However I want to show you what I got in the mail earlier this week. Some of you may remember that Gina, and Susan both mentioned that Rosace Embroidery Threads were offering three free skeins of embroidery thread. I couldn't pass that up. Here they are:
I hope to tat with these, sometime. Embroidery thread isn't the best for tatting, IMHO, but it was free. I'll share if/when I get around to tatting with it.
As I recall, I mentioned a PITA chainmaille project that I was working on during my last post. Well, here it is:
The chainmaille part was easy, it was getting the thing attached to the ring that was a PITA. And yeah, I know it's a bit Christmasy, but I wanted to wanted to make one of the included patterns. I don't know if I'll offer these for sale, or if I will just give them as gifts.
Finally, I'll show you what I've been working on lately instead of tatting. I ordered the rings necessary to make a chainmaille shirt on Tuesday. They were ready for pickup on Thursday. I went and got them Friday before work. I've been working on it ever since, making small sections each day. I currently have the top of the shirt completed. And here it is:
Above is the result of four days work, where I spent about 1 1/2 hours per day working on it. And in case you are wondering (and so I can keep track), the top section measures about 20.5 inches by 17.5 inches (52 cm by 44.5 cm) when relaxed (ie: when it is lying flat on the floor, not on me). It currently weighs 4.6 pounds (2.09 kg). I started working on the front, which is going to take some time to make. As always, I'll provide updates as I go.
I think that's about it for tonight. I still need to shave and trim my goatee tonight as I won't have time in the morning. And I should make a grocery list too. I normally go grocery shopping on Thursdays, but since the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra's Book sale starts on Thursday, I want to go there after work instead. As I've done for the past few years, I'll be keeping my eyes out for tatting books. But as always, I'm going with the expectation that I won't find any. It's less disappointing and way more fun that way. Till next time.
I have the most difficult time tatting with embroidery thread, I have tried it a few times, with diff numbers of strands, and it just isn't my favorite thread. I have tried chain mail before, I wasn't bad at it, but it is very hard on my hands, hence, I don't make it, lol, you do really good work :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Bree. What I really don't like about using embroidery thread for tatting is that you have to separate the thread before you can use it. And how the thread separates at each picot.
ReplyDeleteI totally understand about chainmaille being hard on the hands. I like using stainless steel (that's what my shirt is being made with) and the rings are very stiff. That's partly why I'm only spending a few hours a day max working on it.
That looks great! It's kind of breath of fresh air to do more hands on projects in between tatting. Mixes things up.
ReplyDeleteDo you have any plans for where you'll be wearing the shirt?
Lovely shirt will you be wearing it, Its nice to have something to do in between tatting, give you a rest and break for fresh ideas.
ReplyDeleteI have tatted with embriodery thread, I made some butterflies for my wedding dress with embriodery thread, as I wanted some very fine small ones in cream, its not easy and you cant pull it too hard, I find doing it gently and slowly and it will tat, I usually use three stands.
Margaret
I have been thinking about just the very reason I don't like using the embroidery thread, and I find it stubborn, not real easy to slide along itself, and i believe I have the answer why, because I tend to have a lot of tension when I tat, I tat quite tight little knots. I have been trying to experiment with loosening my tension recently, but I am sloppy when I do that, and right tension just doesn't work on a "fuzzy" type of cotton, like that of embroidery thread. I do like smoother threads, like polished cottons, rayon, mercerized cotton, and what ever type of cotton handy hands uses for Lizbeth, though that has a ton of twist in it often. I also like Aunt Lydia's cotton but it is hard to find in the smaller sizes, and I only like the rayon if it is a rayon cotton blend.
ReplyDeleteso, making a long story just slightly longer, I think that is why I don't like tatting with embroidery thread.
I HAVE to leave a note here because YAY! Chainmaille shirt! Lots of work! My husband tried once and told me he was confused by the patterns and joining the rings. I said it sounded similar to k2tog, and ml in knitting. And now he figures we should try a project together. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm enjoying seeing all your different projects!