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,