Le Blog de Frivole

Even Simpler...

2012-03-06T13:53:00.000Z

I got carried away with this green doily and am nearly done with a second round. As you can see, I've made this round even simpler than the first, omitting the centre of the medallions. I thought it would make an interesting visual change.

It would be done by now if I'd stuck with my original idea but hey, sometimes you've just got to "go with the flow".

Best wishes,

Sometimes The Simplest Things...

2012-03-05T09:38:00.000Z

This little motif is simple but effective. Not a lot of thinking required when making it and the motifs look nice when put together. This is a pattern by Roger L. aka Freedman which I found on the Needle Tatting website. I think you may need to be a member to view the pattern but membership is free.

At first I thought I wanted all the square centres to face the same way but although I thought I'd worked it out, I got it wrong on the very first one and then realised it would be very difficult to get them all the same way so I gave up and just attached them randomly. Hope it comes out looking alright in the end.

Motif no. 15

This is the first one I made and though you can't tell on the picture,

there was too much tension (for me) between the centre medallion

and the outer round so I added some stitches to the centre

before making more motifs.

And this is where I'm at so far:

And finally, I'm adding this smaller, darker photo (below) because

I like the negative spaces that form when you join the motifs.

Can you see the nice flower/star shape

that appears around the centre medallion?

I like things like that.

It's a neat thing about tatting that it's not just what you tat that looks nice,

it's also what you don't tat! Cool, n'est-ce pas?

I'm not going to go very large with this one, probably just adding two more motifs, one each end to give it an "ovalish" shape as in the pattern sample.

On another note, after what I said in my last post, I got my Iris Niebach doily book out thinking I was going to have to tackle one next... but mmmmmmm.... I still find them too daunting. I look at the diagrams and it seems to me to require such a lot of thinking to figure out which way to go and which elements to do in which order (even with the few arrows provided). So I put my book away again. For now. Might get around to it eventually.

Best wishes,

Niebach Elegance

2012-03-01T13:30:00.000Z

Yesterday I was having a look at some of the pictures in the albums at In Tatters (always inspiring) and came upon this design very nicely tatted by Telefonky.

It's an Iris Niebach design which is available free here.

I have to say that I have a book of Iris Niebach's doilies but personally find her diagrams hard to follow. I tried a couple of times with the doilies, got lost and gave up (Oh no!! Now I've said that, I will have to tackle one next because I can't bear to give up!! I can't be beaten by a pattern!).

Anyway, I was struck by the elegance of this motif and had to make it. I find it graceful.

No.14 of 25-motif challenge

The centre hearts are a little fiddly to make

but overall it's a straightforward design to tat.

Do you like it?

Best wishes,

Tischband Done!

2012-02-29T14:28:00.000Z

Yes, I think I'll stop there. Although I like both the flowers and the leaves, if I'm honest, I've not completely enjoyed putting it together. I find there is too much tension between the elements. And it's really hard to get those flowers looking perfect (you know, for the spaces between all the chains to be exactly the same - I know, I'm fussy!). I still think overall it's a lovely pattern and something decorated with a whole band of this would look amazing. But that's it for me on that one. Now I need to find a use for it. Be a shame not to put it on something.... Any ideas?

I'll say this finished item is no.13 of my 25-motif challenge

How's everybody else getting on with theirs?

Best wishes,

Mariya's Perfect Clover

2012-02-27T11:49:00.000Z

Along my travels, I found Mariya's blog and she was showing this new clover she had made. I thought it looked just perfect. Shortly after that, she shared her pattern over at In Tatters. So here it is:

Motif no.11

I took me a few goes to get it right but

I think even the "wrong" ones look pretty and very clover-like!

It's a bit of a tight fit to get the four petals in and I found it needed

a light pressing to get it to lie flat but the unpressed ones look nice too,

gives them more of a 3-D effect.

Next I might have to try her wavy braid...

By the way, I've not given up on the Tischband, just needed a little change so that's what I tatted last night: the clovers and also another Happy Heart with the centre slightly different. A Czech lady who is a friend of an In Tatters' member made earrings and a bookmark with my Happy Heart (link to her pictures), and also tatted it with a tiny flower in the centre (along the lines of what I've done with the Heart Within) so I tried it. Looks nice.

Actually, looking at her modification, I think it might be a Josephine knot in the middle and not a tiny flower... and I like the way she's done the inside chain, give the centre a lovely heart shape. I'll have to give this another try.

Motif no.12

You obviously loose the "smile effect" but it's pretty too.

In case you want to know,

I just replaced the centre 11ds chain with C3, rw, R1-1-1-1, rw, C3.

Best wishes,

Frustrated!

2012-02-24T22:48:00.000Z

I tatted a few more elements of the Tischband and I do like both the shape of the flowers and the leaves. But when it comes to putting them together... AAAaaargh!

See what happens:

If I attach them where specified, I can't get the whole thing to lie flat at all!

I think it would need a longer picot where you attach the flowers together so that the edges aren't bunched up together and seemingly a looong picot at the centre of the leaves too to make space for them otherwise they end up on top of each other. How's everybody else getting on with that?

Here I tried to pull the leaves into shape so that they are flat but then the flowers bunch up!

Now, do you guys think I should persevere, take this thing apart, re-tat the elements with longer picots where they are to be attached and have another go??

Best wishes,

A Bit of Progress - Tischband

2012-02-22T20:35:00.000Z

I'm back! Had a lovely holiday and some time to tat on the plane. I hope I will be forgiven but I added a stitch on the chain for the flowers (so 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, and 18) - it just wasn't sitting right for me.

This is the Tat Along Challenge from Umi & Tsuru's Blog.

But those leaves... they can be a bit confusing! I still couldn't understand the "picot, then turn" at the bottom of the leaf at the beginning and I ended up using a paperclip and making a picot on the core thread with a lock stitch before continuing the chain instead of "turning" as indicated in the pattern. I kept looking at the instructions and at the pictures and couldn't figure out how to do it without the chain twisting if I followed the directions.

I think making the tip the way I described forms a nice point to the leaf.

In fact, if you do it that way, I think you don't even need

the picot at the tip and it looks ok.

What do you think?

But if someone wants to put me right on how to do that tip

according to the directions - I'd love to know!

Leaf is Motif no.10

You really have to pay attention when you are making the leaf: out of three leaves I've attempted, I've only one to show for! I found it easy to get lost in the chain count and also easy to attach the leaves and the flowers in the wrong place! Had to throw away two flowers for the same reason.

Hopefully I'll get there eventually. I've enjoyed watching other people's progress with this pattern.

Best wishes,

Flower Medallion

2012-02-09T18:33:00.000Z

Well, time for just one more before I go! Here is the flower medallion from Umi & Tsuru's blog. I've decide to join in the Tischband tat-along. Don't know how far I'll get with it, but I'll certainly complete one repeat!

Motif no.9

This is another of my very favourite Lizbeth colourway: Vineyard Harvest. Though strangely enough, I'm not convinced I like it for this particular pattern. I feel there is too much contrast between the colours. I might follow Umintsuru's lead and make two variegated and two in plain colour to go with it.

This felt quite "tight" for me. As if there weren't enough stitches in the chains. Particularly the first round with the C6. And next time I will make my centre picot larger too.

See you soon everyone.

Best wishes,

The Heart Within

2012-02-09T00:57:00.002Z

I finally made it to the end! It's taken me AGES to write this pattern up with all the variations and all the diagrams! I've looked and looked and looked at it, trying to catch all the typos, all the mistakes - phew! I also had the help of my test-tatter (thank you Carol!) but it's still quite worrying that something might have escaped my attention and you find out after you've sent it out in the big wide world! So fingers-crossed, all is good with it - and you like it!

Motif no.8

I was particularly pleased with the little heart that forms inside the big heart...

hence the name of course!

This pattern comes with three variations:

So you can choose which one you like best.

I had one more version which didn't make it onto the pattern

as it was getting rather large (it is four pages long

with diagrams and photos)

Just one more to show how nice

it looks on a card:

I wish you all a Happy Valentine's Day as I will be away until the 23rd of February.

Best wishes,

Happy Heart - A Gift for You

2012-02-08T00:07:00.000Z

This is not the pattern I was talking about in the previous post (I'm still working on that one, hopefully to appear soon in my Etsy shop) but I got side-tracked (as I so often do!) by this other idea for a smaller, simpler heart.

I knew the Catherine-Wheel Join (CWJ) would come in handy in one of my patterns and this is it!

A small heart (3cm wide in size 20) that's quick to tat

and which would look nice on a card.

Forgot to say that this is motif no. 7 for the 25-motif challenge

Happy Heart with 3ds chain at bottom and the ends
just tied around the SR for an easy, no-sewing-in-of-ends finish.
This one is tatted in Lizbeth size 20.

So if you've been putting off trying the CWJ, now is your chance!

As the outer edge of this heart is all done with CWJs.

If you need help with "how to start on a chain",

there is a video on that in the Techniques pages of this blog.

If you need help with the Catherine Wheel Join,

Yarnplayer has made a great video of this technique.

You have to be very careful not to let the threads twist as you make this join or it won't work. It took me a few goes to get this right but now I can do it quite quickly, so as with everything, just a bit of practice is needed. I also find it quicker doing this join with an Aero as you can just put your shuttle through the loop in one movement which avoids giving the loop a chance to twist if you let go of it to put down your hook down and pick your shuttle up. It's a great join!

This one has the ends sewn in
and is tatted in DMC Babylo size 10.

This one I added a few strands of thread and made a small "tasselly thingy".
Also tatted in Babylo size 10.
This one is a bit "wonky" at the tip as I was still working on the stitch count.

On this one I just added a bead and tied a knot.
This one tatted in Lizbeth size 10.

I hope you like it. Here is the link to download the pattern :

Best wishes,

Heart

2012-02-05T21:46:00.001Z

It's February! Of course, you knew that already. But February makes you think of hearts, doesn't it? So I'm thinking I need a heart of my own design....

And that's what I've been working on the last few days. I think I may offer it with variations as I'm not sure which version I like best so far!

Best wishes,

Entredeux

2012-01-31T12:35:00.001Z

I don't often tat Entredeux but there are some very beautiful ones about. I need to find ways to use them. Here are two by Mary Konior: they are both to be found in the book "Tatting in Lace".

The first one is called "Corn & Chaff"

and I really like it.

I just appeals to me in its small perfection.

Motif No. 6

And it's so nice to tat, with only one shuttle.

And Blue River Glades (Lizbeth) which this is tatted with

has gone right into my top favourite variegated Lizbeth colours.

(Right up there with Vineyard Harvest, Autumn Spice, and Leafy Greens)

But this could be my number one...

This second entredeux I'm not so happy with but I'm showing you anyway.

This is called "Trellis".

The chains are made with what Mary Konior calls "Victorian Sets"

which are 4 first half of the ds followed by 4 second half of the ds.

Motif no. 7

However, the sample in her book looks much better than mine

with a much more obvious "zig-zagging" of the chains.

Where did I go wrong?

I'm going to have to try that again.

Best wishes,

Bracelet

2012-01-26T11:05:00.000Z

I kept playing with edging no. 11 from the last post

and it evolved into this bracelet/cuff.

Motif no. 5

I think I might work some more on this and make a wider cuff from it.

Best wishes,

Edging No. 11

2012-01-23T15:55:00.001Z

Still exploring the same book (DMC Tatting, Th. de Dillmont),
here is edging no. 11:

Motif No. 4

I have made most of the one pass edgings from that book in the past

but had not tackled those, like this one, which are made in multiple passes

(two in this case).

Simple, but very pretty I think.

Best wishes,

More Thérèse de Dillmont

2012-01-23T00:03:00.000Z

Here is another small Medallion from DMC's Tatting (ed. Th. de Dillmont).

Motif no. 3

I don't know why but one of my centre four rings is smaller than the others... I must have got the stitch count wrong? Just noticed it on the photo.

Best wishes,

Heart's Desire Diagram, Tidying Up and 25-Motif Challenge

2012-01-21T11:58:00.001Z

Really, Heart's Desire deserves a blogpost all to itself but I wanted to mention a couple of other things as well.

I have been in touch with Susan Fuller who kindly gave permission for me to post my diagram of her lovely Heart's Desire. There were so many positive comments about her design but I was personally finding the written directions a bit confusing to follow - nothing wrong with the directions as such but because there are many different counts for the rings and chains, I was easily getting lost and thought I would find it easier to follow a diagram. So here it is:

Clicking on the picture will take you to the pdf file to download and print.

I thought my blog was getting a bit cluttered - too many things on the right sidebar. So I decided to add pages instead. If you look at the top, there are now tabs for you to navigate to other pages where I have moved the Techniques and the Patterns. It needs a bit more work... now I have the space, I will add thumbnails to all the videos and patterns which I think will be an improvement.

So I removed (or moved) some things but I've added the Random Post Widget at the top which is a nice way to explore the blog and see other posts you may have not seen (even for me! I forget what I've done and it's nice to revisit past projects as springboards for new ones).

And I've decided, AT LAST, to join in the fun at the 25-motif challenge. I've looked so many times at that website and enjoyed seeing other people's creations so I thought it was time I participated. So the two small squares in the previous post will count as motifs 1 & 2 and I will keep counting now.

Have a lovely weekend everyone.

Best wishes,

Little Squares and The Single Shuttle Split Ring (SSSR)

2012-01-20T10:23:00.003Z

One of my very favourite books is "Tatting" from the DMC Library, edited by Thérèse de Dillmont. All the samples in the book are so perfectly tatted, I always find them very inspiring. I was just tidying my books and had a leaf through... and tatted these two little squares.

The one on the left is tatted in size 10 DMC Babylo and the one on the right in Lizbeth 20.

I also uploaded a new video on the single shuttle split ring (Shall I keep making them? Are there any specific techniques you'd like me to do?) This also shows finger-tatting so I probably won't be making another video specifically for that I don't think. I've been trying hard to improve the quality of my videos, so feedback is welcome. I'm wondering now about eventually re-doing the ones that I made with the red background... what do you think?

If you click on the picture above - clicking once will start the video
and clicking again will take you to Youtube -
where you can view the video in larger format
(and higher resolution if you wish)

Best wishes,

Butterfly Heart Diagram

2012-01-16T10:56:00.005Z

I liked Irene Woo's heart so much that I decided to make a diagram of it. I hope that's ok? And I hope some of you will be pleased to have it. If you prefer the written directions, they can be found here.

(added 22 January)

I'm sorry I've been contacted by someone who said I might

be infringing rights by posting the diagram so I have removed it.

If anyone knows how I can contact Irene Woo, I'd be grateful for the information.

I have not been able so far to find any contact details for her.

Best wishes,

Butterfly Heart

2012-01-14T18:42:00.001Z

Whilst on my cyber travels... I came upon this pretty little heart by Irene Woo. I feel silly now because I printed it and the pattern had a photo but now I cannot find the link again! Does anyone know where to find it? I found a link on Tatting Chic's blog on the wayback machine but it doesn't have a photo.

It was tatted with Yarnplayer's gorgeous Tourmaline thread in size 30.

It reminds me of Lizbeth "Vineyard Harvest" which is one of

my favourite Lizbeth... I think I may have to re-tat it to compare colours.

A couple of chains are looking a bit "wonky" and I'm not happy with them

so that's a good excuse to make it again, is it not?

A quick tat which would look pretty on a card.

Best wishes,

Heart's Desire

2012-01-10T23:10:00.001Z

A member of In Tatters made this little heart recently. And I thought what a nice motif it was. When I first saw the new "Blue River Glades" by Lizbeth, I knew straight away I needed to have that one. Just my colours. So I thought this would be the right thread for my Heart's Desire.

And I do love the colourway, just gorgeous!

The pattern was not the easiest to follow as only the first half was written and then you had to reverse everything to complete the other side - and for some reason, the way it's written was confusing me... So I think if I were to make it again, I would draw myself a quick diagram. I did miss one picot in five of the rings (crikey, maybe I should have gone to bed early instead of tatting tonight) but managed to balance it by missing the same ones on the other side, except in one place. Anyway, I don't think it's too obvious, the overall shape still seems ok to me. I completed this with a single-shuttle split ring so no ends to sew in on that one.

I particularly like the inside top curves of the heart, I think they're very graceful.

The pattern can be found here on Georgia Seitz's website.

Best wishes,

How to Use a Picot Gauge

2012-01-09T13:27:00.001Z

Here is another short video - especially for Michelle who said on her blog that she found it hard to get the long picots looking right on her snowflake and wondered if she was doing the gauge thing right.

You can view this video right here but if you wish,

the image is larger if you click on it to view it over at You Tube.

I tried a different setting and lighter background for this video - is it better? Clearer? I even have no dark nail varnish on this one!

Best wishes,

I Was Curious...

2012-01-04T10:51:00.001Z

First of all Happy New Year to everyone!

Wishing you a happy, successful and creative 2012.

Yes, I was curious: I just had to give this mysterious needle tatting a try. So I received some tatting needles this morning and here is the product of my first try. Far from perfect of course, I felt all fingers and thumbs to start off but eventually got some sort of rhythm going...

I shall have to ask advice of needle tatters - like for example, do you really need to tie the thread after every ring and chain? It seems to me that it doesn't make as neat a transition between elements as the shuttle does, as tying twists the thread a bit before starting on the next ring or chain. But I'm always prepared to be put right!

I don't think I'm at risk of giving up my shuttles any time soon but I felt I had to try the needle as perhaps it would be the right thing to use in some circumstances- and anyway, I was just curious! I certainly don't feel I could ever achieve the speed I can with my shuttles as I find there is a lot more movement involved in making the loops for the stitches on the needle as opposed to the smooth "to-ing and fro-ing" of the shuttles.

Best wishes,

My Good Wishes to You All

2011-12-23T16:19:00.000Z

Wishing you all a wonderful and peaceful holiday and a great New Year 2012

See you again sometime in January.

Let it Snow...

2011-12-20T14:07:00.001Z

I do wish it would! This is one time of year when I miss my home and all the snow there...

Here are a few more snowflakes/ornaments from the same book as in the previous post

(DMC Tatting for Today)

Best wishes,

So Quiet...

2011-12-19T17:33:00.000Z

I hope it's just because everyone is too busy?....

I've put the Christmas pudding to boil, it will be ready in five hours. Meanwhile there's still a bit of time here and there for some more tatting.

Not sure I'm completely happy with this one. I tatted many of the snowflakes out of this book last year (DMC "Tatting for Today") but there were still a few untried and this is one of them:

It's ok but not as interesting as I thought it might turn out.

Good enough to put in someone's Christmas card though?

Best wishes,

Stellar

2011-12-18T16:39:00.001Z

Here is another pattern of a snowflake I showed you earlier which I hope some of you will like. The pattern has not been test-tatted by someone else so if you find any mistakes, please do let me know so I can correct them as quickly as possible. I finally got a ball of the new Blue Ice and I do like it, perfect for snowflakes! Now I just want to re-tat this with a few beads for extra sparkle...

Clicking on the photo will take you to the pattern

or it's also available in the side bar under "My Free Patterns"

I hope everyone's Christmas preparations are going well.

Best wishes,

Regal

2011-12-12T16:36:00.000Z

For those of you who kindly expressed interest in Le Flocon Royal, it is now available in my Etsy shop. I have re-christened it with an English name keeping with the royal theme as was inspired by the crown-shaped points.

And this new pattern includes a DIAGRAM!

Here are three different versions of it, with more or fewer beads, all tatted in Lizbeth size 20.

This one has 4mm Swarovski crystal bicones,

a three-bead picot on the centre chains,

and a larger seed bead just below the trefoils.

This one has faceted 4mm crystal beads only.

This one has the Swarovskis again

and a Miyuki Delica bead below the trefoil.

I hope everyone is enjoying their Christmas tatting. All this testing of patterns has provided me with many ornaments to give away as well as fulfilling the purpose of getting my patterns ready!

Again, my appreciative thanks go to Carol Lepard for test-tatting this pattern and providing many useful comments. She also made some pretty versions of this with even more beads which she will hopefully show on her blog soon.

Best wishes,

Learning to Make Diagrams

2011-12-10T01:24:00.001Z

So here is a variation of Le Flocon Frivole which I have shown you in a previous post. This is a simpler version which is tatted in one pass. So I had a go at writing the briefest pattern ever!

The only thing I should have perhaps noted on there is that TR stands for thrown ring and it's a ring made with the left-hand shuttle whilst the chain is going on.

My thanks to the great Jane Eborall who kindly gave advice and pointed me in the right direction. I felt diagrams were lacking from my patterns so I decided to take the bull by the horns... so to speak.

Hopefully the diagram above should give you the snowflake below:

Sorry about the wishy-washy colour, it's late here and

my camera's no good with evening lighting!

And am I right in thinking that Tatcrazy and Wodentoad still haven't claimed their free Criss-Cross Snowflake pattern? Please do let me know if that's the case.

Best wishes,

And The Winner Is....

2011-12-08T14:28:00.001Z

With all this flurry of activity with the pattern last night, I nearly forgot to do the draw for the shuttle! Well, I did forget... and went to the random number generator at twenty past midnight!

With only 32 comments, the odds of winning were good and here is what the random number generator said:

And comment number 20 was written by.....

(and a lovely comment it was too!)

Creativasuculencia!

Please contact me with your address and I will send you the shuttle.

* * *

Here is a photo of Le Flocon Frivole on a bauble.

(Thanks Carol for showing me this worked with my pattern)

I added some crystal drops to weight the motif down and make it drape better.

Good point Tattin'Kat, I forgot to mention that it is tatted

in Lizbeth 20 and the bauble says size approx. 60mm on the box.

There are three people who still haven't claimed their free pattern from yesterday. And I have to thank you all for the interest generated - many have purchased my first pattern already, I am delighted. Now back to work for the next one!

Best wishes,

Criss-Cross Snowflake Pattern

2011-12-07T18:03:00.004Z

Ok, after much soul searching (and I still don't know if I'm doing the right thing!), I decided to list this pattern in my Etsy shop. In the hope that if I can earn a few pennies with my tatting, my husband and children will forgive the too-many-hours I spend with my shuttles!

This pattern also looks great with beads

either bugle or seed beads

(or both as in this one!)

My special thanks go to Carol Lepard who test-tatted this pattern for me. You can see her versions of this snowflake here.

Now, so as to be forgiven (will I be?), I am offering the pattern for free to the first 10 people who comment.

Best wishes,

Ooh! I'm Chuffed With This One!

2011-12-06T21:52:00.000Z

Looks like I'm still rolling!

Started last night on this new idea and here is the result:

I know I shouldn't be congratulating myself, it's definitely not good manners and I apologise, but I really like this one. I think I will call it "Flocon Royal" as there is something regal about it to me... I don't know why, it's the shape above the crystals that makes me think of crowns... I will be re-making it with a different thread and with Swarovsky crystal bicones but I was too impatient and had to make a post about it straight away!

I hope you won't get mad with me but I may have this as my first pattern "for sale" (when I get around to writing it up that is!). I've been really encouraged by all your positive comments to my patterns so far. Thank you!

Meanwhile I've been working on the pattern for the trellis/criss-cross one so this will be coming up soon.

AND, just one more day for the shuttle giveaway. Don't forget to leave a comment in the previous post if you want to be entered.

Best wishes,

My Christmas Gift to You

2011-12-03T17:31:00.002Z

I said a few posts ago that I wanted to celebrate the fact that I have now more than 100 followers AND that my tatting video has been seen more than 10,000 times (still find that amazing!) so I want to thank you for your interest in what I do. I've always felt in my own little world when it comes to needlework, working in my own bubble, but with the web, I've enjoyed "meeting" many like-minded spirits!

So again, thank you for your support and interest

and taking the time to write comments to my posts.

On top of that, it's now December so it's time for gifts! Here is mine: La Cossette has kindly donated one of the popular "Holly in the Snow" shuttles so that I could hold a giveaway.

Please leave a comment and you will be entered in the draw

to be held on... December 7th, sounds good?

I don't want to wait too long so there is time to ship it

wherever it may go.

AND... I'm still rolling! And came up with another snowflake design:

I think le Flocon Frivole might still be my favourite so far

but I'm enjoying this bout of designing creativity!

Best wishes,

I'm on a roll!

2011-12-01T15:03:00.001Z

This is ridiculous, two posts on the same day... but snowflake fever has overcome me! I didn't know for a while whether it would come together but I just finished this and I felt like sharing it. So here is another design I've come up with. I started last night and it did take a little while to get the right tension on those long crossed picots so they crossed in the middle and were pulled into shape, just so! It was an interesting challenge but I'm pleased with the result.

I like the way it kinda makes a snowflake within a snowflake...

Do you see what I mean?

If you squint while looking at it,

you will loose the detail

and see the shapes.

I now need to find it a pretty name. Any suggestions?

Best wishes,

Variations on a Theme

2011-12-01T09:45:00.000Z

I've been experimenting with my snowflake design. I wanted to make a simpler version that is tatted in one pass.

Here are two different versions.

The one on the right looks more like a star than a snowflake.

But the one on the left is simple and still retains it's "flake" qualities I think.

Best wishes,

Snowflake Pattern Ready

2011-11-29T17:27:00.005Z

Thank you to all those who expressed an interest in getting the pattern for my snowflake. So here it is. The pattern requires you to know how to start on a chain, make a split ring and self-closing mock rings (I have made videos for two of these techniques, links in the side bar).

I would be most grateful to the first few who will wish to tat this, to let me know if they find mistakes (there are bound to be some!) so I can correct them as quickly as possible.

Yes! Somebody has already found one and I have just reloaded the pattern!

IF YOU DOWNLOADED THIS PATTERN YESTERDAY, I HAVE NOW CORRECTED A FEW THINGS KINDLY POINTED OUT BY TATTERS, SO PLEASE RE-PRINT! Thank you.

Here it is in size 20, 40 and 80 threads.

Best wishes,

Cardigan Finished!

2011-11-28T11:10:00.001Z

Here it is for those who were interested in the knitting. I finally finished my cardigan and wore it for the first time yesterday. I'm particularly pleased as I improvised as I went, changing the sleeve shape and making up the collar as I knitted (had an idea of how I wanted it to look but just guessed at how I should knit to obtain the shape!). So all things considered, not a bad outcome.

This cardigan looks mostly blue and green but is actually made up of many

colours (10 in fact). I particularly like the shades of purple (which can

be seen better in this bottom photo)

and how they are incorporated into the design.

Call me crazy but I already know what I want to knit next. Now you know why I keep saying there are just not enough hours in a day!

On another note, I feel I need to celebrate a milestone: I am honoured to now count 100 followers of my blog - Thank you so much for your support! AND I have now had over 10,000 views of my very short tatting video, the first video I ever made, amazing! I shall have to find a way to celebrate, keep you posted!

Best wishes,

My Own Snowflake

2011-11-25T16:24:00.000Z

Last night I was fiddling about with my shuttles, thinking I must get going on making a few snowflakes (as it's December already next week!) and then I thought... I really need to make one of my own! So I had a look at some pictures of real snowflakes for inspiration and this is what I've come up with so far:

What do you think?

I might play around with it a bit more with slight adjustments

but I think I like the general shape.

Best wishes,

Orsi's Snowflake

2011-11-20T16:24:00.002Z

A very pretty pattern by Orsi.

I love the shape of this snowflake: small but perfect.

Again I added beads for a little extra holiday sparkle.

Best wishes,

Cutting the Steek!

2011-11-19T21:47:00.001Z

I made it to the top! And have tonight cut the front steek so I can start picking up stitches to make the buttonhole bands.

I know most people would think scissors and knitting shouldn't be brought together, but I always find the cutting part very exciting. It means you're nearly finished with a long-term project!

Here's just starting to cut at the bottom of the ribbing.

Halfway up...

All done! I can now try it on.

Next it's picking up the stitches along the edge to make the button bands.

I feared at some point that I had been overly ambitious with this knit. Because I decided to modify the pattern. Instead of making a square sleeve (which I never particularly like the fit of), I decided to make it a raglan sleeve. So it was a bit of trial and error. I'm also improvising on the collar. I have an idea in mind of how I'd like it to look. But no pattern to follow! We shall soon see if I've been foolish.

Best wishes,

Jon's Featherline Snowflake

2011-11-18T17:06:00.000Z

I know a lot of people will be into snowflakes at the moment. They make such a nice little gift and I think they look lovely on the Christmas tree.

So here is another: it is Jon's Featherline Snowflake. Another pattern I had printed ages ago but not tried yet. I added some gold beads as I do like a bit of sparkle for tree decorations.

Not a very quick tat but mostly due to being slowed down

with adding beads.

These were all added as I went. No beads strung onto the thread beforehand.

Photo with flash above, without flash below. Again trying hard to catch

the sparkliness of the beads, always difficult!

I'm pleased with this. Apart from a slightly mis-shapen center because I didn't do a very good job of sewing in ends (a job I very much dislike as many of you know!). So the next time I tat this, I will use split rings and tat it all in one go. The only problem would be adding the bead between the two split rings... I shall have to give that some thought.

I think it's nice to see things from a distance sometimes.
It makes you more aware of the negative spaces - don't you think?
See how pretty the negative spaces are in this snowflake?
Viewed from here, and because of the beads, it even
looks as if the center is not attached and is just floating there...

Thank you very much Jon for the lovely pattern.

Best wishes,

Loop-Tatted Rings and Catherine Wheel Joins

2011-11-15T23:46:00.001Z

For people who like more advanced techniques, this post is about loop-tatted rings and Catherine wheel joins. I think there are a myriad of patterns that are perfect with just simple rings and chains. If you only ever used rings and chains, you could still tat a lifetime and not run out of patterns to tat. Still, there are many techniques out there which I find interesting and I like exploring.

First of all, some people were interested in a video on the loop-tatted ring technique as used in the Candlelight Snowflake (version with bugle beads).

This is a second version of the snowflake which I showed over at In Tatters.
Here I used three beads instead of bugle beads for the loop-tatted rings.

Small question for viewers of my videos: should I change to a white background? Is the red distracting too much?

And finally, I've been having a go at Catherine wheel joins. This is a lovely smooth join which looks really neat. I've not made patterns calling for it yet but I'm sure eventually it will be exactly the thing I need at a particular spot in a pattern.

On some of them you can hardly tell there's a join, don't you think? I love how it keeps a nice unbroken curve on the outside chain whilst still making a join. I don't plan on making a video for this technique because Yarnplayer has the perfect one! Until seeing her video, I couldn't get my head around this technique but her demonstration is very clear.

How about you? Have you used Catherine wheel joins before? And does anyone know WHY they are called that?

(Meanwhile of course, I'm not making much progress on the knitting!!)

Best wishes,

Getting Side-tracked...

2011-11-14T10:14:00.000Z

Still knitting (slowly... - well, not knitting slowly but just not knitting often enough!). My problem is I always get distracted by other things... This time it's my beads that had a sudden renewed appeal. Just had to get them out and play.

Don't know what I'm going to do with these yet.

Hopefully I'll come up with a bright idea eventually.

They are made from 2in long wood beads.

I was wearing a cardigan with these colours the other day

and it inspired me to make this ring.

On another note, I was sorry to miss out on the great Oovoo tatting event (see Michelle's, Diane's and Happy Bluebird's blogs). I tried everything to get connected but my faithful Mac let me down on this occasion.

Can't believe it's mid-November already. I try so hard not to think about Christmas too early but it's getting unavoidable. If I want to have some snowflakes ready for my cards, I'll have to start tatting again soon!

Best wishes,

If You Don't Hear From Me For a Bit....

2011-11-07T20:02:00.001Z

It's because I'm knitting! The weather is getting colder here and I have this very nice Fair Isle Cardigan which I thought I would enjoy wearing.... if only I got it finished! Really, there isn't that much left: body and both sleeves done and I'm now up to the shoulders, knitting in the round. So I thought I would be "good" and have a go at finishing it. Just a few more inches at the top, then the collar and button bands.

I struggle to leave my shuttles alone (and still do a bit of tatting here and there) but I will really make an effort with the knitting.

I'll try to be back as quickly as I can - I've got a big(gish) tatting project going on in the background and also there's all those Christmas snowflakes to think about! So it's a wrench.... but back to my knitting needles I go... for now.

Best wishes,

Crowns Scaled Down

2011-11-04T10:20:00.001Z

I had to have a go at this - I just felt the size of the original was wrong for me and I didn't like too much empty space in the middle and around the top. So here it is, I've tried to keep the shape as much as possible and just made everything smaller. The centre ring is now only 20 ds (10-10), instead of 34 which is easily workable and much more pleasant to handle.

I also think the two centre rings (it's actually a ring and a chain around it) fit better together whereas on the larger version, I was struggling to get it to fit really evenly all around (as you can see on the second photo).

Here's the two together, for comparison's sake.

I may add one or two double stitches to the crown curve (the outside top chain),

to get it a bit rounder.

Best wishes,

Frauberger Crowns

2011-11-02T14:37:00.000Z

Needed to tat something quick so I could get the pumpkins off! All finished now, Halloween things put away and pumpkins going in the compost bin.

So here is a pattern by Tina Frauberger. I really like the shape of it though I find the size a bit big. That center ring has 34 stitches in it! And I don't like working with big rings or long chains. I wonder if I should try keeping the proportions but making everything smaller....

Her book is interesting in that it has many variations on a theme. These crowns are repeated many times with slight variations and in different combinations. I will be adding to this for the next post, you'll see what I mean.

Best wishes,

Halloween!

2011-10-30T23:34:00.000Z

My favourite thing about Halloween is... the pumpkins!

Here's ours on our doorstep tonight.

How Do You Photograph Sparkly Beads??

2011-10-30T00:46:00.000+01:00

Every time I try to get a good photo a sparkly beads, it seems impossible! The snowflakes look lovely in real life and sparkle beautifully as the light hits the beads but it never seems to show in my photos. Any photographers out there who can offer advice?

I've tried all sorts of different lighting, with flash, without flash, natural daylight (sunshine can be hard to come by at this time of year and there wasn't any today), sideways lighting.... to no avail! Those beads must be shy, they just don't want to shine for the camera!

I'm on the great snowflake search at the moment. I'm looking for the 2011 snowflake that will go in my Christmas cards. The dark purple one in the third and fourth photos, called Kira's star, is the one I used last year. There is a beaded and unbeaded version.

So here's another.

Quite a simple one this time.

From the small book "Tatting Patterns" by Workbasket

I find the "empty" spaces a bit too big on this one.

Maybe re-do it with the points a bit smaller?

Pretty sparkly silvery beads but you can barely see them on the photos, can you?

And what do I do with all of these?

This is just a selection of some of the motifs I've tatted.

They just end up at the bottom of a box somewhere and it seems a shame

not to have a better use for them.

I'll occasionally stick one on a card, or attach a small motif to a gift...

There was a thread started at In Tatters about what people did with their tatting.

I should go and read it again!

How about you?

I bet you also have lots of tatted pieces floating about...

Best wishes,

Michelle's Handkerchief - Done At Last!

2011-10-27T14:10:00.000+01:00

The lost-and-found hanky finally got its border finished. I had asked people's opinion on which colour to go for... and though the yellow had many supporters, it was the variegated green that won. Before the votes were in, I had actually started off on the yellow and probably done a whole side before I changed my mind. It seemed to me the yellow was competing too much with the pink flowers instead of completing them.

So for the ones who voted green, here it is!

Those sharp inward curves were a bit troublesome...

I had to to use some single-shuttle split rings to make a sharp turn.

The advantage of a one shuttle pattern, I realised, is that you never have

to rewind your shuttle - and rewinding the shuttle when making chains,

is the one thing that slows tatting down the most for me.

So although this is a fine thread (size 80),

I could make progress quite quickly.

The border pattern is from the Tatter's Treasure Chest.

Best wishes,

Candlelight Snowflake

2011-10-25T17:39:00.000+01:00

I think this is a very interesting snowflake. I like the original use of the bugle bead. This snowflake by Sabina Carden-Madden uses a technique she calls "loop-tatted ring" where you pull your thread through the bugle bead (or other beads if you wished) and then make all the stitches on that ring with a looped thread by finger-tatting.

I searched on Youtube but there appears to be no videos on this particular technique so if anyone's interested, perhaps I could make one. Though there are picture explanations here on Tatting Fool's blog, if you fancy having a go at making it.

I made this for the first time last year and when I came upon it last night, I feared I wouldn't remember how to do it so I just had to make it again to be sure I remembered this unusual technique!

I think I may have to re-do it again in different colours now. Maybe in golds and reds to look even more like candle flames?

Best wishes,

Self-Closing Mock Ring

2011-10-17T14:26:00.005+01:00

Just added a new video on the SCMR.

Hope it's helpful to anyone who has previously thought

the self-closing mock ring a bit daunting.

It's not, really!

I think maybe I need a new camera... It's quite hard to get a crisp close-up when in filming mode... I'm still learning and trying to figure out how to make the best videos I can and I do wish they could be a bit clearer. It think I'll get my daughter's camera a try next time, I'm sure it's better than mine!

My maple leaf has a SCMR in the centre

and...

One of my favourite bookmark ever

(by Jane Eborall)

also uses SCMRs.

Best wishes,

I found it! I found it!

2011-10-16T23:27:00.000+01:00

I knew it would resurface eventually. As some of you said, I needed to stop looking for it and it would show up.

Handkerchief gifted by Michelle

So delighted to have found it. This is now my next project (well.... one of my next projects... :-). The colours are so gorgeous on it, I really like this handkerchief. Not really a "tatting" post but I was so pleased, I had to share.

Best wishes,

Oh I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside (sing as per the well known song!)

2011-10-14T15:22:00.000+01:00

Whilst searching for something else, I came upon this lovely little seahorse... He had been forgotten between the pages of one of my folders (where I keep my patterns) and I thought he deserved an outing. I made him for my daughter but she never did anything with him in the end. So he felt sad and abandoned....

He was tatted in size 80 threads.

The pattern is by Debbie Arnold

and you can find it here.

Best wishes,

Mmmm... Grape Snowflake??

2011-10-13T22:37:00.001+01:00

Through Jane Eborall's blog, I found out about Natalie's threads: her shop is called the Yarn Yard on Etsy. She is based in the UK, so I had to give her threads a try. She really has some gorgeous colour schemes. This is "Grape" and I'm afraid the photo doesn't do it justice, it's really beautiful IRL. Well, it's evening and as is too often the case, I am too impatient to wait until tomorrow to get a better photo in daylight!

As for what I've tatted with it, I do like the shape of this motif very much. It was a pattern I had printed off the internet ages ago and had never tried yet. I found it on Sharon's Tatted Lace Blog. I was after a reasonably simple design to show off the beauty of the colours in this thread. But I already have another plan in mind for Grape so hope to be able to show you something else made with it in the near future (I don't make any promises though! As you know I often get side-tracked).

Update: Here's a new photo taken in sunlight today.

Yes, the colours are definitely better on this one.

Best wishes,

Inspired by Carolivy

2011-10-08T20:38:00.003+01:00

Over at In Tatters, Carolivy posted about the decorated baubles she recently made. I really loved the green one which is decorated with a Susanne Schwenke star. As you know, I've been making many motifs from her books recently so I went to look for that particular one. It's lovely. And inspired by Carolivy's, I too added beads at the end of the points. I don't have a bauble to put it on at the moment (couldn't bear to go search for them in the loft) but will take another photo at a later stage.

I really like this star, though it didn't strike me in

the book until I saw what Carolivy had made with it.

I think I will try it in a smaller thread next time.

Need to get more Lizbeth 40!

Update: Carolivy has now made a blog post about her baubles and you can see it here.

Best wishes,

More Susanne Schwenke

2011-10-07T18:57:00.000+01:00

This is from the second book by Susanne Schwenke which I received recently. It's called "Spitzen-Ideen". I tatted it in one of my favourite Lizbeth colours: Purple Dark. It's a gorgeous, deep, saturated purple... which is hard to photograph! It's probably even a bit darker than that in real life but I wanted the stitches to show so I lightened the photo a bit.

This motif was simpler to tat than the previous ones I've made from this designer. Tatted in one pass.

Mmmm, just examining this photo, it's not my best tatting, there are some gaps in the trefoils! Aargh!

Best wishes,

Autumn Leaves

2011-09-29T11:01:00.000+01:00

We are having a glorious few days at the moment, with warmer weather and sunshine. Yarnplayer's leaf inspired me to get my other leaves out and so I re-tatted my own patterns too and created a selection in various colours.

The threads used are Lizbeth in "Leafy Greens" and "Autumn Spice",

Yarnplayer's "Sugar Maple" and Krystledawn's "Sea Glass".

Best wishes,

Yarnplayer's Maple Leaf

2011-09-27T10:10:00.000+01:00

I love the colours of autumn. And at this time of year, I must admit that I miss my native Canada and the beautifully coloured maple leaves. So when I saw Yarnplayer's new pattern, of course I had to make it!

So here it is, tatted in Lizbeth 20 "Autumn Spice".

Clever how the beads provide the look of the pointy blade tips

that are typical of the maple leaf.

Again, wasn't able to show the prettiness of the beads,

those bright, orangey-red seed beads really sparkle in the light.

Do I need a new camera?

Or a better photographer!

Best wishes,

Starry Starry Night...

2011-09-23T15:31:00.001+01:00

I was inspired to re-do the five-point motif. I made the picots longer and even added beads!

Tried this photo at an angle as we couldn't see the beads
in the first photo. They're still hard to see!

In the centre ring and between the small rings on the outer edge...
Can you see them?

They sparkle nicely in the sunshine but couldn't capture it with my camera!

Adding a couple more photos... still trying to capture the sparkle!

This fuzzy one is probably the best at actually showing the beads!

Nope, not great, I give up.

You have to imagine how lovely and sparkly the beads are!

And in fact, if I do it again (might do to put in my Christmas cards),

I would put even more beads on this one, threading them first to be

able to add them in more places.

Best wishes,

And Another...

2011-09-21T14:37:00.003+01:00

A third motif from Susanne Schwenke's book. Again requiring a fair amount of thinking! If I were to make it again, I would make my picots a bit longer. I tend to make them quite small as a habit (I think when you keep them short, they keep their shape and also withstand washing better) but I think this particular design would have benefitted from longer picots.

I also took another photo of the green snowflake

as I wasn't happy with the previous one.

Here it is on a light background instead of a dark like in the previous post.

Really like this one and have just noticed the little star that

appears in the very middle.

Best wishes,

Brain Gymnastics Anyone?

2011-09-20T09:39:00.001+01:00

Couldn't leave it alone, had to have a go at another motif from Susanne Schwenke's book. But this one really tested my powers of concentration! It's the way the tiny chains curve in opposite directions whilst some of the trefoils are not made all with the same shuttle which kept confusing me. Good thing there is a diagram as well as a photo to refer to.

Had to start twice but once I got the hang of it,

I enjoyed making this lovely snowflake which is done in one pass.

Mmmmm... looking at it, I'm thinking this would look nice repeated...

I think the negative space between the centre and the petals is very attractive.

And the space that would be created by joining motifs on the

corner would be interesting too me thinks...

Now I've got to stop playing... and go to work!

Update on Michelle's hanky: I found the tatting (about a quarter done) but still can't find the hanky itself which I thought would have been with the tatting. This is a mystery... which I hope to elucidate soon!

Have a great day everyone.

Best wishes,

Susanne Schwenke - Spitzen Kreationen

2011-09-19T17:28:00.000+01:00

Thanks Fox for bringing Susanne Schwenke's little book to my attention, it arrived this morning and I'm very glad I purchased it. Here is the first motif I have made from the book:

I like it but regret having done the centre in a darker colour.

Also, she must make her chains a bit looser than I do because the "petals" were

a bit tight and would have benefitted from a few extra stitches.

Here is a photo of the book, I will be making a few more things from it

in the near future. In fact I know where my Christmas snowflakes

will come from this year!

On another note, I have an admission to make... One that is upsetting me at the moment... Remember Michelle's beautiful handkerchief? Well, Creativa asked me how I was getting on with it and so I went in search of it (where I thought I had left it) and I can't find it!!! That's what I get for taking my tatting with me everywhere. I'm sure it is safe somewhere but I can't locate it just now. So please send me some magic-hanky-re-appearing-vibes so that it turns up soon! It's too beautiful and I wanted to continue work on it now that I have finished the one from Diane. Thank you.

Best wishes,

Lace-Lovin' Handkerchief

2011-09-13T12:31:00.001+01:00

Some of you will remember when I posted about Diane's kind gift of one of her beautiful hankies. The bold colours in this one really appealed to me and made me think of Spain, sunshine and flowers in terracotta pots. I started working on a border for it towards the end of our holiday and here it is completed.

Handkerchief border tatted in Lizbeth 20 (Country Turquoise Med.)
and Lizbeth 40 for the yellow.

I started with "Marguerite" by Mary Konior but as I was working along, I felt that it didn't look quite right with just the blue... there was something missing. So I experimented with adding the yellow below the blue which ended up working out well. So this is an inverted border: I didn't start with the yellow and then attached the blue on the outside, instead I started with the blue and added the yellow on the inside of the border. I'm sure you'll agree from the picture below, that the yellow really contributes to making the border "pop", just the blue would have been a little dull in my opinion.

And here is a close-up...

I like the look of the three little yellow rings to turn the corner.

Just the lace before attaching it.

So I hope my friend Diane will be pleased with how I decorated her hanky and I'd like to thank her again for her gift.

Best wishes,

Frivolité de Corinne

2011-09-10T09:51:00.000+01:00

I like Fox's version of Corinne's challenge... so I thought I would join in the fun. Here is mine.

Best wishes,

Cup Winner!

2011-09-06T13:11:00.010+01:00

Do you remember earlier in the summer when I said that my Mother-in-Law had suggested I enter our Village Fête competition with one of my doilies?

Well, I was away for the Fête so didn't get to see my entry amongst the others but I was delighted upon my return to learn that not only had I won first prize in my category, but was also awarded the Rose Bowl which is for The Best Exhibit in the Overall Domestic Section! I even get to have my name engraved on the cup.

I'm chuffed.

I may even have to enter again next year....

Well, someone needs to promote the merits of tatting in my neck of the woods!

Best wishes,

Small Yellow Doily

2011-09-04T16:50:00.001+01:00

Whilst on holiday, my father was admiring some of my tatting and then exclaimed how he would like a doily for the little table in his entrance hall. So of course, I could only but oblige! He picked the colour and I chose the design.

Many of you will recognise Mary Konior's Patchwork. This is an easy design that is a pleasure to tat. But I felt I wanted to make some sort of edging to it... Looking through my tatting patterns, I noticed how much one of Jan Stawasz's doily sets was similar to patchwork (this is the doily set on p.75 of his book). Sure enough, it needed barely any adjusting at all to make a nice edging for my patchwork doily.

Doily tatted in Lizbeth size 40

I'm very pleased with how this has worked out.
And it's now ready to be mailed to my father.

Hope he likes it too.

Best wishes,

New Video

2011-09-03T21:23:00.001+01:00

There was a discussion started over at In Tatters about how to close a motif when you have to join the first ring to the last one in a round. I know there are a few videos available already but as I tried to explain how I did it with words, it seemed very hard to explain clearly. So I thought I'd make a second video.

This is a technique that many will be familiar with but I personally always find it helpful to see things being done "live", so I hope it's of use to some of you.

Clicking on the picture will take you to the Youtube video.
I removed the embedded version as it was smaller and the annotations
were not appearing when viewing the video.

Best wishes,

Wonderful Summer

2011-09-02T10:06:00.002+01:00

Seems like forever since I last posted! What a lovely summer. Weather wasn't perfect but the holiday was very relaxing and enjoyable.

I didn't tat quite as much as expected (due to some very good books!) but I still have a few things to show you.

I was given a big bag of lavender by a lady in Paris so of course, I had to make some sachets. Here are a few of them. My favourite so far being the blue and green one. But I have lots of flowers left so will be making some more.

The lady at my local wool shop in France once showed me how she'd made little pin cushions out of milk caps... I was inspired to make some myself. I also put some lavender in with the filling so the flower pin cushions not only look pretty, but smell nice too!

I also started work on a handkerchief and completed a small doily which I will show you in the next post. Now I need to go unpack and get organised a bit!

Hope you all had a great summer too. Look forward to catching up on everyone's tatting while I was away.

Best wishes,

I'm Away...

2011-08-01T23:38:00.001+01:00

I was hoping to do one last post with pictures before leaving but I've run out of time. I will be away until the end of August (and no access to internet - GASP!).

Wishing you all a lovely summer!

See you again soon.

Nah! I can't bear this picture-less message, I'm going to have to

add a small photo of something summery...

Summer berries - Stumpwork Embroidery
(I've yet to make something with this little summer wreath
which I embroidered some time ago
and which has been sitting in my box since...
perhaps a small tatting bag?)

Best wishes,

Daisy Heart - One Last Time!

2011-07-30T14:33:00.001+01:00

As discussed, I added another row of chains around the Daisy Heart as I felt the flowers were quite bold and required a stronger outline, in my opinion. As Gina said, I would have made the first row of chains without picots but I didn't want to redo the whole thing so I just carried on adding the last row. I'm happy with that.

On another note, I love getting things in the post - don't you? So yesterday I had a nice envelope arrive from Canada and it was from Fox. In it there was a card and also this lovely bookmark:

Thank you Fox!

This bookmark will be going in my holiday book.

This is an interesting pattern which has pretty hearts in it. Because Fox used two colours in a particular way, you can't see them so well but I think it would look really nice with the colours used differently to highlight the hearts - can you see them? We had a thread about a similar pattern at In Tatters not too long ago. Fox often uses beads on joining picots and I particularly like the little silver ones in this.

Best wishes,

Daisy Heart - Take Two

2011-07-29T19:54:00.004+01:00

For Suztats and Happy Bluebird, here you go:

And I did it right this second time around

with 8 petals as per the pattern.

Looking at it now, I think it would look nice with another row of rings

around the outside for a stronger outline...

What do you think?

Best wishes,

Daisy Heart

2011-07-28T09:19:00.001+01:00

I liked this motif (blue square motif) so much that I decided to get the book which I was luckily able to find second-hand on Amazon. I have carried on with the blue motif and made many more since the last photo. But in the small book, there was also this Daisy Heart which appealed to me:

Daisy Heart tatted in Lizbeth 20, "Pink Parade"

I only realised after I had completed the two-daisy center that I had missed a petal on the flowers - there should be 8 petals on each and I only have 7. But strangely, the whole thing worked out anyway and it still looks like the picture in the book so I'm not sure where I would have squeezed in the other petal!

I think this would also look nice with the flowers in one colour, the leaves and stems in another and the surround in another. What do you think?

This is the book that the patterns came from.

It is a reprint of patterns from Workbasket magazine.

Edit added 25.09.11

I have just found out that this lovely heart

was actually designed by Martha Ess

for Workbasket

Best wishes,

Jon's Rose Window

2011-07-23T15:25:00.000+01:00

After some longer projects, it's nice to tat something quick for a change! I had a ball of Lizbeth Wildflower Garden I wanted to try so when Jon kindly offered us her new pattern, Rose Window, I thought I would make it in that new colourway.

Thank you Jon!

I think it's a lovely pattern though I'm not sure I like the variegated thread for it.

It's an unusual mix of colours and I'm undecided about it at the moment.

This will probably go into a coaster to offer as a gift.

Now though, I need to work on those "blipless joins"...

Best wishes,

TADA! Second Jan Stawasz Doily Completed

2011-07-20T12:48:00.001+01:00

Here I was flying away on the last few repeats of the last round of this doily when disaster struck!! I couldn't believe my eyes - OH NO! Shock, horror: there was one too many rings on one scallop of the previous row! I kept looking at it, hoping to find a solution that wouldn't involve me cutting out the mistake on the row below and struggling to join it back in as an invisible way as possible. But no, there was no avoiding it, I had to cut and re-do.

The re-join is not perfect (up close anyway) so I'll have to ask advice on the best way to join in these circumstances and how to deal with the ends that result.

But anyway, enough talking, out with the mistake and the last few repeats completed:

Jan Stawasz Doily, tatted in Lizbeth, size 20, écru.

Close-up

Doily on darker background (our wood dining table)

I am delighted with this doily and after two Jan Stawasz projects, remain a fan of his designs. When I started tatting again just a year or two ago, I didn't think I had it in me to tackle larger projects like this but I have really enjoyed making my two doilies... and I don't think this one will be the last either!

Thanks for all of your comments of support whist the doily was in progress.

Best wishes,

Marigold Edging Handkerchief

2011-07-17T20:25:00.003+01:00

I get there in the end... Do you remember the sneak-peak back in February (that IS a long time ago!)... Well, it finally got finished tonight. I got tired of seeing this poor abandoned hanky with only one side left to attach. To be honest I nearly took it all apart as I had some problems with my crochet edging on this one - the fine edge started to pull apart when I inserted the crochet and nearly came to a complete disaster! So it's not as good as I would like it to be but here it is anyway.

Couldn't even get a good photo either!

Tried with flash...

and here's the whole thing, it's quite a large hanky!

Well, larger that my usual ladies' hankies (35cm x 35cm)

I'm happy with the lace itself and the colours are good, was only a bit disappointed in the attachment part. Where it looks a bit "wobbly" around the flowers is because there is actually a bit of a scallop going on around there.

Anyway, pleased to have one more WIP out of the basket and no longer IP!

Best wishes,

Motif Squared

2011-07-15T21:38:00.001+01:00

Couldn't put that one down... so I carried on and made three more.

... and I still like it a lot!

I'm going to play with the stitch count a bit as it doesn't lie flat (particularly the centre flower) which I did make smaller on one of the motifs (upper right). It's not a very quick tat - the tiny rings are a bit time-consuming but I really like the contrast in texture they offer.

I can feel a few more of these coming on...

Best wishes,

Brief Interlude from the Doily

2011-07-13T08:12:00.001+01:00

A couple of nights ago, along my web travels, I came upon Tatkrazy's blog. She had some really interesting posts about tatting in Japan. She also had a link to her website about American Tatting Shuttles where she writes about shuttles and also has some stories about American Tatters. And this is where I saw a pattern that had been tatted by her Aunt Stella.

It was love at first sight! I just loved the look of this motif and how it combined together. I wrote to Tatkrazy and she was incredibly helpful and very kindly shared the pattern with me (which originally came from a Work Basket magazine).

Impatient as I am, I had to set to straight away and tat one motif.

I love it.

The pattern is called "Snowflake Motif"

but it reminds me more of little leaves combined with flowers.

(Update, just heard back from Heidi and the pattern is from the May 1986 edition of Workbasket)

You'll be seeing more of this in the future. As soon as I finish the doily,

I will be tatting three more of these to show you the pattern that emerges

and how lovely the bunches of small leaves look.

Thank you so much Heidi!

And now back to the doily.

Best wishes,

Nearly There!

2011-07-11T12:02:00.002+01:00

Now completed the 10th round... and started on the 11th and last round.

But no sneak-peek on that one. The next picture will be of the completed doily.

This round went much quicker. But I didn't enjoy those long chains!

They just wouldn't behave themselves.

Best wishes,

9th Round Done!

2011-07-08T17:40:00.003+01:00

I'm sorry my tatting is not so varied at the moment... more of the doily I'm afraid!

Are you bored with it yet?

This was quite a long round to tat, with 25 separate motifs.

I decided I won't show the whole thing again until I get to the end.

So at least there will be pleasure in the "unveiling" of the finished doily.

I think this 9th round gives it a nice shape and one could decide to stop here,

it's now about the same size as the blue doily. But I can't wait to get to the

end as I particularly like the shape of the last two rounds.

That's right, just TWO to go!

Yipee!

Best wishes,

Round and round I go...

2011-06-29T20:44:00.000+01:00

Here is the 8th round finished.

And I've made a start on the 9th!

Best wishes,

Tatting Video

2011-06-27T19:33:00.007+01:00

I have always found it fascinating to watch other people tatting. But as I don't know anyone who tats, I've had to rely on the internet and the kind people who have posted videos of themselves tatting. So I decided I should do the same and post a short video of me tatting my Jan Stawasz doily. The short clip shows a chain of 7ds followed by a ring of 3ds, join, 3ds, picot, 1ds, picot, 5 ds.

I was strangely very nervous as soon as the camera was rolling and kept making mistakes! But eventually managed to make this clip. Hope it's useful or of interest to other tatters out there.

29 June Update: I've now changed it to a Youtube video, hopefully that's better and viewable by everyone?

Best wishes,

Second Jan Stawasz Doily - 7th Round

2011-06-24T14:48:00.000+01:00

Making progress. I've just finished the 7th round of my ecru doily.

It wasn't lying completely flat at this stage so needed a light pressing.

I never like it when it doesn't lie flat, I always wonder if my tension is different

to the designer's, if I've pulled my chains too tight or not enough...

But I do like the look of the little flowers under their arches.

The eighth round is a repeat of the second round motif and there are 25 of them.

Back to work!

Best wishes,

Another?

2011-06-21T09:40:00.000+01:00

Well, I really didn't think I'd want to be tackling another big project after finishing the last doily but... whilst I was dithering about the colour of my hanky border, I was drawn back to the Jan Stawasz designs and found myself starting another doily! Oh no! I must be mad.

This is the first four rounds of the doily which will be even bigger than the last one - IF I get to the end that is, of course. It's quite a busy center which may have benefitted from having more than one colour to better highlight the various elements but I decided to make a traditional ecru one this time.

Best wishes,

Michelle's Handkerchief

2011-06-16T23:01:00.001+01:00

First of all I want to say thank you for all your comments on the Jan Stawasz doily - that was the most comments I ever got so far (in my very short blogging career)!

But I can't stay idle for too long, can I! So now the doily is done and dusted, I have returned my attention to this lovely handkerchief sent to me by Michelle.

After contemplating my first effort, I decided I was not happy with the edging I'd chosen or with the colours. Whilst looking through a book for something else, I saw this edging which I thought would look better (in the Tatter's Treasure Chest). But then I couldn't decide on the best colour.

The ladies at In Tatters have kindly contributed their opinions to my dilemma and at the moment, the variegated green is winning on votes with the yellow a close second!

There were more suggestions to try other colours as well but these are the ones I have available at the moment so it's a choice between the colours in the photo above.

As far as I'm concerned, the darker pink and the dark green have been ruled out. The yellow I tried at Fox's suggestion and I do like it.

This handkerchief has some "tricky" inward curves which are requiring modifying the pattern to fit the curves. I've just worked it out with a couple of single shuttle split rings, I think it will look ok.

... to be continued.

Best wishes,

I dit it! I dit it! Jan Stawasz Doily Finished

2011-06-13T10:17:00.000+01:00

Feeling chuffed with myself just now as I did get to the end of my doily last night! Couldn't wait for this morning so I could take some photos. This is my biggest tatting project so far and I feel even more admiration for tatters who tackle really large projects.

I still feel that there is too much contrast with the darker blue and if I was doing it again (which I probably won't!) I would choose colours that are closer so it would all blend together better. Still I'm happy I persevered and completed it. My mother-in-law suggested I enter it in our Village Fête competition next month. I have never done that before but I think I might, just for fun - and to promote the art of tatting as I have never seen any tatting being exhibited at the Fête before.

Best wishes,

Kira's Star

2011-06-10T23:39:00.004+01:00

Another break from the doily and a bit of beaded tatting. I don't often use beads as I find it just breaks the rhythm and slows me down too much! But I felt like re-visiting this pattern which I used last Christmas (a deep purple with gold beads was quite effective for the festive season). So here is Kira's Star in more of a springtime colour scheme.

Again in my impatience, I couldn't wait until tomorrow to take pictures in the daylight so these are indoor photos (and they never come out so well for me). I'll try to upload a better one tomorrow.

The colour on the white background is more accurate, a pale minty green.

But I thought the design showed up better on a darker background.

Update: The sun was shining this morning so I took an extra photo

of it hanging in my apple tree with the water drops

shining off the growing apples and leaves.

I like this pattern very much and think it looks pretty with the addition of beads (which are not in the original pattern).

P.S. Only 9 repeats left on the last round of the doily!

Best wishes,

Doing the Fandango!

2011-06-08T10:56:00.000+01:00

After seeing Jane's blogpost yesterday about her new Fandango square pattern, I had a go at making one. I like the effect you get with the two colours on this one - and particularly liked Jane's in pink and green.

Would be nice to play with this a bit more. I think a few together would look interesting with the pattern that would emerge if you did it in two colours.

Right, back to the doily!

Best wishes,

Sunday Flower - Briony

2011-06-05T11:24:00.001+01:00

Just a small Mary Konior motif with leftover thread.
A bit of colour on a grey Sunday.

I have now received my new ball of silver thread to continue with the Stawasz doily... and still the blue handkerchief is also awaiting completion (all tatting done, just part-way through attaching lace to hanky).

Hope you're having a good weekend and the sun is shining on you.

Best wishes,

Making a Start - Pink Flowers Hanky

2011-06-02T10:03:00.000+01:00

Impatient as usual, I couldn't help myself, I had to play around last night, looking for the best edging for the pink hanky. As I said, I think it needs a fairly simple edging and also a narrow one because this particular handkerchief as some unusual curves... nice large rounds curves for the corners but also some inwards curves in between the corners that are sharper and deeper that the regular scalloped edges you normally find on hankies (should have shown you a photo of the whole hanky unfolded). So I need a "flexible" edging that will follow the curves in and out.

Here's where I've got to so far. At first I thought I would design one specially for the hanky but I was drawn to my Mary Konior books (as I so often am) and had a little look in there and found this edging which I thought would suit:

What do you think?

I had a moment of doubt wondering whether colours were right or whether a white edging would be more suitable... but I have to be honest and say that I don't really like working with white. I made the Iris edging in white not too long ago so if I can get away with colours, I always prefer working with colours.

Best wishes,

Wonderful Friends

2011-06-01T21:10:00.001+01:00

I have been spoiled lately. Two very kind ladies have generously sent me some beautiful handkerchiefs. I received them within a couple of days of each other and now I'm staring in delight, wondering which to tackle first.

The first two were sent to me by Michelle of Tela Magistrae. I've not pictured everything but her box also contained lots of other little gifts, what a lovely surprise. Both hankies are gorgeous but because I've done a lot of blue lately, I decided I would start with the pink one. As you can see, I found in my box that I already had some nice threads that will go well with it. Now I just need to decide on the edging. I'm thinking something fairly simple as the hanky already has a lovely shape and beautiful, colourful flowers.

Thank you, thank you Michelle!

The other was sent to me by Diane, the great Lace-lovin' Librarian. I had seen a picture of it and dared to buy threads before it even got here. I'm pretty pleased with my guesses as I could use any of the three colours of thread that arrived today, at the same time as Diane's hanky. Love the bright colours on this one, I don't know why but it makes me think of Spain.

Thank you, thank you Diane!

Now, I have to be good and try to finish some of the ongoing projects before I start too many new ones.

So you see, I'm spoiled for choice! And so grateful for the wonderful people I've met through tatting and the internet.

Best wishes,

Quatrain Project Finished

2011-05-29T17:44:00.000+01:00

It's done! This is the project I'd been working on for a while (though not continuously as you know I like variety). So for a break from the Jan Stawasz doily, I picked up this one again and finished it this afternoon.

Maybe some day I will make something even bigger with the Quatrain motif (Michelle has inspired me and I shall follow her progress with great interest!) but for now, this more modest project will do.

Best wishes,

Last Round!

2011-05-27T11:54:00.002+01:00

Well, I'm cheating a bit... I've run out of silver thread,
five repeats from the end of the 10th round
(there are 32 repeats).
So while I wait for another ball of silver to arrive,
I thought I would make a start on the 11th and last round.

Hurray!

Best wishes,

Wrought Iron

2011-05-22T22:27:00.000+01:00

I'm still beavering away at the doily but that doesn't give me much to blog about, does it! So I thought I would take a little break tonight to make something else for a change. I've just participated in the Bookmark Exchange at In Tatters and received a lovely bookmark from Tatting Margaret (a click on the link will take you to a photo of the bookmark) - Thank you Margaret! It was one of Mary Konior's design which I had not really noticed before though I have the book. I think it has a very interesting shape so, inspired by Margaret's, I decided to make it.

I chose this colourway (Lizbeth "Autumn Spice"), as I thought it could be a very old, very rusty Wrought Iron, with moss growing on it... That's my take on it anyway!

I made a mistake near the beginning (second trefoil on the left has one picot too many) so the join to the next small ring is at the wrong angle and those "onion rings" are quite hard to make really even but overall I'm pleased with the result and still think it's an interesting design which I might well re-do. Perhaps in a nice dark steely blue? Oh no, I forgot, I'm trying to stay away from the blues for a change!

Best wishes,

Marching on... 10th round!

2011-05-16T13:37:00.000+01:00

Just started on the 10th round of the Jan Stawasz doily. I'm so pleased to have made it this far that I had to post again although I posted only yesterday! This round won't be a quick one. Will no doubt work on other things on the side to bring variety. But enthusiasm hasn't waned yet so it's a good sign. I'll get there, I'll get there!

Best wishes,

Quatrain Bookmark

2011-05-15T18:00:00.002+01:00

I decided to take part in the Bookmark Exchange at In Tatters. So had to take a break from the doily to make one. Is it okay to show my finished bookmark here before I send it? I was given the name of a man. So I was trying to make something a bit "masculine" which is not easy really as I think tatting is pretty feminine. But don't get me wrong, I think it's absolutely great that there are men who enjoy tatting.

Anyway, I thought Quatrain might be suitable adapted for a bookmark.

Still not sure it's very "masculine".... but I think I'm happy with the result. Apart from spotting a mistake right at the end after I'd finished my tassel!! I won't tell you where, maybe you won't notice. And hopefully the person I'm sending it to won't either.

I'm really into the blues and greens these days... Definitely my next project won't be blue (that's after I finish the doily, the project with Quatrain and the hanky... so a while yet with the blues!).

Best wishes,

Making Progress

2011-05-13T22:37:00.001+01:00

I'm now on the 9th round of the Jan Stawasz doily. It's coming along nicely. I've got to take advantage of "doily fever" to get as much accomplished while it lasts! I'm going back to it now.

Best wishes,

P.S. The colour is not so good on this photo - I prefer the photo from the previous post, it's more accurate.

Jan Stawasz Doily

2011-05-10T14:01:00.001+01:00

I always thought I would eventually like to tackle one of Jan Stawasz's doilies. I really admire the perfect execution of his work.

So I started on this one:

I nearly stopped after two rounds as I felt there was two much contrast between the silver and the blue. Then I did one more round to satisfy my curiosity. I asked advice at In Tatters and I think many people agree there is too much contrast but others encouraged me to keep going...

So I tatted the fourth round and added another blue to the mix (it's the same family of blue as the dark one "Country Turquoise", but the light shade of it).

So that's where I'm at now. Far enough that it seems a waste to throw it away... but still not convinced my choice of colours was wise.

Also not very happy with that second bit of dark blue, that row of rings is really hard to make perfect as there are three unattached rings between the ones that are attached to the previous row and they tend to move out of place. I guess I need to pin it down and steam it to get the right shape.

On another note, I want to thank Diane for the lovely parcel she sent me when I won her giveaway:

Thanks Diane!

Best wishes,

Sneak Peek - Work in Progress

2011-05-08T00:06:00.001+01:00

Sometimes I'm just too impatient... I was only going to show you this when it was all finished but as I had no other tatting to show you (been a busy week), I'm giving you a sneak peek of what I'm doing with my Quatrain pattern. I had run out of thread but just received some in the post yesterday so I can carry on now.

It's a bit crumpled because I keep putting it in my small tatting bag to take it with me, it will look better after a light pressing when I'm all finished.

Best wishes,

Forget-Me-Not Handkerchief

2011-04-30T17:56:00.002+01:00

I started this hanky border during the last few days of the Easter holiday. I had been inspired by Diane's version of it and decided to make one too. This is Mary Konior's forget-me-not pattern from her book "A Pattern Book of Tatting".

When I went outside to take pictures of it, I found we still had a couple of patches of forget-me-not in our garden. So here is the hanky pictured with the real thing!

I used Lizbeth size 40 so it grew quite quickly. I crocheted one row with white thread around the hanky first, then used the pink thread and crochet to attach the lace to the first white row.

Simple, but pretty I think.

Best wishes,

Rosy Ironbark Bookmark

2011-04-27T14:37:00.000+01:00

I know many of you will see this post at In Tatters as well but here it is too. Karen Bickerton has just made available this new pattern of hers and the proceeds go to help the flood victims in Australia. I really liked this pattern as soon as I saw it, the flower tassel particularly appealed to me.

The colours are a bit washed out on this photo, the pink is brighter "in person".

Makes a nice change for a bookmark. I like it!

Now must go and get some jobs done...

Best wishes,

Easter Serviette/Placemat

2011-04-26T13:15:00.000+01:00

I'm back! Had a lovely, relaxing holiday and I hope you all did too. I managed to finish the serviettes I was making for my Mother-in-law for Easter with the bunny edging. The fabric I found was a bit thicker than I was looking for and she may use them as placemats rather than serviettes (I made two) - but the colours were just right for the variegated thread I used. They're not perfect, but bright and cheerful for Easter.

Lizbeth size 20 (Spring Garden) and DMC Spécial Cordonnet also in size 20

Best wishes,