Tatting update and simple lace pattern to try

Second tatting class was last Friday and we started making a simple lace edge for a white handkerchief.  This is a very simple pattern- a variation of it was in one of Mum's tatting books that I tried as one of my first practice pieces.  If you are a beginner then this is a great one to start with- simple enough to remember and also easy to keep track of where you are so you can pick it up and put it down as a project without having to spend 10 minutes working out where you are up too.  And as you might guess, the plan is to attach the lace to the hankie after making it.  And no, the safety pin attachment plan is not my permanent solution, I just wanted to make sure I didn't twist the lace when joining the the end back to the start!

I'm writing this using what I think is the most common  current tatting notation (some very old patterns write things out in full- cor!) but feel free to leave a comment to ask any questions or correct my mistakes!  For beginners like me, numbers refer to double stitches needed with dashes meaning you need to add a picot (unless otherwise indicated in a pattern just do whatever size looks right for you- and try to be consistent as you go!).

Simple tatted lace edge
Use one shuttle
Ring 1:  5-5-5-5, close ring
*Leave a gap of about a 1 cm (or approximately the diameter of your first ring) and start the second ring: 5, join to 3rd picot of previous ring, 5-5-5, close ring.

Repeat from * for as long as you like for the straight part of the lace. 

For corners, form the corner ring don't leave a gap between the previous ring but form the ring hard up against it.  Form the ring the same way (5, join to 3rd picot of previous ring, 5-5-5) or make picot as below for a more decorative look. For the next ring (straight part again), again form this ring hard against the previous corner ring.  By not leaving the gap on either side of the corner rings, you'll find your lace will form a natural right angle corner.

Variation for corners (or use this for all rings is you like!).  Note, -- means to make one picot that is larger than normal.
Ring: 5, join to 3rd picot of previous ring, 5-1--1-5-5, close ring