Just a little oops

Sometimes the only solution is to get the scissors out and cut away the tatting.  This is Round 17 of the Monster Doily and although I had to cut, I am thankful that I found the mistake so quickly.

That is a little round magnet on the scissors as they usually are attached to a metal cabinet next to my tatting table just within reach.

Carollyn has suggested that I reuse the tatting and I have put it into my design binder for future inspiration.   This was cut from Row 17 of the "Monster Doily", yes I am on Row 17.

But I am also full of distractions too and have started the Renulek Spring Wiosna2017  Doily.  I am using up some of my Vintage threads, this is some J&P Coats size 60 Color 21.  I plan to climb to Row 3 once it is released.                            

Round 16

Believe it or not I am on round 16 (of 18). This is the last of the quick rows. The following two rounds are more ornate and wider so they take quite a bit longer to get around so I am trying to enjoy this last one.  I've just finished one scallop, nine more scallops to go.

I can't believe how long this "Monster" has taken me and I am feeling strong and determined to finish it.  Meanwhile the Tat it and See event is keeping me occasionally distracted.

I slipped a bit of card-stock behind the scallop so you could see the  pattern more clearly.  The bottom left is a Moonlit shuttle for size. 

Jan Stawasz Moje Robotki 8/2007 Huge Doily tat-along Row 14

Excuse the wrinkles, it is not blocked and I usually don't sew in ends or cut off tails until I am past that row.  There are four more rounds from this picture. and unblocked it is 33 inches in diameter. I am guessing that another six inches will be added by the time I finish. 

I am using ball and shuttle filling a moonlit shuttle four times on the last round.   I won't need two shuttles again until the final row.  

Tatted with  Aida 10 color 926 ecru; I am on the fifth 50 g ball.

This size of thread is very tiring to work with and when I move to other projects using smaller thread they seem so easy. 

At the end of tatting I fold the doily up nicely and place in a white sheet to keep it clean.   I really need to finish this because I have so many other tatting projects I want to do.  

Tatted Coasters

Most of the crochet cotton I have is not suitable for tatting. Yes you can tat with it but the rings are a bit tough to close and the soft twist wears as you tat so the finished product looks tired before it is finished. This past week I stopped into a local shop that carries shuttles and thread and the occasional tatting magazine. The bright colors of the Rico Essential Crochet cotton caught my eye and I bought a ball.  

I wound up a few shuttles and tatted the Square Coaster found in Robin Perfetti's  new pdf file "Tatted Coasters" available in her Etsy shop. The pattern pack contains seven patterns with variations. The patterns are clearly diagrammed and written along with color coding for shuttle 1 or shuttle 2 as applicable.

The Square Coaster shown right was done in two rounds, is 4 inches across using size 10 Rico Essentials Fuchsia.  It is the perfect size for a big coffee cup. 

I am currently halfway on Round 13 of the Jan Stawasz Huge Doily

Jan Stawasz Moje Robotki 8/2007 Huge Doily tat-along Row 12

It has been 10 months, really 10 months for me to complete Row 12.  It is not a difficult row but I took a long break.  Using size 10 is quite tiring, additionally it is now gardening season and although I can wash my hands my tatting time is limited.

I climbed out of Row 12 using a split ring and now enjoying row 13.  Once around I will slightly block and measure, but it is big.

Any discoloration in the photo is due to lighting, the doily is being made in Aida 10 Ecru.

Taming the Monster

It is a  very dangerous time just after I finish a project.  I start searching for a new piece to tat and

browse Pinterest and Tatting Blogs to look for ideas and inspiration.  I admit, sometimes I start more than one before finishing any. So now would be a good time to start taming the monster, monster doily that is. I've had the doily sitting idle for long enough and pulled it out of its cloth to try to tackle another row.  

Now for a confession, I had found that a few of the half medallions are attached backwards. I had stopped doing frontside backside on this piece some rows back so it really does not make a difference to the overall design, but another tatter/crafter may notice.  I have been wondering if I should redo them or not and have decided not to. (I actually could have redone them by now).  

I began this doily/tablecloth for myself and I do want to start using it before we buy a square dining table.  My mother did this and then had all these circular tablecloths that she didn't use.

That is all for now. I'll post updates as I get this done and on to my dining room table.

Progress Update: Row 12 started. Using Aida 10 Ecru 

Jan Stawasz Moje Robotki 8/2007 Huge Doily tat-along Row 10 and 11

It is hard to believe I did this myself. I have only been tatting for a few years and would never have thought that I could get this far on such a big project. I am feeling quite accomplished but am reminded that there are still another seven rows before completion.

While ironing, I found one of the inner mofits had come undone so I needed to retat part of it. Painful task but needed to be done. 

I am using Aida 10, ecru and the doily currently measures 27 inches or 69 cm. It is sitting flat and I have just given it a steam and slight press with the iron.

I have two of Jan Stawasz books and tatted a few other of his doilies. This pattern is from Moje Robotki 8/2007. 

On to row 12.....

Split Ring Climbing

It can get a bit tricky but using split rings and split chains to climb from one round to the other saves hiding a few ends.  The last four rings made here are all split rings and helped me complete five arches, this is a portion of arch number six of the Big "monster" Doily.   I tat over tails when I start the arch and climb to the second row using these four split rings. You may need to learn how to join on the second side of a split ring to keep an untwisted climb, I used Jane's site, here is the link.

I have been using Magic Loops or Magic Thread to hide the ends in the last chain.  I tat just a bit loose to allow for the threads which will be hidden beside the core thread.  I start one loop before the other so they end in alternate spots.

I am using some thin strong nylon beading thread which I had on a large cone but the cone is too big to travel with my tatting so I repurposed an empty floss container to hold some spare magic thread.

Just open up the container and wrap your thread around the little spool inside, You even have a cute little cutter, good enough for this thread.  I never had much success until I found the right thread to use.    

I find challenges in each bit of tatting I do, and its the learning and complexity that draws me in.  Just as Knitting or Crochet is not for everyone, neither is tatting.

At the end of these arches I will be giving this monster a slight block on the foam and I will show you the big picture again.  

Huge Doily tat-along Progress Update

Just a quick little peek at what is happening with my Jan Stawasz Moje Robotki 8/2007 Huge Doily tat-along.  There are ten of these arches, rows 10 and 11. To give you an idea of the current size, that is a large Starlit Shuttle. Those colored blocks on the floor are 24" square.  I am using Coats Aida Ecru 10 which is slightly smaller than Lizbeth 10. 

I tat over tails at the start of the arch and using split rings and chains I climb to the second row.  

The paperclips were put there to mark the arches and keep me on track. 

I'm Back

Title says it all. I have been tatting along with all my other projects, wrapping up Mom's estate stuff, Tax season and keeping the genealogy records. Below is an update of the tatting that has been done.
I completed one of the arches for the Jan Stawasz Moje Robotki, halfway around another row on the Renulek Wiosna 2015, and started a new Jan Stawasz Doily VI.

Of course I have a few other WIP's but that's all for today.

Jan Stawasz Moje Robotki 8/2007 Huge Doily tat-along Row 9

Row 9 is completed and the doily/tablecloth is now at the edges of a single foam board. I can put four of these together to block as the doily grows.  I gave it a very very light spray at this row and pressed with my fingers. I have marked the edges with colored paperclips so I know where the "bows" or next elements will be placed. 

I believe I need to work with two shuttles now so I have cut off the ball. 

I will not be tatting as much for a few weeks as the office is busy and there are more late nights to work. :( 

Jan Stawasz Moje Robotki 8/2007 Huge Doily tat-along Row 8

Just finished Row 8 and this cloth now measures 19.5 inches.  I use a non woven cloth that I store it in, wrapped up, and the cloth is used to put on my lap or the table depending where I am working to keep the tatting clean. 

Not quite halfway through and I have used two balls of 50gr Aida 10. I have been working off the ball for the past two rows, climbed out with a split chain and will continue on to the easy row 9.  It looks ruffled but is actually laying flat.  I will give it a spray and light press once then next row is completed.

Jan Stawasz Moje Robotki 8/2007 Huge Doily tat-along Row 7

The doily currently measures 45.5cm or 18 inches point to point. I wonder if I should be calling it a doily anymore as it will soon be a tablecloth and I hope it will fit. I just realized that I have taken this picture with the wrong side facing. It will have to do for now.  I just don't have the time to become a great photographer too!

On this last round my thread kept getting caught on the points and rings.  Any suggestions to keeping the thread and project clean?

Jan Stawasz Moje Robotki 8/2007 Huge Doily tat-along Row 4

Not much to tell here, just another row with the chains are still causing me grief. Now to figure out how to do the next round of twelve mofits attached sort of off centre to the current row.
The only skill in this doily that I am not confident with is reading the pattern.  It is confusing and I think I made the chains in this row too long but with just a light spray with water and pressing into a towel with my fingers it is quite flat now.

   

Jan Stawasz Moje Robotki 8/2007 Huge Doily tat-along Row 3

The doily after row three measures 18cm or 7 inches diameter. you will notice a small green knot about 4 oclock near the centre. This is a marker for the right side of the doily to assist in keeping me on track.  The ecru color seems boring after the Spring Doily so I am going to photograph against this bright background. 
My doily is quite crumpled but laying flat. Those long chains still giving me a challenge but I am hoping they will sort themselves out and behave once the doily is larger. 

Snip Snip

This Jan Stawasz Moje Robotki has me on a steep learning curve.

But finally this row is getting under control. I had to get out the scissors when I found that I had been missing a picot on those long chains, but it was a blessing in disguise as I am doing and controlling them much better now.

Working with the Coats Aida (10) is very comfortable.  It tends to twist easily so I am slowed down by dropping the shuttles and waiting for them to stop spinning. I am also getting into the  Jan Stawasz method. It will be interesting to see how it looks once I reach row XVIII.


There are a few other tatting projects going on and they will be revealed in time but for now they are a good distraction from this doily. 

Moje Robotki Row 2

Whoops, had some problems with my phone and my computer each trying to blog.  Here is row 2, I had a few problems climbing out but managed ok with a few split rings and a split chain then another split ring.

 

Left, Lizbeth 10 Snow White  122 yds/ball------Right Coats Aida 10 Ecru 280m/ball

The Lizbeth is slightly larger and smoother which makes it easier to close rings and control chains. The costs were very similar.

Jan Stawasz Moje Robotki 8/2007 Huge Doily tat-along Row 1

I ordered some Coats Aida 10 Ecru and a copy of Moje Robotki 8/2007 which contains a Large Doily designed by Jan Stawasz. and have shown Row I.

The thread is actually a nice creamy color and when compared to Lizbeth 10 it is slightly thinner. I am using a Starlit and Moonlit shuttle as they hold a lot of thread.

I am trying to do it "Jan's" way which has the picots on a ds as opposed to between. This is a new way of tatting for me and I am taking it slow. The doily is slightly cupped but I think if I dampen it this will disappear. I will just put it in a heavy book overnight.


I am not afraid of a large doily, the tablecloth in the header measures about 4 feet by 5 feet and I crochet it square by square about 35 years ago, now I wish I kept better track of my projects.


 If you get this post twice, sorry, had some issues with blogger on my smart phone and  this post was deleted.