Ice Queen

That's what I decided to call my new pattern.  I hope you like it.  I would say this is an intermediate to advanced pattern because of the loop-tatted rings and because of some of the joins.  But as I said in the previous post, it's all really a matter of a bit of practice and I'm sure most tatters would get the hang of LTRs pretty quickly.  I will have to amend my LTR video to show that I now hardly ever finger-tat but instead I slip a post shuttle onto the loop and use it to make the stitches instead of finger-tatting:  much quicker!

I made it again as I was testing the pattern, in blue this time.  I need to get more bugle beads really - I had some silver ones somewhere but I can't find them.  I think it would look nice with silver.  I added a couple of extra stitches to the LTRs as mentioned in the previous post and I prefer it that way.

The pattern is now written up...  I'm just debating whether I should have it test-tatted but I know everyone is so busy at this time of year so I don't dare ask anyone as I'd like to have it done NOW!  Here I go again with my impatience.  Anyone keen?  Only one or two at most would be fab.

I would like to thank Shannon, Jeff, Margaret and Michelle for test-tatting the Snow Crystals pattern (available now).  I really appreciate their help.  Shannon (Shannon-in-Love) made her picots longer than mine, feeling they would look more snowflake-like:

Snow Crystals tatted by Shannon

I'd have to agree, they look great with longer picots.

And one last thing:  the tiny latch hook I mentioned in the last post - I was so pleased that I ordered a second one, but it's not the same!  Be careful, there are different sizes in these tiny hooks and the new one I bought is bigger than the one with the yellow cap and does not fit through bugle beads.  The yellow and red one says Inox 4/0 on the cap.  I'll have a search to see if I can locate one.

Hope to have "Ice Queen" ready really soon.  Keep an eye out if you are interested in trying your hand at this challenging pattern.

Oh, and I nearly forgot why I particularly wanted to do a blogpost today:  it's the 12th day of the 12th month in 2012.  Special day, think you not?  And there won't be another matching date like this for 89 years!  So make the most of this one!

12.12.12

Best wishes,

What About This One?... and Wonder Tool!

Still thinking about snowflakes - when there's so many other things I should be doing! - and how to get a more angular look and the idea of using bugle beads floated into my mind...  yes, they would make a nice angle or point, wouldn't they?  This snowflake evolved from there.

It has, in fact, lost some of the angularity given by the bugle beads because of the shape of elements I added around the beads but I still think it's worked out interesting.

This may not be for the faint-hearted:  I used thrown rings, mock rings, even loop-tatted rings and some slightly unusual joins.  But after making a series of loop-tatted rings, I've decided they're not difficult either really.  As with everything, it's just a bit of practice.   I wanted a straight up bugle bead with a ring on top so that's the technique I needed to use.

This is my first sample but I will be playing with it some more.  I'm going to try it with a larger ring on top of the bugle for one thing and I already have other ideas I want to try too... it's finding the time!  I could also have a few seed or delica beads around the edges to add even more sparkle.  As always:  so many ideas, never enough time.  And I definitely need to re-do it in different colours.

And finally, I just had to bring to your attention this wonderful little tool I just rediscovered and how perfect it is for tatting!

I've had this tiny latch hook for years, using it when making Honiton lace, which is worked with some of the finest cotton there is.  I don't know what made me think about it all of a sudden but I was finding it fiddly to get the bugle beads on the thread and my other hooks were way too big to get through the hole... so I had to use a bit of thread to get the bead onto my tatting thread... but this little hook!  What a marvel!  It's so tiny, it gets through most beads, including bugle beads.  Wonderful.

Tatted in size 20 Lizbeth, Ecru

Best wishes,

More on Snowflakes

Whilst working some more on the snowflake from the previous post, another idea popped into my mind...  I think it's worked out kinda neat.

And this is the first snowflake that I remade, testing whether I'm happy with the point.  I still like the overall shape of the snowflake but not completely happy with its construction.  So the point... I thought I was being clever by making a ONE STITCH SCMR.  That's how I got the point.  I think it does give a better pointy shape than making an SLT or a lock stitch.  I've tried all three options and I think that, with a bit of refinement, the one-stitch-SCMR works well.  I'll try to get comparative photos in a future post.

I worked this one in a size 10 too-fluffy thread which I don't really like.  

I've also not abandoned the hanky edging.

I work on it here and there, in between other stuff,

and have now turned the second corner.

On the other hand, I just don't know where I put the butterfly doily!  It has temporarily disappeared.  It never ceases to amaze me how things can just vanish in this house.  Hopefully it will re-surface soon and I might find time to do some work on it during the Christmas holiday.

Best wishes,

Flocon d'Or & Square Elegance

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17.09 - Adding a P.S. at the top... not quite ready to make next blogpost 
but wanted to let you know that I've added the video on how to do the join 
on the second half of a split ring (as in the butterfly pattern) for those 
who would like it:  Here is the link.
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First of all, I have completed my second 25-motif challenge (Square Elegance was number 25).  I want to thank Sharon very much for all the work she puts into keeping the website up to date with all the inspiring tatting from everyone.

I now realise that I tat so much (without needing any further incentive!) that it's time to leave the space for other participants though I will still be visiting regularly to see what everyone else is up to!

Thank you Sharon!

In the last post, I mentioned that I had found the 12-sided star ornaments from a lady on a local market.  Well, amazingly, just when I was wondering if she was still around, she was there yesterday!  I was delighted to find out she still had some of the ornaments I was after so I bought all that she had left.  This has enabled me to offer the pattern WITH ornaments for those who would like to try it but cannot find said doodads!  Pattern is also available just as a pdf for those who are already equipped.

This is the snowflake I will be sending to 

my family and friends in their Christmas cards this year

And here is "Square Elegance", take two.  This is more the look I was after, with a bolder outline.  When I wrote the first post title about this motif, I wasn't thinking of the name for the design itself but as Diane called it that on her blog, "Square Elegance" it will be!  For those who preferred the look of the first version, you can easily leave out the 4th round and put the trefoils on the third round instead.

My thanks to Neeneral and Miranda for test-tatting the pattern.

What's interesting with this design is that I quite like the look after every round.  So you could choose how big or how small you want the tatting to be around the centre ornament.

Here are photos of Square Elegance after each round.

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Same round as a diamond

Round 4

The completed motif

... and as a diamond

Now I know a few people downloaded this pattern when I had it up for a short while earlier in the week.  I decided I liked it too much and wanted to have it as part of my collection on Etsy.  I am happy for those of you who were quick and downloaded it, I don't want you to give it back or anything!  In fact, I will give it away some more, to the first 10 who say they want it in the comment section of this post.  After that, I will put it in my Etsy shop.  Please make sure, if you want the pattern, that there is an email connected with your account where I can reach you or leave me your address or send it to me using the "Email Frivole" link at the top of this page.

Best wishes,

I know It's a Bit Early...

but this snowflake just "happened".  After working with Diane's square ornaments (they are SO pretty and I shall be doing more with them), I went ferreting in my bits & bobs and found a few round ornaments I'd never done anything with.

This little one with 12 points caught my attention so I just played around with it and came up with this:

Now, what I'd like to know is:  are these ornaments easy for people to find?  Is it worth publishing patterns that require an added "doodad" or should I stick to patterns with just tatting (maybe the occasional bead)?  Oh wait, I know, I shall adapt it so you can tat it with or without ornament though it's true in this case, the ornament adds a lot to the prettiness of the design.

So far I'm not having much success finding the "doodads" here in the UK but then I'm not even sure what to Google for!  What name should I put in the search box to see if I can find these "components"?  I'm sure they must be available here somewhere!  I'll keep trying.

I got these off a market stall in our village some time ago.  I shall have to check if the lady still comes around next market day.  

Oh, and anyone to test-tat the Square Elegance pattern?  You must have square ornaments 1.5cm wide (5/8").  I'll send the pattern to the first 2-3 who respond.  Thank you!

Best wishes,

Snowflake Pattern Ready

Thank you to all those who expressed an interest in getting the pattern for my snowflake.  So here it is.  The pattern requires you to know how to start on a chain, make a split ring and self-closing mock rings (I have made videos for two of these techniques, links in the side bar).

I would be most grateful to the first few who will wish to tat this, to let me know if they find mistakes (there are bound to be some!) so I can correct them as quickly as possible.

Yes!  Somebody has already found one and I have just reloaded the pattern!


IF YOU DOWNLOADED THIS PATTERN YESTERDAY, I HAVE NOW CORRECTED A FEW THINGS KINDLY POINTED OUT BY TATTERS, SO PLEASE RE-PRINT!  Thank you.

Here it is in size 20, 40 and 80 threads.

Best wishes,

And Another...

A third motif from Susanne Schwenke's book.  Again requiring a fair amount of thinking!  If I were to make it again, I would make my picots a bit longer.  I tend to make them quite small as a habit (I think when you keep them short, they keep their shape and also withstand washing better) but I think this particular design would have benefitted from longer picots.

I also took another photo of the green snowflake

as I wasn't happy with the previous one.

Here it is on a light background instead of a dark like in the previous post.

Really like this one and have just noticed the little star that

appears in the very middle.

Best wishes,