Friday, April 28, 2017

Ninth and Counting


The eighth row took a while, 
but the next few look fairly routine. 

I'm still enjoying this one.

Monday, April 24, 2017

On To The Eighth Row


Renulek "Zebra" on Ebay 
Over 7 inches
Lizbeth #40

Thursday, April 20, 2017

Delightful Design

I think this is perhaps the prettiest of Renata's patterns:


I am also enjoying the Lizbeth #40 thread. I have added a second darker purple bead, slightly smaller and less obvious than the center ones. I like the result.

It's about 6" now, and there are about 13 Rows. I think I am on Row 5.

Sunday, April 16, 2017

Calling It A Day

Yes, it is finished. I tried to add another row, but it was not needed. 
I think it looks very complete as it is. Anyway, it is over 14".

It's all packaged up, ready to be mailed out on Tuesday.
Yay!


Already started another for the 
daughter of a friend who asked for a tatting in purple.

Design by Renulek (Zebra - on Etsy)

I am so relieved to be using #40 Lizbeth again.To me the quality 
difference between #20 and #40 is enormous.

Saturday, April 15, 2017

Re-Inventing Renukek - with Sincere Apologies

I received this tonight from a wonderful tatter I do not know who is trying to help me!

... from Italian...

Good morning, my name is Elizabeth and I follow it for several years and admire his work and trying to learn from his post. Yesterday I saw the last and I are very sorry to see that in his ninth lap there is a mistake that I hope will solve, is missing a circle than the Renulek model. I tried to comment on his blog but are not very practical and can not figure out if the comments are here. I hope you will be able to fix it because I know how long it takes to complete a lap as the 9. I greet you dearly Elisabetta

Thank you Elizabetta! Thank you so much! I was wondering if anyone would notice my near-fatal error. I left out the fifth ring of the "flower" in row 9 and saw this only at the very end of the row.
The Horror!



I could not bear to tat that row again... it was interminable, so I decided to take some liberties with Renulek's pattern and plough ahead anyway. Row 10 is working out well.


Thank you again, Elizabetta, for your thoughtful email. I am touched that you very kindly attempted to alert me to the mistake.💕

Thursday, April 13, 2017

Tenaciously Ten

Next up, finally - the tenth row. 
That last one, row 9, was really something; LOTS of untatting.

14 inches

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Warning! Pay Attention!

When you get to the ninth row, you will tat a floating ring. I found it looks way better to use a Catherine Wheel join to continue the second part of the chain.


Also, the ring is better constructed if you add a half ds and post the shuttle, thus preventing the ring from turning in on itself upon closing.


You can see - count in 5 - where I made a fatal error and had to remove several elements. Still in all,  it is a lovely piece and I love the colour of the thread and beads.

There has been entirely too much cutting. You really must be focussed on this row. Unfortunately James Spader, in The Blacklist, has been captivating much too much of. My attention during the evenings when I tat!


I am fearing running out of thread on the new ball of thread, as I had to cut so much.

Now - RANT

LIZBETH THREAD SUCKS! I had forgotten how I loathe this thread. It is passable in #80, but in the larger sizes it splits, has slubs and was actually broken at one point, deep into the last ball. I am, once again, truly disgusted.

End of Rant
I won't mention it again - until the next defective ball...

Sunday, April 2, 2017

Trudging Along

Row 9 is a trifle tedious; 
it's going to take some time...