Another Modification

I made another Split Ring Cross with another modification, this one totally unintentional. This is what happens when you are distracted while tatting.

Modified Split Ring Cross

I made the 'modification' on one arm and went too far before it was noticed. As I didn't want to untat that much I decided to just go with it. It's not that it's that bad, but it just doesn't have the right balance to it. 

Two crosses together

I prefer the one on the right, the way I planned it. The one on the left will go in either my Bible or my husband's. Nothing wrong that hiding it as a bookmark won't cover. 

I'm working on an Easter project that I hope will be done in time. The thread has been decided but not the pattern. That will be figured out as I go along. It will probably be a few weeks before I'm close to sharing it. It's not the only thing I've been tatting. 

Maybe that's why it will take awhile. 

"If you never change your mind, why have one?" 

                                                            Edward de Bono

Cleaning Up Leftovers

 I'm cleaning up my shuttles, tatting small things to get leftover thread off of them. I rarely measure when I add thread to a shuttle, just add until it's full. I'd rather do this than have to add thread in the middle of a project if I possibly can. This does lead to small amounts left on shuttles when the projects are done. Periodically I try and find small things to tat with the leftovers. 

This snowflake was done in a waiting room while my mother had an appointment. 

Snowflake doodle

When tatting while out and about I expect to find mistakes later. You never know when you will be interrupted, or where in the piece you'll have to stop. If you are fortunate, it will be at a good stopping point. If you're not, you might forget what you were doing when you got interrupted. You can't see it in this not-so-wonderful picture, but the thrown rings are upside down. This isn't a problem unless you do front side-back side tatting - which I do. I'll probably keep this and put it on my Christmas tree next year.

Two-tone doodle

There was still thread on both shuttles when I finished the snowflake, so I tried something else. I can see this as another snowflake, though it will need modification if I don't want to cut and tie every two arms. Maybe ears? Wings? I might give it more thought, I might not.

Key paperclip bookmark

I started this a while back and forgot about it. This paperclip bookmark is a one shuttle with ball pattern. There was still thread on the shuttle when I was done so I'll have to find something else to do with it.

Caribbean paperclip

This paperclip bookmark is made with Lizbeth Caribbean HH20122. I love this color in any size! But this particular ball of thread must be old, because it was awful to work with. Closing rings was mostly impossible if they had more than a few stitches. I finished the project I started with this but wanted something that used more chains than rings. I was watching TV when I tatted this one. There are a lot of boo boos in this, but I will still use it at home. 

Now there more shuttles ready for other projects. I have a list.

What do you do with leftovers?

"The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for thirty years she served the family nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found."

Calvin Trillin

Split RIng Cross Modifications and Mistakes

 I usually keep a few tatted crosses on hand for different occasions, like weddings, graduations, and funerals but my stash is low. About the time I was debating what crosses to tat I learned of the death of one of the members of our church. I had to quit procrastinating and make one. I decided to do my Split Ring Cross, but with a few modifications. 

Split Ring Cross

I changed the stitch and picot count on all the arms, lengthening them a bit. On this one I left off the long picot at the top and bottom to add the tassel to the rings instead of the picots. I like the overall look more than on the original pattern. 

This is actually the second cross I made. I made a bit of an oops on the first one. 

First cross

This cross is mostly the original pattern, except the long arm has one section with more picots. But it also has a mistake at the bottom, one of the rings is too small. It may or may not be all that noticeable, but I see it. This cross will be used in my Bible, but I won't be giving it away.

When I started on the second cross I had already decided that I'd lengthen the arms with a few more picots. I like the dimensions better.

Both crosses

Which one do you like better?

I'm not sure how I like it with the tassels added to the top and bottom rings without use of the picots. If I do it that way, I may have to make that ring bigger. Maybe.

Split Ring Cross finished

I give crosses to families that have lost loved ones as a way to acknowledge their grief and show my sympathy in times when I rarely have the right words. I pray that in some small way it helps them remember their loved one. 

 

I still need to make a few more crosses to have on hand. It is getting close to graduation time, though I'm not sure I know anyone graduating this year. Better to be safe than sorry. The crosses might not be this pattern, I haven't decided yet. 

I wasn't going to tat around any eggs for Easter this year, but that may change. I've been presented with a new challenge. We'll see how it goes.

"There is no pain so great as the memory of joy in present grief." 

Aeschylus