Tatting normally flows for me. It's soothing, rhythmical, and effortless. But just lately, it's not been so. I've become too obsessed with improving rather than enjoying and in fact, I think it's made my tatting worse!
That last Iris Niebach motif was awful. And even this one below was hard work - I don't think I've ever untatted so much in one small motif!!
My proposed remedy is to go backwards a bit and just enjoy tatting as I did before, not worrying about the side or the up or down join for a bit. Until I get "my flow" back!
This is a motif from Blomqvist and Persson's Book
"Tatting Patterns and Designs"
It is tatted in Lizbeth 20
Country Grape Lt.
But does this motif look familiar to you? I'm sure I've tatted something very similar before... but at the moment I can't remember where it was from or when I tatted it!
I decided to decorate a couple of Aerlits for myself to give them a good try. This one in a lovely vintage floral print went so well with the thread, I had to show you a photo:
Best wishes,
Frivole
Losing the groove sounds tough, I'm sorry to hear that. I love when tatting is relaxing.
ReplyDeleteYour aerlit is beautiful and matches perfectly! What do you think of it for tatting?
Hi Michelle,
DeleteI'm so used to my silent shuttles now that I find it hard to cope with the ratchet sound. I made two and the other one (a blue one) is much quieter and has gentler tension. This pink one is still a bit tight (I did "doctor" them a bit) but they are nice to work with, a tad shorter than my usual Aeros. I'm happy so far.
Sounds like you should tat something fun for a change(kinda like taking a tatting vacation), instead of something like a doily, maybe an animal or something just for fun with no pressure to make it perfect. :) Just a suggestion. :)
ReplyDeleteI hope you get your flow back! Yes, it's possible to concentrate too much on the technical aspects of tatting and lose the rhythm.
ReplyDeleteA lost mojo is hard to get back, I lost mine at the beginning of the year, it's been hard to recover but now it seems its back and now it's gone from my knitting, can't win.
ReplyDeleteLovely little motif does look familiar but at the moment I can't think where, if it comes to me I will let you know.
Margaret
You may not be pleased with the last Iris N. motif, but it certainly impressed and inspired me to practice the clunys and to print out the pattern.
ReplyDeleteLove the decorated Aerlit.
Tat away and have FUN!
Fox : )
This motif is in your 2010 album at intatters, in a group picture of snowflakes.
ReplyDeleteAs perfectionists, I think we can easily lose sight of the enjoyability of the process and focus too much on the end result. I've noticed that if I make something I hate, and then put it out of sight for many months, I will eventually come back to it and say, "You know what, this is pretty good!" I guess by that point I've forgotten my frustrations and am looking at it with fresh eyes.
What I mean to say is that I like your tatting, whether you are doing frontside/backside or traditional, posting or not posting a shuttle, etc. We are our own worst critics...I cannot see the imperfections you speak of, but am very quick to pick apart my own work! :)
(Baysolomew at intatters)
You are very observant Robin, and have a great memory! Thank you so much for telling me where to find my own tatting!! :-))
DeleteIt's interesting then as it appears to be indeed the same pattern. So whose is it? I shall have to investigate and check dates in both books. I know the one in my album is from an old DMC book.
I think in olden days, they were a bit less pernickety about copyright as it's not the first time I've seen vintage patterns republished in others' books without reference to the original.
I thank you also for the second part of your message. You are very right. It is just so. Let's relax and just enjoy our tatting! (I'm saying that easily but I still know I'll find it difficult not to pick at faults! I'll try!).
Ah yes, I see it now. Motif #20 in DMC Tatting for Today. Interesting that two books can have the same pattern. I'll have to check back when I have more time to see if the stitch counts are different.
DeleteHaving a quick look, I'm pretty sure it's exactly the same pattern - same number of picots though I've not counted all the stitches.
DeleteMaybe you are trying to change too much at the same time.... I like to pick one change/thing/technique to work on, and I will work on getting that like I like it until it become automatic and then move on to learning something else.... That way I'm not thrown so totally off and still enjoy the process as I improve.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you're right Marla. What's one thing you've changed for example? I'm interested! I get that I examine my stuff so much that everything about it seems wrong! My eye zooms in on all the tiny detail instead of being satisfied with the whole.
DeleteI started tatting FS/BS about a year ago and have done it ever since... The only time I really have to think about it is when starting a new row I decide whether to start on the FS or BS depending on the joins.... A couple months ago I learned the larks head joins and now that is the way I do all my FS joins. I always hated that little break on the DS 's of an element.... So I plan all my joins to be made on the FS.... If I can.
DeleteBoth your motif and the shuttle are very pretty.
ReplyDeleteI have tatted FS/BS for so long that it irritates me when I don't. I can tell the difference, but others tell me they can't see the difference. I still prefer FS/BS
I guess it's a matter of habit, isn't it Ladytats. I still find I have to concentrate too much when I'm tatting on the back side (double stitches in reverse order) and my tatting is not as even done that way and then I keep forgetting which side I'm on!
DeleteAlso, I like to have "reversible" tatting rather than having one side looking prettier than the other.
I wish I could make up my mind once and for all on that subject but I have the feeling I'm nowhere near the end of it! :-)
I am the same as Ladytats... it irritates me too if I do not do it, which is a real pain because every so often I really just want to NOT tat fs/bs, and I find I cannot. Stuck in a rut...
DeleteIt's interesting, your comment about how your tatting usually flows (clearly evident in your YouTube demos). That "flow" is so clear in your finished work...so even, precise, lovely... You make it look effortless both in the videos and in your photos of the finished products. Since you are so used to that natural process and the high quality output, it makes sense that disrupting the flow would be dissatisfying.
ReplyDeleteYour idea of taking a vacation from the new techniques and experiments and just get back into the "flow" for awhile makes so much sense. Tatting is for fun, for beauty, for relaxation. Even if you never improved from where you are now, your work sings! Please don't let stress take the song out of your work...it's too pretty!
Dear Rose-Marie,
DeleteThank you so much for your wonderful message - your words mean a lot!
I understand what you're saying about losing your rhythm. I guess that's why I don't bother with frontside/backside tatting. I get frustrated by trying to keep track of where I am. Your tatting always looks perfect to me, and I hope to some day make pieces that display your perfect tension.
ReplyDeleteI do like the clicking of the Aerlit shuttles, but I also like the click of knitting needles!
I don't mind the noise all the time (if it's reasonably gentle) but on airplanes or in other public places... or when my husband's trying to watch TV!, I find I prefer my silent shuttles! :-)
DeleteI guess I am the tatting curmudgeon. Bah! Most of my tatting is made to be looked at from both sides. I don't want a distinct back side.
ReplyDeleteI have fussed with FS/BS tatting some and my mojo leaves immediately for more a pleasant environment.
Your tatting is always beautiful.
You made me smile StringyDogs! Thank you!
DeleteSILLY ME! I just corrected the title as I only now noticed the typo! Of course I meant losing the flow, not loosing the flow! :-))
ReplyDeleteI have thought off and on about your post here for the past couple of days. I experimented, albeit briefly, with fs/bs, concluded that it was not a pleasurable thing and that I didn't particularly care for the one sided look. I really tat for my own enjoyment and to gift to those I love and care about. They don't know that one side should be up, so I can not see creating my work that way...it makes no sense at all.
ReplyDeleteThe clicking of a shuttle is a centering and companionable sound to me...though I love your silent shuttles for work in public (I tat in Church even ~ it keeps my hands busy and my mind from wandering), I still use the little clovers a great deal of the time. They remind my of Grandma, who favored the red Boye shuttles...the click click is the happy sound of Grandma in the room and I quite enjoy it. I sometimes wish I could tat with the Boyes, hers sit in the box unused, but the pick isn't really sharp enough for me to quickly do the joins. I prefer the hook really, now that I am used to it, but I sometimes wish for a hook and the click click of Grandma's company :-)
Oh...and also, your tatting is the most perfectly beautiful example of the art that one could hope to find. Your stitches are so perfectly even and beautiful, it is evident that the rhythm of your tatting is a measured and beautifully musical thing. I think that your "flow" is a treasure and certainly hope it returns to you rapidly.
DeleteThank you so much Julie for your kind and inspiring words.
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