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Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Tat Along Progress

I've been working on the Blatt 2 leaves of the Tischband Tat Along. (See earlier posts for links to the Tat Along.)  For whatever reason, I was having a difficult time figuring out the pattern, and was feeling really dumb.  The "turn" had me bamboozled, and I was trying to "flip".  

 Four false starts in size 40 thread

 I feel so frustrated when I can't quite figure out a pattern that appears to be so simple. This is the point where I've given up on a pattern many times - but I really want to complete at least a repeat or two of this one.  AND, I know there are some other Tat Along participants out there that I will be able to compare with and learn from.

I had one of those "Aha!" moments, and decided to try using a larger thread to actually see the stitches.  It all finally made sense, and I got one leaf done (correctly, I think) in size 3 (yes, 3!)  Using a large thread to practice a pattern is helpful to me, but I sort of hate wasting taking the time to do it.


My vision isn't really that bad, but I have a very difficult time seeing my work when I use size 40 thread. (How in the heck will I be able to ever try the beautiful tiny threads?!)


I'm ready to go back and try my size 40 brown thread again.  Why brown?  Because it's the only size 40 thread I have that comes close to blending with my Kopper Patina HDT.  And I want to just use what I have without making an extra purchase.  I guess I should think about that when buying pretty HDTs :)

 

Which brings me to these questions: 

Is there a method to how you purchase thread? 
Do you buy coordinating HDTs, variegated and solid? 
Or do you buy thread after you choose your project?



17 comments:

  1. Gosh - I had the same problem - I could not get that top picot right. I do not think I ever did manage it correctly, but twisted it to look the way I thought it was supposed to. Larger thread would have made no difference. I just kept looking at the pattern and copying it.

    1) I buy thread I like, when I allow myself some if my stash is small enough to add to it.
    2) No - I trust that the colours I like in variegated will jive with the ones I already have.
    3) Never.

    Control Freak Fox : ))

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    Replies
    1. I STILL don't have it quite right, but it's a heck of a lot better than it was!

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  2. p.s. I love the colours you are using and your tatting looks marvellous!

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  3. I love this project... Makes me almost wish I wasn't wedding tatting!! :}
    I usually buy a thread I like & one color to go with it if I don't already have one. I sometimes even scatter out my stash to see before making a purchase. Only twice have I had to purchase thread for a specific project, my current (brother's wedding) being one of them. Before that, I was kind of on a buying "ban" because I have so many colors I haven't been using.
    Does any of that make sense? :)

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    Replies
    1. Makes perfect sense! I have to put myself on a buying "ban" also :)

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  4. I haven't tried that pattern yet but I can say trying new techniques in dark colors doesn't work well for me, whatever the size. If it doesn't go well, and I can't see what I'm doing, I'm sunk. And the, uh, wasting time isn't really being wasted as, once you know what you're doing, doing it right in the color and size you want will go much faster and you'll be better pleased with the results :-)

    As for buying thread, it's probably better not to talk about it. I have a lot of thread in colors that don't seem to compliment each other :( I see pretty colors and I buy them. I very much need to go through my stash and take inventory so I can start getting complimentary colors for what I have.

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    1. Aha! I never thought about the dark color being the issue - it may be that rather than the size of thread. That makes a lot of sense.

      I think I buy thread like you do!

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  5. I have a LOT of thread...you don't want to know how much. I still find thread I really really need (read want)!

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  6. I buy thread only if I don't have on hand what I want for a project. and I bought new threads ~ HDT from LadyShuttleMaker ~ just to make the Tat-A-Long.
    but I do try to make a project with the threads I have on hand. really I do

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  7. Your leaves are beautiful!

    I purchase my thread on a whim. Every once in a while I try to coordinate threads, but not often. I don't think I've ever purchased thread to go with a specific project... novel idea! ; )

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  8. Hi Bluebird,
    I'm glad I'm not the only one! I've only had one go at the leaf so far and the "turn" also had me flummoxed! I put it away and carried on making some flowers but I need to return to the leaf now, hoping the "obviousness" of it will jump at me the second time around! Will it? Made me feel silly as I thought it looked simple enough but I couldn't figure out how to do that picot and turn the work and have everything facing the right way!

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  9. I am glad there is a discussion on this. It helps other tatters. It was confusing in the begining but after 4 leaves, the 5th onwards gets easier. You must study the pattern and 'see' a repeating structure.

    I choose colours I like first, then I add a few that would match.

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  10. I can drive a car, run a mile, ride a horse, waterski, bake a souffle (only under extreme duress) develop a photograph, write a novel and bear children AND raise them. WHY CAN I NOT TAT THE TURN? ARGHHHHH!
    Fox : O

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  11. I think your tat-along project is looking nice! :)
    And I buy threads I like, but am starting to realize that I should put more thought into coordinating colors now. :)

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  12. help to you, so you work the union

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06eqo4ZsDO8&list=UU8CTnJ8ngfc1Tf6SzVZ-VmQ&index=15&feature=plcp
    bye

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for this video! This is very helpful.

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  13. You should try my method of doing split rings through the middle. It saved me a lot of heart ache. :o) I struggled and struggled with the other version as well before I thought of the split ring method.

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Thanks for your thoughts - I read and appreciate every one!