Frivole and Fox? Face to Face?

Fortuitous - Frivole was in Ontario, not far from my city.

Fabulous Fun - We met up at the Train Station for coffee.

Friends Forever  -  How I feel about that lovely visit!

Yes, indeed. We met up yesterday as Frivole was able to spare an hour out of her very busy travelling schedule to come and have a coffee with me. It was so exciting - you can imagine.

We spoke on the phone only the night before when a plan was conceived that was carried out the next day early in the morning.  It was so much fun and much, much too short a time.

However, we did manage to have a hug and a tat while the talk was fast and furious -  so much to cover in so little time.

I came away with a real-life tatting buddy PLUS a new way to hold my shuttle; I have always had trouble with the second half of the stitch when tatting in the stab-method. Frivole pointed out where I might change it up and it is working! A day and a lot of tatting later and by jove, I think I’ve got it!

Having practiced, I applied the new technique to the Trellis Doily and there is definite improvement for me. My stitches are tighter and the motion I am using is easier on the right hand.

When tatting is learned by the book/video only, it is so important from time to time to to have another tatter looking over your shoulder to offer an opinion and some insight... You just never know what you will learn. I am so grateful!

Trellis Doily - vintage pattern -  from Priscilla #2

You can see the scale here of this piece and how I have cut down the pattern so the centre is quite small.  I believe it will block well enough to display the row of those little bits in the centre circle.

I continued on with the new method of holding the shuttle and applied it here:

Clover Doily by Ellen Staffordtatted with #80 DMC and 

when that ran out,  carried on with Perfect Quilter.

This was challenging as this row tended to ruffle and I had changed from the DMC to the Perfect Quilter, which is quite a bit thicker than the DMC. 

Luckily my order of Perfect Quilter has arrived and I am going to play with some of the new thread as there are 7 more rows to go in this pattern. 

Mixing variegated thread is always a gamble, but there is no option if I want to continue and this was really just an experiment to try out the perfect quilter, so I will tat on. 

There is a lot of discussion about this pattern over at InTatters and I was curious about it, which is another reason for the choice to try with Liyarra’s sample of Perfect Quilter. It is a great pattern, but frills a bit on the row I just finished. Apparently that will work in as the next row is added. I think it is rather pretty!

So, thus far I am pleased and I think the two spools of PQ that I am showing you here will both be suitable for the rest, if they are used strategically.  We shall see.