Friday, August 1, 2014

Fikkert's Ferns-Updated

If you are part of the Tatting group on Facebook you might have seen that a couple of us are working on (read: struggling with) Ben Fikkert's pattern "Ferns" from his book "A Tatting Adventure". 

"Ferns" is the pattern shown on the front of the book and includes quite a few Josephine chains and is deceptively hard and incredibly inclined to pucker, curl and do everything but lay down and play nice!

Here is the doily 2/3 of the way finished:

And here is where I am now, not much further along (but still quite curly):

I am working on the final round of the doily (eight identical leafy inserts connecting the eight fern fronds) and having a bit of trouble. The other lady who is working this pattern has been having tension troubles  with the Josephine chains in the first stages of the doily (her theory is that is has to do with Mr. Fikkert tatting more loosely than she does). I didn't have that kind of problem in the early rounds, but I am definitely struggling with these final inserts! 

Those "rings" on the lower part of the insert aren't rings, they're part of the chain that is apparently too long for the space it is in. And before you ask, yes, I did actually follow he pattern. I checked. Twice. 

So I'm not sure what's going on here, but I'm going to shorten the chain a bit and see if that fixes the issue...

And hopefully it does because, frankly, I'm ready to move on from the Ferns! :)

UPDATE!

Check out the insert on the far left... Hel-lo success! :)

12 comments:

  1. Looks like trouble, but understand how enticing those chains can be, got to love and hate them all at once!

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    1. Yep! I really enjoy josephines, so this one kept its interest to the end...but only just! :) I was glad to move on!

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  2. Looks like a very interesting pattern.

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    1. Interesting, frustrating, infuriating, yep :) I am giving it a rest before I tackle another Fikkert pattern--I love them, they are like tricky puzzles, probably really good for the brain but bad for the gray hairs!

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  3. At least i am very fond of the colors!

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    1. Thank you! I am too!! Green is my 2nd favorite color, so it was fun to do a multi-shade green pattern. :)

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  4. Great work! I love that last insertion. I am not going to try that pattern. Period. Or buy his book.

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    1. I have two of his books, and they are tough but oh so rewarding when you finally crack them! :)

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  5. I agree with Jane it looks an interesting pattern, not sure if I have the time to play with it. I would love to see his book.
    Margaret

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    1. It is a nice book. I have this one and one called "Floriade" which is even more intimidating...but I am looking forward to giving him another crack someday soon.

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