Motif Squared

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

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!

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!

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...

Here is the 8th round finished.  

And I've made a start on the 9th!  

Best wishes,

Tatting Video

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

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,