Thursday, May 19, 2011

Tatted Earrings, and a Bit of Maille

Sorry for disappearing, again. I just don't know what the problem is lately. Well, actually, I have a few theories. The main one is that I have too many things I want to make in numerous mediums that I can't get started on any of them. I made another wheel of Cheddar cheese yesterday and finished it today; the one I made back in March is just about ready to taste. I've been working on some chainmaille lately. The main piece will be shown later in this post. I'm still getting beads and stuff for several chainmaille jewelry pieces. These are pretty cool; hopefully they sell well. I'm not even gong to say anything about my sales on Etsy. I think I may offer free shipping again for a week or two. I should have done that a few weeks before Mother's Day. Anyway, onward to the tatting!

As the title suggests, I manage to tat a pair of earrings during this past week. It's a pattern I make quite frequently:


These are, of course,  Yarnplayer's Carnival Earrings. These aren't quite finished, obviously. In case you're wondering, I don't usually hide the ends on earrings. A knot and a dab of glue initially, and once dry, they get stiffened with more glue. Since I have to remake the earrings regularly, this works quite well. And since you only see one side of the earrings (usually) the knot isn't noticeable. Thread stats: Lizbeth size 20, colour #149 Peacock Blues. The beads are Reconstituted Turquoise for the large beads, and light blue seed beads.  I am working on another pair of earrings, using a different pattern. And before I forget, have a look at this Temari ball with tatting on it.

Finally, I'll show you the main focus of my creative energy:


I'm not thrilled with the above photo. The camera didn't want to/couldn't focus properly on the metal fabric. The nature of the chainmaille fabric make me look fat. Though that could be the snacks-I think I hear snickering from my tatted seahorse from that comment. Anyway, my chainmaille shirt, more properly called a Hauberk, is almost done. It currently weighs about 21 pounds (9.5 kg). Here is a closeup shot of the overlapping "Horseman Slits" that I put in on the front and back of my Hauberk:


The slits make it easier to walk and ride horses in. I think they look kinda cool too. I still have to make the sleeves, lengthen it some more (I reckon it should come down to about the top of the side pockets on the shorts I am wearing in the photo), and add an edging of bronze rings to the bottom edge, around the neck, and maybe on the sleeves too. I'm probably going to put this aside for awhile. I do want to get some other projects done.

That's about it for now. Hopefully I'll get more accomplished this week. I prepared a ball for a Temari this afternoon, so hopefully I'll get to stitching that soon. And I really want to get more tatting in; I'm having a hard time finding a pattern I want to tat. There's also more chainmaille I want to make. So we'll see how I make out. Till next time.

6 comments:

  1. Lovely earrings, lovely colour. and I like your chainmaille vest, looking good in it.
    Have a nice day
    Margaret

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  2. Pretty earrings! The chainmaille vest is impressive but too heavy. How do you manage to handle the weight?

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  3. I always wanted to know what a hauberk looked like, I had an idea in my head, but was never sure. your earrings look very nice. pretty bead in the center.
    if you are wearing a shirt that weighs 21+lbs. you won't have to worry about the snacks for any length of time.

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  4. I do like those earrings! Wow, the chainmaille looks fabulous and I look forward to seeing the finished piece. Are you creating it for a special event?

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  5. Thanks Margaret.

    Thanks Tattips. The weight spreads out somewhat when your wearing it, though you just have to get used to it. I can only wear it for an hour or so at a time.

    I think this is a fairly accurate rendition of a Hauberk. They do tend to vary somewhat, and can be made using different weaves. Glad you like the earrings. You're probably right about the snack. Wearing the shirt for a while would probably aid in weight loss.

    Thanks Suztats. I'm just making the shirt for the sake of it right now. It seems to me that most chainmaillers usually make a hauberk at one point.

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  6. The chainmaille is AWESOME!!

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