One way to create a design is to look at previous patterns for inspiration. In our third challenge, I modified a motif to make a bookmark. This time I used an edging as my starting point

I used an edging from Anne Orr’s “Classic Tatting Patterns”, page 24, #20. I drew the edging and wrote the stitch counts on my diagram. Then I drew the edging in a circle and tried to think how I needed to change the tatting to make it lay flat in a motif.

I decided to make one chain smaller, and when joining the little inner rings, I changed the angle. I tatted my first motif, but didn’t like the gaps between the large ring and the smaller inner ring. So I added a second shuttle and eliminated the twisting threads. I eliminated some inner picots which cluttered things to my eye. When tatting the last bit, I reversed the order of tatting the large and small rings to make the final ring a bit easier to tat.

I think it’s a pretty motif, and may add another round or two to make a snowflake. I also think it could be used as a Christmas wreath. You could add beads and more repeats for a larger motif. If you did that, you might want to make the inner ring 4 p 4 p 4 p 4 to get an inner angle that would accommodate more pattern repeats.

Abbreviations:
RW = Reverse Work.      SS = Switch Shuttles
DNRW = Do Not Reverse Work

Two shuttles, continuous wound

Sh1: R 4 p 4 p 4 p 4. RW.
Ch 6. RW.
R 8 j 4 p 4 p 4 p 4 p 8. RW. SS.
Sh2: R 6 p 2 p 2 p 6. DNRW. SS.
*Sh1: Ch 6. RW.
R 4 j 4 p 4 p 4. RW.
Ch 6. RW.
R 8 j 4 p 4 p 4 p 4 p 8. RW.
Sh2: R 6 j 2 p 2 p 6. DNRW. SS

Repeat from * 3 more times.

Sh1: Ch 6. RW.
R 4 j 4 p 4 p 4. RW.
Ch 6. RW.
Sh1: 6 j 2 p 2 j (1st inner R) 6.
Sh2: R 8 j 4 p 4 p 4 p 4 j 8. RW.
Ch 6. j to base of first R.

See the motif here!: Designer's Challenge 4