WIP Wednesdays

Somehow I just can't seem to leave the Spring Doily 2016. I finished row 13 and have started on 14. The mystery cake doily sits half finished and accuses me silently from its neglected spot among my tatting.

I actually managed to finish something yesterday! It's a small doily that I picked as my first attempt at bare threads in a long time. Doily 101 from Teiko Fujito's "Tatted Artistry". I am blocking it, and will post pictures soon.

I have been off tatting for about 2 months, since my husband had a health crisis, immediately followed by my dog having a health crisis! Both are better now, so I return to try tatting. I was only a beginner to start with, and found I had forgotten different things about it! That was maddening. Anyway, I chose the Small Rosette motif from Easy Tatting book, by Rozella F Linden. I had this thread that I wasn't sure I liked, and oddly, that released me from the fear of messing up really nice thread that maybe I should save for something wonderful, and I had no trouble starting in. I'm actually liking it now! I had thought it was odd to have a little pink in denim whispers, what does pink have to do with denim? So, it was just weird looking to me. I adding pink for the chains, and it helped. I used:
Lizbeth size 20, Denim Whisper #120 and Cebelia #818 Baby Pink, size 20. I can make 1 a day, and am hoping or at least a 9 motif square. I'm finding a really like something small and simple that I can sit down or take with me, that I don't need to squint at a pattern, but just start tatting. I used to be scared of motif joining in crochet, but now I'm thinking that a longer project of many of the same well known pattern, might be soothing to the over-worked brain.

Good idea! I like this motif too! I used it for a green wreath, and put tiny colored beads on it. Some went into holiday cards. All tatting should lead to better health -- especially mental.

My WIP for today will be to decide about my pink mess on the Renulek Spring '16 doily. Cut off, or keep going.

in reply to Judy's post:

Oh, I'd love to see that, did you post a pic in your album?

@cozyhomelife, glad to hear both hubby and doggy are all better. As for your tatting, well done! All it takes is a bit of practice. Your chosen motif is well done and well joined. Be encouraged, and keep practising.

My WIP for yesterday was - more socks! Last year I found some nice white yarn here that seemed good for socks for my DH. He will only wear white socks because dark colours aggravate his athlete's foot problem. So I made 5 pairs of socks for him. All of them are wearing out already, and several have already been binned. So I ordered some good sock yarn back in June, and am now knitting like mad to replace the faulty socks. I've even foregone my beloved DPNs and am knitting two at once on a long circular, because that way I can fool myself into believing I'm making faster progress. Besides, my DPNs are currently in use for a pair of socks I was knitting for myself. Those are now on hold. I'm getting very little tatting done right now.

in reply to Lynn's post:

Have you looked at adding some nylon reinforcing to where he normally wears his socks out?

Thanks, @kersti. I have tried to find some appropriate nylon, but I can't locate any here. And every time I'm in the States, I somehow forget all about it. Actually, I've not had this problem before, because I've always ordered good sock yarn. But seeing as how I thought I'd located good white yarn here, I just knitted it. Guess I should have known better.

in reply to Lynn's post:

Does he ever go without shoes when wearing his socks? That would wear them out quickly.

I didn't do much - just a few more repeats on Round XI of my Big Doily. I'm on the last scallop now...

in reply to cozyhomelife's post:

Its been on the dashboard.. yes, its in the album. I don't like t he second round of pink. I haven't actually decided what to do yet.

in reply to cozyhomelife's post:

Thanks. I broke him of that bad habit a long time ago. It's just a problem of inferior quality yarn.

For yesterday, I worked on round 10 of my Renulek's Spring 2016 doily. It is coming along nicely and I'm almost finished with this row. I'm looking forward to starting the next row, but it will be tricky with alternating rings. I will have to be diligent and pay close attention to not get off.

For the last couple of weeks I've been working on my abandoned cross stitch, as promised. Although I think of it as my Wednesday WIP, I try to work on it two or three times a week. I can tell there are a few differences, but it's very slow going. It is on linen. My friend took a look at it with me and decided it must be 24 count. I'm taking her word for it. It's hard enough to see two threads over and two threads up. I'm not about to count all the threads in a whole inch! I can only work on it for about an hour before I start going blind, so progress is going to be slow. I'm resigned to that. At least I still have my tatting and knitting. Both those are a lot more satisfying.

in reply to Lynn's post:

Good for you, Lynn :-) Each stitch is a step forward ! Hope to see progress pics soon

Well, last night I started a new pattern! I couldn't resist trying out one of the patterns on Jeong Yu-jeong's Instagram (under the name tattingweed). It's a square coaster done all in one round. I'm about 1/5 of the way right now.

This week I was back working on Spring 2016 from Renulek. Round 8 was getting frilly and wouldn't lie flat, so I decided to continue around with modified stitch counts -- without cutting off the ruffly part. If it works I'll just keep going. and cut off the small piece later.

I made it to the end of my row and turned the corner! I don't want to think of how many more rows there are to do.
= )

Well, I tried to edit my original post to add the picture, but that option wasn't there. So HERE is the picture.

in reply to Elfiona's post:

Oh, that's nice! What will it be?

in reply to Elfiona's post:

I really like this pattern. Are you adapting the magic square yourself, or did you find the pattern somewhere? And I'm as curious as Grace about what it's going to be.

in reply to Lynn's post:

Hi, Lynn, that's not the Magic Square. It's a classic pattern from Th. de Dillmont's encyclopaedia: http://www.craftree.com/patterns/2744