MK's Leaf Braid Variations!

Tatting with Visual Patterns is still under copyright, so I can't write up the pattern here.  However, I can tell you that it's on page 18 in the 2002 Lacis soft-cover edition, and it's easy-easy-easy!

The variations, though, are mine - and while I can't write out the exact pattern, I can describe how to tat the wreath and the zig-zag.  These have not been test tatted!

Wreath:  1 shuttle.  Size 20 will take at least 4 yards, and I'd load 5 yards to be on the safe side (why add thread later if you can avoid it?).  Size 20 Opera is a little thinner than size 20 Lizbeth, so 4 yards should do fine (but you know your own tatting style, so load what you are comfortable with.  If you want beads like my wreath has, string 27 before you begin - put one ring in the ring thread for every ring you tat, and let it stay at the base of each ring.

1st ring - tat only the 1st ring of the set.  Reverse the work and tat both rings of the set.  *Reverse the work and join the last picot of the 1st ring you tatted to the shuttle thread (yep, it's a shuttle join).  Now tat the 1st ring only again.  Reverse the work and tat both rings of the set.  Repeat from * around; when you see that you've got just about enough room for one more inner ring, tat it and be sure to join it to the 1st ring; then, when you reverse work to tat the last set of rings, remember to join to the first ring of the first set (it's tricky!). Hide the ends.  Sew or glue a bow in place where you like it.

Zig-zag:  A little trickier than the wreath, because you're tatting the first ring of the set on each side instead of just on one side.

1 shuttle.  Tat the 1st ring only of the set, and reverse the work.  Tat both rings of the set, and reverse the work.  Join the last picot of the 1st ring with a shuttle join and tat both rings of the set.  Reverse the work and tat the 1st ring only of the set, and reverse the work.  You should start to see a pattern of rings:  single ring, 2 sets, single ring, 2 sets; the other side should have set of rings, single ring, 2 sets, single ring.

Have fun!