

@mandatory ... YES !!! It so looks like a rose window ! Thanks for the perspective. I'm Certain a rose window was the inspiration behind this pattern :-)

@kersti ... Is the designer really unknown, or will the name be revealed now ? A little more about the pattern would be interesting , if possible . Thank you for this Wonderful TAL . Enjoyed every moment of it :-D

I use a similar method, but I start with a longer piece and tat a ring complete with picots to account for picot length. Sometimes I'll tat an entire motif and do the math from that.

All done! I had a ton of fun with this. Thank you so much @Kersti for setting this up!

I don't think I've ever encountered chains joined to the base of rings before. Couldn't quite get them to lie flat. For the last couple rounds I used my Starlit shuttle because I didn't want to deal with halfway ends, and now my Sewmates feel tiny, haha.