tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80736041651702679452009-07-11T18:47:32.700-05:00Tatting, dyeing, and fiber experimentsyarnplayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11229319055877477637yarnplayer@yahoo.comBlogger210125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073604165170267945.post-86134281896351921192009-07-09T12:27:00.005-05:002009-07-09T12:57:01.776-05:00

Inspired by the colors of a garden during an afternoon stroll.I hand painted dye onto this thread differently than I normally do - the dye was applied around in a circle instead of from end to end. The result is that the colors change in continuous succession, for example - ABCDABCD - whereas my usual skeins have the colors do something like - ABCDCBA - if that makes any sense.It was a lot of

yarnplayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11229319055877477637yarnplayer@yahoo.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073604165170267945.post-63568727867489716322009-07-04T17:45:00.006-05:002009-07-04T18:13:33.761-05:00

The colors in this hand dyed thread seem to vibrate back and forth, so it seems that "Vibrato" is a good name. Magenta and cerulean blue, shading from dark to light in both colors.I tatted some "Vibrato" thread into another "Belle" pendant (original design, not written up yet).

yarnplayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11229319055877477637yarnplayer@yahoo.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073604165170267945.post-35485488415023632562009-06-26T10:53:00.007-05:002009-06-26T12:11:40.913-05:00

I discovered that a bead could be in the center of a spiral shape. I started out sort of like a mock ring with bead in center. Then I continued a chain around in a spiral shape - I think the shape might properly be called an "Onion Ring" or "Catherine Wheel", but, busy as I've been, I haven't taken the time to research it.I did use Catherine Wheel joins to very small picots, to keep the lines

yarnplayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11229319055877477637yarnplayer@yahoo.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073604165170267945.post-47425830073802373202009-06-22T08:45:00.005-05:002009-06-22T09:30:31.422-05:00

While my family and I were visiting the Olbrich Botanical Gardens, my husband noticed this flower and remarked, "Hey, that looks like that thread you just dyed!" I agreed, until I got home and saw that my "Midnight Oil" thread is really very much darker! There are so many unusual colors and designs in plants! Being in a beautiful garden is so calming and peaceful, it seems to me. And, more

yarnplayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11229319055877477637yarnplayer@yahoo.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073604165170267945.post-62322784262036567842009-06-17T10:59:00.007-05:002009-06-17T11:51:55.015-05:00

Here are a few of my latest "experiments" with bracelet design. The design in the dark ecru I call "Beguile", and it seems to work okay as a bracelet. Or - is it an upside-down tiara?I started with a strip of pearl tatting (size 20, Lizbeth cotton) and then embellished it. There are some split rings at the end, to make the bracelet adjustable. The tatted loop just fits over the bead. I'm

yarnplayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11229319055877477637yarnplayer@yahoo.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073604165170267945.post-17759272148509947282009-06-13T20:42:00.011-05:002009-06-13T22:17:51.280-05:00

Having fun! Here are some of us attending the Lace Day that was organized by the Lacemakers And Collectors Exchange. From left to right is Lace-lovin'Librarian Diane, me, Barbara, Gina, and Linda.Bobbin lace in progress.Some of the tempting threads and equipment for sale.Vendors included LacySusan, Kenn Van Dieren, and The Lacemaker USA.So many choices!Beautiful lace art done by the members of

yarnplayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11229319055877477637yarnplayer@yahoo.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073604165170267945.post-23468141935853662442009-06-09T09:37:00.004-05:002009-06-22T09:34:05.203-05:00

These started with split rings joined into a circle. The center lies flat okay, but I'm thinking it might be good to have 1 or so less double stitch on the inside than on the outside. The outer round is zigzag tatting (Victorian sets) with a bead at each change. This resulted in a bumpy, 3-D effect that I thought resembled gears or "cogs", so I entitled the design "Cogswell". The larger beads

yarnplayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11229319055877477637yarnplayer@yahoo.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073604165170267945.post-45065207573952540512009-06-04T14:54:00.003-05:002009-06-04T15:16:17.794-05:00

The latest hand dyed thread batch is now dry and added to my Etsy shop. I've had several people asking for these colors! Sometime this weekend (June 6-7) I'll be heading over to the Bead & Button Show to do some shopping :-)Then, next Saturday (June 13) I have plans to carpool with some members of the Lighthouse Lacers to Downers Grove, Illinois for the Lace Day festivities. Should be fun!

yarnplayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11229319055877477637yarnplayer@yahoo.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073604165170267945.post-61535904552142069902009-06-03T09:44:00.004-05:002009-06-22T09:34:05.204-05:00

Not quite, LOL. This piece requires explaining, though I'm afraid an explanation won't really help much. It's a wedding necklace in progress that was supposed to incorporate some letter "R's" since both bride and groom have "R" in their initials. So I started with a fancy "R", then flipped it mirror image to have 2 "R's" facing, then - to my surprise, suddenly a cross appeared in the middle.

yarnplayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11229319055877477637yarnplayer@yahoo.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073604165170267945.post-51623408363913221952009-05-27T10:54:00.004-05:002009-06-22T09:34:05.204-05:00

Ok, I finally finished the set of 4 variations on the "stained glass window" theme. So currently I am working on a page of description to send along with them to the magazine editor, along with the pattern for the simplest version. If it doesn't get published, well, then it will come back here to be published on this blog.Next I really need to get another dye batch ready. I think it is about

yarnplayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11229319055877477637yarnplayer@yahoo.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073604165170267945.post-58092618715634345022009-05-22T20:28:00.004-05:002009-05-22T20:50:52.089-05:00

I did it!!! I stuck to my original goal of designing a fun doily that used only the techniques that can be done with one shuttle and a ball thread. No fancy 2 shuttle work! There is some celtic style overlapping, but that is really not hard.I've prepared a 4 page pattern with a file size of 2.2MB in pdf format. It contains written instructions in English, and several partial diagrams. I'm

yarnplayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11229319055877477637yarnplayer@yahoo.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073604165170267945.post-51554524859482125642009-05-15T07:40:00.004-05:002009-05-15T07:52:11.959-05:00

This is a solid color that I hand dyed this week. A soft, muted green from a previous multicolored batch that was called "Spring Grass". That's all I have to show. There has been some progress made on the doily, but nothing I can share yet since I want it to be a "surprise" when it is finished.

yarnplayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11229319055877477637yarnplayer@yahoo.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073604165170267945.post-74198867416103734882009-05-08T20:46:00.009-05:002009-05-08T21:03:24.442-05:00

Just finished another batch of "Peace" hand dyed thread, inspired by the colors in a "Peace" rose. I tried to leave a little white in with the pale yellow, but some of it just went sort of cream - which I think is nice as well. The darkest shade is a good rich pink, and the colors go lighter from there, to delicate pastels.

yarnplayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11229319055877477637yarnplayer@yahoo.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073604165170267945.post-88536716887438255832009-05-06T08:53:00.006-05:002009-06-22T09:34:05.205-05:00

This is still the same doily that I have been designing using only one shuttle and ball method throughout. (Some celtic interlacing included). I'm sticking to it!I thought the design needed some small motifs, which necessitate "tie and cut" and ends worked in. I plan on sewing them in using "Lily's Way".I think the doily will be finished after a few more rounds, yay!The butterfly in the next

yarnplayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11229319055877477637yarnplayer@yahoo.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073604165170267945.post-4256325202318928192009-05-01T15:37:00.004-05:002009-05-01T15:45:54.830-05:00

Actually, there was a batch named "Leafy" nearly 2 years ago, but that was when I was just getting started in hand dyeing and I don't have a record of it. This one looks "Leafy" to me, and I put some leaves from my yard in the photo for comparison.

yarnplayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11229319055877477637yarnplayer@yahoo.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073604165170267945.post-46897326021246882972009-04-29T09:31:00.004-05:002009-06-22T09:34:05.205-05:00

This is one unfinished example of what I've been working on this week. I like the "stained glass" effect that comes from combining a bright multicolored thread (my own HDT "Roses" in this case) with black outlines. I'm attempting a series of variations on the same basic pattern, my own original "Wondrous Window", which I plan to submit as a collection to a magazine for consideration. Shown here

yarnplayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11229319055877477637yarnplayer@yahoo.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073604165170267945.post-79929186000233460722009-04-24T09:31:00.005-05:002009-04-24T10:07:20.803-05:00

Presented here with Bina's permission, these are two of her creative interpretations of my "Duchess" design (a pattern available in my "Boutique Tatting" book).Here is what Bina has to say about them:"Both show how I changed the finding attachment method to the one Nina uses in her Beanile work with the sandwiched rings. Also the segment bridging the second layer using the spiral tatting

yarnplayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11229319055877477637yarnplayer@yahoo.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073604165170267945.post-31436199671148621922009-04-20T07:38:00.007-05:002009-06-22T09:34:05.205-05:00

The thread used in these frog closures is size 20 Lizbeth in black from Handy Hands. The design is my own original, and may break a couple of tatting "rules" because at some areas I am joining into 2 picots at once, and there are chains on top in a 3-D effect, but personally I am very pleased with how these are turning out. They are a custom order I'm making for a lady who says she is going to

yarnplayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11229319055877477637yarnplayer@yahoo.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073604165170267945.post-89930655542629161102009-04-15T18:29:00.005-05:002009-04-15T19:14:33.903-05:00

I feel very honored to have received this Renee "acorn" award from TattingChic. It's really nice that this award has no rules about passing it on, since there are so many deserving bloggers that I wouldn't know where to start.This award originated with Bella Sinclair, and here's what Bella has to say about it:"This one is meaningful to me in three profound ways. Firstly, it was created in honor

yarnplayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11229319055877477637yarnplayer@yahoo.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073604165170267945.post-24245722476700934782009-04-10T17:09:00.007-05:002009-04-10T18:03:54.298-05:00

Not that anybody would ever want to do this, but......I think I have solved the mystery of how to produce Victorian Sets (also known as rickrack or zigzag tatting) in a shuttle tatted split chain.It is recommended that you master the normal split chain technique before trying this variation. Beginners to tatting take note - this is just my fanatical messing around and not normal tatting, LOL.Ok,

yarnplayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11229319055877477637yarnplayer@yahoo.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073604165170267945.post-18720455098730916212009-04-07T08:33:00.008-05:002009-04-07T09:38:48.155-05:00

The tangled mess in the photo is an attempt to do a split chain of "Victorian Sets" (1st half of a double stitch repeated a # of times, followed by the 2nd half repeated a # of times, completing one set).This is not a tutorial. I haven't a clue how it could be done in a split chain, even though I can make a normal split chain.I am working the split chain in the red thread from left to right. I

yarnplayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11229319055877477637yarnplayer@yahoo.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073604165170267945.post-46678082208243230962009-04-03T21:42:00.004-05:002009-04-03T21:54:31.418-05:00

The "Purple Pansy" has only shaded purple with yellow, no blue. The "Blue Pansy" has the same blues from my "Morning Glory" batch with some yellow added. These blues are brighter than the "Soft Blues" batch I did recently.I've had several requests for solids to go with the multi-colored threads. I"ll definitely try to get more solids made. The trouble I run into is I can only dye a limited

yarnplayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11229319055877477637yarnplayer@yahoo.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073604165170267945.post-55150934911031247812009-04-01T09:52:00.012-05:002009-04-01T10:39:29.818-05:00

LOL! Mr. Snowman won't last long!It's wonderful to see things growing again.I was "stuck" on what to do next with this doily design, sampling, cutting out, and sampling again, but I may get it to work yet.I'll be dyeing some more thread in the "Pansy" series - "Purple Pansy" and "Blue Pansy" now, which will be different from the "Soft Pansy" I did last week. There can never be too many pansies,

yarnplayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11229319055877477637yarnplayer@yahoo.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073604165170267945.post-81206974358503824202009-03-27T16:18:00.006-05:002009-03-27T16:40:49.116-05:00

Similar to my other "Pansy" colorway, but this one is more pastel. In the photo to the left, the original "Pansy" is the center skein, with the "Soft Pansy" on either side, to help show the difference. The "Soft Blues" are designed to coordinate with the "Soft Pansy". Both of these pastel colorways were suggested by one of my etsy customers. I did not have time this week to make many sizes, but

yarnplayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11229319055877477637yarnplayer@yahoo.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073604165170267945.post-18744287802305093132009-03-24T11:58:00.004-05:002009-03-24T12:53:15.200-05:00

Yep, that's me playing cello in the photo, wearing one of TotusMel's bracelet originals, "Happiness in Slavery". Confession: I did have this grandiose fantasy about looking fabulously glamorous while performing incredible feats of musical skill - fantasy, yeah right. LOL! Actually, I am only an amateur player and a rather weak one at that. To my dismay, I've discovered while practicing with

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