I did also work a bit more on the tatted wheels. You know these are very simple but at the same time deceptively difficult to do well! My first one was a bit tight and this meant the rings were pulled out of shape when I pressed the wheel slightly at the end. So next time I thought I'd make a slightly longer joining picot between rings and changed the stitch count by one stitch. And now?... it frills! On the next one I would need to adjust the joining picot ever so slightly and that's what I mean: it's quite hard to get the spacing just right with the bare threads and the joining picots.
So yes, simple, but not quite that simple!
It does flatten easily with a little pressing but I'd like to get it just right.
At least on the second version (on the right)
the rings have their nice teardrop shape and the bare threads
look better too. They were a bit distorted on the first version.
The other problem with these little wheels is what to do with the ends and how to finish it. It's much harder to finish neatly when you are working with bare threads. How about you, how do you complete the last ring with its bare thread? There is no chain to hide into. I ended up putting two magic loops in the first small ring and hiding both ends into it but you need to actually knot the last end before pulling it with the magic loop otherwise it would fall apart too easily. Am I missing something, do you have a better solution?
Best wishes,
Frivole
I didn't think to gather any lavender this year, and now it's too late. I like your idea of the crocheted flowers as a pouch.
ReplyDeleteSince I avoid bare thread patterns, I have no suggestions. I'll be interested to read the responses!
Hard to hide the ends on single-shuttle patterns, you're right - no chains to hide the ends in. I do it the same way you do.
ReplyDeleteI sew that last thread in...
ReplyDeleteWhy are there two ends to hide? I think I'd hide the start end in the first ring and then sew the last end into the first ring too. Mind, I've not properly woken up yet!!!
ReplyDeleteTwo ends as in.... the starting end and the ending end! :-) I leave a bit of thread at the beginning to be able to make a split ring so that leaves one end at the beginning of your work and one end at the end. Otherwise, yes hide the first end in the first ring and sew the last one in or use a magic loop.
DeleteIch habe zwei Räder geknüpft und die Enden in den Ring vernäht
ReplyDeleteIt depends where I end but I do sew in all ends, either in chains or rings, the magic loop does not work for me as it always falls apart.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry they don't work for you as I'm rather a fan of magic loops... how do they fall apart? Do you mean the work falls apart afterwards?
DeleteThe simplest patterns are often the most difficult to get perfect. I'd do the same as Jane E, hide the starting thread inside the first ring as I worked it, and then sew the other end under the caps of the same ring.
ReplyDeleteI've never been happy with bare thread ends. Interesting to read what others do. Maybe someone will give the perfect answer.
ReplyDeleteThe sachet is perfect for the lavender. (I am often caught out without the color I want/need when traveling too!)
Fabulous sachet!!! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat wheels!! :)
There's a good discussion in Craftree about adding thread to single-shuttle, ring-only patterns. (http://www.craftree.com/forum/threadfs/32501?page=1)
ReplyDeleteHiding the ends when you've finished is a different matter, though. I suppose I would do the same as Jane E and Margaret - hide the starting thread in the first ring, and sew in the last end - making sure to do more stitches than usual. I'm cogitating on whether I'd tie a small knot in the thread after I've sewn it in...
That's the problem with bare thread work because your last link back to finish the work is a bare thread which is not anchored in any way. So you have to tie it somehow before hiding the end.
DeleteThanks for the link, I'll go have a look.
I hide ends like Jane described. With one small additional step, in order to secure the tail without a knot .... when sewing the tail from last ring, insert into base of 1st ring Twice - something like a backstitch ? This double insertion anchors the bare thread fairly well (try pulling on it) and then continue to weave into ring in 'opposite' direction/side.
ReplyDeleteI've done this for my caftan edging which is worn & washed frequently & none of the threads have dislodged. After a wash, while still damp, I even pull the rings into shape (to ease ironing) & the hidden ends stay put.
Hope this helps too