Medina 2nd post

Again I used size 20 thread but this time, to keep the chains more easily managed, I used a half double double stitch for them. Progress was made on sorting it out but I'm not happy at all as it's lost it's delicacy with these chains.

I also reckon it's not a size 20 project either and looked again at Louise's Juliana for which she used size 40. That's going to be my next attempt but without the half double double stitch. 

I think a lot more thought is needed on those!!!

Tidy for now

I completely forgot to show you my tatting corner and cupboard after I'd tidied it so here it is.

OK so it's not 'that' tidy but I've actually reorganised a lot of things and since then not been able to find certain things as you can imagine!!! 

The loom 'thing' on the second picture was given to me and I'm not sure what it's really for. Probably bead work but it's been hanging around for ages waiting for me to look at it properly!!! Maybe during lockdown I'll get roundtoit!!!!

Do you see the boxes on the bottom picture at the top and on the left? That's where tatting goes when it's finished. There's probably 20/30 years worth of bits and pieces in there but I've no idea where the previous thirty plus years of work went!!  Oh, there's another box somewhere too and a very small suitcase which has some in as well - ah, that's where a lot of the old stuff is, I think!!!

Let's talk about Medina

Now I KNOW you're going to ask 'who the heck is ‘Medina'!! Well Medina is the name of the pattern I've chosen to translate and write up next.  Let me tell you the story!!!

Many years ago Riet in The Netherlands gave me three little tatting pattern booklets. Obviously they were in Dutch which sort of put me off. Nevertheless I found a pattern I really, really liked and decided that I'd make it - and failed on the first few rounds!! 

Well, a few years later I went back to that pattern (Juliana) and settled down to translate it and also make it. When I'm designing I always type as I go so that I can easily go back and change stitch counts etc. Eventually I finished the pattern and it's on my site here.

During the process I tried and tried to find out who the designer was. I even wrote to the publishing company but never had a reply. The rest of this fascinating story can be found here.

So during the first week of meltdown (whoops, lockdown) I decided after Louise showed me her version of Juliana that it was time for another delve into the booklets. Why does my heart rule my head? I decided on this pattern.

Am I bonkers? YES!! 

This is my first attempt with dreadful size 20 thread and a lot of trepidation!!! All the chains are regular chains which twist and turn all over the place!!! 

3 Eggs

There's a delightful family who live across the road from us. We have a very localised Facebook page which is limited to our two roads and she put a notice on there asking if there were any kiddies that she could give little Easter eggs to. 

Well me being me made a jokey reply saying there were two old kids at our address and on Sunday morning I found two little eggs on the doorstep.

Now, as I said before, this family are delightful and so I wanted to do something back for them. Consequently (after another gardening stint) I sat down and made them these eggs. I didn't think the hubby would appreciate one so I made one for mum and the others for the two daughters. Well, that's not strictly true as one is now grownup and at university but you get my meaning, I'm sure!!!!

If you want the pattern in time for next Easter then the link is here. 

By the way, I went shopping last Thursday and there were queues which I'd not seen the week before. I puzzled about it for quite a while and then the penny dropped!!! It must be Easter weekend coming up!!! Since retirement and not now being 'governed' by school holidays I've lost track of some things. Bring back BC3, I say although I think he's only useful for tatting!!!!