Neater?

Thanks to SherryL for pointing out yesterday that my needleweaving was a bit loose. I had forgotten to put the fabric onto an embroidery frame when I worked it. This morning I did the third set using a frame. The result was so much better that I unpicked the first two and redid them. Unpicking was easier than I had visualised, phew.

The Open Squares

This is not a tutorial, you understand, it's just a response to a comment from someone who said they couldn't understand how the open squares were made on Hardanger work. The steps go like this:

A 'frame' of satin stitch blocks (kloster blocks) is worked.

The fabric is cut. In truth my scissors are not sharp enough for the job. I did contemplate leaving the job until I could borrow a really good pair of scissors, but the bookmark must be handed in at the next meeting, so I've carried on regardless.

The fabric threads which have been cut at each end are removed with tweezers.

This leaves a grid of threads like this.

Using a finer thread than was used for the kloster blocks, needle weaving is done on that frame of thread to reinforce them and make a set of open squares.

Like this.

Day 3

Day 3 of the tat it and see. Interesting that there are no joining picots on this section. Hmm.

Day 2

After day 2 the tatting is still dominated by the shuttles, but that will soon change. Interesting shape, don't ask me what it is.

Sleuthing

I'm contemplating the next blanket or Afghan. Pinterest is a great source of inspiration, but the patterns themselves can sometimes be difficult to track down. After some sleuthing, I found the flowers in a row pattern here and the triangles pattern here. I worked samples of both. I think I'll start with triangles and come back to the flowers. I think I prefer the triangle with the cream centre; seven different colours in each triangle might be a bit muddled. But the contemplation will continue as I spin the first batch of wool.

Work in Progress

I'm working on another Hardanger bookmark. This will be the last one, worked keeping in mind all the lessons that I've learnt so far. So that, hopefully, it will be good enough to enter the beginner section of a competition. Mistakes still happen. I started with a 'frame' of kloster blocks and when I came back to the beginning found I was one fabric thread out. Grrr. Nothing for it but to cut the stitches off and 'go around again'.

The Picture

Here's the picture for Day 1 of his TIAS.