Monday, April 4, 2011

Finished...finally!

This is what has made my tatting blog a non-tatting blog for so long.  It has taken up most of my tatting time since last November.   I made it for someone special in colors she likes.  I love the blue, but the brown rounds were really difficult for me to get through (that's why they're smaller!).  I can't tell you why I don't care for brown, but I don't -- maybe I just got a surfeit of it in college.  I wore a lot of brown then.  I finally decided colors, the brighter the better, gave me a better outlook on life.  Maybe.  Of course, it could be I had more trouble with the brown rows because the thread is darker and it's harder to see.  The colors are medium blue and chocolate brown, both from Lizbeth, in size 40. [Actually they are Blue-Med. #651 and Mocha Brown Dk. #692]  It got packed up right after I took these pictures -- and I forgot to measure it.  I did go measure the chair I used, though.  It's probably something like 15 inches in diameter, more or less (the doily, not the chair).

The pattern is one by Jan Stawasz.  It's a very pretty pattern, but as written, makes me tear out my hair.  Most of the rounds (the central brown and the two outer blue areas) are done with dozens and dozens of individual motifs.  I just don't have that much thread-winding or thread-hiding patience!  I used split rings everywhere so I could work the whole thing in rounds instead of motifs.  The central brown area is two rows and that large inner blue area is done in three rows.  However, I did do all the wheels individually.  The pictures are clickable so they can be seen larger.

It's not perfect, but I liked it anyway.  As a matter of fact, I liked it so much, I've been recreating it without all the frilly picots. Those really are little monsters when it comes to blocking.  I gave most of these a pat and a promise.  I promised I wouldn't take the scissors to 'em if they'd shape up!  They cooperated for the most part.  I packed it up in a mailing tube and shipped it off -- insured, because I figured, if there was a chance they might have to pay out, the USPS would take better care of it.  Ta-da!  It got where it was supposed to go -- and she liked it!

20 comments:

Fox said...

Marty, that is exquisite work.
Fox : )

Anonymous said...

It's absolutely gorgeous! I don't like brown, either, but I think the color blue makes just about anything look better (as blue is my favorite color). So it works well here.

And I don't blame you for modifying the pattern - I wouldn't want to cut-tie-hide all those ends, either.

Maureen said...

It's absolutely stunning! - and I LOVE the colours, it's a work of art. I should buy some blue thread, I always choose pinksand greens, because blue has never really appealed - but after seeing this one, I may re-think my preferences. Maybe it's the mixture of the cool blue with the warmer brown that has such impact.

Martha said...

This is one of the most gorgeous things I have seen in a long time. Well done! I happen to like blue& brown combinations, so I really love it.

Tattin' Kat said...

Beautiful!!!!!

Bree at "Bree's Way" said...

this is absolutely incredible! very nice job :) and very pretty :)

Bree

Margarets designer cards said...

Brilliant job, I can understnad why you used split rings where you could, I am sure it saved a bit of time. I hope she loves it as much as you have taken a long time to make it.
Margaret

Sharren - Tatting in Greenwood, South Carolina said...

There's just enough blue to set off the brown - and vice-versa. What a lovely doily! Great job, Marty - beautiful work!

Miranda said...

Amazing!

Kathy Niklewicz said...

I am TOTALLY blown away by this gorgeous doily! And equally impressed with your changes, which avoid all the cuts and ties. I have yet to work with split rings to do that, but on this scale it should be mandatory and designed this way.

I appreciate the color changes so that it's easier to see the 'rounds'. In fact I love the colors! Also amazing are the 24 wheels, which had to be don individually!! Beautiful work!

I hadn't noticed a lag in your posts at all! You showed a lot of tatting and you filled your 'free time' by blinging many shuttles!!! (As I love Aeros with the tails, I'm impressed how well you cover those.) And you're also doing a second doily in this pattern! It definitely should go to the next Fair!

Tatskool said...

That's a lotta work, you must be very proud of it.

Lelia said...

beautiful tatting

Jessica said...

Gorgeous!

Valerie said...

Marty, this doily is absolutely GORGEOUS. Don't even think about its imperfections!

Carolivy said...

What a simply gorgeous doily Marty! I love the colors as well.

Frivole said...

Absolutely beautiful! What a labour of love. I'm totally impressed.

Mogs said...

that is stunning! I bet your friend loved it!

Marilee Rockley said...

Oh my gosh! That is an amazing piece of work!

Rachel Neil said...

You make beautiful lace!

victats@gmail.com said...

Congratulations on finishing! I like brown and blue and I like the amounts of each you used. This would fit right into my living room...maybe that package needs to be diverted!