"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

Saturday, August 17, 2013

More Tatting for Klara

You may recall that in addition to the "Star Attraction" doily, I also decided to tat a cross for my great-aunt Klara. Here it is.


This is Mary Konior's "Large Cross" from Tatting with Visual Patterns. I really like this design. When you tat it in two colors, the chains emphasize the simple cross shape-- especially if you use a solid for the ball thread-- and the rings add decorative interest, while the lack of decorative picots keeps it from being too frilly.

I used Lizbeth colors 672 Burgundy and 168 Latte Foam. I especially like the very subtle color variations on the latter thread. I used size 20 because that was the size in which I had these two colors on hand, and it does make for a nice large, visible cross; it's 5 1/4 inches (13.5 cm) tall. I would have preferred size 40 if I had had it in the right colors, though. After working with so much size 80 on the doily, I really found the 20 difficult to work with; it hurt my fingers, and it was harder to keep my stitches even.

I've decided to mount and frame the two pieces using colors that will allow Klara to choose which one stays inside the room and which will be on the door. They definitely need something on the door to help John remember the right room. Their sofa is mostly cream-colored, with a pink and blue design as in the doily colors. There's not really much other blue in the room, but there are a lot of burgundy accents. Outside the door is a small corner shelf, where Klara has put an artificial flower arrangement in pink and burgundy. So I'm thinking I will mount the doily on a cream fabric with a burgundy mat (or possibly vice-versa). I'm undecided as to what color to mount the cross on. I really like the way it looks on this blue background, but pink would go better with the overall color scheme. Anyway, it will be a few days till I can get to Jo-Ann's to pick out fabrics; I'll just have to see what they have when I get there.

7 comments:

  1. This is beautiful! You're right with how the colors set each other off so well!

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  2. Beautiful cross. I really like it done in the two colors.

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  3. Beautiful cross. I like your color choices. I recently tatted this design in a variegated thread, but I like how the simple cross comes out in contrasting colors.

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  4. I love your cross its a lovely pattern, I have made several of these crosses and your colour scheme is lovely would never have thought of putting those colours together.
    Margaret

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  5. Very nice work! I think the blue background would work cause it's like blue sky. I don't think it would mess up the decor of the room, you might want to check out decorated rooms in magazines if you really look at some pieces they decorate with you may notice more colors than the main ones.

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  6. Lovely! I do like the way the two colors work together. I'm sure Klara will love it!

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