OK, I'll Do It

After some serious thought and some practicing, I think I'm ready to try the Victorian Trellis Doily [so dubbed by Frivole.]  Well, I'm at least ready to try the first round, which is the beginning lattice work.  

This is one of those very old patterns that is incredibly difficult to understand, but Frivole has given a detailed explanation of how to complete that first round.  I am certain I would have tossed even the mere thought of trying this doily out the window had it not been for this explanation, so many thanks to Frivole for the work she does clearing up some of the mysteries of tatting old patterns.  

I am intrigued by the fact that this doily is all chains.  No rings to un-tat? [This is great news, since I'm expecting I will be doing some retro-tatting . . .]   I love the ruffly look of the Victorian Set stitches, and the very unique look it brings to tatting.  This beginning round also has SCMRs (self-closing mock rings), so after a few more of those I should be able to remember the technique.  I have a hard time remembering which technique is used where and how to start, so just concentrating on the fact that I'm only working chains helps to pound that SCMR into my memory bank.  

I KNEW there was a good reason to have coil-less safety pins, too. I searched and searched for these awhile back, and was excited to find them - only to find I don't really use them as much as I thought I would.  This pattern definitely has me using . . . one  :)  I found these handy pins in the jewelry-making supplies at JoAnn's, not in the sewing stuff as one would imagine.  If anyone has a need for these pins and can't get them, let me know and I would be happy to get some to you.  Of course, good old bobby pins work for this pattern too - ha ha!

This doily may take me forever-and-a-day but I think it's a good challenge.  I will probably have to work on other projects between rounds so I don't get bored and give up altogether, but I seem to complete things if I have an absolute deadline.  Next year's fair entry is due in July 2014 . . .

If anyone else is interested in trying this pattern, here are some links I used to get myself started on this pattern:

The pattern is in this book, page 17:  Priscilla Tatting Book No. 2
(pattern is also in Julia Sanders Tatting Patterns book)
Frivole's first round explanation post: First Round Explained 
Frivole's Self-Closing Mock Ring video:  SCMR De-mystified

And, last but not least, here are posts showing Frivole and Jane M 's successful finishes of this doily.  I can only hope to finish this one myself - it most certainly won't be fast.