Magic Square #1

Square #1

Magic Square #2

Square #2

Onion Ring Magic Squareby

Robin Perfetti

www.tattingbythebay.blogspot.com

The magic square is an expandable pattern that can be built to any size, all in one round.

(Please see the visual guide on the next page for more details). If you are new to tatting

magic squares, I recommend sticking to the diagrams and written instructions at first. As

you become more comfortable with the flow of the pattern, you will be able to move

beyond the diagrams to build larger works such as a shawl or a tablecloth. Each square is

repeatable, and can be joined to similar style squares to form a larger piece of tatting.

This pattern is free, and you are welcome to share it with others.

1

Magic

Square #1

Square #2

Choice A:Turn clockwise to

complete the square

Choice B:Turn counter clockwise

to make a larger triangle

Choice B: Turn counter clockwise to make a larger triangle Magic Square #2

Choice A:Turn counter clockwise

to complete the square

Choice B:Turn clockwise to

make a larger triangle

Choice B:Turn clockwise to

make a larger triangle

Choice A:Turn counter clockwise

to complete the square

Choice A:Turn clockwise to

complete the square

Start

All patterns follow the same basic stitch count. You can

make any sized magic square by building up larger

triangles, and then turning to form a square as desired.

Be careful to tat the correct corner for each turn. Clockwise

turns are tatted using opposite facing rings, while counter

clockwise turns are made with an onion ring.

Square #1

1. 2. 3.

Tatting Onion Rings

1. DNRW from the previous chain. Use Shuttle

2 thread to form the large center ring.

2. Reverse work and tat the next chain using

Shuttle 1 thread. Snug the chain, then lock

join to the base of the large center ring.

3. Reverse work and continue tatting as usual.

(suggested method, use your own method if preferred)

Reading the Patterns

p picot

- small (joining) picot

-- medium (decorative) picot

+ join

prev previous

* repeatable section

Red Shuttle 1 thread forms the stitches

Blue Shuttle 2 thread forms the stitches

SS switch shuttles

RW reverse work

DNRW do not reverse work

CWJ Catherine Wheel Join

2

Abbreviations

Color Coding

All diagrams and written instructions have been color coded into red (Shuttle 1) and blue (Shuttle 2) work. These colors refer to the visible stitches formed by the thread on each shuttle.

See the example on the right for a closer look at how this works. Shuttle 1 has been filled with red thread and Shuttle 2 has been filled with blue thread. The colors in the finished tatting are identical to those in the diagram.

Sample

Diagram

Sample

Tatting

Two shuttles, wound using the continuous thread method

Square #1

3 www.tattingbythebay.blogspot.com

Make a Catherine Wheel Join (CWJ)

at the top of each onion ring. Do

NOT count the join as a stitch.

*Ring A: 3 - 3 -- 3 - 3 (During repeats 2 through 4, join the 1st p of this ring to the previous onion ring)Ring B: 3 + (last p of prev ring) 3 - 3 -- 3, RWChain C: 5 - 6 -- 6 - 5, RW (During repeats 2 through 4, join the 1st p of this chain to the previous Chain C)Ring D: 3 -- 3 + (2nd p of prev ring) 3 - 3 Ring E: 3 + (last p of prev ring) 3 -- 3 - 3, RWChain F: 5, DNRW, SS

Onion RingRing G: 10 - 10, RWChain H: 2 + (last p of Ring E) 8 - 3 + (CWJ to Ring G) 3 - 8 - 2 + (lock join to base of Ring G), RW, SS

Chain I: 5, RW*

Repeat the steps between asterisks (*) three more times, joining new elements to old ones as needed. Remember to join the final Chain C back to the first Chain C, and the last onion ring to Ring A. Cut, tie, and hide ends.

Tip: Multiple squares can be joined together using the outer picots on each onion ring.

Square #2

4

CWJ = Make a Catherine Wheel Join at the top of each

onion ring. Do NOT count the join as a stitch.

Multiple squares can be joined together to form a larger

fabric. Written instructions for this pattern appear on the

next page.

www.tattingbythebay.blogspot.com

Use these picots

to join multiple

squares together

Square #2 Written Instructions

*Ring A: 3 -- 3 - 3 - 3 (During repeats 2 through 4, join the second picot of this ring to the previous Ring P)Ring B: 3 + (last p of prev ring) 3 - 3 -- 3, RW

Chain C: 5 - 6 -- 6 - 5, RW

Ring D: 3 -- 3 + (2nd p of prev ring) 3 - 3 Ring E: 3 + (last p of prev ring) 3 -- 3 - 3, RW

Chain F: 5, DNRW, SS

Onion Ring (During repeats 2 through 4, join the 2nd picot of Chain H to the previous onion ring)Ring G: 10 - 10, RWChain H: 2 + (last p of Ring E) 8 - 3 + (CWJ to Ring G) 3 - 8 - 2 + (lock join to base of Ring G), RW, SS

Chain I: 5, RW

Ring J: 3 + (last p of Chain H) 3 -- 3 - 3Ring K: 3 + (last p of prev ring) 3 - 3 -- 3, RW

Chain L: 5 + (opposite chain) 6 -- 6 - 5, RW

Ring M: 3 -- 3 + (2nd p of prev ring) 3 - 3Ring N: 3 + 3 - 3 -- 3, RW

Chain O: 5 - 9, RW

Ring P: 4 + (2nd p of prev ring) 4 -- 4 - 4, RW, SS

Ring Q: 8 - 4 - 8, DNRW, SSChain R: 9 - 5, RW*

Repeat the steps between asterisks (*) three more times, joining new elements to previous ones as necessary. During the final repeat, join the last onion ring back to the first, and the last Ring P back to the first Ring A. Cut, tie, and hide ends.

5 www.tattingbythebay.blogspot.com

Magic Square #1

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CWJ = Make a Catherine Wheel Join at the top of each onion ring. Do NOT count the join as a stitch.

One repeat is numbered in the diagram below. Complete four repeats to build a magic square. Magic

squares can also be joined together to form a larger fabric.

Magic Square #2

7 www.tattingbythebay.blogspot.com

CWJ = Make a Catherine Wheel Join at the top of each onion ring. Do NOT count the join as a stitch.

One repeat is numbered in the diagram below. Complete four repeats to build a magic square. Magic

squares can also be joined together to form a larger fabric.