The threads are Yarnplayer's "Snowflake" and DMC color 794, both size 80.
I had to break out the picot guage for this one. I eyeballed the normal picots like I always do (although I would have had an easier time making the thing lie flat if I had made them a little smaller), but for those long picots on the sides of the rings in the center, and the even longer ones on the chains in round 2 that are joined in two places, making them all exactly the right size was of the utmost importance for proportion and overall appearance.
If I were to do it again, I might also lengthen some of the chains by just a couple of stitches. I have not previously had any trouble with patterns in this book not wanting to lie flat, but this one was a real bear for me. The tatting itself was no trouble, but after it was done I had to stretch the outer round with my fingers, press it under a book, block and lightly stiffen it, and then, while the stiffener was still a little damp, put it back under the book (with waxed paper to keep the stiffener off the book). It does lie flat now, although some of the rings look kind of stretched.
That's it. I'm done tatting for the sale. I have just a few earrings left to label, and it should all be ready for the mail by Wednesday. After that, I'm going to start a piece for myself from one of Ineke's books and get my threads and beads back in order.
Ran to the book right away...I love the design, now earmarked.
ReplyDeleteWhat stiffener do you use? I have never done that...
It is very pretty,Miranda.
Fox : )
Fox, I use Aleene's StiffenQuik. Only when I absolutely have to, and not too much. I use just enough to get the tatting wet all over; if you use more, it ends up feeling like plastic. Pin the tatting out, spray on that small amount of stiffener, and allow it to dry most of the way. I recently discovered that I get better results if I remove the tatting from the surface where I sprayed the stiffener before it is completely dry; otherwise there will be a little film of stiffener inside the rings where it pooled when it was still wet. Overall, stiffening is not my favorite thing to do, but occasionally necessary.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and lovely colour of threads.
ReplyDeleteMargaret