Vintage Vine Border Instructions

This border is formed of circles in tatting and crochet leaves, which are joined together by rows of crochet work; a narrow border in tatting forms the lower edge. Omitting this edge, the border forms a strip of insertion. You will need to be skilled in both crochet and tatting to complete this project.

Steps

1. Begin each of the rosettes or circles in the centre. Work first 2 double stitch, 1 purl, repeat 9 times, join the stitch into a circle.
2. Work at a small distance a smaller ring. This should consist of 3 double, 5 purl, divided each by 2 double stitches, 4 double.
3. Draw the cotton through the purl of the first circle. Repeat 8 times more, only each following circle must be fastened on to a purl of the preceding circle after 3 double stitches. Having completed each circle, the thread must be drawn through the purl of the first circle, which forms the centre of the rosette.
4. Knot the beginning and the end of the thread together.
5. Create the border. For the tatted border, make at short distances 1 loop with 5 double, 1 purl, 5 double. After having worked a sufficient number of such loops, wind another thread round the thread between the loops, turning always 1 loop on the right side and 1 on the left.
6. Begin the crochet part with the leaves. Make for each of these a foundation chain of 12 stitches, crochet back over this chain 2 double in the last stitch but one, 1 double in the next stitch, 1 treble in each of the following 7 chain, 2 treble in the next stitch, 2 treble, 1 long treble, and 2 treble in the next following stitch of the foundation chain.
7. Work on the other side of the chain the same pattern, only the reverse way. Then 3 double in the point of the leaf thus formed.
8. Edge the whole leaf with a round of double stitches. Always work 2 double in each stitch of the preceding row, and 3 in the long treble stitch. In working this last round, the circles must be joined to the leaves by taking up the purl stitch of the circle before casting off the corresponding double stitch of the leaf.
9. Work the stem. This joins the 2 rows of circles and leaves with a row of chain stitches, on which a row of double is worked.
10. Create the border which forms the upper edge. Make a row of chain stitches, joining leaves and circles together. Then work 3 rows of treble, work 3 more rows over the tatted border:

* First row: entirely in chain stitches. After every fourth stitch take up the purl of the loops on one side.
* Second row: 1 treble in the middle stitch of the 3 chain, 2 treble, divided by 3 chain.
* Third row: 1 treble, 1 chain, miss 1 under the last. In the last row the leaves and circles must be fastened on the border, as seen in illustration above.


Tips

* A double stitch is formed by passing the thread over the back of the hand, and then passing the shuttle upwards between the forefinger and second finger, and drawing it up, then work a stitch of plain tatting; this completes the double stitch, and whenever so many double stitches are directed it means the 2 stitches.


Things You'll Need

* Tatting and crochet cotton in desired colours
* Tatting shuttle
* Crochet hook