One of my goals has been to try patterns from each of my tatting books... not an easy goal! I have way too many books, not that I'm complaining! Plus, I tend to go in streaks as to what I like... remember all those Spinning Wheels?
One of the books I love is The Tatted Artistry of Teiko Fujito. I am impressed by the delicate designs, and I wrongfully assumed that I would be able to tat something easily! The book starts out with some beautiful one-shuttle patterns. I tried the first one and just couldn't get the picot length correct. I'll have to save that pattern for another day when all the pistons in my brain are firing correctly!
This little coaster is the second design in the book, and boy howdy! Did I ever have trouble with this one! First, some rings closed smoothly and caused me no problems. Others seemed to bunch up as I tried to close them. I soon realized that I was holding the rings differently when they closed smoothly.
Second, I thought that this would be a great way for me to see the difference between the front and the back of a ring. I was right! However, as I carelessly worked through the motifs, I discovered that I attached the third one the wrong way! Luckily, I was able to use that one as the center motif and call it a design element! ; )
My third problem was that somehow my rings just didn't seem to be the same size, even though the stitch count was always correct. I can only assume that sometimes my tatting was tighter than others.
You'd think I'd be done complaining, but I'm not! When I got to the last ring, I had a terrible time trying to figure out how to join to the first motif. The end result... a twisted join. Oh, well! I like it anyway, and if I don't have my glasses on, I can't see the stuff that would bother me upon close inspection!
Specs: Lizbeth Spring Green, size 20 (see what I mean about streaks?), finished size 4", amount of thread... 2 filled Chris Hinton shuttles (how's that for an accurate thread measurement?)
I think I'll rest my brain now and work on an Iris Niebach doily!
Sorry you had so many problems with it. It is beautiful anyway!
ReplyDeleteIt may have been hard but it sure is lovely!
ReplyDeleteYou are being Wayyyyyy to hard on yourself about the ring size! It looks fine to me! What a pretty pattern! You've done a great job on it! :)
ReplyDeleteIt is beautiful. Your added design elements enhance the coaster :-) Nice work.
ReplyDeleteYou can't tell there were any problems with this one. It's lovely and I love the color...
ReplyDeleteSometimes simple means more of a pain in the ass. More complicated designs pull you eye in all directs but with a simple design there's nothing to distract your eye from the basic tatting.
ReplyDeleteThis one is very pretty and spring-like!
ReplyDeleteI love the Lizbeth thread, especially that shade of green. The coaster is adorable. I wouldn't worry too much about the 'mistakes', we've all had tension problems! I do with every little thing I tat or crochet.
ReplyDeleteHi Diane! I just ordered myself a bunch of Lizbeth thread! Oh, I went a little "berzerk" so to speak, LOL!
ReplyDeleteI just stopped back over to say:
Hope you stop on by for my 1st Blogoversary/100th post celebration! I'm even having a giveaway! Do come on over! Everyone is invited!!! :)