before and after 2

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Five-pointed star from Little Stars and Snowflakes by krystyna mura

The 2nd motif I started before the December event began was a 5-pointed star designed by Krystyna Mura, which was later embellished in order to enter it in the contest. I shared my 1st Before-After here - https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2022/12/before-and-after-1.html

This is the BEFORE model devoid of even the decorative picots that were in the pattern. I just wanted to get a sense of the design when Krystyna first sent the pdf.

It was also my first time tatting with Sanbest - the threads Ninetta had sent me - hence my initial stitches were a bit tentative. This one has 3-strands, closer to size 40 I guess.

It was tough closing the tiny ring (the first 2 arms on the left). After that I made an overhand tie at the base of the ring to hide the defect. You can see the difference, with these 3 rings standing out like beads.

When finished, I chose the easy way out by tying the 2 tails for hanging. 

This is the AFTER model. Using red sewing thread, I sewed in a star sequin topped with a bead, and continued behind working the needle into the 3rd picot counterclockwise. Must've gone around 3 times and lo and behold there was one more star shape! 3 stars in one pattern!

There is a glaring mistake on the right where the thread went around the chain rather than through the picot. 

Krystyna always does a stellar job creating and sharing multiple variations. This time she took one little motif from Endrucks' pattern #12 and soared to Outer Space! She gifted us 3 pdfs filled with star and snowflake patterns as well as further possibilities and variations. Love her artistic and clear presentations though the images can be a bit of an ink-guzzler when printed ;-P

E12 Little Stars and Snowflakes by Krystyna Mura (2021) - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1D9n0yMmq50bO5PAf7883R7qJ_xR-agHT/view

You can join our currently ongoing game/contest on our Endrucks 1920 Project FB group. Direct links on the the top of the right panel in  my blog.

Many thanks to Krystyna for the lovely patterns and Ninetta for organising this event 💕

before and after 1

Pin It now! Our new game for the month of December is well underway, this time hosted by Ninetta, with patterns by Krystyna Mura and Ninetta Caruso. As admin we have certain privileges such as getting the pattern in advance and being able to tat them before anybody else ;-D. 

This time we converted a simple #tatmeEndrucks game into a contest for those willing to participate. Tat as many as you can and there is a 'cover prize'. Now as admin we are also at a disadvantage since it wouldn't be fair to count a model tatted beforehand in the contest. ;-P I got around it, just for kicks, with a Before and After look to the 2 patterns, working in some extras. Here's the first one ....

Tat Me Snowflake designed by Ninetta Caruso - 

I was privy to her design process and testing her Pretty Me Coaster version since our August game. https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2022/09/aug-roundup-1.html .

At the time the 6-armed version wouldn't lie flat. We discussed a few options.

This is a variation of Endrucks' pattern #3 and the heart derived from it.

Ninetta came up with this clever adaptation by changing the stitch count of the chains around the heart. Notice how the lower one has broader repeats. The new version is kind of narrower.

So this is my BEFORE version. Worked in Red Heart size 20 with bicone crystals in 2 colours and sizes. All pre-strung on shuttle 2. The 2 sizes gives a better tapering effect to each arm.

I had deliberately left extremely tiny picots around the center intending to fill it up later with beads.

E3 Tat Me Snowflake by Ninetta Caruso (2022) -https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZENvdgxihM0YI3Ar_UxP9lqRwprmFotP/view

And this is the AFTER version (sorry the colours don't show up here). Took me an hour and half to embellish. All sewn in with sewing thread. I like my idea of the bugle beads sticking out creating a kind of very pointed star within.

The large bicone red crystal in the center is surrounded by 6 orange and 12 smaller green bicones.

The same taken in the sun showing the bead colours a bit better.

I liked the personal challenge of adding beads in 'new' ways.

In my next post I will show the 2nd Before and After.

If you wish to join in, you can find the patterns in our Endrucks 1920 Project FB group. Direct links are on the top in the right panel of my blog.

footprints on the sands

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... of time and tatting. Today I complete 10 years of blogging and it is the 800th post. These are mere numbers but mean a lot to me. 800 posts that each contained some tip, idea, experiment, option... At times 10 years seems like a long time; and yet like a short period, not enough to accomplish all my goals. Did I leave any footprints during this journey? Some faint ones perhaps which will soon be washed away. 

Incidentally, my first post on 3rd December 2013 was on tatted edgings! 

And now these pics from Judith Connors kind of summarise and symbolise my online tatting journey. I wouldn't be here, wouldn't have improved and learned so much without the help and guidance of the community; without their willingness to share freely of their expertise, patterns, and resources.

The lace - design shared freely by Robin Perfetti; tatted by me, in Lizbeth size 80 threads gifted by Sharada R; gifted to Judith who mounted it on a plain white handkerchief. This is what she wrote - 

'If you look at the close-up you’ll see that I crocheted around the raw edge first and then slip-stitched/top-sewed your lace to the crochet. I love how it all came together. When Queensland Tatters next have a display of their lace I shall place our combined effort in there too.'

This 'combined effort' is what my online experience has taught me. It may not always be an overt collaboration but the moment we tat somebody's pattern or when we share something that gets picked up another, the community grows, evolves, thrives.

Speaking of which, Judith also sent her beaded version of the Reflections Snowflake - a gift we send to anybody who completes an Endrucks' pattern.  

I had extracted it from the 100 year old Endrucks' pattern #17; it was modified by Ninetta Caruso and Anna Tedesco; tatted by several of our recipients in their own unique versions, including this sublime beaded beauty.

Endrucks 1920 Project, a huge milestone in my tatting journey, is pure collaboration! I will never reach any pinnacle of perfection and am aware of my limitations. Yet it makes me immensely happy to be able to pass on whatever I have learnt or discovered along the way. 

While the tatting community is growing, the blogging community is shrinking. Blog Land is getting a bit lonely with bloggers dropping off in favour of other platforms. Irrespective, I join those who persevere - I find it the best long-term platform and with absolute freedom to present and express in any kind of format. Let's see what the next years will bring ....

💓Cheers! And a huge thanks to the tatting community at large!💓