It's about time! Years ago - can it really be years - I was enchanted with the texture of the lace that certain tatters were able to achieve.
I had samples of motifs from; Jan Stawasz, Frivole, my friend Suneeti, Umintsuru and perhaps someone else, but these are the tatters who immediately come to mind.
It was a mystery how these artists got their lace so firm and stable, while mine just flopped about like a soggy noodle.
Well, it has taken seven years of pretty continual shuttle-wielding, a whole lot if thread and way too much off-colour language, but I seemed to have finally crossed some invisible tatting milestone and arrived as a qualified tight-tatter! Yay!
I had first noticed the firmer stitches as I tatted the next to last hankie border. That hankie had been more sturdy than usual, but I attributed that to the HDT I was using. I didn't even suspect it was because of my tension that my tatting felt denser and firmer than in the past. Same thing with the last hankie, but I was beginning to wonder if my tension had changed.
Then this:
Design by Pascale Provost
This little motif feels terrific! And I now know it is because of my tatting and not the thread.
I have begun a small Mary Konior piece, using Karey Solomon's thread - the newer stuff, which I believe is Lizbeth - and the tension is again nice and tight. Happy dance.
Sounds like congratulations are definitely in order! Thread quality certainly has an effect in the quality of the tatted piece, but 'practice' has quite a large effect, also. Seems like our tatting (or knitting, or crochet, or embroidery....) changes after we have logged in many, many (mostly enjoyable) hours (and possibly some frustration here and there). I'm so glad you are enjoying your tatting.
ReplyDeleteStephanieW
Such a beautiful motif!!! :) I thought it was a new doily!
ReplyDeleteVery nice! Congratulations on achieving firm tatting! Could it be a combination of pattern, thread, and tension? Whatever reason, I'm glad you've achieved a new goal!
ReplyDeleteSo happy for you. I'm sure it is due to all the tatting you do that has resulting in the increased quality of your stitches. Congrats!
ReplyDeleteGood for you!!
ReplyDeleteWow all these years and I did not think that was a problem you had, but know it is a problem. I do agree that holding someone else's work is a great way to compare, so much that a picture does not give. And wow Jan Strawasz sample must be fun to have, but I often wondered if he had too much tension but knowing his thread was always so lager it would be different. Okay I went on too much. but great subject!
ReplyDelete: ). Jan Stawasz's motif feels wonderful; larger stitches, yes, but the tension is perfect!
DeleteYay she got it, congratulations and achieving to become a tight tatter.
ReplyDeleteLove to mr G
Margaret
Tension makes ALL the difference. Some threads are floppy - DMC 8 & 12 is notoriously so - but I find Lizbeth to be crisp with the correct tension.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tatters! : )
ReplyDeleteI can see Mr. G has uncovered his ears and is smiling ear to ear even from here! ;) It really is so pretty!
ReplyDeleteLearning never ceases, does it ! Your tatting always looks so good .
ReplyDeleteThanks, Muskaan.
DeleteHopefully it never does! Otherwise, what is there???
Congratulations! I'm glad you're tight not tipsy :-) Isn't it great to be so happy with your own tatting? The feel, the look - yay!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Wanda! It is good to be happy with my tatting; this has not happened all that often in my eight year long career! : ))
DeleteCongratulations! As others have said, it's amazing what we learn with practice. :) And the little doily is lovely.
ReplyDeleteThat is a beautiful doily. I always admire your work.
ReplyDelete