Playing with the floating chain

I know that Terry's playing with the floating chain too and we've discussed the  problem of 'how to' write it down.

We came up with this pattern which is just really experimental - well the way I've written it is!!  Any comments or suggestions are welcome as usual!!

Just in time for Halloween if anybody is tempted to explore this technique.  I think it's fun, fun, fun.

Following on from yesterday!

So, now you've recovered from the Terry way of doing the split chain - here's a development from that which is a floating chain.

Again this has evolved from yesterday's single shuttle split chain and I think (personally) that this has a LOT of potential for designers.  In fact you'll have to wait til tomorrow to see a 'fast and easy' pattern using this method.

Dear old brain cell 3 also has several other ideas up his sleeve.  Oh, just realised - brains don't have sleeves, do they?

Another 'taster' for you!!!

NEW - Single Shuttle Split CHAIN

A few weeks ago I had an email from Georgia who forwarded a message from Terry Nimmer.

Terry had been struggling with the usual ways of making the split chain and had come up with a really, really clever way of getting round his problem.   So, between the three of us (sorry, that should be four as brain cell 3 HAD to get in on the act!) we've come up with this page!!!

Now we have three ways of doing the split chain - the original way, Marie Smith's 'Fast and Easy' way and (ta de dah, roll of drums and trumpeteers trumpeting) we now have Terry Nimmer's way.   

Thanks, Terry for letting me get involved in this - I've really enjoyed the experience.  Here is one of the diagrams to 'get you interested'!!!!

Oh, don't miss tomorrow's blog post - something else that's new about to hit Tat Land!!!!

Changed the blog!!!

I know I drive you mad but I've been playing with my blog and have now lost all the posts I'd set up for this week!!!  I've no idea what I was going to put on here today so you'll have to wait for brain cell 3 to wake up!!!!!

I'm still 'messing' with the blog so please don't get upset!!!!

 

Introducing the pattern for the Flurry Heartache

I've finally got it done.  Here's the direct link for the Flurry Heartache.  

On Saturday, despite it being classified as a 'silly' day, (things went slightly haywire for a few hours) I did manage to list some new stuff in my Etsy shop.  No bags but a few new tatted things.  Then I fought the pattern once more and made two more pairs of the dragonfly earrings again in the evening.  They're now in the shop too!!!

I've got two new ideas here (butterfly and dragonfly) but the little dragonfly earring you can see below is my real favourite.  To make this is a major fiddle!!!!  I'm not sure it would be very easy to write/draw how I did it but I will try!!!  I just ADORE this little critter and he looks even better now I'm using delica beads.  

I got nearly a third of the way through on one of the red ones and pulled the wrong thread.  Guess what?  A number 80 thread doesn't like a lot of tugging!!!  Result - I had to start again!!!!

Karey's HDT

As a MOG (miserable old git) who wouldn't give house room to HDT threads for ages I must admit I'm totally and utterly reformed and addicted - as you have probably gathered over the past year or so!!!!

When Sandra sent me her wonderful surprise t'other week there were three skeins of HDT in it.  Of course these HAD to be 'tried out'!!!  So (me being me) this selection of HDT also had to have a new pattern too. - thus the Flurry Heartache (see below).  These threads are from the dyer Karey Solomon.  Now, this lady is an expert at this craft - well both crafts tatting and dying (not to mention many, many others too).  I once dropped in at a lesson she was teaching about dying down at Palmetto Tat Days a few years ago - fascinating presentation and SO interesting.  I've asked her about her tatting threads and this is what she said.

"I’ve got any and every range possible.  I generally dye threads in dyelots of about 10 skeins each.  Unlike many dyers who dip-dye threads, which means regular, sometimes long repeats of very few colors with little to no blending, I hand-paint “prints” on the thread, so they’re more calico and more colors because they are intended to blend.  I’ve got a huge investment in dyes, for both wool and cotton – because they’re different dyes and very different dye processes! - more dyes for cotton, as it happens.  So I can produce quite a range.  You could, for example, request particular colors if you like, I’m always open to suggestions. I’m experimenting with limiting the blending by thickening some of the colors before applying them.

People can always email me for information, and I can send a current photo of what’s available.  Each dyelot is different.  And I’ll send them anywhere, the shipping cost is only the actual cost of mailing.  Please ask more questions!"

So, there you are.  What is Karey's email address, I hear you ask!  Here it is.

The final results!!

Finally I got it sorted!! I think I've given this design a very apt name - the Flurry Heartache.  That's because it gave me a LOT of heartache and was based on the Flurry Snowflake!!!  Ooooh, I can be SO clever sometimes!!!

Tomorrow I'll tell you all about the HDT thread that I used and show you one of these in the brass heart shape. 

I shouldn't tease!!

OK, here's what I'm aiming for.  Remember these?

Well I decided it was about time to do something about them!!!  Here are the first experiments.  I thought it was going to be easy!!!  Cough, cough, splutter, splutter.  

I thought I could just use the Flurry Snowflake, a few 'alterations' and 'Bob's your uncle'!!!  Silly, silly, silly Jane!!!  Life ain't that easy when it comes to designing!!!  Well not using my 'hit and miss' method!!!!!  Perhaps I should just settle down and 'plan things'.  Like ornery people do!!!

Nah, that would be boring in my book!!!!

 

What's THIS?

Now, go on.  Guess what this is going to be?  OK the thread is old thread and I always use two colours on two shuttles when starting something new.

More will be revealed as time goes by!!!!!

Definitely last of the season!!!

As I said yesterday I think these (and I promise they are here this time) will be the last of the season.

I sew in the conservatory where we get light.  The problem with living in an old terraced house is that there is little light anywhere within the house itself.  The conservatory gets toooooo cold in the winter and would cost a fortune to heat!!!  That's what makes my sewing 'seasonal'!!!!

So, here are the promised last three sets.  One set, like the cats, will shortly be on it's way to Crazymom as a thank you for the fabric and this set (below) is NOT hers!!!

Last of the season!

I only sew in the summer or warmer 'parts' of the year so roly poly bags only get made then!!!

Autumn is now here so I'm slowly finishing off odds and ends of sewing - BUT I couldn't resist trying out some of the fabric that Sandra sent.  Here are three bag sets made out of her fabric and which will get listed in Etsy over the next few days.

Having said that this is the end of the season's sewing I have one more project on the table at the moment but you're going to HAVE to wait for that for a few more warmer days.   Here are the three finished bag sets. 

Oh, hang on - I haven't taken the photos yet!!!!  I'll do that later.  Sorrrreeeeeyyyyy.

I do have one or two more exciting projects to show you over the next few days so don't go too far away, please!!!!

I thought I'd do an experiment!!!

With all these absolutely fantastic HDT's (which, by the way, can't be put away as I keep 'needing' them) I simply HAD to experiment.

 

I decided that I'd do the Flurry in all sizes starting with 20, then 30, followed by 40, 50 and 60.  Not a problem and a fantastic relaxing way to spend several evenings.

You'll see by the scans that I used a contrasting thread as usual.  The reason that each snowflake had to have a different contrast was because I've only ever found 20, 40 and 60/80 easily available over the years.  There's always been a bit of 30 and 50 around but not always very much choice until recently.  Well, not for me down my 'neck of the woods'!!!!

So I present - a mass of Flurry Snowflakes!!!  I still need to make more as they're my Christmas giveaways but am slowly learning that if I start too soon then I give so many away before Christmas that I need more and more and more!!!!  Keeps me quiet, though. 

Oh, more surprises on Monday - I hope!!!

Mumbling on about Etsy!!!

I was thinking t'other day - I do that sometimes on my own and without the help of brain cell 3 or the benefit of a safety net either!!!

My question to myself was 'why do I sell on Etsy'!!!!  I really didn't have to think too hard about the answer, though.

I started the shop when I had a 'good idea' and thought I'd make a fortune selling online.  DUH!!!!  Now a few years later I can tell you that I'm not rich out of the proceeds of selling but it does help feed my addiction to thread, beads, buttons, zips, etc.  Notice, I say 'help'.  I am a lot richer for the friends I've made through doing it which is WAY more important.

I do know why I do it, though.  Do you want to know why?  Well it's cause I enjoy making things.  That makes for a lot of 'artifacts' around the house so I have to keep selling or giving it away to keep some spaces for us to move about in.  Do you remember Mr Trebus?  Well our house could well become like that if I didn't fight my own gremlins and keep trying to 'move things to other locations'.

I often wonder about my pricing.  I see a lot of tatting being sold and some of the prices asked are out of this solar system!!!!  WAAAAYYYY too much for very simple and only slightly beaded jewellery.  I cringe and hide my head in shame.  I mean, how long does it take to make a pair of earwigs without anything added?

Then there are the sellers who see what somebody else is doing and copy them.  Thankfully I don't need to do that (thank you brain cell 3) and nobody's done it to me - as far as I know!!!  Mind, my style would be hard to imitate - mainly cause I don't have one!!!!

I have a policy statement on my pattern page which says to ask me if anybody wants to sell anything made out of my patterns.  That's simply because I like to use my own designs to sell online myself but I don't mind who makes what to sell 'offline'.  As if I would ever find out anyway!!!!  Can you imagine me lurking around all the small shows, fairs and craft shows round the world looking to see who's using my patterns?  Wouldn't that be funny?  Also I wonder who would want to make them anyway as there are so many tatting patterns now available online.

Well, that's enough from me today.  Yesterday I cleaned all the windows and got the geraniums in ready for winter.  Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, Grrrrrrrrrrrr, etc, etc.

Fringe Element shuttle

You know you've 'arrived' when something like this happens to one of your designs.  Can you see the heart on the picture?  That's MINE!!!!

I made this pattern for the Fringe Element Tatters when they first set themselves up and am delighted that they asked to use a copy of it on their shuttles which they had at last weekend's Tat Days.  What an honour.

I must go and re-visit this pattern again as I'm currently working on a heart for a reason which will be revealed - eventually!!!!

Done it!!!

One thing I HATE doing is not finishing things off as soon as they're done!!

When I finish each part of my tatting I sew in ends.  When I've finished anything I try to tidy up - well, except tat corner!!!

SO when I've finished a snowflake or an earring if they need findings or need to be put in a ring then they HAVE to be dealt with straight away (or the next morning).  If they don't get finished I get angry with myself!!

Here are two that hung around for days waiting for the 'finishing off'!!!

Jane's new necklace

Here's another version of Jane's necklace which she's now turned into another necklace!!!  Here's what she said:-

"Hi Jane, I like the necklace version of your friendship bookmark.  Yesterday I finished this necklace, which is also a 'variation on a theme' necklace. I have added another row to the one whose pattern you're hosting.  It's for me! I have made a dress that has a very wide, deep neckline, and wanted to fill in the space a bit. So that's why I wanted it a bit wider.
Unfortunately I don't have a pretty niece to model it!! Anyway, I thought you might like to see."

Thanks, Jane.  Always good to hear from you and see what you're up to!!!!

Still flurrying around and other things!!!

Well I've been and gone and done it!!!  What, you might (or might not!) ask.  I've tidied up tat corner and tat cupboard - AGAIN.  I spend my life trying to keep tidy and losing the battle big time.

I am working on new stuff and you might see some new things in my shop within the next few days but the patterns will not be available for a while.  The reason?  

I'm not being mean or a miserable old git - I'm 'saving up'!!!!  Yup, it's possible to 'save up' patterns but it's hard, very, very hard.  This is part of the reason I could never ever 'do' a book!!!

The new things will include very beaded earrings and bookmarks.  Oooooh, it hurts not to show but you can jolly well wait for a few days!!!!  I had to - while I was making the patterns!!!!

Here's another Flurry - must say I do like this one.  Oh, I say that each time I've finished one!!!

Spoilt YET AGAIN!!

Do you know I just be the luckiest old git in the UK.

Below are two photos of the packet that came from Sandra (Crazy Mom Tats).  I think the postman has turned a shade of green with the two packets arriving one after each other!!!

Now, inside this packet are lots of gorgeous fabrics including some cat ones  (for cat lovers) and a hilarious cow piece!!!  Balloons and butterflies are also there!!  Can't wait to see these made into bags.  If there's anything there that 'takes your fancy' do ask.

Must tell you what I'm hoping to make soon.  A 'posh tote'!!  Well, one or maybe two!!  I'm 'parsimonious' by nature and hate waste so all the offcuts of the bags I've made get popped into a carrier bag for 'je ne sais quoi'.   That's French for 'what the heck am I going to do with these'!!!!!  Not that there are many 'leftovers' considering how many bags I've made!!!  So, last Saturday when I was walking back up through the town after my daily walk I decided I'd get some iron on vilene stuff.  You know - the stuff you put fabric on and then iron the fabric and it sticks to it.  Well walking is my thinking time but I'd not got any money with me so the idea didn't 'happen'.  I've not 'got round to getting it' since.  So imagine my delight when inside this packet was a HUGE quantitiy of this Pellon 'stuff' which is JUST what I need.

Amongst the other things in the packet were zips - 'adjustable' ones, beads, buttons and threads.  Now I've not seen Karey's threads before - they're HDT.  Dying (pun intended!) to try these and guess what?  They came with ezybobs too - YIPPPEEEE.

Thank you SO much Sandra.  I think I'm going to have to invest in another tatting cupboard although I'm doing my very, very best to pare things down my fingers won't work fast enough!!!!

Spoilt again

Now this REALLY must stop.  I've been spoiled again by Sue Anna.

No, I don't mean it - honestly.  I LOVE being spoiled and very, very much appreciate it too.

Look at what she sent me yesterday.  Beads - beautiful, bright and sparkly beads.  Thread - Yarnplayer's wonderful thread in four thicknesses and to go with it Ezybobs to store it on.  I love those things.  Ooooh, and chocolate which I hid from Nick as he's not allowed choccies anymore!!!!  The beads are all sizes and there are some lovely red hearts which are crying out to be turned into Winsome drop earwigs.

Thank you SO much, Sue Anna. 

A new pattern?

Well, not new exactly but a 'variation on a theme'!!!

This is what Nettie sent me to show what she'd done with the friendship bookmark.  She said this:-

"I thought you would like to see what I did with your patern.  I did two thirds of the battern and put it on a wire choker.  this was done with size 10 thread and 4mm pearls."


The model and recipient of the choker is her very pretty niece.  Perhaps shell want to learn to tat now?

Back to being in a flurry!!!!

Not a hurry but another flurry!!  Before I start my daily 'talk to myself' post I must apologise for being a tad late yesterday!!!  I'm afraid I left brain cell 3 in bed having a lie in!!!

I can't resist this pattern at the moment - I do apologise.  I am slowly working on other things but they're TOP  SECRET at the moment!!!!

I'm very 'possessive' of some things when I'm working on them and yet I do want to share - go figure!!!!  

The last few months have been a bit busy and emotional but things are now slowly, but slowly getting resolved.  I can't wait to settle down into winter.  Hang on - I don't LIKE winter for many reasons but it's nice to give oneself the chance to get into tat corner a couple of hours earlier each day than I can in the lighter months!!!

So, brickies have gone, scaffolding down and soon the geraniums will have to be 'brought in' for the winter.  Flu jabs booked and central heating tested.  Roll on longer tat hours and the change back to GMT as opposed to BST!!!!  In other words - the clocks will change soon!!!!

After a few weeks and well before Christmas I know I'll be saying 'roll on summer'!!!  There's no pleasing some people!!!!!!  Does this make me a contestant for the title of 'really miserable old git'?!?!?!?

Yesterday I did this!!!!

I listed three more bag sets in Etsy!!!! see below.

Well, that's not all I did but if I mention shed clearing (2nd shed)and the most humungously HUGE spiders you've EVER seen then you'd probably not want to know about that!!!  I think they were the dreaded 'Jane eating' species.  You are lucky to have me here today!!!  Two trips to the tip and the spiders were (hopefully) re-homing themselves.

Now these bag sets.  The first one is a paisley print.  There is a sort of gold 'thread' running through the pattern and outlining parts of it.

The second  set has a star motif on a beige background.  I was tempted to keep this set for myself.  It sort of reminds me of the American flag.

The third set has been offered before and I've sold several sets like this.  I think there's enough fabric to make another set too.  I love butterflies.

More thoughts!!

Yes, more ramblings!!!  I am working on something new at the moment but I'm not sure whether I'm going to share this just yet!!  This is an old pattern which I've been playing with but it has a new idea in it that I haven't seen before.  That, of course, doesn't mean it's really new!!!

You see I've hit a sort of 'impass'.  I would love to run another Tat It And See in January so that needs designing, drawing etc (first I need a 'good idea'!!!).   Suggestions always welcome!

Then I want to apply to teach at Palmetto next year.  In order to do this I like to have at least four patterns to offer so they can choose which they want to use.  I have several I haven't shared yet but I'm not sure they're suitable.  I do have an idea for some fun during Tat Days, though!!!

So, what I think I'll do is go and make some more Flurry Snowflakes and leave all these thoughts until they sort themselves out!!!

Not really about tatting!!!

I was mooching around town this morning and just coming out of the library when a young lady with a puschair was entering.  I stood and held the door open for  her and she said 'thank you'.   Brain cell number 3 went into overdrive!!!!

Before my first visit to America when this sort of situation occurred I would've said 'it's a pleasure'.   Several trips to the US of A and I now automatically say 'you're welcome'.

Now, why have I started this ramble?  Well I think it's because of our language differences and how I used to think I was a 'missionary' when I went over the pond and I would 'teach those Americans English'!!!! 

So, several years later and look what's happened - I'm speaking and using 'American'!! 

This morning I  talked about the thread going round the 'pinky' when discussing drawings I'm doing,  I say 'you're welcome' when holding a door open, I use expressions in my patterns like 'shoe lace trick' (NOBODY uses that expression in ENGLAND) and I am EVEN beginning to SPELL in American English (well, we all HAVE to admit it makes more sense and is easier to spell that way)!!!!!

So am I now becoming American?  It's a strange idea!!!

Ah, before I finish I MUST apologise to Ari who left a comment on  my blog yesterday.  This is what she said

"I´ve learn so much with your lessons and patterns.
Thanks.
The link to Mark Meyers´s split chain instructions is broken.
Peace, Ari"

Ari left this comment on this post. 

Unfortunately I hit the 'delete' button instead of the 'publish' one.  The day can only improve!!!!

They'll be here later - don't forget!!!

Don't forget - today's the day when the next batch of Pop a Bobbins will be launched.  I will add them to the Etsy store at 8pm BST (British Summer Time). 

Well, that's a bit of a joke really - one might ask (if one lived here) what summer is/was THAT!!!!  You'd laugh at me (if you don't already) as I've had to set myself alarms all over the house so I don't forget to put the shuttles in the shop!!!!  I've got a memory like a sieve!!

Also to go into the shop these two sets of bags!!!  I love both these sets.  One has tea bags on and t'other has dog bones!!!  One to quench your thirst and other to fill your 'empty spaces'!!!  Well, the dog's anyway!!!!  There will be a full description of them both again in the shop. 

Bugs galore!

Look what Marjan in Holland sent to me.  Aren't the colours fabulous?

The pattern is here if you want it.

I really love to see what people manage to make with my work and the colours here are ones I'd never have thought of using.  Now I'm itching to make them again!!!!

Thank  you, Marjan, for sharing these.

Coming sooooooon.

More shuttles heading this way.  

Thursday would be a good day for them, I think.  I'll make them 'live' at 8pm (that's BST - British Summer Time) in the Etsy shop which is here.

This time we have 1 cedar, 1 walnut, 2 teak, 2 oak, 3 yew and 3 cherry.

PLUS 2 of these post shuttles which are shown below.  They measure 4" and have a crochet hook inserted in the end.

FC, FC, FC

That's what kept happening on Friday when I was sewing.  

My machine went bonkers!!  Then I noticed that the display was saying FC.  I  then had to scrummage around to find the manual!!  The translation turned out to mean 'foot control'.  Sometimes the machine would stop and other times it would go racing on without me.  Once or twice it would suddenly start up on it's own - the cheek of the thing!!!

Nick took the foot control to pieces and then it worked fine for a while.  It still does strange things from time to time so another lobotomy may have to take place soon.  Oh, perhaps that should be a 'foototomy'!!

Wouldn't this just happen when I've got orders to complete AND a load of bags cut out ready to sew!!!

Back to the Flurry Snowflake

I was thinking t'other day.  I was thinking (yet again) about the question I often ask myself -  'why do I design' patterns?  My answer is - because I have a 'good idea' and want to make the 'good idea'.  Another factor, believe it or not, is laziness.  I started 'doing my own thing' because I was too lazy to get up out of my chair to go and find a pattern to work from.  Also the patterns I had were 'never quite right'!!!!

Another thought then occurs - why do I share these (well to me) 'good ideas'.  The answer is - if I didn't then what would I do with them.  Some people probably want to be 'famous'.  YIKES - that's not for me.  Some people want to make money.  I'd rather have friends. 

The biggest worry when I've finished with a pattern and put it on the web site is that people will be able to understand it.  

Oh, hang on a minute, I need to change that remark.  That's not the biggest worry - it's the second biggest worry!!  The main concern is will anybody want to work the pattern anyway!  It's therefore a great relief when somebody writes to say they've made it - and even better when they send a picture of it like Katie did.  Here's her Flurry Snowflake which arrived the day after the pattern went 'live'.

Boy, oh boy

I had this fantastic card from the people who went to Palmetto tat days.  

I really appreciate this as I was very down during tat days knowing all the fun I was missing.  Also every time I go there I make new friends and learn new 'tricks'.  

Here's the front of the card for you to see followed by the rest.  Seems my presence really was required there if only to find and eat the ice cream!!!!


Thank you all who signed this - means a lot to both myself and brain cell # 3 who didn't have a very good day yesterday.  I think he lost one of his marbles for a while!!!

Whoooops!

I forgot to show and tell you that the Flurry Snowflake can be added to a ring - a 3" ring!!!

I'd sort of planned on this and was surprised to find that brain cell 3 got it right 'almost' first time.  I think these will be the Christmas giveaway so I'll have to make more - sooooooon.

Meantime I've orders for more bags so that'll keep me busy during the daylight hours - well hopefully!!!!

Two patterns

Guess what I found the other day?  A pattern that doesn't appear to have found it's way onto my site!!!  I wonder how many more there are lurking on this computer!!!

Anyway it's a fan that I did for Palmetto Tat Days back in 2005.  Here's the picture and here's the link!!!

This has also got me motivated to finish off the Flurry Snowflake too so that's here.  I'm adding two more pictures below the fan too!!!