Sewn patchwork finished

I finished this the other day. I sew during the day if I've the time and inclination and tat during the evenings - always!! I have to tat in the evenings or I'd fall asleep in front of the tremendously boring telly!!
I'm 'brewing up' more sewing projects along these lines in the aged brain but they haven't quite formulated yet!!! Lack of time seems to be the biggest problem. Why that should be I don't know. Anyway, yet again, I digress. Here's the finished table covering.

Progress on the patchwork

I made a few very silly mistakes on this last night!! You know the sort. The ones you make when you start to 'relax' into a pattern!!
I was determined to see if the diamond and square worked together.
THEY DO! I have pressed this (yes, I found the iron!) but that was just so it looked better when scanned. It sits beautifully without any 'teasing' into shape. I don't 'rate' a design until it sits properly on it's own without 'human' intervention at the end.
So, once I've finished this round I'll have to do the triangle. Unless I feel like working out another row!!! The triangle will go on top of the square if I've got it right!

I've given up!!!

Well I've given up trying to work this out the 'proper' way and am just going back to 'Jane's' way of hit and miss!!!! This is where I've got to so far - see below!!!
I am now pretty sure that the square is fine so have started a 'church window' type of patchwork. I'm calling it that as the black outline resembles the lead around the windows in churches. This was one evening's work. Obviously I haven't pressed it yet.
The next thing I'll work is another diamond between the two squares - just to check that it really will lie well. As soon as this is done I will add the amended diamond pattern to my web pages and add the square.
I've amended the diamond with red italics to show front/back sided tatting for those who want to work this way. The more I use this notation and work like this the more I love it. Thank you Gary Houtz for pointing this out to me a few years ago at Rosemarie Peel's house.
Oh, by the way, the orange and pink are MUCH brighter than the scan shows!!!

A dilemma

I have a dilemma. I cannot work out what sort of triangle I need or want to go with the diamond and squares I already have! This might sound very silly but it's important to me at the moment!!

I think I need two - an equilateral and an isoceles one. The isoceles will work on other layouts but the equilateral will work on the one below!!!

Can anybody in tatland, or anywhere else for that matter, please advise?

Next step

I thought the square was fine but now I have tested it one more time I realise there's still more tweaking to do. It's below after the drawings. Probably just a matter of the stitch count on the SCMR's.
I started on the triangle too yesterday as a little 'light relief'!!!!! This is a lot more difficult but would probably be easier if I'd tried to work it out mathematically first.
Heck, why make life more difficult for myself by doing it that way? My mind just doesn't 'do' numbers!!!

Here are the first two (yikes, they're bad!) attempts at the triangle. The drawing above did help a lot, though.
I think today I will have to work out a possible combination of all three in a drawing to see how the triangle actually works with the other two. DO wish I could do this mathematically!!!!

Progress and lack of!!!

This is the progress on the square to fit with the diamond.

First of all there these two false starts. Where was the brain when I tried these?

Next I drew two rough ideas on the computer. BOY, were they rough too!!!! I actually used the diamond drawing and 'played' with that.

Next I tried the following but it obviously wasn't going to work but showed me a good path towards the end result. See the ghastly joins in the centre? That's cause I changed my mind!!! I then cut this piece at those joins. Can't remember why but it gave me a very good idea that if I carried on it might work out!!!

The final picture shows from left to right the progress made later in the evening. This is all to do with stitch count really. They all three look the same BUT they're not. I'm having to make the rings smaller to get the shape 'squarer' but without losing the placement of the outer picots as (at the moment) they APPEAR to fit in with the diamond. This really, really has to be tested in a largish piece to see if it will work. Do I continue with the square or start in on the triangle. All answers on a postcard, please!!!!! Or not, if you can't be bovvered!!!!

Tatting Patchwork shapes

Well I had a quiet start back into 'tat mode'!! I've decided to leave aside a design I'd started on before my break (sorry, Georgia!) for a few days until I've got this patchwork phase out of my brain.
I want to do a square and triangle to go with the diamond. I looked at the diamond pattern on my site and realised that the first thing I had to do was to alter it so that it shows right side wrong side tatting. Yesterday evening I re-tatted it and altered the notation in a word document.
I then started on the square. Well, I tried!! The two pathetic attempts are not even worth putting on the scanner!!! I think the best way to tackle this is to use my drawing program and 'play' with it to make a square using the same elements. The problem I can see is making the two new patterns in the same 'format' as the diamond.
Still, knowing me it'll eventually get done I expect!!!
PS to this post. Riet's just told me about this book on tatted patchwork. I shall buy this once I've finished my square and triangle. Don't want to be influenced by anything in Adelheid Dangela's book.

I'm BACK!

Well the patchwork is now well under control and growing daily. I'm fed up with it at the moment so in order to finish it I'm putting it down for a while! Only for a few hours, though.
While I've been working on it it's given me time to think about tatting. I NEED to tat a patchwork. OK I know I've done a diamond in the past which is here but now I NEED to make up a matching square and triangle. I think that will be the next project - starting this evening!!!!! I'm going to make tatting my evening hobby and any time I've got spare in the day will be devoted (for now) to patchwork and catching up on sewing projects (alterations etc) that are piling up.
The weather may turn a bit warmer so I can get the sewing machine out in the conservatory (with Tilly the cat's permission!) and work on HER table!!!

Patchwork - 3

Another day and another 'round' if that's right!!! I can only get part of it on the scanner now. Next time I'll have to take a photo. That's if the sun ever appears again to allow a decent shot of it!!!

My finger's getting sore now so I'll have to find a thimble or return to do some tatting. While I'm sewing the tatting ideas are stacking up in the old brain!!!

Patchwork - 2

Ooooh, this is fun. I do wish I could plan ahead though. There again, if I did that it wouldn't be a surprise each day, would it?
This is how far I've got now.

Patchwork - 1

After well over twenty years of not doing any patchwork I found that the skill is still there!! The fat quarters that SueH sent me are absolutely ideal. Those and an 'out of date' Woolworths catalogue make ideal companions. I've no idea where this is leading - I've just started and am going to use my usual methods of 'hit and miss'.

Diane's TIAS and further ramblings!

Well I've finished the TIAS along with lots of othern people too!!! I enjoyed doing this a lot.

Now I have an announcement to make. I have decided to give up tatting for a while.
I collected lots of books while I was working so that I'd have 'something to do' when I retired. Books on all sorts of crafts and now that I've been 'retired' for quite a few years I'm going to start looking at them and doing something else for a change. Not sure quite what just yet but a return to hand sewn patchwork is probably the first stop.
SueH sent me some lovely 'fat quarters' a few weeks ago and my fingers have been itching since to do some sewing since they arrived. Problem is that the templates that I really want to use have 'gone missing'. Either that or I've been robbed again!!
Since starting this post yesterday I found a new packet of unopened templates that I bought when a local shop was closing down about thirty to forty years ago. There is a diamond, a square and a triangle in the packet so that's what I'm going to use. The hexagon template (which is missing) is probably too small for me until my new specs are ready. It's only 3/4" in diameter.
I know what I'm like - as soon as I get started on this new project I'll think of some tatting that 'needs doing'!!! I'll post as I go along on this so the blog won't be quiet!! I wonder whether this will come under the 'nothing much else' remit as in the title of the blog???!!!!

Not a TIAS but a 'Share a Tat'

Nowadays it's becoming more and more difficult to come up with original ideas and sometimes it's nice just to do something simple.

So the sequins I've been re-visiting after several years are really simple. I think this may be a good time to introduce a 'Share a Tat' game!!!!
What I intend to do is to post the way I've found of enclosing the sequin and perhaps one or two of the patterns I've done - just to give some idea of stitch count etc.
I'm NOT going to add any copyright notice to these as I don't feel that they're 'important' enough and it will allow everybody to play the game.
I will then invite all and sundry (especially new tatters) to join me to discover as many ways as possible of making this into a motif, mobile, etc. Note, I haven't added any beads or used techniques other than rings, chains and split rings so there's room for plenty more ideas!!
I am more than happy to 'host' any patterns derived from this on a new 'guest' section of my pattern pages, or add links to other pages on other sites. I would only ask that if you write your patterns a different way to the way I do that you alter the original accordingly and add any new abbreviations. This will make it clearer for those wanting to tat them. My way of writing patterns is not necessarily everybody's 'cup of tea'!! I will not be adding any copyright notice to my patterns but you are welcome to add it to yours.
It would be very interesting to see how many different ideas can stem from one sequin. Not as many as there were hippos!!!!
I hope to get the pattern up on my site tomorrow and will let everybody know when it's there. You will need sequins measuring 7/8" in diameter.
Here is another idea but no pattern to go with it!!!

Back to the sequins

I need to work one or two more of these before I start on another crazy idea!!! Yes, it will involve all who want to 'have a go'!!! No, it's not a TIAS as it will be 'sequin related'!!! For those who may want to take part or those who want to have a go at the ones I've already done then you'll need sequins, thread, beads etc. The sequins should be 7/8" in diameter.
All will be revealed once I've sorted the only two brain cells out which I've got left!!!

Sunday!

Well I didn't pick up a shuttle at all on Saturday. Too much going on here. BUT yesterday was quite the opposite. I was chosen to be one of the demonstrators for the Ring of Tatters at the NEC. For those who don't know - this is the National Exhibition Centre here in the UK. It's a huge site with about eight very large halls where exhibitions are held.
From Thursday to Sunday of last week the Sewing for Pleasure and Hobbycraft exhibitions were held in adjacent halls. The site is about 25 miles from where I live. The Ring of Tatters are given a stand at this exhibition purely to demonstrate and teach people who want to learn or who want to know more about our addiction! This is always a very busy and happy day - meeting up with friends on the stand and often friends passing by. We take some of our tatting with us to decorate the stand and then assist as and when needed.
This year Rosemarie Peel was there and I asked her how her new book was coming along! Life seems to be delaying the much awaited next book from Rosemarie.
Michelle Roebuck - the editor of the Ring's 'new look' newsletter was there too. We had a good natter about Diane's TIAS and both of us admitted we were flumoxed about what it was going to be!!! I was very good and didn't come home with any beads OR threads. I'd told myself that I didn't need any more threads or beads and for once I actually listened and took note!! BUT I did come home with a new gismo for loading beads onto threads. It's a bit like this but the one I bought is is a small plastic one. What I did buy to go with it is a 'bent' long (very long) needle to go with it. I'll show you when I get a chance to take a photo of it.
I got home at just gone six o'clock. Totally tired, with a sore throat (too much talking!) and a thirst which needed quenching with a large glass of red wine!!!

Playing with sequins!

A few days ago I posted some pictures of sequins that I'd played with some years ago. I showed the backs too where I'd tried another way for 'one sided' viewing. The originals that I made had two separate rows of split rings (one at the front and the other at the back) which were then joined with the outer row. This obviously took a bit of time to do as there were two 'cuts and ties' etc.

Yesterday I finally sat down to write this pattern. I may have it somewhere on my main computer but by the time I settled into 'tat corner' in my comfy chair I was on my laptop.
Then a thought occurred to me. I wonder if both 'sides' of the enclosing rows could be worked in one 'hit'. Surely it could.
Well, ta de dah. Here's the second attempt which will form the basis for the next round or rounds. I'm not sure quite how the rest will work out but the 'creative juices' are not as dozy as they were!!!
Below I have shown the original with the back which makes the use of the sequin 'decoration' one sided. Next is the one side of the new version and finally the other side of the new version. Originally (and I can't find any samples) both sides looked like the new version but were made separately.
I now intend to play with this as I can feel a wealth of ideas creeping up on me!!!

A new thread

On Monday a small unexpected package arrived for me. I LOVE surprises and what was even better it was a ball of thread. Jenny Griffin sent it as a 'thank you' for doing the TIAS.

I'd never seen or heard of this thread - it's brand new from Coats in Germany. It's called Anchor Artiste and this particular ball is a number 20 and holds 20 grammes.
The colour is a very yummy variagated lilac. I worked up a bookmark using it alongside a Manuela thread. I would say that it is exactly the same as Flora and not as 'harsh' as Floretta. The only snag I can find is the price which I found it listed on one site.
I'm not giving the link to that site as I'm hoping that others will sell it a bit cheaper. Hint, hint to any thread suppliers that are reading this!!!
Here is the bookmark I made!!!

Bracelets

I love bracelets. I don't often wear them in the winter but in the summer I love bracelets (oh, never forget the earrings!!!). I looked again at the bracelet I made the other day and thought that I'd make one more to get this 'phase' out of my system. I used black, white and cream with a very pretty and shiny black button in the centre. I do hope I can now kick this one out of the window for a while and start on something new. Maybe think about another TIAS. So enjoying doing Diane's, though.

Easter!

This is just a small chick in a basket I did yesterday. I remembered to write it down (well, roughly!) as I went along!!! Perhaps, if I did it again, I'd put the eye in on a drop picot but as I did it last thing in the evening it was whatever came into the tired old brain at the time!!

I've not been robbed!

I found the catches. Finally after yet another search they were exactly where I'd put them!! I just didn't think I'd have put them with the magnetic beads!!! I can't think why I didn't remember but as I have a poor memory (and always have had!) I'll put it down to that!!!
This is what I made once they'd been found!!! I used the pattern for the letter beads and added 'ordinary' beads instead!!! The worst part of working this pattern for me is doing the maths on it!! I've never been comfortable with numbers!!! Also it would help if I could read a pattern. My own, believe it or not!!! I just tend to assume I know what I'm doing and forget to stop and read the instructions!!! I'm going to do another today - just to be sure that I know what I'm doing!!!!