Here, let me show you!
This will count as a motif during my second round
of the 25 Motif Challenge!
Motif #4 Heart Blossom.
It's tatted in Lizbeth thread called
"Victorian Red".
Whew!!! This one was a lot of work for me.
It took me probably 20 hours combined if
you count all the unpicking and stuff I had to do.
I did a few revisions of the techniques suggested in the pattern.
(Notice how I thnk of patterns as "suggestions" and not "tatting gospel", LOL!)
For me, revisions take time because I really have to
think and then, upon trying it a different way, it may or
may not work and I end up unpicking very often.
That is what made this heart so time consuming for me.
I also tried a new technique; the SSSR!
~*~
Recently, Gina from Threads of a Tatting Goddess
shared the following video on how to make
a SSSR (Single Shuttle Split Ring). Until recently
it was the general school of thought that a split
ring was only possible with 2 shuttles until
some tatting genius figured out how to do it with one.
Thank you, Soluranne!
This particular video was found on the old
eTatters at Ning site which will soon be closed down.
I found it on You Tube! YAY! This video really
helped me see how to do it and I have succesfully figured out
how to make SSSR's!
The video was made by Anne B of Norway.
Thank you, Anne B! :)
Anne, because of your video I was able to figure it out!
"V" for VICTORY!
***
Now, to SSSR or Not SSSR...
...TAT is the question!
~*~
Here's a photo of my next heart in this same pattern.
Heart In Progress:
I took this photo during the stage that requires
3 shuttles. 3 shuttles only sounds intimidating. It's really 2
shuttles and then working on another part with 1 shuttle
(or 2; if you decide to do a regular SR. SR = Split Ring). The three shuttles are not used at the same time.
As you can see here, I decided to do the SR with
the one shuttle or SSSR. See the shuttle on the right?
That's being used to make the the SSSRs
***
The SSSRs in this heart are used to make the arches.
Here's a close-up of one of the arches in the completed heart.
I've heard some people say they think that the SSSRs
are "too bulky", but I didn't find that to be the case.
~*~
Another part of the pattern that I revised to make
it all one round was the center wheel.
I used a chain with 7 "Thrown Rings" (floating rings) to make
the center wheel above. The center "ring" is actually
a chain, it's not quite a SCMR, just a chain. The last 2 DS
on the chain are actually Split Chain stitches and then
the 8th ring is a split ring used to crawl out and make the
outer daisies of the inner part of this heart.
Confusing? Well, yes, that's why it took so long!
Incidentally, I'm doing this heart again (same color)
and it's going MUCH faster! Thank heavens.
~*~
Thank you for letting me share my most recent tatting victories with you! My heart is blossoming with gratitude for the online tatting community for giving me access to all of these wonderful techniques used to make tatting so much easier! My tatting skills have much improved thanks to the internet and all the wonderful tatters who share their understanding of certain techniques, skills, and wisdom with others for free! You guys are just awesome, thank you!
My heart is also blossoming with gratitude for all my fabulous blogging buddies who take the time to stop by and say hello! Your comments mean so much and I am grateful for each and everyone of them! I'd love to hear what you have to say!
Have a super fabulous weekend!
~TattingChic
xoxo
.HEIC)
