The Young Englishwoman wheel
Two Patterns from The Young Englishwoman
This is a rather old pattern and the directions are written in old-fashioned tatting terms. I have only 8 pages of the booklet and there is no date on it, unfortunately. I have seen online samples of cutwork attributed to a needlework booklet of this name but without cover, contents or date of publication; 1875 was posited.
The wheel pattern is #174. These are the original directions.
My first interpretation of the directions is very hesitant. Study this for yourself remembering that the word "purl" also means picot in old patterns.
"...center circle of tatting 2 double, 3 times alternately 1 purl, 3 double, and 1 purl, 4 double, then 1 purl, 3 double, 1 purl, 2 double, tie threads together and cut them off."
What I see in the illustration (#174) of the center circle is much different.
Round center ring: R 3 (- 3) x7 clr. I see no reason to cut the thread.
The original directions continue:
"Then work *circle of 3 double, 1 purl, 3 double, 5 times alternately 1 purl, 1 double, then 1 purl, 3 double, 1 purl, 3 double, tie ends together and cut them off.
Work 7 more circles joining them together according to the illustration, then joining this row of circles to the to the center circle with crochet."
This gets worse and worse. This is one excellent example of why we strive so hard to preserve vintage tatting patterns and modernize then. Making the entire process of creating them more economical of motion and of thread while reducing the number of times needed to finish off ends.
I suggest instead that the tatters close the round center ring and climb out through a mock picot. Leaving a very short length of bare thread, begin the outer rings.
R 3 - 3 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 3 - 3 clr.
*Leave short space of thread.
Join to next picot of center ring.
Leave short space of thread.
R 3 + (join to last picot of previous ring)3 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 3 - 3 clr.
Repeat from * for a total of 8 rings, joining the last ring to the first ring, secure ends.
The original pattern has a round of crochet to finish the edge. Please consider substituting a round of tatting instead. Climb out of the previous round, or attach thread to the center picot of a ring.
CH 2 - 2 - 2 - (larger picot) 2 - 2 - 2 + (join to next center picot on next ring of previous round.) Repeat and finish off ends.
Collar coming soon.
This is a rather old pattern and the directions are written in old-fashioned tatting terms. I have only 8 pages of the booklet and there is no date on it, unfortunately. I have seen online samples of cutwork attributed to a needlework booklet of this name but without cover, contents or date of publication; 1875 was posited.
The wheel pattern is #174. These are the original directions.
My first interpretation of the directions is very hesitant. Study this for yourself remembering that the word "purl" also means picot in old patterns.
"...center circle of tatting 2 double, 3 times alternately 1 purl, 3 double, and 1 purl, 4 double, then 1 purl, 3 double, 1 purl, 2 double, tie threads together and cut them off."
What I see in the illustration (#174) of the center circle is much different.
Round center ring: R 3 (- 3) x7 clr. I see no reason to cut the thread.
The original directions continue:
"Then work *circle of 3 double, 1 purl, 3 double, 5 times alternately 1 purl, 1 double, then 1 purl, 3 double, 1 purl, 3 double, tie ends together and cut them off.
Work 7 more circles joining them together according to the illustration, then joining this row of circles to the to the center circle with crochet."
This gets worse and worse. This is one excellent example of why we strive so hard to preserve vintage tatting patterns and modernize then. Making the entire process of creating them more economical of motion and of thread while reducing the number of times needed to finish off ends.
I suggest instead that the tatters close the round center ring and climb out through a mock picot. Leaving a very short length of bare thread, begin the outer rings.
R 3 - 3 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 3 - 3 clr.
*Leave short space of thread.
Join to next picot of center ring.
Leave short space of thread.
R 3 + (join to last picot of previous ring)3 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 3 - 3 clr.
Repeat from * for a total of 8 rings, joining the last ring to the first ring, secure ends.
The original pattern has a round of crochet to finish the edge. Please consider substituting a round of tatting instead. Climb out of the previous round, or attach thread to the center picot of a ring.
CH 2 - 2 - 2 - (larger picot) 2 - 2 - 2 + (join to next center picot on next ring of previous round.) Repeat and finish off ends.
Collar coming soon.
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