To lock or not to lock - that is the question!!

Interesting question here!!!

I was reading this blog yesterday and it got the old brain cell out of hibernation!!!  Thanks, Rose Anne for permission to link, much appreciated (it woke up number 3)!!!

I looked at her little practice piece (that's the second picture down) after admiring her first designs.  First thing that I noticed was that she'd tied a knot to start.  Exactly what I'd have done in that situation because I'd be wanting to get to the real issue which was the false picot.  


I then (because of the knot and where brain cell number 3 was going) got to thinking about the magic thread trick and why I've never used it (well, I did once and the ends came straight out!).  So here is my 'how to' for starting off a ring without tying a knot or using the MTT (although actually the following is an MTT without the hassle of extra bits of thread or wire or flossers).

I tuck the small end round my core thread and TOTT (tat over the tail).  Here's what it looks like before the ring has been closed (left).  Hang on, I've got a drawing that I've done for the next TIAS.  I'll pop that in here too (that's the one on the right!).

  

Now, 'what if' (like Rose Anne) you have a split ring next with a 'false picot' in between the two.  There are several ways of dealing with this but this works best for me.

In the scan below I have started the ring exactly the same way as above by TOTT - but this time I have laid the second colour alongside and behind the original small tail leaving another end to tat over.  This doesn't make the ring noticeably thicker.  Well, I don't think it does!!!  


A handy 'hint' here if you're clumsy like me is to put a paperclip on the second end's tail to stop you accidentally pulling it back out!!!  How and why did I learn that trick?  Guess - I did pull the end out several times!!!

So the ring is worked over both tails and closed.  If you look at the scan below you'll be able to see the gold end 'peaking out' where it finished.  Normally I'd make sure the end was left at the back and it would stay there until I'd finished the whole piece.  I'd then give it an extra tug before snipping so that it would slacken off and wiggle back into the work.  Please note that I was using 'rat's tail cord' for this demonstration - not easy to work with!!!

Now, if you need to leave a false picot in between the ring and the next split ring it is currently being advised that folks should do a lock stitch (tie a knot).  I'm going to throw a spanner in the works here and say - please don't!!!  It will make an ugly place in the tatting.  All you need to do is leave a space of bare thread and start the first side of the split ring.  See next scan.

When the first side of the SR has been finished - leave another small space and make the second side of the split ring as normal!!!  Again take  a peak at the scan below (left).  Viola - no need to do a lock stitch!!!  


The scan on the right shows the same thing but with the lock stitch in between.  I rest my case and will put brain cell number 3 back into hibernation!!!!


Oh, before he goes I may show a way of avoiding the lock stitch if a chain is going to be worked after a ring or SR.  Does anybody want to see this?

   

Yet again!

I saw Sally's post the other day with all her butterflies on and decided to try using my 'mixed up' beads too!!!

Here's just one butterfly worked with those.  Under that one is another using the Lizbeth Jellybean thread.

I really must settle down and do something new but time is racing by and I've a lot of other stuff going on at the moment which means I have to sort those out rather than the new TIAS!!!  When I get an hour or two I do settle down to that but finding the time is a real problem.

Anyway, enough wingeing from me - it ain't my style!!!  Can't stand hearing myself moan so I'm sure others can't either!!!

     

More butterflies!!!!

Of course yesterday's pattern doesn't have to be used for a bookmark!!!  Even I've worked that out!!!

Here are a few made with some thread which has been in my stash for ages.  I've no idea what it is but it's worked out at about a size fifty, I guess. 

I've no idea what I'm going to do with these wee bugs but I'm sure they'll find themselves being used for something soon enough!!!

A butterfly!

I know that everybody's thinking and tatting for the holiday season but you know me - I have to be a tad different!!!!  I have a problem.  A BIG problem.  A HUGE problem.  A MEGGA problem.  I'll tell you what it is!!!

When I have an idea and have fiddled and messed with it and it finally becomes a pattern I have NO patience.  I can't keep it for months or weeks or even days!!!  I HAVE to share it.  If I could keep it then I'd be able to launch things like this at the right time of the year but ...........

The reason for altering the Funny Face and making this little butterfly (into bookmarks) is for a reason which I'll share in late January.  A very good reason, I think!!!

I did share the pattern with Sally and (like me!) she can't stop making them so in order to stop us both from our addiction I've added the pattern to my site this morning.  


The picture below shows the pattern worked with a pearl tatted 'tail' instead of the lock chain on the written pattern.  I used this method (the lazy way!!) to make this.

Another Snowsettia from 'foreign parts'

Now I've known Elizabeth who made this version of the Snowsettia for years. She pops into my inbox from time to time and always with a smile.

She sent me her version of the Snowsettia for me to share. Thanks Elizabeth from Mobile, Alabama.

Reporting in!!!

Sorry I missed my blogging yesterday - put it down to a 'long lie in' in bed!!!  Saturday was great.  I got into the overflow car park just before it 'overflowed' itself.  I got there about half an hour after the fair opened.  YIKES.

The venue is lovely.  Modern, spacious etc.  All the usual UK suppliers were there with ample supplies and loadsa lovely threads and beads.

Now, for those who wanted to see what I bought - you're going to be dissapointed, I'm afraid.  I came home with - waaaaiiiit for it!!!!  Two balls of black number 80 thread (one for me and one for Sally), a number 40 in black for Sally, and a ball of Lizbeth variegated.  That's all, I'm afraid!!!!  I came home with so much 'stuff' from my trip to the USA that I really didn't need anything else!!!  


I saw my friends from the Ring of Tatters who had a splendid 'pitch' decorated with all their Christmas tatting.  BOY, were they busy.  I had the wonderful pleasure of meeting a lady who's sent me nearly (or more than) 1,000 motifs for the bookmarks over the years - that was a great experience.  


Most people who go to the event appear to be bobbin lacers but there was a terrific interest in tatting too.  I saw Jennifer, Jean, Lynne and Ruth (on the ROT pitch) sell loads of the DVD's which can also be found here.  HECK, you didn't expect to read a blog post without an advert for the ROT, did you?!?!?!?


Oh, I spotted Rosemarie Peel at one point when I was busy talking to somebody else but didn't bump into her to speak to - bummer.  I think Pam Palmer was there from what rumour said.  Again I didn't see her to speak to.  It was very busy there as usual!!!


Yesterday (most of the day) was spent chopping up the TIAS pattern into bits and starting in on the extra drawings and explanations.  Kept me quiet for hours!!!

Off out for the day!

Today I'm going to the Lace Fair in Solihull.  The Ring of Tatters will be there and loads of suppliers.

I've been saving my pennies so I've got some 'spare' to shop for threads and beads.  I shouldn't - I know I shouldn't but a girl's got to do what a girl's got to do!!!

I wonder who I'll meet there?  I'll let you know when I get back!!! 

I'll probably have to spend Sunday out 'on the streets' with my begging bowl!!!!!  Wonder where my sleeping bag is - I could be homeless by the middle of next week!!!!

For those who don't know me - I'm JOKING!!!!

Funny Face finished

I've finished the 'new' Funny Face bookmark and it's on my site.  I'm putting one on this blog post again to show you how it looks with a bead in it's mouth!!!!

You may notice that I've altered the home page again.  The reason was that all I'd ever done in the past is use either Front Page or Sharepoint and 'mess' with the first original page that I did.  Because of that the html was in a right mess so the only thing to do was 'bite the bullet' and start again with a clean sheet. Well,  almost.  I'm not going down the route of learning html - too much tatting to do!!!

I didn't have to put all the links in again because I was able to copy and paste them from the orginal but I did make up new tables, borders and rectify lots and lots of stupid formatting.  Do hope it looks a bit better now.  It'll never be perfect cause I just ain't that clever or dedicated to it!!!

My next project should also be ready soon.  Keep checking in!!!! 

Here's the finished bookmark - packed in a cellophane package ready to give away.  I think he's a handsome 'beast'!!!!

What do you think?

I've got several things to give you but just been having a bit of a busy time in my 'other' life lately that they're not quite ready to go - the funny face and a.n.other!!!!

So, I've been thinking (yes, I can, you know!).

Do you remember - I did the first ever TIAS two years ago?  It seems such a long time ago but when I looked it up I found that it was only two years!!!

Well I was wondering if there's anybody out there in tat land who'd like to do another?  I've got a suitable pattern ready (well, almost!) so I'd like to play!!!  I'm thinking of starting it in early January when life needs cheering up for those of us who live in the Northern Hemisphere!!!!

This time I think that anybody who can do rings, chains and split rings will be able to tackle this TIAS.  I will be adding a few suggestions, tips and tricks as it goes along.  They'll be my personal tips and tricks but it would be good to have other people's input too.

What do you all think?

Some earrings

I have been very impressed with Jane and her fantastic attempt at the Snowsettia design.

BUT what pleases me even more is how she's now gained courage from that to make these earrings.  This is the sort of thing which keeps me inspired to carry on making more 'daft ideas' come to life.  Thanks, Jane and all who 'sail with her'.

Problem solved!!

This isn't totally about tatting today but for me it is 'related'.

I belong to quite a few yahoo groups which are tatting related.  I'm really nosey and like to know what's going on in 'tat land' but rarely have a lot to say, believe it or not!!!!

I also use the yahoo calendar which I've got set up to remind me 24 hours and 12 hours before an event that it is 'about to happen'.  I have reminders for when to return library books, collect 'pills and potions' from the vets (sorry, mean doctor), birthdays, appointments etc.  This is fine BUT there were also reminders from all the groups on my PERSONAL callendar which really annoyed me.  For several years and on many occasions I've tried to find out how to 'get rid of' these annoying 'other' reminders!!!  I nearly left one group because of them!!!

In the end after poking around and around the yahoo help files etc I emailed them for help.  I had a very quick reply (overnight, in fact) and they told me exactly what to do.  It was SO easy that I now feel a total plonker.  Here's their solution for anybody who may have had the same problem as me.

If you would like to disable the Group Time Guide, please follow the steps below in your Yahoo! Mail account:

1. Click the "Calendar Options" link in the lower right corner of the Calendar page.

2. Click on the "Time Guides" link.

3. Uncheck the three (3) boxes next to the Group that you do not want displayed.
4. Then click the "Save" button.

Now for something different.

While you've all been looking at the snowsettia motif I've been quietly (well, no, not quietly - I never do anything quietly!) working on other 'stuff'!!!

Since changing over to the mac all I've wanted to do is play with the new drawing program.  So one of my priorities was to look again at this pattern which has caused people a few heartaches!!!!

This was originally done for the Palmetto Tat Days in 2004 and proved a steep learning curve for those taking part.  The main problem was that I tried to fit too many 'things' into the second SR.  Since then time has moved on and dear brain cell number 3 has moved in!!!!

So I've now re-written this pattern (for the better, I hope!) and will shortly upload it to replace the original.  IF there's anybody daft enough to want the original then I will warn you that it will be gone soon!!!!

This has also proved yet again how tatting has progressed even over the few years since I first did this pattern.  New techniques certainly help!!! 

The Finale

Just messing around the other day and decided I wanted to see all the motifs in their full glory!!!!

Here they are - warts and all!!!  I just flung them on the scanner in no particular way.

Two more task nows - to add invisible hangers and give them away!!!!

Last two

First of all thank you to Gina at the Tattinggoddess blog.  I've 'stolen' your suggestion for a search bar and I love it.


You'll be pleased to know that these are the last two!!!  I'm SO bored with these now.

This pair are for special people.  My son in law and daughter.  

I mention him first as he usually 'nags' for the tatted decorations - bless him.

Tomorrow there will be something special to celebrate the end of this phase of my tatting life!!!!!

Now for yellow and white

I never realised how much easier life would become with the new mac!!!  Yesterday I decided to list some Christmassy things in my Etsy shop.  This is a 'chore' that I'm not fond of as I've no patience with myself and how long things take to do!!  I decided to list 'one or two' things but landed up putting loads up there.

All the things listed are what I've made 'in between' new designs.  I tend to tat what I want on those occasions with no particular goal in mind!!!  Thus the house fills up with pretties that eventually have to find their way out of the door.  Hopefully a few will make it out over the next few weeks!!!

Still on the lighter colours and I'm almost done with the Christmas dangles now.

Next thing on the list?  Ah, you wait and see!!!!!

Something more 'ladylike'!!!

You're not going to believe these two. 

These are in 'ladylike' colours.  Considering my usual choices you may well be surprised!!!

I scanned the second one with the lid of the scanner up - a fabulous tip that Teri Dusenbury gave me some time ago. 

That gal rocks - not only a fantastic tatter and a tat land treasure but also very clever with the computer too.  Thank you, Teri.

Who would ever have thought?

Well I wouldn't have!!!  Purple and orange together?  No WAY.

BUT I think it works!!!  Nope, I don't think it works.  I know it does!!!!  Positive thinking, OG, positive thinking in yer old age!!!!

  

Aunty Nelly

I had an Aunty Nelly when I was little and I was her favourite goddaughter.  She married later in life and she and Uncle Earnest never had children.

I used to stay with her for a few days at a time in Coventry (just after the war) and remember things like seeing the bombed Cathedral etc.  I was born in 1943 so was very young.  I digress.

When I was a teenager I remember visiting her in a new skirt.  One which I adored.  My mother made it for me and it was blue with a green print on it.  Aunty Nelly was appalled and quoted 'blue and green should never be seen'.  

All my life since then I've wondered about colour combinations and this pair is just to prove Aunty Nelly wrong!!!!!

Does my?

"Does my bum look big in this"?  Sorry, couldn't resist that!!!  It should read "does my BANNER look big in this"?  Thanks to all again for suggestions and taking the time to even look at the ramblings and struggling of this OG!!!  


Seriously I had poor old brain cell number 3 working on the banner for a while yesterday but am not sure if it's any better!!!


Two completely different dangles today.  Both made a few weeks ago (and lost and found!!).

The first one is done in my favourite combination of really outrageous colours - bright pink and bright orange!!

The second is green (obviously!) and a variegated thread called 'jelly bean' which is one of the Lizbeth number 20 range.

Pink and Blue

Thank you to all those who told me my banner is oversized on the top of the blog!!!  I'm going to work on it today but that's a bit difficult when it looks fine to me on three browsers and two computers!!!  Tell you what, I'll dig out and polish off brain cell number 3 and get him to give me a hand!!!!

Now for two using pink and blue.

Another and new breed of poinsettia, do you think?!?!?

YIKES!!!!

Just messing around on my new toy the other day and this is what I came up with - a self portrait!!!

Just so as not to frighten people too much I left out my sticky out teeth!!!

Seriously - I'm really enjoying this new drawing software and can't leave it alone!!  I've got a new banner here on the blog and a new one on my Etsy store.  I know I should be drawing tatting diagrams but wanted to do something else and 'just for fun'.

More of my motifs coming sooooon.

Another pair

Now I made these two a few weeks ago when I was still working on the pattern.

I really like this combo.  Least I do until the next pair I make!!!

Watch out tomorrow for a frightening post - something different!!

The 'other one'!

No wine (well, only a small glass!) on Saturday so the other green/orange one got finished.  Slightly different orange which I found on a pair of shuttles which I'd obviously left lying around to use and then gone off and got another pair.  Oh to have a tidy mind!!!

I'll show them both side by side.  Sorry, running a day late on blogging!!

More to show!

Don't go yawning now!!!  I know it's more of the same thing but I really have a lot to make and not much time to do them in!!!

Having said that - I will be blogging other stuff in between!!!!

I just LOVE playing with colours but really need to look at the 'not quite so bright' ones.  These cheer up the dull winter evenings so much. 

There should've been another to go with this one - one with an orange middle.  Something went wrong yesterday evening - something to do with a glass of red wine and being tired.  I fell asleep (as often happens) with shuttles in my hand!!!!  Hopefully you'll get to see the other one tomorrow!!!!

Nicole's work

For those of  you who remember - below are pictures of the finished piece that Nicole designed and made with the black strips I did for her back earlier this year.

Unfortunately the strips don't show up very well on the photos as the base fabric is this rather gorgeous blue.  I'm sure it looked stunning.

Nicole not only designed this dress but made it too.  She just ran out of time over the tatting as she's a full time student.  What a splendid advert for tatting.  Maybe as she becomes famous as a fashion designer her love of our craft will show through in more of her work.

    

Another of the giveaways.

I've been dying to try this pattern out with different colours so this time I've used an ancient and no longer available variegated Manuela thread on the one pair of shuttles.  The other pair have white on.

Not sure if I really like it but somebody suggested a pale blue and white so I may have a 'go' at that soon too. 

I counted up yesterday and found I need almost 20 giveaways this year.  My one son in law always 'nags' me for them so he's priority.  Shame his wife no longer tats!!!

Question - when is a fairy NOT a fairy?

Answer - when it's either a snowman or a Santa!!!!

These were both made by Geraldine who said:

'Hi jane, just finished this little man it go's with my snowman. Yes feel free to blog . It's your pattern. Have made a copy of your e-mails and blog.'

Just for those who don't know - Geraldine has taken the flower fairy pattern and used it as a basis for these two little decorations.  Guess what I'll be making soon - when I've done another one or two of the Snowsettias!!!!

   

More of the same but with news

Just thought I'd let you all know (and myself too!) that I've decided on which drawing programme I'm going to use on the mac.  I tested many.  Some free and others 'not so free'!!!

I didn't go for the high end ones as I knew I'd never need all the 'bells and whistles' either.  I actually finished up with EazyDraw which you can find here.  You can download a trial of it but it does limit you to what you can do.  I tested it out by deleting as I tested over the space of several days.  I then decided to go ahead and take the $20 option and will make a further payment for the full licence in a couple of months time.  Hopefully there will be 'pennies' in the bank by then!!!!

Now what I DO like about this package is the 'drawing a curve' tool.  I've found that I can get instant and very beautiful curves with this.  Apart from the learning curves of new technical words (for the same things as Serif) the whole thing is drop dead easy.  IF there's anybody out there in tat land who uses this package or who intends to try it then I'll happily exchange ideas and 'tricks'!!!

Below is a very quick drawing I did when I found out how to add little 'nodes' (well, that's what I call 'em!) to an already 'noded' line.  Took about five minutes!!!

The end!

The last few centimetres.  This will soon be winging it's way to London.  Thank goodness the Postal strikes are now over!!!

Next project?  Well I've still to make my Secret Santa package up but have decided finally what I'm going to make!!! 

I'll also need to do lots more giveaways too. Watch this space for more fun on it's way!!!!

The penultimate 'bit'!

Nearly there now with the random tatting!!

I've also put the new Snowsettia (thanks Carol for the name suggestion) up on my site.  The direct link is here .

Let me tell you a little bit about this pattern.  First of all it's a four shuttle pattern with a lot of alligator joins.  The two colours interweave over and around each other.  It looks a little complicated but it really isn't.   There's one VERY small split chain (which you can avoid!!!) and the rest consists mainly of split rings.  I hope I've written it down clearly enough for most people to follow!!

A few more centimetres along the way

This is the 'story so far'!!

Another day, another few centimetres!!!

During the day I'm doing something I've been promising myself for ages.  I'm tidying up my computer.  The new mac, that is.

Over the years I've collected SO much on tatting that I've just flung into a folder called 'tatting stuff'.  I did start making sub folders some years ago and there are a lot of famous names who have folders on the mac!!!  Some contain test tatting I've done, some have patterns and others have pictures.  There's still a lot of stuff which needs filing though.

Also the search for a new drawing program continues.  I've got it narrowed down to a choice of one!!!  I'll fill you in on that when I've finally decided.  I've got a limited trial version at the moment and so far have found it to be as good as if not better than the one I was using on the PC!!!

Another day, more progress

Before I start my daily talk to myself I must remember to tell myself (you, it, him, her, them, etc!!!!) that I listed some more bags in my Etsy shop yesterday.  Is there anybody out there who's interested?  Well, just in case, here's the link!!!!!

I have until the 4th December to get this back to Nicole so I don't feel under any stress at all.  It's going to be hard, very hard to get back to a pattern again!!!

The main problem with working  on this and which has to be 'checked' with a tape measure every half hour or so, is keeping within the .05 and 4.00 centimetre specification!!!  Having said that it does keep me out of mischief!!!

Now that Halloween's over!!!

Before I bought the new mac I was working hard on a new pattern.  I haven't rushed things as I knew that all those who celebrate Halloween would maybe miss this post!!!  It's just a small motif but a little bit different, I think.  It's going to be my Christmas giveaway.

As it's quite a 'dense' piece it doesn't really need to be in a metal ring and stands up well 'as is'.  I MAY stiffen it but maybe I won't.  Dithering again, Jane!!!!

I'm still not quite finished with the destructions (whooops, mean instructions/pattern) but I'm hoping to be finished by the end of this week.  Then the only problem will be 'resolving' it all on the new 'toy'!!!!!

It will measure just 3" across when worked in a number 20 thread.  I've made quite a few of them so shortly you'll see lots of samples!!!

I've thought of giving this design a name.  Now, now, don't collapse in amazement!! I did think of calling it a poinsettia!!!  Not sure it's enough like one, though!!!

Further along!!!

I'm now at 28 centimetres and Nicole needs 65.  Still enjoying the fact that I'm not writing it down as I go along like I usually do when designing.  I use a laptop for that which makes it a lot easier and more efficient to do 'on the hoof'.

Here is the latest part and the whole thing so far.  This will be the last time you'll see the piece in it's entirety as it won't fit on the scanner any longer!!!!

Did I tell you what it's going to be used for?  It's an 'insert/outsert' to go in a dress or skirt.  It will 'meander' between two pieces of fabric and over the fabric too.  Sounds quite a task to me.

 

Fascinating stuff

This is a really seriously weird way to tat - with no pattern and no real 'direction' except a 'straightish' line!!!

I think I might have to take an evening 'off' soon as it's not as easy as it looks.  Making decisions about which way to go next and how to get there.  Sounds like my life in general and I try not to be forced to make those sorts of decisions EVER!!!

I just hope that Nicole is pleased with it.  In a strange sort of way I'm learning from doing it but I'm very, very glad I've got a few years tatting experience to use!!!  There's only been one 'tie and cut' so far as I'm trying to make it flow from one part to the other.

For those curious as to what Nicole is going to do with this - I believe she's inserting it between two seams in a garment.  I'll be able to show you the completed item when she's finished it - I hope.

Something new!

As I've mentioned before (I think!) I'm currently working on a commissioned piece of work for the lass I did the black strips for. 

The task she's set me is to make a long piece of 'random' tatting.  No pattern at all.  This was rather daunting at first and I wondered if I'd be able to 'just tat'.  The specification was that it should be between 0.5 cm to 4.0 cm in width. 

Well I started off and this is what happened.  I ran it by her and she said it's exactly what she's looking for.

I'm using a number 80 thread which means it's going to take some time, I think.