This question is bothering me now. Over the years the terminology seems to change for tatting abbreviations. Like the ‘ring on chain (ROCh)’ has now become a TOR (thrown off ring) which I find confusing as I always thought a TOR was a ring thrown off a ring.
Today I want to discuss the SCMR v MR. Now this is a technique that the Houtz brothers revived in their book ‘Tatting the GR-8 Self-Closing Mock Ring’ which was published in 1999 although it had been around long before that.
Now my question at this point in time is what IS the difference between a SCMR and a MR (mock ring)? OR is there a difference? Can somebody explain as I’d always ‘assumed’ that a SCMR was a ring thrown off a chain and then joined back again at the start of the chain and that a mock ring was a pretend ‘ring’ like this.
Can some expert ‘out there’ please please explain the difference as I was trying out a new pattern for somebody and the start was a ‘self closing mock ring’ and, of course, I set off but couldn’t see how the ‘ring’ was a thrown off the chain as it didn’t return to the place I’d left at the start either. So to me that would be simply a mock ring. I know that people will tell me that a mock ring is a self closing mock ring and vice versa but I personally think there should be a difference. I know that this technique can be made several ways and one way is something that I’d never considered until discussing this with Judith Connors - that is by using an swirl join or, as it’s sometimes called, an alligator join. Judith never fails to wake up my brain. She pointed me to Rhoda Auld’s method on pages 56 & 57 which is really interesting and also to Elgiva Nicholls book too although I must admit I haven’t had time to look at that yet.
It would certainly help a certain OG who is brain challenged to have a positive definition of the differences and then I can take off the technique page on my site which isn’t needed.
11 comments:
Oh gosh. I thought a SCMR was where you make a flexible loop at the beginning, that you pass the shuttle through when you complete the ring and then pull tight; whereas a mock ring would use some other method to close the ring - very small picot, alligator join, etc. I didn't know there was an issue!
There’s no ‘issue’, Jane. I’m just mulling it over as I’ve seen them written in several ways. Me being inquisitive as to what people think. Thanks for your input.
I also get confused over all the terminology. I see it in knitting patterns as well. I don't spend too much time thinking about it, though. I simply do what makes sense to me and move on. I'll be interested to see the answer!
I'm with Jane McLellan on this issue. My understanding is a SCMR is a loop made at the beginning for the shuttle to pass through at the end to "close" the ring. A Mock Ring is just a regular chain that is manipulated to look like a ring. I think they are 2 completely different techniques. Each have their merits. A SCMR can be a pain at times, but throwing rings off of a SCMR is an easy way to get lots of extra design elements. A mock ring is great if a pattern has several small rings off of a chain and you don't want to use a second shuttle. Just my few cents worth ;) Sandy R.
Thanks for coming back on this Cassandra R. I've stirred up a can of worms here!!! You see I've always classed a SCMR as one that has the loop at the beginning which you close but you also throw a ring off that. To me a mock ring has always been 'just a ring'. No thrown off ring. Thanks SO much for saying your opinion, Sandy R.
Hmmm, Diane I think the 'answer' will be that we all agree to differ!!!
the difference is the "self-closing" part... a plain mock ring is closed with a join back to the base, and a SCMR is completed by passing through the loop you left at the beginning, so it will close as if it was a ring.
thrown off rings are not required in either type...
the other thought is that needle-tatting (modernly) uses mock rings instead of "real" rings...
%-)
Thanks, dani, the geek. It's all down to how we all interpret it!!!
Dani explained it better than I can, but that's how I think of SCMRs and MRs, too. It's the loop that makes the SCMR - so it closes as if it were a regular ring. Mock rings can be closed in other ways, joining back to the base is the way I think of the most. Neither one needs a thrown-off ring, but either one COULD have a ring thrown off of it. (I've heard them called 'floating' rings, too, in addition to thrown-off rings, ring on ring....) So many names for the same thing. Keeps us on our toes, I guess.
StephanieW
Too many options and explanations for my aged brain, Stephanie!!!
To me, if a ring is not a true one, it is either a mock ring or a composite one. See here: https://craftree.com/wiki/Types+of+Rings+in+Tatting. Mock rings (with or without loops) have been used by tatters for over 100 years. The central mock ring with the loop (aka SCMR by Houtz in 1995) has been used in Burda publications for many years. Let's not overthink the word 'mock', as the SCMR is only one of many.
While needle tatters use mock rings all the time, there is also a true ring which needle tatters can form.
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