It is officially summer now! My favorite thing about this season is that all of the flowers are in bloom. Two years ago, we planted lavender in our backyard, and they have grown to be lush and fragrant. We also planted some rosemary, thyme, and sage, which are also thriving. I have been using them in my cooking, and they really enhance the flavor and visual presentation of the food.

One little detail that I particularly enjoy tatting is the Josephine ring. It reminds me of lavender buds. I designed the Josephine doily with Josephine rings and chains in mind. It is a pattern that is included in my book, Lovely Tatting: Doilies for Spring and Summer, and I am sharing it here today.

MATERIALS

2 shuttles

Lizbeth thread, size 40

SIZE

11.5 inches

INSTRUCTIONS

Round 1: R 5 X 12 (-). Total 12 ps.

Round 2: Ch 5/5-5/5, 5/5, 5/5-Ch 1, 4/5, 5/5, 5/5-5/5+ (to next p on previous round). *Ch 5/5+5/5, 5/5, 5/5-Ch 1, 4/5, 5/5, 5/5-5/5+.* SLJ.

Round 3: Attach both threads to any p on previous round. *Ch 3/3, 3/3, 3/3-Ch 1, 2/3, 3/3, 3/3+ (to next Ch p).* SLJ.

Round 4: Attach both threads to any p on previous round. *Ch 5/5, 5/5 [Sh2: JR 10] 1, 4/5, 5/5 [Sh2: JR 10] 1, 4/5, 5/5-Ch 1, 4/5, 5/5 [Sh2: JR 12] 1, 4/5, 5/5 [Sh2: JR 10] 1, 4/5, 5/5+ (to next Ch p).* SLJ.

Note: Chains after p in reverse order for rounds 2 through 4.

Round 5: *R 5—5+5—5 (to any Ch p on previous round), Ch 5-6-6-6-6-6-5.* SCh at last 5 ds.

Round 6: SR 4^4, <Ch 3-3, *R 4+4 (to next Ch p on previous round), Ch 3-3,* repeat * * 4 more times>. ***R 4+4, <>.*** SCh at 3 ds.

Round 7: SR 4^4, <Ch 6, R 6+6 (to next Ch p on previous round), Ch 6, *R 4+4, Ch 3-3,* repeat * * 3 more times>. ***R 4+4, <>.*** SCh at last 3 ds.

Round 8: SR 4^4, <Ch 7, R 7+7 (to base of next R on previous round), Ch 6, R 7+7 (to same R base), Ch 7, *R 4+4, Ch 3-3,* repeat * * 2 more times>. ***R 4+4, <>.*** SCh at last 3 ds.

Round 9: SR 4^4, <Ch 9, R 8+8 (to base of next R on previous round), Ch 12, R 8+8, Ch 9, *R 4+4, Ch 3-3,* repeat * * 1 more time>. ***R 4+4, <>.*** SCh at last 3 ds.

Round 10: SR 4^4, <Ch 12, R 9+9 (to base of next R on previous round), Ch 6 [Sh2: JR 10] 9 [Sh2: JR 10] 6, R 9+9, Ch 12, R 4+4, Ch 3-3>. *R 4+4, <>.* SCh last at 3 ds.

Round 11: SR 4^4, <Ch 16, R 10+10 (to base of next R on previous round), Ch 5-6-6-6-6-6-5, R 10+10, Ch 16>. *R 4+4, <>.* SLJ and SCh at 16 ds.

Round 12: SR 11^11, <Ch 12 [Sh2: JR 10] 12, R 11+11 (to base of next main R on previous round), Ch 5, *R 4+4, Ch 3-3,* repeat * * 4 more times, R 4+4, Ch 5>. ***R 11+11, <>.*** SLJ.

Round 13: SR 11^11, <Ch 14-14, R 11+11 (to base of next R on previous round), Ch 6, *R 4+4, Ch 3-3,* repeat * * 3 more times, R 4+4, Ch 6>. ***R 11+11, <>.*** SLJ.

Round 14: SR 11^11, <Ch 10 [Sh2: JR 10] 10+ (to Ch p on previous round), Ch 10 [Sh2: JR 10] 10, R 11+11, Ch 12, *R 4+4, Ch 3-3,* repeat * * 2 more times, R 4+4, Ch 12>. ***R 11+11, <>.*** SLJ.

Round 15: SR 11^11, <Ch 16, R 7+7 (to JR on previous round), Ch 16, R 7+7 (to next JR), Ch 16, R 11+11, Ch 16, *R 4+4, Ch 3-3,* repeat * * 1 more time, R 4+4, Ch 16>. ***R 11+11, <>.*** SLJ.

Round 16: SR 11^11, <Ch 12-12, R 11+11 (to base of next R on previous round), Ch 12-12, R 11+11, Ch 12-12, R 11+11, Ch 18, R 4+4, Ch 3-3, R 4+4, Ch 18>. *R 11+11, <>.* SLJ.

Round 17: SR 11^11, <Ch 14, R 11+11 (to Ch p on previous round), Ch 14, R 11+11, Ch 18, R 11+11 (to Ch p), Ch 18, R 11+11, Ch 14, R 11+11 (to Ch p), Ch 14, R 11+11, Ch 8 [Sh2: JR 10] 8, R 4+4, Ch 8 [Sh2: JR 10] 8>. *R 11+11, <>.* SLJ.

Josephine Doily