Friday, August 22, 2014

A Philosophical Finish

When I used to play the flute, I often wondered why I was given impossibly hard pieces to learn, because the end result was never pretty. However, though never mastering the really difficult ones, I came to realize that in the process of learning and endless, frustrating practice of the impossible pieces, my “regular” playing flowed; it was smoother, easier and considerably more pleasing.

So with tatting. This piece is full of mistakes and it still buckles and frills, even with much pressing and blocking galore, and there are a few - gasp - knots to be had, hidden away on the back side.

As I struggled along with this pattern, the tatting I did when I took a break from the Kurbatskaya were tatted with more ease and liquidity. My muscle memory has changed and improved.

At the end I made a mistake that I could have fixed, but it would have taken a day more and I realized it really was finished just as it was, and so was I. So, here it is, finally, all twelve inches of it, tatted in #30:

Kurbatskaya’s Doily




without whom I never would have tackled this in the first place. 

Thank you so much my tatting friend!

19 comments:

  1. I think your piece of tatting must be considered a master piece, ok you really have learnt a lot in trying to tat this pattern, you and Wendy have mastered a pattern many tatters would not even think of trying.
    Well done
    Love to Gian
    Margaret

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    1. You are so kind, Margaret! Thank you very much.
      Fox : )

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  2. I am impressed again, beautifully completed!

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  3. It's totally amazing and I love the design!!! You did a fabulous job!!! :)

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  4. Thanks, guys! I am so happy it is done!

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  5. Wow, absolutely beautiful! An intricate pattern that would naturally make other things seem easy. So glad you got it right.

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  6. Another reason to strive beyond! The difference the background makes is remarkable but either way it's quite lovely!

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  7. What an unusual piece of lace! I am happy for you, brave tatter!

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  8. Wow, wow, wow! That is gorgeous! It looks so delicate and intricate! Just lovely! ! ! :)

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  9. Fox this is gorgeous, the mistakes don't matter, the end result is very very pretty. In time the thread may relax into it's proper state, or simply hang it off the edge of a shelf, lamp shade or table and the frills won't matter, they will look perfectly in place.

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  10. That's a spectacular and very difficult-looking doily. Brava! Well done! :-)

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  11. That is quite a feat, Fox... very commendable for trying it. You get a round of applause from me - I think it looks very lovely

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  12. It's beautiful! That design does look very challenging and it's large, too. Congratulations!

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  13. Oh, well done, Fox! (I didn't know you played the flute: I played the clarinet)
    Your doily is gorgeous. Funny how when we stretch ourselves, the usual doesn't seem as difficult as before.

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  14. Breathtaking! Love the design and color. Job very well done.

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  15. It is beautiful. Congratulations!

    I am happy we did this. Now for another.

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    1. Thank you! Oh yes, another please, as soon as I get through The Monster!

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