Yup, that's me! Yesterday I tatted the last ring of this pretty little motif, Toshti, designed by Jon and named by Fox. When I finished the ring, I realized that I had joined it to the wrong picot. I tried to retro-tat, and I managed to tighten one of the knots tighter than I had ever done before... not a good thing!
I spent hours trying to get that knot out... at least three hours yesterday, and at least an hour today. Finally, I decided to take the scissors and snip the darned thing out. After all, I could have re-tatted the whole motif in that time!
I very carefully tatted and joined the last ring, and to my dismay, I realized that I never needed the ring in the first place! I had forgotten to join the last clover to the correct ring. I took out the last ring and just did a little sewing to join at the forgotten spot. I did consider retro-tatting to fix the join properly, but I had already spent way too much time in this one spot. You'd better believe, I won't be making that mistake again!
By the way, this is size 40 Lizbeth, Niagara Falls #158. The finished size is about 3 1/4" square.
Well, you did a lovely job - it's a beautiful motif and the doodad you chose for it is perfect!
ReplyDeleteI am glad I am not the only one to hunker down for HOURS trying to unknot the knot, only to realize I didn't have to, or there was another error as well or... Ah, tatting!
ReplyDeleteLooks good anyway! Great colour too.
Fox : )
I also have been stubborn about getting knots out and rings untatted, muttering all the while that I could have done the entire piece over, as the clock ticks by! But this story really takes the cake! At least you DID finish it after all! And we would never have known, as it looks perfect!
ReplyDeleteDiane - you need to make a thread TRAIN!! My foolproof method to untat difficult rings. I will not cut thread, especially if shuttles are CTM.
ReplyDeleteYou must take all of your dining room chairs - I have 10- -and arrange them at intervals down your hallway, or around the room. Position your captive audience at one end, and then unwind your shuttle, over the backs of the chairs, so that the thread doesn't tangle up.
The person-who-is-helping-if-he wants-a-peaceful-life-again will gently feed the thread through to you for the next unpicking.
Yes, it takes time, but much less time than fighting to open a jammed ring.And it works.
10 chairs will unwind a pretty full shuttle wound with size 40; you may need fewer, or perhaps more, if you're using 80.
That is so beautiful!! :)
ReplyDeleteI love the colors. They make me feel so peaceful and relaxed. I'm glad you figured out a way through it. I stop tatting briefly because of my growing number of mistakes and retro-tatting. Your dodads posts keep me entertained so much right now that I might have to pick up my shuttles again.
ReplyDelete