Friday, March 11, 2016

This one doesn't count


I sometimes have to remind myself of the great piece of wisdom I heard a number of times on the old Lace@Arachne.com mailing list. (I know, I'm dating myself as some of you won't have a clue what that was.) "Small imperfections are proof the item is handmade." 

That worked for me with this lovely snowflake (December 1 in Lene Bjorn's 24 Snowflakes in Tatting) when I realized I had added an extra picot to one of the large outer rings. So I pressed it and got it all ready to photograph. I've admired it several times since I finished it late last night. It's a beautiful design. So I'm handling it again, trying to decide whether to post it today or wait until I finish December 2 when I spotted it. Oh, no! I skipped one of the small rings that leans against those large outer rings. Now that's just too much. It's a good thing I really enjoyed tatting this one, because I really must do it over. 

So today's snowflake doesn't count toward any of the challenges. It's a sample of what happens to all of us now and then. Proof to my future tatting students that I really do make my share of mistakes. ;) 

13 comments:

God's Kid said...

It still looks fantastic!!! :)

Eliz Davis aka Tatknot said...

Thank you. Lene really did a great job of designing a ring only snowflake. I've already started the next one and it is a pleasure to tat.

Michelle said...

It will be a nice example to some certain young ladies (aside from mine) that even experienced tatters do this.... And I love it, I haven't done bare thread in years, maybe it's time.

muskaan said...

Doubt I'd have noticed if you hadn't mentioned!
I added little Josephine Rings on the outer round & experimented with 2 colours to create a 'sun flake'. Just happy to have gotten it doen ;-)
Looking forward to your next one !

Eliz Davis aka Tatknot said...

Muskaan, you have a real gift. I had to go visit that 'sunflake' again. I know we used the same pattern and that your only design change was to add those Josephine Rings to the outer round. But, WOW! What a difference your use of color makes.

Eliz Davis aka Tatknot said...

Michelle, it would be a good practice piece for ring only work. I used split rings to climb from round to round, but, of course, it wouldn't be necessary to do that. I really did enjoy tatting it. Did you see what muskaan did with the design? http://www.craftree.com/projects/2649?page=1#217391

Margarets designer cards said...

I had trouble with the otter ring too, I did a couple of unpicking but got there in the end, it's a lovely snowflake but it can catch you out
Margaret

Eliz Davis aka Tatknot said...

I agree, Margaret. It is deceptively simple. I actually had to refer to the diagram more often with my 2nd attempt than with my first. I got confused as I was nearing the end of round 1. I didn't have enough outer rings. In my confidence at tatting it a second time, I had missed a ring there at the end. No problem to untat and fix it at that point though.

Lace-lovin' Librarian ~ Diane said...

It's still a pretty example of tatting!

Kathy Niklewicz said...

I certainly can understand 'missing' doing that ring. I was trying to do the very basic hens and chicks the other day and couldn't get past the first couple of rings. I kept forgetting what direction I was going and connected the wrong rings together. It's been a while since I tatted it and is the one in Rebecca Jones book, but it was as if I'd never done it before!

Eliz Davis aka Tatknot said...

Thanks, Diane.

Yes, Kathy, that's what I mean about ring only patterns like this one being deceptively simple. We sometimes think that because it is rings only, it will be simple to tat, but ring only patterns are a challenge. As you pointed out, those reverse works can get confusing. You also don't have double stitches in a chain to help you space the distance between rings.

Laurette said...

I made that same snowflake a few months ago and forgot that same ring. Something nice in knowing I'm not the only one who does this. I'm OK with my mistakes, I'm human.

Eliz Davis aka Tatknot said...

That's right, Laurette. Interesting we both made the same mistake.