Homework Motif Pattern

Wow. I didn't expect anyone to actually like the motif I made for the Design-Tat homework. At least, I hope you're all being honest. Anyway, a few commenters mentioned that the motif would look good as a table runner, or perhaps a doily. I played around with the image on the computer last night, and I have to agree with those of you who mentioned it.

You know, maybe it is pretty after all. Seeing many of them together, I actually like the motif more than I initially did. So, for those of you who asked, I will post the pattern for this motif. I have to write the pattern out in both short and long hand for our next homework assignment. I have the short hand done and will share it with everyone. If you have any problems with the pattern, please leave a comment, or email me at: jwh4000ATgmailDOTcom , replacing the AT and DOT with the appropriate symbols.

Abbreviations

R - Ring
C - Chain
- - picot
+ - join
SS - Switch Shuttles

Centre

R 4-4-4-4 RW
C4-4 RW
R4+4-4-4 RW
C4-4 RW. Repeat 6 times for a total of 8 rings and chains, joining the last chain to the first R. Cut, tie, and hide ends. If desired, the last chain can be a split chain consisting of 4/4.

Round 1

R 4-4+4-4 RW (can be a split ring of 4-4/4-4 if a split chain was used in the centre)
[C 6 RW
R 6+4-6 RW]
Repeat between [ ] two more times
C 6 SS, R 6-2-8 SS, C 6 RW
R 6+4-6 RW
C 6 SS, R 8+2-6 SS, C 6 RW
[R 6+4-6 RW
C 6 RW]
Repeat between [ ] two more times
*R 4+4+4-4
[C 6 RW
R 6+4-6 RW]
Repeat between [ ] two more times
C 6 SS, R 4-4-8 SS, C 6 RW
R 6+4-6 RW
C 6 SS, R 8+4-4 SS, C 6 RW
[R 6+4-6 RW
C 6 RW]
Repeat between [ ] two more times*
R 4+4+4-4 RW
Repeat between * * two more times, joining the last chain of the second repeat to the first R.

I hope you can follow this pattern. And if anyone knows of a good name for this motif, please post in the comments. I, quite honestly, can't think of a good name. Homework Motif 3 isn't a good name IMHO. Goodnight. I have to go power down for Earth Hour.

Thread from Exchange and Homework

I finally have gotten around to posting. Still haven't done much tatting, but I am making progress on my next crocheted piece. I did get my homework done for Sharon's Design-Tat group, which I'll show at the end of this post. I'm not sure when I'll get back to tatting. I cut one of my fingers at work a few days ago (nothing serious, but the bandage interferes with the tatting; crochet is easier, but not being able to feel through the bandage slows things down a bit). Typing is slow, but possible, though this post took two days to write.

As I mentioned in my last post, I participated in Kathy's Thread Exchange this year. So far I have received 4 out of the 5 threads I was to get. I do believe the fifth thread is on the way (I got an email today that one of my partners received her fifth thread, so I should be getting mine.) Any way here are the threads that I have received so far. First up, is from Trayna F., from Scotland. She sent me two lovely threads.

The first is Coats #20, colour # 4148, the second is Manuela #20. Trayna believes that both are discontinued. That fact alone makes these very special. Since I can't get anymore, they will have to be used for something special. Giving us (I think everyone got the same threads) these threads was very generous of Trayna. She also sent a postcard.

The next thread is from Patty B, of TN, USA. She sent a very colourful sample.

This is DMC size 80 thread, I'm not sure what the colour number is. I have a ball of this thread, but I can't find it. As I mentioned earlier, I have started to like size 80 thread, and intend on using it more.

The next sample is from Karen F. from OR, USA. She sent a very lovely sample of silk thread.

This is LadyShuttleMaker's Karen's Halo Silk HDT, size 20. A really cool fact is that I got this thread from the Karen that the thread was named after. This little fact make the thread a little more special. She also sent a really cool card:


Pretty cool, huh? Karen herself rides a motorcycle.

My final sample of thread comes from Libby H. from SC, USA. She sent two samples as well.

The pink is a sample of Cebelia #223. The second sample is Sulky #40 in colour #942-523. I haven't tried this thread before and I am looking forward to using it. It is 100% rayon.

I would like to express my thanks to all of you generous ladies that I exchanged threads with. As I mentioned, the fifth sample has been received by a few of the other ladies now, so once I receive my thread, I'll post about it.

Finally, I have a picture of my homework for Design-Tat. It's not pretty, but I think it will do for now.
I kinda like it. It reminds me of a butterfly. I might rework it some other time. I have to write out the pattern for our next homework assignment. I would like to get back to my other tatting projects. I'll post again with pictures of my orchids that are currently in bloom. Later.

Quick Update

I'm still here. I haven't done much tatting since my last post. I joined Sharon's Design-Tat Yahoo! group and have been working on the homework that Sharon is posting. I'll have to post pictures. Why am I not tatting? I am working on another design from the Crochet Dude's book. I purchased new yarn in solid colours, with matching dye lots to make this design. I'll post a picture or two when I have it completed.

I also participated in a thread exchange recently and have been meaning to post pictures of the thread I received. And finally, I have a few orchids in bloom and I bought a new orchid yesterday (yeah, like I needed another one; and this one is nearly 3 feet tall), so I have some pictures of them to share. I really need to get my butt in gear and work on the tatted versions of these plants. Hopefully, I'll get organized and will do a proper post (or two; I may have too much to post in one shot) in a couple days. Later

Renegade Dawg, and a Tatted Motif

Quick update from my last post: as it turns out, everyone agreed (not with me) that the Tatting and Teneriffe Lace Hexagon doily should be left as it is. I still think it needs something to tie the motifs together. I have decided that I will leave the doily alone for a week or two to see if my opinion changes. In the meantime, I will make another hexagon using my last Teneriffe medallion (I'm going to have to make some more), and try my edging idea on that one. Maybe I'll be right; maybe I'll realize my idea won't work.

I mentioned in my last post that I had completed my Dawg hoodie by the Crochet Dude, hereby known as Renegade Dawg (thanks Sherry). I took a few pictures of myself wearing it. These are probably the best pictures I have taken of Renegade Dawg (though not of me, but then I hate having my picture taken, so I'm biased). You can see the colour variation really well is these pictures; I actually like the way it come out. Onwards to the pictures.

Out of all the pictures I took, this was the best (and I still don't like it). I would like to mention, that I usually wear glasses, but I took them off due to the funky ways the camera flash kept glaring off them. Anyway, here is another picture, one from the side.


This one is better. And, again, shows the colour variation really well here. Finally, here is one more picture of me wearing Renegade Dawg. The photo has a bonus in it.

Yup. I'm tatting in this one. This is probably my favourite of the three photos. I'll discuss the tatting later. I would like to thank all of you who commented with suggestions on how I could lessen the mismatched look of the different dye lots. I used each and every one to finish the hoodie.

Finally, I decided to participate in Sharon's design challenge (this sounds familiar). I had planned on using the rose, along with a few rounds of additional tatting to replace the Teneriffe in my hexagon pattern. The outer rounds were supposed to be the same as said hexagon. It didn't work that way:

This is my Tatted Rose Hexagon - Mark 1. While working the design, I came across a few modifications that need to be done. So you will probably see a Mark 2, and perhaps a Mark 3 before I am fully satisfied. This will be motif #21 of my Second 25 Motif Challenge. All future motifs based on this motif will not be counted. Later.

Return of the Tatting & Teneriffe Lace Hexagon

Tatting and Teneriffe Lace Hexagon? Some of you may not have any idea what I am talking about. Using a small round motif I made using Teneriffe Lace (brief definition from Wikipedia here), and surrounding it with tatting, I created a hexagon shaped motif that became motif #2 of my 1st 25 Motif Challenge. You can read that post right here. I originally decided to continue making and joining a total of 7 hexagons to create a doily. However, after only four, I liked how it looked, and quite frankly felt it would be too large for my purposes.

At it present size, the doily measures 10 3/4 inches long and about 8 inches wide. Its not done, as evident by the two long threads coming off of the split chain in the upper left quadrant of the picture. Funny story here. You remember Roomba, right? If not, click here for some background on my Roomba. I really don't know how, but somehow Roomba got a hold of the thread between the fourth motif and the shuttle (this was before I joined it to the rest of the doily). You could probably imagine what happened next. I spent several minutes carefully unwinding the thread out of Roomba's brushes. A picture would probably be good right here, but I never thought to take one. I was shocked by this behavior. And to think that I had purchased Roomba the Scheduler Upgrade with the charging Home Base that its been begging me for. Anyway, I had place a Magic Thread in the first chain of the second round. Had was the key word here. Somehow, Roomba pulled out the MT. Fortunately that was the only damage to the motif. Maybe Roomba's AI (artificial intelligence) was trying to express it's creative side. I'll never know. With the MT gone, I realized I like how it looked, and didn't need the MT, since I could split chain into an edging. Which brings me to a design problem. Roomba hasn't told me how I should finish the doily.

In its current state, I'm not happy with the triangular space between the four motifs. The following picture illustrates these spaces better.

My problem could be solved with at least two solutions. The first one involves making an edging consisting of two rounds. The first round would be simple, perhaps just chains until I get to one of the triangular spaces (like the one above), where I could hopefully use rings and chains (or perhaps chains and mock rings) to fill in the space. A second round would tie the whole design together. The second solution would involve making four small filler motifs separately, joined as I made them. Followed by the second round, again tying the whole thing together. I am going to have to think about this one; though I prefer the first solution. Suggestions are welcome, as always.

I've also decided to take Sharon's design challenge #4. The rose is almost done. My ultimate design is similar to the above hexagon. That's all I'm saying right now.

For all of you wondering, the "Renegade Dawg" hoodie is done. I'm not ready to show it just yet. I just dyed my mustache and goatee right before I started this post, so I'm not ready to model the hoodie yet. And no, I didn't use blue dye. I don't think I would be allowed to have blue hair/facial hair at work.......but it would be so cool. Later.