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,

Another?

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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,