Sunday, March 31, 2013

Tension

 I've long admired Frivole's Flowering Quatrain bookmark and had it on my to-do list. But I just haven't been able to get it right. On my first attempt, in size 20 thread, I left small spaces between the split rings of the middle row. So when I came to do the second side of the outer row, the middle split rings were bunched and ugly. Aha, learnt that lesson. So on my second attempt, using size 40 thread,  I snugged the split rings neatly next to each other, except where Frivole said not to. Alas. When I finished I found that my tension was still wrong somewhere, the outer row is ruffling. It's a very pretty bookmark, or would be if it was tatted correctly!

Happy tatting on International Tatting Day. Don't get chocolate on your work!

15 comments:

  1. Happy International Tatting Day! I haven't tried that pattern yet. I still need to do a better job with split rings, but I will give it a go some day! I prefer caramel to chocolate, but I will do my best to keep it off my tatting. ;-)

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  2. I think your Quatrain is lovely. I've made it several times and can't anything wrong with yours. Do you mean the littleJosephines? Are you making them as rings or a chain joined back on itself? Happy International Tatting Day!

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    1. The long chains are overlapping a bit. Blocking has helped, but there's something wrong somewhere!

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  3. Happy Tatting Day! It is interesting to see how patterns turn out when done by various tatters with their own personal style.
    Nice bookmark.

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  4. What has worked for me is "snugging" all chains and leaving about 1/2 of a usual picot length between each of the split rings. http://www.intatters.com/album.php?albumid=1161&attachmentid=22374 and http://www.intatters.com/album.php?albumid=1161&attachmentid=21181 have two longer ones I've done.

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  5. Looks like you are starting to get it!!! :)

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  6. Jane,
    You seem to have done the same thing I did: join the central little picot ring to the outer edge.

    If you look at Frivole’s blog and see her Quatrain Bookmark, she does NOT join anything to the middle and it looks a lot better, I think!

    Perhaps there is a more updated copy of the pattern as I believe I have the earlier one - and I think you do to.

    Maybe the change would make it easier to tat with a more pleasing outcome! Just a thought.
    Fox : )

    Have a lovely International Tatting Day. : )

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    1. Ah, perhaps that's the answer. Susie has some leads for me to follow.

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  7. ...I love this pattern also, but didn't try,...so thanks for your advise of tension...won't it be better when blocking it?...
    happy tatting day;))

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    1. It did look better after blocking, but the long chains overlap a bit.

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  8. The bookmark is on my 'to do' list, sorry you had trouble with it, but that may help those of us who have yet to try it. Your second version looks great

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  9. Hi, Jane. I haven't tried this pattern, but I wanted to wish you a Happy Tatting Day.

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