Day 9 And SABLE

 

Hmm, I think Jane has us stumped with her tat it and see this year!

I didn't do the Renulek Spring doily last year, but I really want to do it this year. Question is, do I have enough thread? I have a condition called SABLE - stash accumulated beyond life expectancy - but nonetheless, it's surprising how often I don't have the requirements for a specific project! Renata said in her initial post that her napkin used 90g in size 20 thread. I had a look through my stash and found two 50g balls of size 40 white thread, which should be ample.

 I might struggle to keep up in the later rounds, there seem to be so many interruptions now I live in town, but I'll see how it goes. In any case there's no obligation to keep up! I have done the first two rounds:

Bottoms Up and Day 8

 

I thought I'd show you the bottoms of the little beaded bags I'm making. The spokes pattern makes increasing very easy, I just increase in the stitch before the contrast bead, which means all the counting is done while threading the beads. The one on the right has a final round of 72 beads, whereas the other 2 are 54 beads. 

The tat it and see is given in very small bites, but one needs, nevertheless, to pay attention! I looked at the wrong part of  the diagram and thought I'd made a mistake. The split ring wasn't easy to open, I don't know why some open easily and some don't, but there you go, I spent a long time untatting. And then realised that I hadn't made a mistake at all! I think of the headline I saw on a blog recently that said, 'I am a plonker'. 

Day 7 And Another Bag

 

It looks like an amoeba swimming along. But where it's going to, I don't know.

The second beaded bag is much more the size I was after. My handbag is turquoise, so I thought I'd use turquoise beads for the main colour. Plus flowers in nine different colours, and green leaves. 

Day 6 And A Little Bag

 

Well, it could still be a fish....

I've been wanting a little coin purse to put coins in so that they don't fall out of my handbag. I used the same principle as for the beaded balls, like this one. It came out more or less as I visualised, except that it's too big. I will have to make a smaller one! I'm not going to line the bag because I like how the inside looks:

It took me a couple of tries to get the top done. I thought I could continue the beadwork above the eyelets for the ribbon, but it looked messy. I quite like having the crochet cotton above the beadwork, like a little bit of petticoat sticking out! 

Day 5 And Ears

 

Well, it's still looking like a fish, I'm sure we're going to be tatting a tail soon.

I've been making animal ear headbands as part of my collaborative project. In truth I find it difficult to get excited about animal ears, but collaboration is collaboration, so here they are:

They're not easy to photograph, we need a baby to model them for us. The patterns can be found here.

Day 4 and Beaded Split Rings

 

The tat it and see continues, little bit by little bit. 

I also had a go at the Anne Orr method of adding beads to split rings, which Ninetta explains very clearly here.  Um. I'd need a lot more practice to get the tatting looking smooth! But I did add the beads to the split rings, so that's good. 

Rhubarb And...

There was enough rhubarb in the garden for another batch of jam. Last time I made jam, I combined the rhubarb with ginger. I didn't have any ginger on hand, but I found this recipe for rhubarb, lemon and vanilla jam, for which I had all the ingredients. The funny thing is, I could have just walked to the supermarket and bought more ginger. I've lived far from shops for most of the past 40 years, so I'm used to just using what I have available - I don't have a town mentality! Anyway, the jam turned out really well. It has a nice tartness. 
 

Day 3

 

I'm a bit tardy with day 3, it came out yesterday. So clever how Jane turned the corner with a split ring, hats off to BC3. 

Day 2

 

The threads I'm using are Milford 20 in the dark green and Coats Floretta 20 in cream. I meant to say on day 1 that I didn't start without a knot. I did a reef knot to tie the two colours together and then hid the ends in the first ring and first chain. 

Collaborating

 

My friend Sarah and I are collaborating to make gifts for Valentine's Day. We are supposed to be attending a Valentine market, but I'm rather doubtful that it will go ahead. We are currently in lockdown that may well be extended. In that case, we will have to have a go at digital marketing. First step, I have made mug rugs, with crocheted hearts attached. We haven't decided what we'll put in the mugs - sweets perhaps, or heart shaped cookies, or even Sarah's heart shaped soaps. 

The Fun Begins

 

I'm so glad Jane Eborall is doing her tat it and see again this year. It's a good way to start the year. I was a bit slow off the blocks this morning. I needed to find my silver shuttle. It's not the most practical shuttle because it's a bit heavy, but I've made it my personal tradition to use it for the TIAS.   Day 1 is here.

Framed

 

I finished pixelating and then worked two rounds of treble (double crochet in US terms) to neaten the edges. I blocked the piece by lightly steaming it - thanks to Jane Eborall for that tip. I then used my sewing machine to attach it to two pieces of calico fabric, which was very brave of me - once upon a time I've had done it by hand! I inserted a folded piece of fabric that I cut off when I shortened curtains for the spare room. Voila, a cushion for a veranda chair:

A Commission

 

A small friend of mine asked me to make a dress for his fairy doll. Pink, preferably, like the original that his dog destroyed. That was fine because my pink fabric, left over from this skirt project, doesn't fray, so I wouldn't need to make a tiny hem. I measured the doll from waist to ankle and cut out a circle of fabric. I suspect I didn't allow enough for the seam when I added the bodice because the skirt was much too short. Hmm. Luckily I put it aside because a bit later I had a brainwave - I could just add another layer of skirt rather than starting all over again. That worked fine, hooray, fairy doll is fully clothed again. 

By the way, I was rather rude about the pink fabric in my original post, but it turns out that the skirt is one of my favourites and I've worn it a lot! 

Pixelating Again

 

I stalled on my pixelated crochet. It's not as neat as I would like. I reminded myself that a first attempt is unlikely to be perfect and that if I continued I might learn something. In any case, it's better to have an imperfect finished item than a UFO lurking. I just have one more row of squares to do. Then I'll decide whether to work an edging before I make it into a cushion. 

Another Ten Masks

 

I have another ten masks ready for the order. It's been fun revisiting my Teiko Fujito motifs. I remember struggling with bare thread spaces and getting picots the right size, but I'd forgotten the series of motifs with double picots:

Thanks And Happy New Year

 Thanks to everyone who read my blog in 2020, those who commented and those who didn't! I've sometimes wondered if I should continue my blog, now that my circumstances have changed and I seem to spend a fair amount of time in the kitchen rather that tatting and doing other crafts. But I like the interaction the blog brings; it's a good record for me; I know some friends and family use it to check up on me now and then... I shall go on. 

Happy New Year to my blog readers and their families. I look forward to reading other blogs in 2021 and seeing all sorts of wonderful creations.