Attention To Detail

Remember that I said (as I always seem to say) I was trying to pay attention to each and every stitch?

Well, I am still trying to do that, and have noticed, as I wrote a few weeks ago, that I have indeed seen a change in the way my tatting looks and the way I feel when I am tatting.

I wish I could get my words around this process because it all has to do with “mastery,” which is a solid part of every creative journey.  Since really noticing this process, and trying to stay awake to it, I have been enjoying tatting even more than before and I believe I do not even get as frustrated.

As I write this I must admit that I realize it is likely that this introspection shall soon pass and I will be back to the old hair-pulling routine, but I am enjoying the ride for now. : )

One thing: I see that I had not been closing the rings entirely, and when I did - particularly with #80 thread, I pull out a length of thread that had been hidden in the tatting before I pulled, creating a bare thread.  Do you know what I mean? 


The thread stretched as I closed the ring, leaving new exposed thread after the close. This is irritating, as I cannot figure out why it is that I am pulling out that little bit of thread. Something to do with the way I hold the thread when I pull?

Since this discovery, I have been closing the rings very slowly, trying to uncover the reason for the problem, but with #80 thread - difficult! It seems I have to pull quite determinedly to get the rings closed tightly, or there is an open bit.

The first round piece of tatting above is what I am working on, as time away from the hankie edging, and I am concentrating on closing the rings.  Because the thread is larger, the process is easier, but I see clearly that in the past I have not paid much attention to the process.  This new awareness SHOULD contribute to a finer finished piece.

I am wondering if the second half of the edging will be noticeably better than the first half, at least to my own eye...