Year Of Projects: week 35

Weaving and tatting some more this week, and again I’ve neglected my knitting, but there you go.

This week I have unwittingly embarked on a more complex tatting project that would suit a beginner – but hey, I did not know that! So, slow going, but going nonetheless, and after a troubled start in which I frayed some yarn and decided I’d better restart, here is where I am at: 25% of a motif that will form the base of a scarf or shawl – basically think granny squares, only these will be tatting squares, which are known as “blocks”! And with beads (though not sure whether all blocks will have beads, or only the external ones).

The first six out of 24 rings for this Fandango Motif by Jane Eborall

I should have put something in there to give an idea of scale, but that thing is small, the shuttles are probably 5-6cm/2″. The full motif should look something like this:

Fandango Square, © Jane Eborall

The tatting pattern is here.

While researching tatting I have also come across a social media crafting platform called Craftree: it has some Ravelry-like features, like the possibility to add a stash, record projects and discuss in forums, though it is not nearly as well developed. However it covers tatting, as well as other related needle crafts like embroidery, bobbin lace, needle lace and macrame'(and knitting and crochet too).

Weaving has been on the sampler for the Understand Doubleweave Workshop with Cally Booker. I am having a really fantastic time, the workshop is incredibly intellectually stimulating, and there is then enormous fan to be had at the loom! And there are some principles that can be transferred to double weave on a rigid heddle loom, I wish I had known earlier – but once I am done with the course, I think I’ll have a go at the rigid heddle loom.

The possibilities on the 8 shaft table loom I have however are pretty impressive – in spite of shaft envy, it is amazing how playing around with structure (two blocks in plain weave) and colour allows you to achieve.

Here is a window pane design, which I quite like, and I think would make for a nice, thick bathmat:

Window pane design – the weft yarn is gold in the bottom row, mid blue in the middle row, Royal blue in the top row

I have also met a bunch of very lovely weavers, in addition of course to Cally herself – I will miss them all terribly once the workshop is over, but for the moment I am having a wonderful time

Happy crafting!

This is a year of projects (YOP) update. YOP is a Ravelry Group, and an idea – make a plan for the year ahead for all your fibre activities, then update your blog every week if you manage. The objective is to keep track of progress on any fiber crafts with maximum flexibility: post, don’t post, follow your list, change it – so really it is just an opportunity to get to know of more blogs and activities of those who share a passion for anything fibre crafts.

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