Saturday, May 18, 2013

Oaks, Acorns And Fuzzy Finca

The little linen square is completed and took quite a lot of the Elefante Algodon Mercer Crochet  thread, #80, from Monica

I had to tat really fast - I always do that if I think I might run out - as if it would do any good! 

Thread this thin is callenging and was murder to un-tat, but I love the end result. I have no idea what to do with this seven inch square.  But, I like it. 

The finished edging was a bit too large for the square - just a tad - so I crocheted another row around the first one around the edges of the square with #50 Cebélia, and it made up for the oversized tatting. Whew!

The pattern is Oaks and Acorns by Mary Konior.


Why, oh why have I chosen to tat with Finca #8 again? I thought I said I would not repeat this! It is really difficult, being only 2-ply, and as I have stated before, reminds me of toilet paper! It separates, twists, knots and does all kinds of things that would make 6-ply tatting thread cringe and run screaming from its shuttle.

But, it has a plush feel once tatted and the colours are pleasing to me.


21 comments:

  1. LOL, I like that part about tatting running out of thread and tatting faster.
    It is like driving faster when the gas/petrol in the car is running out. Weird huh?

    Lovely hankie with the Oaks and Acorns.
    I have not tried Fincs, and after reading your views, may not want to. Then again, maybe I should so I can explain about the thread when I talk about tatting.

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  2. The end result will be beautiful; think product in this case, and don't dwell on the process. I love the colours.

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  3. Wonderful pattern to show off the rainbow thread. I like the way the corners are much more elaborate than the sides. And I love the thought of tatting quickly to avoid running out of thread!

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  4. Hi Fox

    Lovely hanky love your edging, well done.
    Your motif looks lovely and I like the two colours together.
    Love to Gian
    Hugs
    Margaret

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  5. You make my day when I read your humorous statements!!! :)
    Your tatting looks beautiful even if the thread is a problem!! :)

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  6. Love the bright colors on the white hankie. I would have never thought of adding a row of crochet to make a slightly oversized edging fit - a great idea. For now I have to follow a pattern exactly or I'm lost :/

    I like how that doily is looking too!

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  7. Thanks, Tatters, for the great comments!
    Fox : )

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  8. That's one of my tatting mottos -- "If I tat fast enough, I can finish before I run out of thread" I'm so amused to hear I'm not the only one. LOVE the corners on your little square.

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  9. I like the idea of tatting faster if the thread is running out. he he. But you are right, that happens on occasion, are we afraid that it is dissolving over time, and if we get it tatted up it will be safe? he he. any way. Very smart to think of an additional crocheted row to enlarge the center. I can see where leaving out 1 repeat of ring/chain per side would have caused you to have to stretch the edge to fit and that wouldn't have been good at all, as it would have pulled back together over time and not laid flat.
    I like the colorway you used, so pretty and yes, soft fuzzy threads are a pain to use, but they can give such nice results once they are tatted up.
    I like the rose petal photo set up, very nice. Your Salmon and Ivory mat will be delicious when finished.

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    1. Exactly! I knew one shorter would stretch it too much and the amount over was incrementally small, so that's when I got the idea to enlargen the edge.

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  10. Your hanky is beautiful. You make me laugh with tatting faster.

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  11. Gorgeous hankie!

    But the piece what really makes my heart beating faster, is you pastel doily. Fabulous work Fox!!!

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  12. I am loving the look of the tatting done with your finicky finca...it has a pretty luster to it and looks scrumptious to touch. The colors are beautiful as well.

    The acorns and oaks is a lovely edging...pretty little linen square. I've done the add a row thing before, works out well...a good solution. Once I went round once, and a second time only on one side because the hankie had a narrow white border all around, but the border was smaller on one side than the others and it irritated me no end that it wasn't even.

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  13. Oh...and I wanted to say that the idea of tatting faster as to not run out made my day...I tend to go the opposite and make each stitch slowly and precisely as to not waste even a smidgen of thread in an incrementally loose stitch :-)

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    1. Hahah! I do that as well; I try to make smaller picots than usual so as to use
      less thread... AND tat fast! : ))

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  14. Love, love, love the hanky! I have some Finca, and I'm not a fan. It's too soft for me. It does come in lovely colors, though!

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  15. Great post, Fox! You had me laughing about tatting faster. Love the acorns and oaks pattern, and enjoying your finca motif.

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  16. I know I am ages late, but here I am... honoured that the thread I dyed became such a stunning piece! I am curious though - you clearly did not run out of thread, but... How much did you have left...?

    Monica (not sure if this wil show my wordpress profile or just annonnimous...)

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    1. Hi Monica!
      Not much was left. If I recall, that was a smaller skein than the other one which I have not yet used as I am waiting for just the right pattern. This little bit of fabric called out for the other one. So glad you like it.

      The thread was a joy to tat with.
      Fox : )

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    2. :-)
      I am glad you enjoyed using it, and that you had the perfect sized fabric for the rainbow! So fun when thread and pattern want to be together...

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