Bead tatt and double/triple picot.

I'm still continuing learning new tatting techniques. My level is in between intermediate to advance I'm learning a new technique every week or fortnight. Feel like my tatting is slow because haven't mastered pull the top thread when ds is flipped.

I tried to follow the instructions for beaded snowflake motif it was pain taking out ds when no. of beads tatted was wrong in the end I designed simple motifs to make. There are numerous ways to bead tatt such as adding to joins or picots there's even split rings. I discovered a way to pull thread through 11/0 seed by using bent piece of beading wire (can't remember the gauge). As all of the hook are only suitable for 8/0 or E- beads however it is possible use 3mm Swarovski bicones. Beads themselves are not a problem as I have a plentiful supply and is good way to use the odd ones. Not possible to add beads on mock picot as I discovered.

Frilled Snowflake medallion by Lisa C.Trumble and another snowflake motif by Sally Magill. Sometimes I'm finding on complex techniques such as split rings I watch video on you tube to get an idea on how it's done. I find following written instructions difficult what happens if it was in different language. This time around I figured out how Josephine knots, node tatting/Victorian set and Double/triple picots are made. Possible to do 4/5 and even 6 something to experiment because the long picot is folded over the join.
Also learn split chain tatting I'll add this to next post, other techniques I hope to learn are block tatting and making cluny leaves.

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Tatting adventure

I decided to continue where I left off in April there's so much to learn. Such as self closing mock rings (SMCRs) and lock joins.

Been along time since I last did tatting so best to start off some basic work, unfortunately the timeing wasn't good as I had little sleep thanks to some idiot staying up late. I had difficulty trying to make a ring it would close when the shuttle cord was pulled. It seems the top cord should flip and not the shuttle. Above are samples of the Dhamana bookmark as you see my first attempt wasn't good. The one below is better maybe because had more sleep. (hint, hint)

This wasn't a basic motif as I discovered as it involved the use of shuttle/lock joins. The shuttle cord is pulled through the picot instead of the top cord. There was some problems when it came to cut and tie the tails had to sewed through the ds which was tricky because the tightness of knotting. A tail should only be pulled through one set of knotting otherwise the ring will detach itself slighting from the chain.

On wednesday I was looking for some crochet/tatting yarn and found this instead Twilleys Goldfingering. Yarn with woven metallic thread I think is suitable for tatting but there is danger of the cord fraying. I used it for Rosemarie's Heart pattern and the yarn didn't fray some part snagged when pulled thorough the picot. Having a shuttle with a combine crochet hook is bonus so I won't lose track of which is the shuttle or the top cord.
 Next I will try the SCMR which looks tricky on first glance hopefully it can mastered easily as the others.

Little note I am NOT addicted to videogames and MMOs  and rather use the time for crafting. If anyone is addicted it's the selfish moron I have to put with she used the internet till 4.00a.m! and plays on the Wii before 7.00p.m.
Crafting FTW.

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My attempts at tatting.

On Tuesday I finally made an attempt at tatting, at the moment I'm using the shuttle method later on I will try the other method needle tatt and also I brought a beginners guide on the subject. My first impressions were it is tricky and after a while I quickly got the hang of it. Still don't understand how the shuttle thread picks up the first thread to form a loop it just does. If the shuttle thread is caught usually means something is wrong.

I didn't follow the instructions properly and forgot to reverse the chain before a ring. I had the problem of loose thread and shrinking length of thread loop while the ring was being tatted. Solved this problem of starting close the end of the chain and lengthen the loop by reverse pulling the thread.

At first I didn't like making rings because they took a long time to make but usually I find the tatting process is very quick to complete compared with cross stitching. I discovered by pulling the thread of the chain I can keep the tatting more uniformed. Here's my second attempt at first edging.

I feel like with each practise I'm being more confident at tatting. Last night I attempted the medallion motif which involves the joining of rings via picots. I finally figured how the picot gauge works because the measurements were in Imperial only by measuring with a ruler was whole thing clear. Don't understand why America kept Imperial measurements here in the UK the metric system was adopted decades ago. Never mind I usually figure out these things out. The Gundam Wing Zero paper model still isn't finished because a piece was lost. The whole thing is almost complete I need to assemble the wing structure.
Things have been slow because I haven't slept well since last Wednesday and discovered the wonders of online RPGs- check my mailart blog for more details.

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