Thursday, August 15, 2013

Lovely Linda's

Star Attraction by Linda Davies
#40 Lizbeth and #50 Altin Basak
8” diameter


Towards the end of this creation, I felt that I was in some kind of digital marathon... I was tatting as fast as I could and holding my breath. Why? I could not wait to finish it.

I just get so bored with larger pieces and I lose interest in the quality of my stitches. This is problematic for a perfectionist as I am always at odds with myself. Stress!

Also, I tatted the last bit in Clovers and I have to say I am hopelessly attached to my LaCossettes. I did not do too well with the post shuttles.

This presents another glitch: I have ditched several of my Aerlits and yet I am not fond of the feel of Aeros.  Now my shuttle collection is very small. Hmmm. What shall I do? 

Replenish with Aerlits, knowing they will lose their tension? Beef up the collection with Aeros, knowing that I find them much bulkier, but also knowing that they retain the tension? Ah, the overwhelming dilemmas of the addicted tatter.  : ))

Perhaps there is no such thing as the perfect shuttle.

Check out the same pattern on Tatting Fool’s blog. Miranda has chosen a lovely pastel palette, here.

******************
PLAYING WITH CLOVERS
AND
PERFECT QUILTER THREAD
Blomqvist abnd Persson Pattern

Tiny little motif is only about two inches, if that. I found this pattern very challenging. It is easy to make mistakes with it, in my opinion!

It is Snowy’s go-to pattern and I love looking at it on her blog. She uses very fine threads and her tatting is a joy to study. 

23 comments:

  1. It really is a star attraction now, lovely. It's interesting that different tatters like different shuttles. I think aeros are great and was taken aback when I heard that a friend was giving hers away because she can't stand them!

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    1. Thanks, Jane!

      Shuttle misery... I want to find the perfect shuttle....
      Fox :))

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  2. Your doily is gorgeous!!! :)
    And I just love that motif!! The colors are so beautiful!!! :)

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  3. It looks wonderful! I love your colors, and your stitches look just fine to me.

    Mine will be coming off the blocking board in a few minutes, so I'll be posting it shortly.

    Love the colors on the Perfect Quilter thread! Blomqvist and Persson have some really pretty patterns, but they're not always easy to follow-- they're simplified to the point of sometimes leaving out important details, like where to join. I've found a few mistakes in the book, too. I always have to take a deep breath before I tat anything from that book.

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    1. Was I ever happy to read this! I always feel so inept when trying to decipher those simple appearing little motifs! Ha! Glad to hear I am not the only one taking deep breaths!
      Fox : ))

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  4. If you have never tried a Silent Tatter, you might consider one of those. They have a great hook, tension that stays once you fix it, are quiet, and are just lovely workmanship. The only drawback is that they can be a little heavy because of the brass central post as opposed to wood or plastic. Good luck! Beautiful tatting!

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    1. Thanks for the comment. Susie,
      I sold my silent tatter as it was too heavy for my little hands, but what a lovely piece of workmanship it was! A real gem.
      Fox

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  5. Would using a bobbin from and Aero in an Aerlit
    solve the tension problem? I have never used either brand but wonder if it might help.

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  6. Thanks Randi, that seems to make no difference!
    Fix : )

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  7. Your colours are wonderful! - both the Star Attraction and PQ choices. We used to call Liyarra The Enabler - so hard to resist her recommendations!
    It seems that tatters are either Clover or Aero people - no fence-sitting. There used to be a shuttlemaker who made wooden post shuttles with hooks on one end - I have one, but it is cumbersome. Maybe someone needs to design a more slender bobbin, and then a lovely lightweight shuttle to hold it!

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    1. Thanks, Maureen,
      Oh, yes! I think the name is most appropriate!

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  8. Oh dear....problems with shuttles....really? I haven't really had any problems when it comes to needles!!!! (hee, hee)
    Kelly

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  9. Star attraction is very attractive:)

    Lovely colours and beautiful tatting!

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  10. What a lovely doily!

    I love bobbin style shuttles too. I have had more trouble with Aeros getting loose tension than with Aerlits. Oddly enough, one of my Aerlits that had gotten loose is now working better again. It had been in a bag of stuff in a hot room. Maybe it was gently shmushed for a long time. I'll have to try that on purpose.

    My tricks to get loose Aeros to work better are try swapping bobbins between shuttles (Some shuttles seem to like certain bobbins better). Buy extra bobbins to use (sometimes it's the shuttle and sometimes the bobbin at fault). Roll up a little piece of a 1/4 inch wide rubber band and put it in the bobbin's hole to increase friction. Get some plastic hole reinforcers (stationery supplies) and put a few on the sides of the bobbins. This last works better for Aeros than Aerlits.

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    1. Aha! Thank you for this. I have been using the reinforcement rings in the Aerlits to no avail. I will try the elastic band. : )

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  11. Hi Fox

    Lovely mat, I have seen Miranda's blog and they are both lovely and done so differently, well done.
    Your little motif is lovely and I love the colour bend.
    Hope his lordship is not too loud I send him a cuddle and love.
    Margaret

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  12. What a beautiful doily! The colours are just so lovely!

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  13. I love how the Blomqvist and Persson motif has turned out. I find that I need to "tat in pencil" first when I deal with difficult patterns, that is I follow the pattern by drawing it on paper...a sort of rough diagram, before throwing myself into actual thread and shuttle stuff.
    I am a post shuttle person, and find the bobbin affairs clumsy. I have had some "fun" trying to decorate some shuttles in the old 2010 fashion. I didn't do it then, but I am discovering how hard it is! :P Perhaps I should blog about it...but no-one is interested in yesterdays fashion, are they?

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    1. Thanks, Snowy! From you that is indeed a compliment!

      I do the drawing it first number too, when I am not too lazy. If I do not, then inevitably there is a lot of cursing... and un-tatting as well! Often I use coloured markers to distinguish different elements of the pattern and any other visual trick I can summon up depending on the way pattern is written...
      Fox : )

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  14. What a stunning doily! The design is beautiful and I really like the color scheme you chose.

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