Monday 19 October 2015

Snowdrop

Thank you very much everyone for all your comments on my previous post.  I decided to call this one...


I would like offer my heartfelt thanks my testers who returned some very useful comments

Testers are invaluable and it's amazing what other pairs of eyes can see that you hadn't noticed.  I'm always really grateful for people who give their time to test a new design.  

I'm having a draw for five copies of the pattern so if you'd like one, please leave a comment. This will be a quick one and I will choose names at random tomorrow although the pattern should be available in my shop from tonight.

UPDATE:  I said it would be quick, it's tomorrow already and I've done the draw.  There were 26 qualifying entries in the comments, so a good chance of winning!… and the random number generator chose… :   Kathy, Sandy, Mandatory, Cindy and Elizabeth - pattern will be on its way to you.


I also want to thank the people who made suggestions about sparkly threads I could use and I think I found what I was looking for.  DMC Metallic thread in white (4300) has just the subtle sparkle I was after.  It's very fine and you can just add a strand of it to a strand of cotton and it works really well.  Sparkle is really hard to photograph but I hope you can see it in these slightly blurry photos - I find keeping the focus "unfocussed" is the only way to see the sparkle in photos.



I'm waiting for a Sulky holo to arrive and I'll report on how that compares to the DMC Metallic.  I also have a DMC Diamant thread which is really interesting and an unusual texture… looks a bit like frost!  I've not had a chance to tat a whole snowflake with it yet but will show you that too when I make it.  That's the reel on its side in the photo below.



This last photo was a bit of fun.  I photographed Snowdrop on a darkish background (it was green actually) and then removed the background but left some inside the rings.  To my eyes it gives it a look of "Broderie Anglaise" which I think is pretty.  It also highlights its snowflake-ness I think!  Yes?


Best wishes,
Frivole

49 comments:

  1. This is beautiful and I would be honored to be able to tat it.
    Kathy R

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    1. Kathy, there is no email associated with your blogger account, please send it to me using the "contact Frivole" button at the top of the page. Thank you!

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  2. I would like to be included in the drawing. I like that you state it can be made by beginning tatters.
    Sandy

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  3. Very pretty! I'm a new tatter but would love to try his!

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  4. Delightful post & cute name for the snowflake :-)
    I would love to be able to tat this .... the design is Gorgeous ! But what intrigued me most (from posts by test tatters) is that there is a blocking template ? I've never come across such a template & am wondering what material you've used.
    Love the sparkle .

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    1. Oh dear, you'll be disappointed Muskaan, nothing high-tech there! It's just that I have provided a printed template with the pattern (one with circles and 6 spokes) so that you can block your snowflake when it's finished. So it'll just be paper, but that's what I use all the time, it works fine. :-)

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  5. Oooh, please count me in. I was lucky enough to win a copy of last year's pattern but doubt I'll be lucky again. Still I'd like to try. Interested in hearing how you get on with the threads and where you bought them from.

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    1. Do you know what Jane, I didn't have a new snowflake design last year (to my great disappointment) so that one you're talking about is two years ago!! Doesn't time fly...

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  6. Don't enter me but I LOVE the look of the metallic thread!

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  7. It's so pretty, please enter me in your drawing! Did the added filament thread make closing rings difficult? I tried it once a long time ago with bad results, but your version is perfect! I think I'll give it another go.

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    1. No, it doesn't. I was worried it might but honestly, with that particular thread, all rings close fine. I'm very happy with it.

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    2. Hi, can you please provide me with an email address so I can send you the pattern - thank you!

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    3. Oh wow! I didn't realize I was a winner! It's manda_tory@yahoo.com. Thank-you!

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  8. Love the sparkle!! Please enter me in your drawing!1

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  9. Superbe ! J'adorerais gagner le patron, mon premier flocon de l'année ! Sinon tant pis, je l'achèterai de toute façon ^_^
    Je testerais sans doute le DMC diamant.

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  10. Love this snowflake pattern. Count me in on the drawing!

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  11. Oh please, count me in for the drawing! I was too late for the test-phase. And I have nice shuttles now... :p Thanks!

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  12. Oh! it's so pretty ! I take out for a drive my tatted snowflakes at the back window of my camping-car, and they'ld be happy having one more companion ! I take part in this group for little time and I envy all wonders I see...I 'ld be delighted with receiving this pattern as a preview ....

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  13. Hope I am not too late to be counted in for the draw. Love your snowflakes. This one looks stunning.

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  14. Would love to be included in the draw! The snowflake is lovely!!

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  15. I like that it is such a non-complex design, but looks so intricate: well done!

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  16. I love seeing all your handwork - bags and rugs and jumpers etc - but I am so glad you've come back to tatting!!!!
    Bev

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  17. Don't enter me... I just wanted to let you know that I love it with the sparkly thread!

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  18. A beautiful snowflake, lovely threads. The pointy picots give it that certain touch. Adore the broderie anglaise look!
    Hugs,
    Hegla
    .

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  19. I'd love a chance to win the pattern, its such a lovely design. I'm looking forward to reading your comments on the thread.

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  20. Ooh, I love the sparkle of the metallic thread. I'll have to try that sometime. I was planning on buying the pattern from your shop, but you can enter me into the drawing if you'd like.

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  21. Count me in - this is such a wonderful snowflake! I love the metallic sparkle too - perfect touch!

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  22. Aaaaaand ... I love the name :)

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  23. It's such a gorgeous snowflake and great name. I'd love to be entered in the draw. I'll buy it in a heartbeat if I don't win. I love your patterns!

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  24. Love the name Snowdrop! Please enter me in the draw!

    I was surprised to see the white sparkly thread/filament on a spool, and I'm guessing it's thinner than DMC's gold and silver threads? Glad to know it can be added to cotton for that nice sparkle, which definitely comes through in the photo! Also I never knew about Diamant thread! And I see that DMC on its own site actually states it's good for tatting!

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  25. Tell me , please, what a number is a DMC Diamant thread ?
    Thank you.

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    1. I would say it's probably equivalent to a size 30 thread. It's definitely not as smooth as cotton to work with though… it's a bit "wiry". But rings close fine and it definitely looks "frosty" when tatted up.

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    2. Trank you, Frivole, but I had in mind number thread, for example ,D168 ( I have this Nr).

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    3. Oh sorry, I misunderstood you, the Diamant thread I have is number D5200.

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    4. Frivole,thank you very much !)))

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  26. Your snowflake looks delicately beautful. You inspire me.

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  27. Lovely snowflake! The metallic thread looks as though it works well, good find.

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  28. I know I am very late so I hope I can go into the draw, beautiful name for a beautiful snowflake.
    Margaret

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  29. Love the snowflake and the added sparkle is great.

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    1. Hi Elizabeth, please provide me with an email so I can send you the pattern - thank you!

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  30. I loved TestTatting this wonderful snowflake! Congrats to those of you who won the pattern. Have fun tatting it

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  31. Oh, I love the sparkling ones. Was it easy to work with this thread? When I tried some metallic thread, the metal part teared very easily and didn't slide well.

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    1. Yes Orsi, the DMC Fil Métalisé I have is easy to work with and although sometimes it won't follow exactly the path of the cotton thread, it's still easy to work with both strands together and there is no trouble closing rings.

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  32. I love Snowdrop - how could anyone not? It's amazing how quickly the whole design developed from concept to finished product. Your test tatters must tat like the wind - it's a wonder they don't set their thread alight. I'm very, very impressed with how you've captured the sparkle in your photograph too. It's a "Goldilocks shot" - just right! And thank you for sharing the tip on how to do it as well. Now that I see it I imagine the same method would work when trying to photograph all sorts of "twinkly" things.

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  33. Sorry ,if I have counted correctly, 26 was my comment?
    Excuse me )

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    1. Uoga, sorry, this is confusing, I should have just listed the names instead of giving the numbers, your comment is actually number 22 because there were several before you who were my test-tatters and/or who already had the pattern and so I did not count their comment for the draw. That's why I said there were 26 "qualifying" comments to be drawn from.

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    2. Please contact me via email Uoga.

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  34. Frivole,I can't find your mail, so send my :zemuoge101@gmail.com

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