Author: DW

Hearts and clunys

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I’ve got back into the swing of commuter-tatting this week, but the light here’s not been great, so no photos of that as yet.

You may or may not’ve noticed that there’s a link at the top of the page now to tatting patterns and tutorials. I usually use the bookmarking site delicious to save my bookmarks, but there’s been chatter recently about it closing down, so I thought I’d post them here too. They’re in no way comprehensive, just things that I’ve found as I’ve needed them really. Hopefully I’ll add to them over the coming months, maybe they’ll be handy for someone else too.

While I gathered the links together, I decided it was time to tackle clunys again… I did have a bit of a go last year, in size 20 Lizbeth thread. Just as I thought I’d got the hang of it, I switched back to my normal size 80 only to find they were a bit of a disaster. (Thread kept twisting in on itself making it impossible to close them).

This time I tried size 16 finca, which I’ve had knocking about for some time..
cluny heart gre

Now, it’s in no way perfect, but I’m still rather pleased with it. The joins are wrong in the middle (temporary mind-wandering), and the leaves are in no way tidy, but hey! I’m gettin’ there. (I think?)

I still quite like the softness of the finca thread incidentally. I know it can get a bit fluffy, but it’s actually lovely to tat with.

The pattern is here, if you’d like a go. You might need a translator, but its relatively straightforward. Only thing i couldn’t seem to spot is how many cluny passes. For the record, 20 is too few, 30 seemed about right.

Hearty crochet in different threads

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Well, it turns out these hearts are quite addictive.
I’ve mentioned in the past I’m not 100% sure which thread I like to crochet with best, and so this has given me a little chance to try a few things out…

Heart stack

• At the bottom, there’s the Rowan Siena. I love the colours this comes in, they’re really vibrant and have a great sheen. I made a red heart with this too – several in fact. It’s nice thread to crochet with, big n’ chunky. A bit marshmallowy.

• Then there’s a DMC linen thread (No. 10) I bought to try out. It’s umm… really coarse I guess. Not sure what I was expecting, but not that. It’s a bit like crocheting with string. Kinda tough, and I would imagine a wee bit hard on your hands after a while.

• There’s a couple of DMC perle hearts in there too, one red and one purple. I had this thread knocking about – maybe for tatting, but at a size 8 it’s a bit thick to tat with. Actually, it crochets up really nicely – and could be my favourite of the lot

• Finally, there’s a heart in size 80 DMC – which I actually do use for tatting. This is the thinnest thread I’ve crocheted with so far, and I quite liked it. As the thread is so smooth, you can see every detail on every stitch, which could be good or bad. Less room for mistakes!

Now all I need to do is *stop* making them. I have one more gift to decorate, and then that’s it. Maybe…

Perle heart

Last minute Christmas crochet

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I managed to sneak in a quiet 5 minutes today while everyone off at the shops. I’ve done all my shopping (hooraaay!), and so I took the opportunity to make my wrapping a wee bit nicer…

last minute heart

Isn’t that cute? It’s a heart that lots of people have made into garlands (Ravelry link), but if you add a little crochet chain they can be hung individually. I’ve attached one each to gifts for a couple of different people. Hope they like them!

If you have a spare 5 minutes, the pattern is here.

Also, I keep meaning to say, after the hell that is sewing in/tidying up ends on tatting with size 80 thread, you really appreciate sewing in the ends on crochet. It’s SO EASY by comparison! I’ve almost got to the stage where I *enjoy* it 😀

Tatted snowflakes in action

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What with the actual snow, I got a bit behind in sending out my tatted snowflakes. This is good and bad. Mainly good – it means I have a few for my own tree!

in action

I must admit, I took a step back and was really very pleasantly surprised by how nice they look. I’m not claiming to be the world’s greatest tatter or anything – but they really are pretty. Tatting works so well for snowflakes. If you were going to invent a snowflakey art, you’d probably invent tatting.

in action 2

I loved Jon’s book of patterns. Having said that, I got really fixated on this one design (above) as once I had it memorised it was the ideal commuter-flake! (I tat most on the train). Once the Christmas rush is over, I’ll try a few more. I love the fact lots of them use split rings etc – techniques I’d sort of learnt but had yet to use. There’s so much work that’s been put into the design and writing of the book, it’s really fantastic to be able to buy it and support/say thanks to someone who contributes so much to the community. If you’re in the mood for some new patterns I’d strongly recommend it.

Monkeying around

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I keep meaning to post an update here, and my lack of photographic skillz scuppers me every single time. I finally finished the monkey I was making for my friend’s son, and so he was packed off with the elephant I’d already made for their daughter.

While my photos of him were a bit rubbish, I was really pleased with the way he turned out. Actually, he was my best yet in that style I think. I didn’t follow a pattern for the arms and legs, but used this pattern (as ever) for the head. I always change the face as i kinda like them not looking exactly the same, and this ones face came out really nicely (even if i do say so myself). I did try a couple of different mouth positions, now i think of it. Little things like a mouth too high or too low can really change the character. This wee chap looks quite young, but bright eyed and hopeful, I think.

Z's monkey

I posted them off just after the first lot of snow (but before the second) and they got to their destination in record time. The mum and dad loved them – now they’re packed away until Christmas, to be given to the kids.

I’ve finished a bunch of other stuff too so will try and take some pictures over the next few days, if I can. Mostly I want nice pictures of my broomstick lace scarf which I finally finished! More of that another day.

Real snow

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Turns out mother nature makes snowflakes quicker than I can tatt them…

We’ve had about 15″ of snow in the last few days.

I’m not complaining yet though… I know the trains are disrupted and it’s a pain n’ stuff – and it’ll be terrible when it starts to melt – but look at it! It’s really beautiful.

A tatted flurry

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So, I’m back from my travels, and very nice they were too. I took some tatting with me – for the journey, and incase I had the odd spare moment. Actually the days were so full I barely had a moment to think. In the end i just made three and a half snowflakes:

tatted snowflakes

I bought Jon’s book of tatted snowflakes and took the whole book in my suitcase, but just one page for the flight. This is the reason for the snowflake at the bottom being slightly wrong! I read the pattern a bit wrong (instructions for reading it where in the case, of course) but manageed to work out a way to carry on, just with extra picots in the middle.

The one at the top centre I made half on the flight back, and finished on the train to work. I kept having to ‘retro tatt’ that one – found it really difficult getting back into the swing of tatting on a packed commuter train. (I’m sort of back on track now, I started the on the bottom right this week).

Close up

I love this design – really pretty but very snowflakey too. The plan was to put these in with Christmas cards, as decorations or whatever. At the moment I’m in two minds as to what to do about a hanging loop. I bought that ribbon yesterday, as they didn’t have any white but… I dunno. Feels a bit thick, even though it’s the thinnest they have. I’ve got half a mind to tatt a length of split rings as a chain-loop thing instead. What do you think? I’ll see how the time goes.

For now, I’ve almost finished the broomstick lace scarf and I must sew a monkey together, before his intended recipient grows up and gets old!

Split rings and cabone rings (a late revelation)

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In my last post I mentioned I was about to order Jon’s Tatted Snowflake patterns. Well, I did – and to my delight the PDF arrived super-speedily. (Thank you Jon)

As I’ll have to make these patterns up with out the aid of the internet (*panic*) I thought I’d have a bit of a browse on Jon’s site to read her excellent tutorials. Actually, I can already make mock rings and split rings – I just haven’t used them much as yet, but I thought I’d have a go at split chains.

All day I’ve been thinking about this. I sat down to follow the photos, and about 5 mins in, I thought ‘Hang on! This is like tatting around a ring!’

Shocked at the sheer brilliance of my revelation I popped over to Intatters… to find that everyone there knew that already 🙂

Still. It must mean I’m getting better slowly. At least I spotted it!

No pics – I’m using size 80 practise thread for some insane reason, which is a bit tricky to photograph in this light with my camera. You’ll just have to take my word for it!

New home for a tatted primrose

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You know how it is when you’re reading someone’s blog, and you find yourself with a spare 5 minutes, and then suddenly you’re off elsewhere peeking into someone else’s life? In the summer I was reading Attic24‘s colourful crochet blog, and had a wander through the links in the side bar. I came across the Little Pink Room – and actually, you know what made me love it? It was this post talking about the messy bits in houses that you never see through the window of the internet.

It made me smile, mainly as I’d just been wracked with jealousy over the sofa in this post. It’s sort of nice to know that other people’s houses aren’t as perfect as you might think, and that y’know… Your own house might not be brilliant, but there’s *some* bits of it that are ok, and sometimes that just has to be enough.

Anyway. To cut a long story short, I chatted on email to A, the owner of the room(s) and the blog in question. She’d never seen tatting in real life, and as a tatter that tats and has no idea what to do with it, I said I’d post her some.

Tatted flowers 2

I made the middle bit of a Mary Konior Primrose path doily – mainly thinking that it’s the sort of size you could so something with, rather than it being an end in itself. I thought it might be more useful.

Anyway – it’s found a lovely new home! How exceptionally nice! And, A, you are more than welcome.

In other news, I’ve been making toys for the children of my old flatmates. I met the children a few weeks ago and have been desperately trying to get these finished ever since…

B's elephant

I wanted to make something I could count on working, so yes, it’s another elephant – the fifth! Such a good pattern though, and fun to make – all except sewing the head on, which almost reduces me to tears every time. It’s *really* annoying and fiddley.

I’m also getting close to finishing a monkey – yes another one…

Z's monkey

I quite like this little chap. That’s the second mouth – I’m really picky with mouths and eye placement – it makes a massive difference to the final character. The first was too serious. A bit grown up. This one feels a bit more friendly, and just a tiny bit cheeky – a bit like the little chap he’ll be living with.

And work continues on the broomstick lace scarf. How it’s taking so long i just don’t know. Every other comment I read from other people who’ve made it seems to make out like they practically finished it before they started. Still. It’ll be nice when it’s done – and oddly, I’m still enjoying making it.

scarf ongoing

And finally – for any UK tatters out there – I ordered a book of snowflakes from Roseground and they’ve sold out. They even went to a fair to try and buy more in person and their suppliers had sold out too. I asked it I could swap it for a different book of snowflakes and they have none of that left either! So it sounds like there’s a blizzard of tatted snowflakes on the way this winter.

In the meantime, I’ve ordered Jon’s Tatted Snowflake collection as I’m taking a wee break and I wanted some small but interesting little things to make on the journey. If I can remember how to work a SCMR, all will be well. I’ll let you know.

Autumn tatting

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After writing the post on Friday, saying I was almost too nervous to start tatting with my new (HDT) thread, I shut down the mac and started loading up a fresh shuttle. By Friday night, I’d finished! I had to head into town, so tatted on every form of public transport, finishing the last few rings when I got home. It’s Mary Konior’s Posy pattern – but in this instance, it’s a little autumn wreath:

finished!

I’ve never guessed the amount of thread I needed so perfectly! I kept thinking ‘Argh! It’s never going to make it, you’ll need to add more in for the very last ring!’ – but it all worked out amazingly well. I had, perhaps, 6″ of thread left on the shuttle, if that.

yellow

After tatting with size 100 – just for one project – it was really odd to switch to size 80. It was like tatting with rope. I got used to the change pretty quickly, but was surprised how weird it felt. Anyone who gets annoyed with size 80 twisting in on itself should switch to 100, just for the joy of switching back! It tatted like a dream.

It’s such nice thread to use too. If I had to use one thread forever, I would use this thread, in this colourway. As you can see from the pictures (overdone, I know – I just got a bit over excited) it’s in perfect autumn colours. The yellow is spot on – that real mustardy yellow that looks so great in the sunshine. I actually don’t think I’ve ever tatted anything I’ve liked this much!

Oddly, I’m not a massive fan of variegated thread. Often it has white between the colours, or there’s quite a harsh line between each colour. This one feels like it blends in really well – and all the colours work properly together – there’s no jarring colour thrown in. I’m now wondering if I should buy more, just, y’know, incase. It’s from Yarnplayer’s etsy store.

I think the thread works well with this pattern as it’s not that complicated too. A complicated pattern with a complex bunch of colours can often be too much for me. I’m thinking I might use more of the thread to tatt around a ring though. And then I’ll hang them up maybe – two little autumn wreaths.

another one!

That aside, I went to the Knitting and Stitching Show with my mum yesterday, and it was great. Feet-achingly busy, but fun having a wander round. I bought some new yarn for crochet), which I’m itching to get started with – but am resisting. I have to make another elephant, for a friend’s daughter, and a monkey for their son. So far I’m two ears, two legs and half an elephant head down, so I guess I should get back to it.

Hope you’re having a nice weekend, and maybe even seeing some sunshine too.