Preparations!

Yes I know my trip to the Fringe in Canada is a LONG way off but I HAVE to do things when I'm 'in the mood'. 

I'm going to make around 20 brooches to sell in their vending room which helps with the cost of the trip. Even though I'm 73 and on no medication (long may that last!) the cost of insurance is expensive. So, I like to take things to sell when I get there so that the organisers can be sure they'll get rid of me back on the scheduled flight!!! Well, that'll happen anyway but you know I'm teasing again.

Here are two to start with and hopefully more will come over the next few weeks. You know me though, there will be other things 'happening' on this blog too.

Another new crochet project

I'm going to 'name and shame' Pigmini here. She got me into this fine mess!!!! 

Sue told me about Mochila bags and of course my nosiness got the better of me so I had to go and look.  There are quite a few links on Google to help you with more research and there's a great group on Facebook who have been very helpful - along with Pigmini too.

The technique is tapestry crochet and involves 'just' the double crochet (or single if you're American). Easy you'd think but it isn't!!! The number of times I started and pulled it out just to 'get' the base done was beyond a joke!!! 

Before I could start I had to choose some yarn. It can only be a cotton yarn as others just don't work. You can see my collection in the top picture. The other three pictures are from one of my many 'bad starts' and all got pulled out so I could start again. I can be so stubborn over learning new skills. Thankfully the Facebook group are really helpful and in their files section are some useful links and some terrific videos.

My secret!

OK well you're going to get the answer to my secret whether you like it or not.

OK. The secret is ............

Wait for it .................

That I'm going to the Fringe Element in Canada again this year.  I'm SO excited.  I've already got my flights booked (the event isn't until September!) but haven't started packing yet.  A bit too soon even for me!!!

Another Crinoline lady - just to cheer up the page.

I've got a SECRET

Yes, I have. It's a BIG secret too. 

Does anybody want to know what it is? 

Shall I tell you? 

Trials of a TIAS!

Just a few of the pieces of tatting that I ditched while designing this year's TIAS. 

As you can see I had many changes of mind and landed up going in several directions and sometimes all at once!!!  

There were a few more of these 'trials' in the early days but they got thrown away. These are now all in the bin too!  

I'm finding that the way I design changes slightly over the years.  I still use the 'grab 2 shuttles and go' method but nowadays also resort to drawing rough sketches on my computer too.  LONG gone are the days when I did anything on paper as I spent so long looking for those bits of paper the next morning that it just wasn't worth it.

I type up the text as I go and then copy, paste and change it all in the same document so that I have a record of what works and what doesn't.  

Finally and sadly

The TIAS 2017 is over - well, almost.  Here is the final link.

Just to prove I can tat - here are a few of the Crinoline Ladies that I did when I'd finished designing her!!!

This blog will now resume in the usual way as I've lots to tell you over the next weeks!!!

Finished the crochet hexagons

Tomorrow will be the last day of the TIAS 2017.  

Remember the hexagonal crochet I was doing? 

Well I plodded on with them until I finished one of the balls of thread!! I celebrated that but I've still got loads left!!! Anyway, in the end I got bored with them and I finally did an edging to the mat and have called it a day. 

I have another crochet project on the go now but more of that another day.

Day 10 has arrived

This is the penultimate day so I expect you are all now aware of what the TIAS is going to be!!!  Here is the link.

More progress

This is the doily I showed you the other day. It's a pineapple doily.

I found the starting few rows of the motif extremely interesting. I suppose I COULD say 'difficult' but it actually isn't. 

It does take careful reading to interpret what to do but that's fine by me - I LOVE a challenge.

Day 9 now available

Yes, it's here - the day you've been waiting for to give you more idea of what the TIAS will be! 

 Here's the link.

Day 8

Day 8 is now ready here. 

I maybe a bit late getting uploads done today as I'm off out with a friend to the nearest Apple store. Just hope I'm not tempted to buy anything!!!

Off on another adventure

Tomorrow (Tuesday) will be day 8 of the Tat It And See.  

Again I'm off on another adventure with Dora Young. 

This is the centre of another doily and it's going well - so far. For those who are lucky enough to have got the book then this is the pattern on pages 20 and 21.

Day 7 of the 2017 TIAS

Here is the link to Day 7.   Have FUN.

Something I did earlier!

First of all - tomorrow will be day 7 of the Tat It And See. New tatters always welcome to join the fun. Remember - there are no rules!!

This is my first Dora flower pattern. Remember the green one? 

Not sure why I did the green but I think it was cause I enjoyed it so much. I'm going to do this pattern again sometime. Just SO interesting to tat and it fits EXACTLY on the scanner too!!!

Day 6

Here is the link for day 6. Happy tats!

Another group of hexagons!!

Just to let you know first - tomorrow will be day 6. Things may seem a bit 'spaced out' but I find otherwise it's difficult to keep up!!! I also do have to do other things too like eat, breathe and sleep!!! 

I finished another group of 7 hexagons and these will be joined to the other 'set' sometime. I have NO IDEA what I'm making so please don't ask!!!! I make 'things' for the joy of making - not for the finished item!!!

I have a few balls of thread all of this size but the colours do vary slightly but are all within the 'ecru/beige/white range. 

Crochet hexagons part 2

Do you remember this post?

While the Tat It And See has been happening (and a bit before that) I've been working on these hexagonal shapes. 

There's a story behind the thread that I'm using. 

Many years ago (around 40, I guess) I taught myself the craft of netting/filet. I had bought a lovely leaflet from a local shop which had the most stunning patterns in. The problem was - they were all written in German and I didn't understand them.

There was a lady down our road who I had heard was German but I'd never met her. After months of frustration with the leaflet I took courage in both hands and knocked at her door to ask for help. I stood on her doorstep and explained my problem. I'll never forget that day. She took my arm and pulled me into her house - that was the beginning of a wonderful friendship. I didn't realise until that day that she too was an avid crafter and an extremely lovely lady. Sadly she died a few years ago but we enjoyed many happy hours together talking and doing crafts of all sorts.  She tried tatting but didn't take to it.  Her craft work was immaculate in everything she tried.

A few years before Irmgard died she had problems with neuropathy and she gave me some of her threads. These are what I'm using for the hexagon adventure.  As the saying goes - 'waste not want not'.  

Day 5 now available

Here's the link for Day 5.

All done!!

First of all - day 5 will be available tomorrow (Sunday).  

This is the doily I was working on from the Dora Young book. As you can see it turned into a 'square within a square'.

This is a challenging piece particularly when worked the first time. Actually I'll admit this is the second time I've worked this pattern and I'll show you the original one another day. I thoroughly enjoyed working out how Dora designed this and I'm in awe of her talents. I just hope that when I grow up I'll be able to design like her. She set the pace via her Dora Young Knot which has since been 'replaced' by the split ring and split chain.

Day 4

Good morning - here is the link for Day 4.