"But, really, why does anyone create? You feel a... a restlessness inside, a need to make something new, something no one has ever seen before. You want to add to the beauty and the richness of the world with a gift, an offering that is uniquely yours. It's an act of selfishness and generosity, all rolled into one."

-- Bruce Coville,
The Last Hunt

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Here It Is

OK, the guessing game was really just for the purpose of having something to post that day. It's not a particularly well-known motif, so I didn't really expect anyone to get it. There were clues, though, if you were paying attention. In another recent post featuring the same colors, I mentioned I was making a set of 6-pointed coasters. I photographed those six little flowers on the back cover of this book:


So anyone who owns the book could have easily found the motif. There are several patterns in this book where you have to tat some little flowers before starting the main part of the motif, but the flowers are different for each of them; therefore, there was only one it could be, Watson, and that is number 38.


On the spiral section, the pattern calls for slope and roll joins (which the translation calls "outer thread joins", a perfectly accurate description), in order to avoid the color blip at the join. However, I decided I actually wanted little blips of yellow there as a design element, so I went with lock joins instead. I did use slope and roll on the next to last round, where I did not want the color blips.

This pattern does have a lot of ends to hide. Not only do the flowers have to be made separately, but when using two colors it is necessary to cut and tie after rounds 7 and 8, as well as at the end. I was initially put off for that reason, but in the end I'm happy I decided to make it; I think it was well worth all the sewing in of tails I had to do.

For this particular set, I am trying to find patterns that have six points yet don't look like snowflakes. Given that I also have very specific size parameters, this is turning out to be more difficult than I had expected. In fact, this one may be slightly too big; if it is, I will just have to find another pattern. Otherwise, I have just one motif left to complete the set, and there is another from the same book that I think will work.

7 comments:

  1. The print looked so familiar but I could not place it. I do have the book and I do have a life-long fascination with typefaces, but I never would have put the two together to identify the book.

    Your motif looks beautiful and so pretty in pink and yellow. I think just might have to make #38 my next tat!

    For some reason the instructions for the two types of joins that you have posted finally made sense to me. I do both, but never knew why I was using the first one - I just knew that it worked! Thanks for including the diagrams in this post - very useful.
    Fox : )

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  2. That is beautiful!!! I love the colors too! :)

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  3. You did a BEAUTIFUL job! It's so nice to look at. I've been thinking of getting that book. How do you like it?

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  4. McSace, yes, I do like the book very much. It's definitely for experienced tatters, as there are no written directions except for a sentence or two here and there; it's all diagrams. The photos are very clear as well. There are a total of 99 patterns, so it's well worth the price. All of the patterns are beautiful and have a certain unique style. I definitely recommend it.

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  5. I don't have this book, but the pattern you are doing looks lovely, and you have done a beautiful job with it, I like your colours. Well done. I think this is book that should go on my wish list.
    Margaret

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  6. wow, sounds like a lot of work but you've done a great job! the motif is very neat!

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  7. Yup, I have started it and keep looking at yours for inspiration. Love it.
    Fox ; )

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