I let myself down!

Now I've self isolated myself from any craft vending places since my return from America last September. Why? Well I've got a bulging tatting cupboard FULL of inspiration!!!! That's true although it wouldn't be quite so 'bulging' if I tidied it up yet again!!!

Last week I was a little bit early for one of my teaching sessions in the library. No, not tatting but helping other 'oldies' with technology, laptops, computers (the library assign two to us for our sessions), tablets of all varities, phones and even (once!) a digital radio!!! 

Anyway, I digress. Unfortunately opposite the library is a shop called The Works and it does often give me inspiration. Well as I had a few minutes to kill I wandered in there and that's what happened - inspiration. I bumped into these sequins!!!! 

I think I must've been born a magpie as they love bright and glittery things too so this packet accidentally fell into my hands. I was particularly intrigued as these have holes on the opposite sides. Just two - 'top and bottom' or, if I want to be pedantic with myself - 'left side and right side'!!!!!

Time to play, methinks.

Meanwhile

While I'm not tatting and am wondering what to do I pick up the blanket that I started back here.

I like the way it's working out at the moment but it doesn't appear to be making a lot of difference to my stash even when I sit on all those balls of yarn!!!!! 

My speed at continental knitting is improving vastly. That's another good reason to carry on although when I do another knitting project which has purl in it it might slow me down!!!

My hare has come home

I nearly forgot to tell you all this. My hare is home!!!

Do you remember that I spent a day making him with a local teacher? Well if you missed that then here's the link and on that page is a link to the amazing work that she does herself.

I must admit I enjoyed that day out more than I can tell you so I've booked myself in to a chicken making day!! This will be fun as I 'share' 8 (oops, sorry, that's 6 now as 2 died) chickens with neighbours and we take turns in looking after them. I can 'almost' talk chicken now!!!!

I love my little hare. He looks sort of whimsical - or is that terrified?

Friday 13th - another way!

This is NO April fool at all. In fact quite the opposite and the only 'fools' would be those who don't give this a whirl!!!

This is the other way to work a split chain which Judith and I have been discussing and working on together. The 'Australian' split chain. I've had the cheek to call it that for two reasons. 

One, it was 'born' there and

Two, you do sort of turn the chain upside down to work it although you don't really!!!!  Least you don't have to stand on your OWN head!!!

The only way you're going to see the advantage of this is to 'do it yourself'!!!!

Here's the link.

A good way of teaching this method is, as Judith mentioned, to show new students how to make it on a cabone (curtain) ring - see below a diagram from Judith. I reckon that's a great idea even just to teach yourself!!!!  

New (to ME) split chain technique

Now I was really gobsmacked by this. Although she doesn't claim it as 'hers' (bet it was really as she's one VERY clever tatter) I will always think of Judith Connors and thank her for not only showing me this but also helping me to get the page right too.

I've always used the technique shown to me by Marie Smith but after doing one split chain this way I've completely forgotten the 'old way'!!!!!

The page will be ready tomorrow and I'll blog the link here but, believe me - it's a winner, winner chicken dinner!!!

Judith did point out that this was all done by Dora Young originally and the diagrams were good too. I think following tatters just complicated the issue which is easily done!!!

Trying to downsize the stash!

I have yarn. Not too much, but more than I really want/need at the moment.  There’s around a carrier bag ‘and a bit’ of yarn lurking and glaring at me.  All odds and ends I’ve acquired over the past few years.  I want/need it GONE.

I decided to start a blanket either for a local care home or for those who have no home and live on the streets.

My issue with blankets whether knitted or crocheted is that you have to sew or join the motifs at the end and I’m no great lover of that!!! So I decided to go in search of a pattern that you could join the motifs on as you work the blanket.

I found this pattern and thought I’d give it a go. As you know I’ve recently taught myself to knit the continental way and now find it pretty fast. I followed the instructions for the first four squares and found it quite straightforward. Now to expand after the red one is done.

Three times six makes eighteen

I didn’t really like that pink and white diamond motif next to the purple and green one. Too much of a contrast, I think.

Anyway, I had another rummage through my size 40 threads and came up with the lighter purple (lavender?) and a darker pink which seem to have taken the ‘starkness’ off that contrast. I’m going with this for now and we’ll see what happens!!!

Back to diamonds

During my English Paper Piecework experience I have been still playing around with the diamonds though not a lot, I must admit. I also managed to get the Koala pattern done too as you probably remember.  Sometimes (like the koala) a ‘good idea’ happens and you have to go with it!!!

Here are two posts about the diamonds. First one here and the second one here.

My current 'problem' is going to be what to do next!!! I'm hopeless at planning ahead so always 'go with the flow' - just like I did with the patchwork!!!!! This story is to be continued!!!!

Patchwork finished

Well here it is. I spent a LOT of time working on this over the past week or so - just to get it finished. I couldn't face another round of hexagons!!!

Here are some facts and figures about it - that's if I've done my maths right!!!!

There are 61 big hexagons altogether and each large one has one hexagon in the middle surrounded by 24 diamonds. 

Altogether that'll be 1,464 diamonds in the hexagons!!! 

Edging pieces which will need another 144 diamonds making in total 1,608 altogether!!!

So, do you want to see it?  Here it is!!!

The possible insert

Well here's what I'm proposing to do to add to the final round. I'm also showing you what it's going to be backed onto as well so you can see my conundrum!!! 

I'll sew these inserts on (if that's what I decide) and then put the backing fabric wrong side up on the table. I'll then fold the sides of the backing fabric upwards and tuck them under the EPP cloth. This'll all take a lot of mumbling and grumbling and accuracy but hopefully very little of the backing will show on the finished piece. We'll see - this is still just speculation!!!!

Well I promised!!

Here's the update on the cloth.

Yes, it finally has a finishing post and a reason to 'be'!!!  It's going to be a cloth.  Not sure I'll ever use it but you never know!!! It'll certainly cheer up a dark spot in anybody's house although sun glasses might be needed as it's rather bright!!!

I'm pleased with it so far but am now debating on the finishing off.  

I think I'm going to make inserts where the big hexagons meet on that final round.  I'll do one this evening and show you tomorrow and then I'll decide if I need to do another 23 or just finish it off as it is!!!  

Thanks to Julibeth

I've got something to talk about today!!! 

I'm sorry about the blog going quiet but I'm frantically working on getting my big EPP (patchwork) finished. I'll show you progress later this week so don’t give up on me!!!

Julibeth has joined the Exclusive Tatting Club and you can find her entry right at the bottom of this page here.

Thanks for the compliment too, Julibeth. Writing techniques and patterns really does keep me out of a lot of mischief although I do find it from time to time!!! Mischief, I mean. Well you need a bit of fun in life, eh?

Just to tease my readers I'm only putting one of the pictures on this post to 'encourage' you to go and look at the Exclusive Tatting Club and see what everybody's been doing!!!

Final section

Well here it is - the thing you've been waiting for. Or not!!!

The final section of the final round of the EPP. 

It's going to take me a while to get this 'lot' done but I'm enjoying doing them and the break from other crafty things. Tatting still happens as I'll never be able to give that up!!!!

Strange things have happened on these photos!!! The top one is the true colouring - the bottom one has been changed for some reason!!!

Not a lot!

Well I’m afraid I’m not going to have a lot to show you this week!!! 

Life has become somewhat disrupted lately due to this, that and t’other so I’ve not had the energy to think of something new to do or say!!! A relief some of you might say!!!

I am, however plodding along with the EPP project. That’s English Paper Piecework for those who (like me!) need a translation. I’ve always called it patchwork but I live and I learn! 

I will keep you updated later this week on progress.

Decisions, decisions and no decisions!!!

I agonise over colours when starting (and during) projects!!

As I’ve probably mentioned before I need another new project to take out and about so decided that I’d do a diamond patchwork one like I’ve done many times before. This time in a size 40 as I do like the lacy look of 40 and it’s easier to pick up and put down too. 

You’ve seen the pink diamond motif before back here and the pink is here.  I no longer have the pink one it as I didn’t like it very much and gave it away!!! So I made the green and lilac/purple (not sure how to describe that colour!) and am happier with that. Problem I now have is choosing more colours to go with it. I tried the green and yellow combination (bottom right in the top picture) but that didn’t look right to me. So, all my size 40 threads came out and I’m still trying to decide!!!!

Another section

Here's another section of my big English paper piecing (patchwork). 

First of all the pieces as I cut them out and then the section sewn together. 

There's a huge difference between the colour choices of the section I blogged on Monday but that's because I wanted/needed a contrast. 

I'm not sure if this will be the middle section of the sides or the corner. Well, I'm not sure because I've forgotten what I decided!!!! Typical I hear you say!!

I'll keep you posted!!!

Purple and green

Having 'fallen out' with the pink diamonds here I decided to try completely different colour combinations. I really like this combination but, of course, I now have to try and find colours I LIKE to go with these!!! 

Often people say I've got a good sense of colour and ask how I choose. Well, the answer to that is I don't know how I do it and I make many, many mistakes etc. I'll show you more later this week.

The next round!

No, not of the diamond project - still trying to decide on that!!! 

This time I’m showing you the next round of the English paper piecing (patchwork). 

I spent hours a few days ago cutting out the shapes for this final round. That’s a LOT of time and not much fabric either got used!!!

I decided on these for the sides. Well the sides will have 3 motifs so I am making two the same and the middle one in the side different. These are the ‘same’ ones. First picture is the pieces cut out (I take photos to remind BC3 what is going to happen!) and underneath is them sewn together. One done and many to do!!  Actually 23.

A day out!

I went on a day out last Sunday and it was well out of my comfort zone too!!!

The craft group I go to on a Tuesday morning consists mainly of neighbours in our two roads. Our roads are sort of ‘isolated’ but near the centre of the town. It’s a one way road so we don’t get too much traffic and we really, really get on well with each other. Help is always on hand with any problems if needed. 

One of our members has a niece (here’s a link) who teaches and makes ceramics and she runs ‘hare days’. We decided to take a day out and have a ‘go’ at hares!!!

Well I did some pottery and ‘stuff’ at teacher training college and did another course some years later when the kids were little too. Both of those were a LONG, LOOOONG time ago and I didn’t expect to get anything resembling a hare done!  In the end mine does look vaguely like a hare. I won’t see it again for a few weeks as it’s gone to be fired etc. 

Great day with lovely friends.

Black earrings

Do you remember these earrings? Well it turns out that I’d only got one when I got home a week or two ago. Lost on my walk - somewhere near the canal basin! I wasn’t that bothered as I wasn’t that sure I liked them after a few times of wearing them. 

The saddest part of the loss was the demise of the fabulous beads I bought in America last year. Still I’m glad I bought two strings of them. 

So I got the good old scissors out to the one earring and demolished it!! Instead I thought I’d try another idea and used black thread with gold seed beads as well. I really like this pair. 

The one on the right looks sort of ‘bent’ but it isn’t really. Just the way it got slammed down on the scanner!!  I'm not exactly gentle with my jewellery, you know!!!