22 May 2020

Trying to decide


I'm trying to decide which is my favourite but it's impossible!!! I don't often like using variegated threads but for these it seems to work well. After all butterflies aren't just one colour, are they?

Work is almost done on the drawings so now I just have to assemble the page and fit it onto the blank pages in a way that will save paper and ink for those who want to print it out.

This is always a major, MAJOR concern of mine - saving the planet by trying to fit everything onto as few sheets as possible but making the pattern easily readable. 

Personally I never print off a pattern whether mine or anybody else's. I work entirely in a digital form. I check that the patterns fit a page by doing a 'print preview' and then, when I'm happy, it's a 'done deal'!!! That's the beauty of using Pages (I use a mac) as it's so easy to move stuff around.

Right - time for a cuppa!!!!



21 May 2020

It just HAD to happen


Addiction set in. 

These little cuties are such fun to make. Although you do have to do one cut and tie but that's all there is. I've made it so you can progress from the body to one set of side wings which helps a lot. 

Drawings have started for the finished pattern so lockdown is still working in my favour!!! 

Lockdown gives me time to start and finish within a short timescale - just cause I can't go far to find/make mischief!!!



20 May 2020

Next project and an apology


First of all an apology from a silly old moooooo.  That's me!!!  I'd done a 4th drawing for the small bow and somehow deleted it before 'pdf'ing it and uploading it!!!  I've corrected myself and given my left hand a slap with my right  hand!  The 4th diagram is now on the pattern.

Now the next project that I'm doing is the butterfly in one of the Dutch books.

The first puzzle to me was the fact that there appeared to be two of them with slightly different bodies. You can see them in the picture below.

Once I'd translated the pattern and read and re-read it a few times I realised that the one on the left with the ends dangling was the same but 'not quite finished'. So I've abandoned the nun's destructions for the body as it involved sewing the it into a tube and went in search of another idea.

Well, there it was right under my stupid little nose. It's part of the fairy that I did here. As the legs/arms of the design have been stolen by two other people for their 'original’ patterns - and without asking me first, I thought it would be OK to use the idea for the new body.

So, I've modified it a little and it's now the new body of the butterfly.

I need to draw this up and do all the usual 'stuff' to it and then I'll share it. I may have to bore you with a few more pictures in the meantime as I'm going to enjoy making these!!! 



19 May 2020

Bow pattern finished.


Finally finished the links yesterday so here's the completed pattern.

I hope somebody will make it and use the spiral tatting from the link I shared yesterday.

Now, what shall I do next?!?!?


18 May 2020

A finished bow!!


Well the fiddling around with it and sorting it out is finished but now I have to finish the text and drawings to go with the actual tatting!!! 

This is the Dutch bow that I found in the little books and fell in love with. It's got the spiral tatting in it and this was where I learned the trick of making the spiral chain!!!  Here's a 'how to' page.

Hope to have the pattern finished by tomorrow - there are certain advantages to lockdown!!! Keeping me in captivity forces me to actually complete things!!!

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Happy Beaks

Happy Beaks
I beg your pardon? I didn't quite catch what you said.