Tough Round 9!

I am having a heck of a time getting very far on this round. I'm having a hard time with the direction on this one - making a ring and then working a chain to connect on the left and not flipping just seems wrong to me.  I can't seem to get everything to lay nice and flat - not intuitively, anyway.  And I was trying to tat front-side/back-side, but I've messed that up too. (I know it doesn't really matter, but I do like the look.) Now I see I've missed a picot - fortunately, only one repeat back to un-tat. Ugh. 

Do you ever experiment, and then when you like what you've done, not remember how the heck you did it? I make that first ring, and then move the threads behind the ring to continue with the chain to the left of the ring. I think I tried moving one thread behind and one in front, then both behind, etc.  

I like how the chains lay beneath the ring on the left, but the two on the right are off.  Dang if I remember what I did differently, and I don't "see" it.  I have to pick out those two anyway, so I'll be doing some more experimenting.  Any suggestions would be more than welcome :)

The hurrieder I go the behinder I get!  Definitely can't rush this round ...

WIOSNA 2015 Doily - Round 8

Ta-Da!  It gets prettier each time around.  And more difficult to photograph!

Using size 20 Lizbeth, this doily is now about 13 inches in diameter.  I think size 30 thread may have ended up a nicer size, but I have lots of size 20 thread - so it's fine!

Ready for Round 9 after a LOT of long chains.  I don't much care for them, since they seem very difficult to keep neat and even, but maybe that's just me. This round took about 4 hours and 40 minutes.  I'm now officially obsessed with keeping track of the time it takes :)

Now, to add some more of the variegated thread.  I'll have to experiment with that and see if it will work in the next round, or if I should wait and use it in the final round.  Decisions, decisions!

WIOSNA 2015 Doily - Round 7

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  The green round is done ;)

Whew!  I'm finally ready to get started on the next round.  

   

Round 7 took me 8 hours and 42 minutes.  I took a deep breath and added up the time I've got into this doily so far.  Any guesses?  A whopping 36 hours and 48 minutes!  On top of my full time job.  (No wonder the house needs dusting and Ruby remains unimpressed!) I suppose 36 hours and 48 minutes isn't really that bad over a period of 7 weeks.

This green Lizbeth gave me a few troubles. There seemed to be untwisted (or looser than normally twisted?) sections of thread - I'd catch just part and it was HELL trying to correct or tat over it. In one instance I just had to cut it off.  And these instances just popped up for no particular reason - so frustrating.  I won't be trying to incorporate any more of this green, just to avoid the issue.

Ruby does not care about doilies OR St. Patrick's Day.  OK, maybe the corned beef is a little bit interesting.

Still at it ...

I'm about halfway done with Round 7 - I knew it would get more difficult to keep up with finishing each round in just one week.  But it's coming along nicely - I do like the green addition.  

Now that Round 8 is out (and different than expected!) I'm really thinking about where I will be able to add another round of the variegated.  Maybe the centers of the very last round?  I'll have to get that far first!  This is a fun project - I'm really enjoying tatting this beautiful doily.

WIOSNA 2015 Doily-Round 6

I finally completed Round 6 - in 6 hours 12 minutes!  I don't really know if my time is accurate - I let the timer run while answering the phone, and then forgot to turn it on right away a few times.  It's at least close.  I'm determined to continue timing to see how long a doily really takes me!

I'm really enjoying tatting this doily.  The rounds are easy, repetitve patterns, and good for observing tension and such.  I still think I need to practice consistent tension.  Now I'm ready to get on with the next round!

This past week my Dad had back surgery, and Mom stayed with us since they live out of town.  We went back and forth to the Veteran's Hospital where Dad was, and were really impressed by the hospital coordination.  During the 7+ hour surgery, we had updates often, and the staff was fabulous throughout his stay.  The VA Hospitals get a bad rap in the news media, but the Minneapolis hospital leaves me confident that they provide absolutely wonderful clinic and hospital care.  Dad is back home with Mom as Chief Nurse - he continues to be in good hands!

Last night, hubby and I went to a dinner at a local VFW Post (Veterans of Foreign War) honoring our niece.  She has been the President of the Military Order of Cooties (Women's Auxiliary) for the state of Minnesota for the past year.  This group of women coordinates and provides the state's Veteran's Hospitals and Homes with visits and sometimes small gifts.  It was fitting to celebrate her hard work after my Dad just spent the week at the VA Hospital, and he did have visits from both the Minnesota and Wisconsin Cooties Auxiliary groups.  Our niece and her sisters, as well as their children (teens from 14-18), are very involved in VFW work as their dad (my brother-in-law) is a Vietnam Veteran.  It was wonderful to see them all there - helping with everything from setup to food to cermonies to cleanup.  

So, a bit of stress, a bit of pride, and some warmer temperatures and sunshine round out my week.  And daylight savings time is here! Any snow or cold weather we get now won't last long.  I think spring is finally in view.