Saturday, March 7, 2009

Split Chain

Split chains are a new technique for me. As a matter of fact, I've been scared to even try 'em. (Yes, all these years tatting, cutting, and hiding threads before moving on to a new round -- pitiful, eh?)
A couple of weeks ago I went to the monthly meeting of the Bonneville Tatters and learned along with a whole bunch of other people. That was fun. So, here's my split chain. Don't look too close, though, because I think I worked from the wrong side and my stitches are frontside and backside on the same chain!
I'll be practicing this again with the "fast and easy" way of Marie Smith, courtesy Jane Eborall's techniques pages.
The motif is something I tatted up the night before the meeting so I had a piece on which to practice. I used the size 10 thread my sister dyed for me so that it would be large enough to see what I was doing (then did it backward anyway). I rather liked the motif, and think I might try to develop it into something larger -- after all I've got that split chain just waiting there...

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Iris TIAS 5

Isn't it pretty? Iris Niebach's designs are always so complex to look at. Having her break this one down in small pieces made it seem easy. Not that I didn't do some unpicking and redoing, mind!
This is complete to the end of the "tat it and see", but I do believe I will finish it up to the 8-point doily. I might even see how it will look with fewer points wrapped around one of my satin-covered styrofoam ornaments. Not only that, but those little hearts are very pretty. I've been wondering what they would look like all by themselves. Wow, another thing to try!

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Ornamental Cornelia

Here it is: "Cornelia" from Iris Niebach's Tatted Doilies as a Christmas ornament in King Tut quilting thread. The original doily has eight repeats of the pattern. It curves pretty well around the ornament with only six repeats. The bottom motif is simply the inner portion of the doily with some chains to move from one repeat to the next without having to complete the whole doily twice. Two six-repeat doilies wouldn't fit on the ornament, you see. Beads would be good, don't you think? Still, even without beads, the pictures really don't do it justice. It's a pretty thing. (click on the picture for a larger view)