TATTING: It was time to learn to make split rings. I used two sites for instruction: Tatra-Sutra and Georgia Seitz' site. Tatra-Sutra was a good site to begin with: It actually had me tat upside-down, which allowed me to understand what I needed to do and how it was different from regular tatting. However, to do this, I had to contort my wrists and hands to do it right and it became painful. Picots were especially difficult. So I attempted Georgia Seitz' method. This had the benefit of being similar to the method I'm used to, and, as it turned out, allowing me to keep even tension. I did have quite a bit of difficulty learning not to flip the stitches. It was difficult enough that I almost gave up. But after a good night's sleep, I gave it one more shot and decided this was the method for me. Now I all had to do was practice making even picots and making sure each split ring was closely butted up against the previous--this will be important for my next tatting project.
These are my first attempts. I would go until I messed up, then cut it off. That is also how I learned to tat originally: Tat, slide, tat, slide, tat, no-slide, snip. (Sliding lets you know you did it right.) I started by using two shuttles with two different colors, but soon gave that up because it required a knot to get things started, which I hate, and because the thread was so thin that I had trouble seeing what I was doing wrong.
My first successful split ring, using the Tatra-Sutra method. Here, I used a size 20 variegated thread, the Continuous Thread Method (no knots) and differently colored shuttles. My favorite shuttle is the Clover tortoiseshell one, on the left. The variegated thread allowed me to easily see whether I was making the knots correctly.
QUILTING: I started my first-ever quilting project. A friend of mine started a beginning quilting class in our neighborhood/ward, and naturally I jumped right on it. Some of you are aware that I actually already had a couple of projects lined up, but had never started them. This is because I sometimes need someone right there with me, showing me what to do and how to fix my mistakes. I generally have no trouble with threads, but am a little afraid of ruining and wasting my fabric.I used two purple batiks that I had in my stash, and bought a very pale purple marbled fabric for my background.
My first quilting strips, and my first quilting seams (on the very left).
My friend showed me how to pop the seams. I haven't done it yet myself, but it looks pretty cool!
A close-up of the popped seams.
My first patch! Notice that the corners almost touch. I'm very proud.
TRAVELING: I attended Wool Gathering in Ohio in September. You can see their website here. This was one of the best festivals I've attended in a while. It's all about the fibers used in textiles (mostly spinning and knitting) and where they come from. Raising the animals, shearing them, processing the fibers.
Yak yarn and its applications.
Colors and non-colors.
What you need to get it from sheep to yarn.
I was in extremely frugal mode, so this marudai was the only thing I bought. It's for kumihimo, or Japanese braiding, which I've wanted to try for years. Here is one site where you can read about it and see examples.
TRYING TO CATCH UP: What time I've had to stitch has been divided between finishing my Christmas angel from last year and crocheting a doily for my table.
Where I am on the angel...
...and the doily.And that's it! My next post will probably be on starting Christmas projects, which I intend to kit up this afternoon. I (finally) received my Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issue 2009 yesterday and the whole family has made their picks.
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