Saturday, May 21, 2016

My Concentric Rectangles Doily is Rather Stiff

This is turning out more beautiful than I expected. I've been disappointed in this variegated color when I've used it alone, but I really like it paired with some coordinating solid colors.
by Edda Guastalla Bianchetti
Rounds 1 - 3 completed so far.

My one regret so far is that I wish I had started over when I saw how stiff the center tatted up. I've emailed Diane (see previous post about this doily), and we both think that making the picots larger would resolve the issue. Both of us plan to try that in our next doily from this pattern, but I'm too far along to want to start over and you don't change something like that in the middle of a project.

This pattern is a pleasure to tat. The change in colors and the alternating instructions for each row offer enough diversion to make it interesting, while the pattern itself is simple to follow. I've found I need to consult the pattern only at the beginning of each round and at the first corner of each round. It's a great project to work on while doing something else with the family. I took it to the ball park last night and tatted while waiting for my grandson's game to start. I could still follow the warm-up on the field and visit with others while I worked. 

9 comments:

Lace-lovin' Librarian ~ Diane said...

I'm in complete agreement with you! Once I have the first two rounds tatted, I find that I have all the pattern reference I need for the following three. I've narrowed my color combo choices down to two for the next one!

muskaan said...

It is looking beautiful ! The variegated is livening it up :-)

I recently came across an old tip (by Patty Dowden) on Craftree on how to 'loosen' your lace. Soak it in hot water for a few minutes & then block. Haven't tried it myself yet, but it does seem to make sense, especially if the threads are cotton.

Thanks for the picot length tips - will keep in mind when I start on this mat ...

God's Kid said...

It looks wonderful!!! :)

Michelle said...

I love the negative spaces in this!

Eliz Davis aka Tatknot said...

Thanks, all. I'm going to stop this one at 5 rounds, but I'm thinking I'll make the next one larger. Edda makes it clear in her instructions that you can go on and on and on. :) After working the first three rounds I can appreciate that this is so.

Thanks, muskaan, that's a very useful tip to know. I think I'll continue with the same tension for now and then try that with the entire doily.

Margarets designer cards said...

It's looking beautiful and I like the varigated thread it livens it up,
I use hot water to stiff up my tatting, and the steam iron it and that really stiffens up the tatting
Margaret

Eliz Davis aka Tatknot said...

Hmm, come to think of it, Margaret, I use hot water to tighten up my tatting, too. Great for tatted bracelets that get a bit stretched out. Maybe the key to using it to using it to open up the work is to block it while still warm. I might want to play with that with something that doesn't matter as much as the doily which is now destined as a gift.

Madtatter80 said...

I was little busy the day you posted this but love the colors you are choosing it great!

Eliz Davis aka Tatknot said...

Thank you, madtatter80.