Actually it is not that difficult. Just imagine you work with more than 2 seed beads. I admit, not that versatile, but definitelly, a lot of possibilities.
For a start: there are at least two tatting designers who worked with bugles. One is Frivole the other one is Sabina Carden-Madden. Sabina's wonderful candle snowflake is here.
As for mine, I decided to make a sort of step by step turorial, at least for the critical phases of the nowflake.
To begin with, there are 2 sizes a bugles, I used the 5mm ones. And there are normal bugles and the swirled ones (wich have a beautiful effect, on the tatting). Since they are so long, only one of them get on a fine crochet hook. This is the reason I use my "magic broken guitar string".
Do you remember the pattern of the snowflake? 3 rounds.
All you need: 2 shuttles (CTM if possible), 2 paper clips, this string, a hook.
After the first one (just a ring with 5 picots with 3 ds in between.
Round 2: start SR: Shuttle 1: 6 ds 2 bugles picot (secured with paper clip), 3 ds
Shuttle 2: 6 ds long picot (made with the thread from the shuttle), 3 ds, close ring.
Now do not turn, make the 16 ds chain.
Turn work, start ring: 3 ds remove paper clip from the long "bugled" picot, make join, work 6 ds, join the the nest picot from the first round, 6 ds, make new long picot, 3ds close.
After this, you just repeat the sequences (chain 16, rings).
After you make the final chain, make a lock join and start the round 3 with a chain.
Turn work and start ring with the first shuttle: 6ds, join in between the bugles, 6ds, close.
Turn work, take shuttle 2 and make the trefoil Then the chain, make lock join...
Do you remeber about the swirled bugles I was talking about at the begining? This is the effect:
These are just tests. I should make an entry only for the bugles in tattig. Tomorrow. Promise.
Have fun.
