Friday 22 July 2016

Stuck!

Hi all!  Not doing too well on the tatting front at the moment...  I've tried a few different things but nothing's working out too well.  I decided to make a blogpost anyway, in spite of not having much to show you, since it's been so long already since I last blogged.

I thought I'd tackle something new today but I quickly got stuck!  A bit unusual for me but this pattern from Blomqvist and Persson has very few indications on how to work the design and I've looked and looked and am not sure at all where to go from here...



Anybody else has made this pattern by any chance?  I was hoping the whole thing was worked in one pass but now I don't think it's possible and I can't even figure out how to complete this first repeat!

Oh dear!


I will leave it for tonight and look at it afresh in the morning.  I hope I can figure it out because I rather like the look of this design.

How is everyone doing?  Last day of school for our youngest today so summer holidays really start now.  I hope the sun is shining where you are!

Best wishes,
Frivole

24 comments:

  1. Someone tatted this so beautifully when I first started tatting, and I tried it when I got the book, but I didn't do well and I figured it was due to being a new tatter yet. I do believe(if I remember correctly) that it is tatted in one pass, but I would be of no help because it's on my try-again list. I am sure you will get it and it will be wonderful!!! :)

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    1. Here's a link to my attempt: http://hiskid66.blogspot.com/2010/05/failed-ice-crystal.html
      And if you type this ice crystal from Blomqvist and Persson in Google and do a search you will see some beautiful ones that are complete!!! :)

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    2. Hi God's kid, thank you for your comment, I went to have a look and your attempt was not bad at all! So did you never finish it in the end?

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    3. No, I didn't finish it. I was using an HDT and didn't want to waste it(only having one skein of it). I do plan on trying it again sometime, but right now won't work. I can't wait to see yours though!!! :)

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  2. Looks like a maze of a pattern, and I find the instructions in this book to be very difficult to follow. I think that you are on the right track, but the last chain you have tatted is supposed to bend in the other direction to go towards the next middle spoke.

    From the book, I believe the middle chunk is tatted first and then the outer points are tatted afterward (but without cutting and tying, so all done in one pass). Visually, you have to break up each spoke into two parts (a large middle chunk, and then the more pointy outer part). That's my guess at least.

    It does look like the instructions in the book are missing the last chain that would be needed to travel from one point to the next (during the 2nd "round") and also missing "repeat 8 times" at the very end of the instructions. A tricky looking pattern indeed.

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    1. My bad, the last chain in the second round isn't missing from the instructions. It's right after the "Repeat 8 times" from the first round. And to clarify all the middles are done first and then when you have a doily shape all the points are added as a continuous second round.

      I probably shouldn't be giving pattern advice after just waking from a nap though. I'm not sure if I'm making any sense!

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    2. Is that the infamous Ice Crystal pattern? - Years ago it was the subject of long discussion on the old intatters site, and maybe there will be the record on Craftree. I haven't looked myself, but worth a try.

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    3. Yep Maureen, that's the one! I've never tatted it myself but I do remember seeing some in progress pictures and I think that's the only reason I could figure out how it is supposed to be made.

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    4. Thank you Robin, that's very helpful. I don't know why I didn't look it up on internet before writing my blogpost... that's normally my first point of call when I have questions.

      I have found there are several mistakes in the pattern though but I'm on my way now I've figured out the general path to travel so to speak. I think it will have to be done twice because I'm changing things around a bit on this first attempt (some of the rings and number of picots are not consistent in the pattern).

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  3. I agree with Robin. This last chain just made, should become the 'link' (the lower part of the horizontal double link) and you continue working a repeat down towards center then back up & so on.
    After the center is completed, continue to work the outer half around. There will be a lock join at the horizontal linkage.
    All in one pass. Looking forward to it's completion :-)

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    1. Yes Muskaan, that is right and thank you ladies for helping me on my way! BUT, that last chain is actually very awkward and suffer from much tension and distortion when you start to attach the centre rings. I decided it would be much better curving the other way so that's what I'm doing as I carry on.

      I love one pass designs though so I'm keen to work this one out. :-)

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  4. I remember tatting this years ago....in quilting thread....and it was done in 1 pass. Not sure I remember HOW I did it in one pass, though. I think the diamond shapes on the outer part of the medallion are sort of split - you do only half of the diamond shape, then move to the next one, working from the halfway point of the diamond to the center, then back to the halfway point on the other side of the diamond. Once you've got all the center/half-diamonds done, you keep tatting, going around the outer part of all the diamond shapes. It works well, although if I ever tat it again I'd use something larger than quilting thread. ;-)

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    1. I'd not realised how old this book was. It was a recent acquisition for me and I'd never thought to look at the publication date before. There are several designs in the book that I'd like to make.... but I'll complete this one first! :-)

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  5. I know I've looked at that pattern, but I've never attempted it. I'm sure you'll sort it out and inspire a whole new group of us to give it a try!

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  6. Oh, I'm sorry to hear you're feeling thwarted. I've had that happen to me too. It looks a tricky pattern but my book is a long ways away. I'm sure a new day and some sleep will help. BTW! That blue shuttle is amazingly beautiful!

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    1. Thank you Michelle. Yes, a good night's sleep did help and looking at it with fresh eyes... but mostly, all the helpful comments I got on this blogpost! Glad you like the shuttle, one of my favourite which I made last winter, it has raised pearly snowflakes added onto the snowy background. A bit strange to be using it now it's hot but I do like it! :-)

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  7. Sorry I can't help you I don't have the book, looks by the picture a lovely pattern, but I can't see enough to help, hope someone in tat land can.

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  8. I am just going to be fabulously unhelpful as I am a novise tatter, and have no idea how to make this. But it is a beautiful design, and I hope you have success with it in the end :) Good luck!

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  9. Hi Joelle, I did this pattern way back in the 60s when the book first came out, so don't really remember the details. Looking at the pattern now I believe Robyn and SWtrompter are correct. I don't have any memory of this book being difficult, it was so much easier than the "wordy" English patterns of the time. Of course we are all used to clear patterns now. The second section is also to be repeated. My view is that it should all be repeated 7 times, to repeat it 8 would give 9 points. Good luck with finishing this

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    1. You are right Jenny and I didn't even notice the mistake of 8 repeats... I knew it was 8 in all and therefore 7 repeats but that is incorrect in the pattern. Not the only thing that's incorrect! I'll make another blogpost really soon. You really need to be able to see the photo of the doily clearly and count picots on the photo because the pattern is inaccurate. Still, it's a very nice design. :-)

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    2. I have started making this pattern again. It is going quite well, but it is difficult to se on the photo where the joins are on the centre rings and chains

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    3. Yes, you are right. I am adding some that are not noted in the pattern but that I can see on the photo and some that are nowhere but that I think should be!! :-)

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  10. This will be of no help! I've tatted this several times. And now, sitting here with the pattern, I can't see how to do it! But I do remember it was in one pass and not at all complicated once you, "get it!"

    I'm going to go look in tat-ology, as there may be a few progressive photos, which might help....

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    1. No worries Fox, thank you, I've got it sussed now! :-) I'll still go have a look and see if I can see yours on your blog.

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