This butterfly about COST ME MY MIND! If you think I am being overdramatic, you're probably right, because it was the KITCHEN SINK or lack thereof which pushed me to the edge! The butterfly only threatened to send me fluttering over into the ravine...
It is a simple pattern (part of edging #98 from The Tatted Artistry of Teiko Fujito) but it took me FOUR tries to get it done! Besides issues like your basic forgotten picot or twisty rings, I created my own dilemma by tatting it front-side/back-side, which is still new to me. THAT butterfly was going well until I choked on the final join. I had been using down joins and couldn't decide what to do about the final one. I tried to do a backwards version of the Twisted Picot Join which I usually use for the final join, with disastrous results. It was knotted up so tight there was NO picking it back out.
SO MY QUESTION IS, what kind of join do you use for the final join of a motif like this when you are doing front-side/back-side tatting?
In the end I reverted back to traditional tatting and the Twisted Picot Join to make THIS butterfly. I was determined to add it to a get well card I had found for my aunt. The card was blue with a few tiny butterflies on it and a big space on the front begging for something more. Some peace of mind returned when I was able to send it with its little blue stow away in the right direction through the US mail.
A big CHUNK of peace of mind returned when my DH finished installing a new faucet in the kitchen (the old one broke off a few days ago sending water flying across the kitchen) and threw in a new sink to boot! It was a learning experience though - I now know a little bit about plumbing and more importantly, that I should not strike out for the new territory in my covered wagon, because pioneer life and doing dishes outside AIN'T FOR ME...
13 comments:
I take it you are not going camping anytime soon! Myself, I get edgey and nervous when I cannot fell the pavement solidly under my shoes....
The butterfly looks amazingly simple, but you know, it is always those easy looking ones that cause the eruption of ulcers. It worked out fine in the end!
I do the fold over with the last picot on f/b tatting all the time. I am not sure why that didn't work here, since I assume, that you would be on the right side just before the join and the consequent fold-over.
Fox : )
Hi Fox!
No, it has already been proven in the Smokey Mountains that it is best I do not go camping!
I think I over thought the last join, trying to do it the regular way but in reverse. I will give it another try. Thanks for the advice!
:) Ann
I think I agree with you, because I had no hot water for the past seven days.......pioneer living had to suck.
No hot water for SEVEN days! COLD showers for SEVEN days!! No sink is a walk in the park compared to THAT!!! Modern conveniences are pretty sweet!
:) Ann
What fun reading your camping comments. I've been married 41 years this week and have been camping many times every one of those 41 years. First it was in the pup tent with back packs and then with the motorcycle and pup tent. Then we got fancy and pulled a tent trailer behind the motorcycle for thousands of enjoyable miles. Then...two years ago along came a trailer house with a nice garage in the back to haul the bikes AND running water and flushing toilets! Tatting always traveled with me as it even fit in my backpack. Now I can take more patterns and threads with me - another huge advantage and more enjoyable camping. Thanks for bringing up the great memories. Karen
Congratulations on your anniversary this week, Karen!
It sounds like you have many wonderful camping memories. It's funny that we also have fond memories of our one and only ill-fated camping trip to the Smokies more than twenty years ago. It was a disaster, but the scenery was beautiful, we were with friends and all of our goofy mishaps gave us reason to laugh within an hour of getting off the mountain and continue to today.
:) Ann
we both know I'm not expert & struggling with the same thing .... I do think your blue butterfly is fantastic! Very beautiful & will be a stunning addition to your card
Thanks Lelia! I was happy with the addition of the little butterfly to my aunt's card. I think she will like it.
Isn't it funny that we are both having different versions of the same problem?! From what Fox has said, I think I may have just looked for a problem where there wasn't one. I'm going to try the twisted picot join and see if it works for front-side/back-side tatting. I'm keeping my fingers crossed...
:) Ann
I'm afraid I can't help you on the tatting question, but I can relate to the plumbing problem. My technique is more of a stand back and be ready to help but don't say anything and try not to be upset when he starts yelling even though he always says "I'm not mad at you...it's just this *#@&% (fill in the plumbing item)."
The butterfly is just darling, and the color is so pretty. I love to see a bit of stitchery on a card -- it's so sweet.
LOL, Martha! We have the same "helper" technique, and our husbands have the same fix-it mode. Do you ever get the dreaded "You're good at this, see if you can _____." or "You have little hands, see if you can _____." It soon becomes apparent that I'm NOT good at _____ AND I have HUGE, clumsy hands. To avoid this happening, I just keep my hands behind my back and a stupid look on my face. :)))
Ann
Hi there!
I just discovered you through your comment (it was cute!) at Tatting Chic's blog! I *love* your blue butterfly! Is the pattern in a book, or did you buy it from someone on line? It would make such a simple, but delightfully delicate bookmark, afixed to a pretty ribbon!
Your blog is an intersting read! I haven't tatted in years, but you and Tatting Chic are rekindling my tatting fires!
Best wishes!
Terrielee :)
Hi Terrielee!
Thanks for stopping in! I picked up my shuttle again a year ago after about eight years. Tatting has been so much more fun this time around because of all the tatting bloggers out there and an ENORMOUS amount of information and resources on the internet. It's a great time to get back to tatting!
The butterfly is part of edging #98 from The Tatted Artistry of Teiko Fujito. It's a GORGEOUS book I ordered through Handy Hands. It's probably available through Amazon as well. It would make a pretty bookmark!
:) Ann
Beautifull butterfly!
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