Wednesday 11 September 2013

Fine Threads

I'm sure you've been following Fox's adventure with Perfect Quilter thread?  Well, she kindly sent me a sample.  I used it to tat Thistle by Mary Konior.

Don't look at the joins on the chains,
they are awful!

I laughed at myself because this would have been one perfect opportunity to use the blipless join and I didn't think to!  Even after I just made the previous blogpost, silly me.

I found Perfect Quilter to be slightly fuzzy but smooth and easy to work with though I have to admit I'm not enamoured with that particular colour way... I find there's too much contrast between the colours and it's an unusual mix!  But thank you Fox, it was nice to be able to give it a try.

Then Diane's post reminded my of another thread that was generously sent to me by my friend Sandy:  King Tut.  Sandy had chosen something right up my alley, in the blues I like.  King Tut is even finer than Perfect Quilter and is also firmer and less fuzzy.  It's a nice thread to work with.

I thought more about the joins this time and they are smoother.


Then I decided to tat this one more time in Lizbeth 80 to compare sizes and I used the blipless join this time.  The 80 was only just slightly finer than the Perfect Quilter but King Tut is definitely the finest.  Here are all three:


I found this design really difficult to tat as nicely as I would have liked.  I find having to join chains "straight" causes problems and often produce less than satisfactory results.  Chains are meant to curve!





I didn't particularly enjoy making thistle and am pleased to be done with my comparative tatting... but on the same page was also "Star".  It looked so pretty I just had to tat it too!  This time in Altin Basak 50.  A thread I like a lot.



Finally, I'm still not convinced about the blipless join in the previous post.  I have now made a video of Jane's join and will upload that later.  But I don't find the result completely satisfactory with either.  Problem not solved for me.  I'll think about whether I want to leave the video of my join up or not...

Ah, the joys of tatting!


Best wishes,
Frivole


18 comments:

  1. Star is gorgeous and that AB thread wondrous! Wich MK book is it in? Thistle is nice too especially so tiny, wow!

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  2. All your motifs look wonderful!! I really like the star motif!!! :)

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  3. Leave the video up. You can choose not to use it yourself, but that doesn't mean others won't be interested. It was a useful experiment, if nothing else.

    I love the way the Thistle looks in that King Tut colorway! Subtle color changes are definitely best for that design. I know what you mean about the straight chains, too. Every time I work a pattern where long chains are joined like that, I end up with little bumps at the joins.

    I love the Star design, too! Which MK book is that? Not that I'm likely to find it at a reasonable price, but it wouldn't hurt to look.

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    1. Good point Miranda. And sadly you are right about MK's books but they do occasionally turn up at "reasonable" prices... the best ones I seen were on Amazon UK. In fact, I just popped over to have a quick look and there are three "Tatting Patterns" on offer at £24ish. I think that's a very good price.

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  4. I found the video very helpful and the method seemed to do the trick.

    The Star pattern is amazing! Looks like little peapods à LaCossette!

    The Lizbeth to me is not as attractive tatted, even considering your impeccable stitches,
    As the other threads, the Altin Basik looks good enough to purchase!

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    1. After more experimenting, I find that the stitch made that way is a bit bumpy. So it seems to be a toss up: do I want a blip less thick join or a blippy smooth one?
      I might just favour the thin one in #80 thread, ??

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    2. That's exactly what I'm finding Fox! It's "bumpy" when done Jane's way as well. Not sure there's a way to avoid it.

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    3. Your vision of little peapods in MK's design appeals to me - I like the design even more now! :-)

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    4. Mmmmph! Don't feel "impeccable" at all to me on these particular motifs (the tiny ones).

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  5. I love the star pattern, I not sure where did you get pattern from? I think lizbeth if buying variegated colors is not liked as much unless your motif is large because the color change is not often enough the quilting ones seem to change more colors in a shorter distance. All of your motifs look very nice.

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    1. Both motifs are from Mary Konior's Tatting Patterns on page 75. And I agree with you that for a fine thread like Lizbeth 80, it needs shorter colour changes.

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  6. Thank you for the comparison of threads. I'm planning on attending the Original Sewing and Quilting Expo in November, and I'm going to be looking for some new quilting threads... for tatting, of course!

    I do love the Star motif, and it's been a while since I've tatted it. Maybe that's the motif I'm looking for to compare different threads. Thanks for the reminder!

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  7. Les motifs sont vraiment sympa et c'est bien d'avoir une comparaison de taille des différents fils utilisés.
    J'adore la couleur du "King Tut"! Il faut dire qu'en général dès qu'il y a du bleu je craque :-)

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    1. Bonjour Khelana, oui la couleur du King Tut me plait beaucoup aussi mais il faut aimer travailler avec du fil très fin!

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  8. Dear Frivole, you convinced me to stick with DMC for quality and Lizbeth's for the colors. What made me smile, however, are the names chosen for the King Tut 's colors. Very imaginative! They feel like a nice cruise on the Nile!

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    1. I hadn't seen the names as there is only a number on the reel but I had a look, and you're right! I do wish the King Tut was a bit thicker as there are lots of pretty colours and it's a nice smooth thread.

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  9. I have been sent some prefect quilter, which it received on Thursday ( it was waiting for me when I got home) I really am interested in your three different threads and how they have worked out. I rarely use no 80 as I am getting older my eyes don't like it, I need very very good light.
    I am also I lover of the Altin Basak thread and find it the same as you. All the motifs are gorgeous thank you for comparing the different threads.
    Margaret

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