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Thursday, May 21, 2020

Pivoting with picots

Image titled Make Rings and Picots in Tatting Step 6


Talk to just about any designer in the tatting world and picots will come up. Yes, color and negative space are discussed too, but picots seem to always be in our minds. Picots connect rings and chains. Picots fill negative space. Picots can add shape and decorate any element. In doilies, picot size can make or break whether the piece lays flat, cups, or is symmetrical. Adding beads can be accomplished with picots. One picot can provide so much practical and decorative possibilities.

Perhaps that is one reason tatters can roll with the punches so easily. To be sure, we have honed our ability to stubbornly work towards goals. Anyone who has completed a doily with more than 3 rows (bigger than the average snowflake) and strung more than 15 beads (thinking of a Nina Libinpattern) uses that streak of stubbornness. But, particularly when we’re designing, we may start out using a picot to decorate or join elements and realize that it needs to serve another purpose.

So, to all those weary of pivoting and rolling with the punches as Spring 2020 turns to summer, consider a shuttle or needle and a ball of color. Release your inner creative mind and nurture your soul with thread. Joinus tatting!
Image titled Begin Tatting Step 19

4 comments:

  1. Not sure why I can’t see your pictures. Modern tatting seems to use picots more for joining and less for decoration than old fashioned tatting. Which might be missing a trick, though it gives a cleaner look.

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    1. The pictures were part of a Wikihow post that I've used many, many times before. I doubt they're still up there. I wish I could credit the original artist that drew them. But alas, the post didn't have that info.

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  2. Good luck for your online workshop! I wish you and your tatters to have soon a coffee tea and snacks together again! (pretty pic of you! thanks!)

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  3. Stringing beads can be relaxing. ;) Often when I'm too tired to focus on anything (tatting, reading, whatever) but too awake to go to sleep, I'll string beads. The repetitive motion and the color(s) are soothing, somehow. Add a little calming music, and you can string quite a lot of beads in just a few evenings. ;) Stringing beads with a specific pattern in mind, you can fill your shuttles as you string the beads.

    You're right - tatters are flexible and we pivot quite often - whenever a pivot is needed, we do it.
    StephanieW

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