My brains are turning towards the Fairs this summer, but also wandering around all the patterns I've been seeing while focusing almost solely on pineapples, so it's been rather odd here.
Anyway, I've settled on a couple of tester patterns, neither of which are terribly pretty, but have been good practice for new or challenging skills.
This is a very poor execution of Mark Myers (aka Tat-Man's) Pattern Edging #1, which includes a zig-zag chain in the middle.
I actually had another zig-zag chain all made, but it got a little weird...when I started making the outside rounds, the chain started slipping and spread out to unusable proportions...lest I go crazy (I have no patience today)I decided to move on to something else...
I have so many handkerchiefs I've got to start edging them. Georgia Seitz sent me a couple Ila Frost edgings that use block tatting, another challenging skill I want to work on.
Both of these skills need a lot more work, and neither of these smells are perfect, but not everything has to be exactly right as long as you learn something from the process.
Right? :)
You really are increasing in your tatting knowledge I love seeing what you are up to :) I like the colors you have chosen too.
ReplyDeleteThanks! It is amazing how challenging tatting can be, even though we simply make the same knot over and over...
DeleteRight! Your experiments look very interesting, especially the top one.
ReplyDeleteThanks! When I did it the second time, I did it with size 80, and I noticed those stitches slipped so much more...I'm going to have another try at a later time, to see what went wrong...
DeleteLots of ways to do block tatting too. Martha's the expert on that skill!!!
ReplyDeleteYes...I tend to like your way, where you don't have to switch shuttles, but I often get confused when looking at the patterns vs. the photos, looking specifically at which direction the tops of the knots face--you can see that one of the four blocks above is going the "wrong" way, or at least the opposite way of the other three...and I none of the blocks are the square they are supposed to be...it's a work in process I think. I'll have to keep my eye on Martha's work to see if I can gain some pointers!
DeleteBoth projects look great from here!! :)
ReplyDeleteOh, thank you! The first picture is a little blurry--it makes it harder to see all the mistakes! ;)
DeleteI agree with all others - your experiments & pieces are very interesting & inspiring :-)
ReplyDeleteI like the effect of thread colours in your block tatting piece :-)
THank you very much! I love orange, and I love green, and I love them together. I was certainly not disappointed to have four shuttles with green and orange that I'm working to empty! :)
DeleteIt's nice to learn and revisit different skills in tatting, they may not be prefect but at least you gave it go and next time it will be better. Interesting combination on the blocked motif.
ReplyDeleteMargaret
I think we all have bits and pieces of "experimental"/"new"/"Oops!" tatting. But, really, everything you do is part of your education. If no one ever pushed their limits, we would all be making straight chains with an occasional ring. ;-) I love watching your progress.
ReplyDeleteMy mind is boggled by how much tatting and experimenting you do, especially after moving to a new country and being in new situations all the time. I have to be 'quiet and calm' to be creative, and especially to work on new ideas. Your pineapple doily is stunning, and I agree with showcasing it on a pillow
ReplyDeleteI'm only now reading your recent posts, after you got the internet hooked up. It must seem weird that Australia will be heading into winter. I'm afraid that would throw my 'sense of time' off quite a bit.. I have trouble just getting used to Daylight Savings Time! We seemed to abruptly start having daylight in the evening (which I love), but my mind thinks it's only 4 in the afternoon when it's really 7 pm, and I haven't started dinner yet! .
Always look forward to reading about your adventures!