Thin Scallop Edge Motif

Found myself a new distraction. I am tatting this edging from the 'New Tatting' book by Tomoko Morimoto. This time I am using Altin Basak Size 50 thread in #359. Looks like a simple edging with an unusual design. It is rather fun to tat. Again JKs and small rings with bare threads. 

I used it to edge another coaster. Does it look too plain? 

Under An African Sky Doily Challenge Update 4

One month on and I have two unfinished doilys. But I am quite pleased with its progress. This is doily no. 2 with the trees finished. Tatted in two solid colours, you can see the interlocking rings more clearly and appreciate its beauty. . . . . I hope?

Okay, now I am ready to tat animals.

Check out progress on their blogs:

Fox

Denise

Ninetta

Kristen

Pigmini

Tatting on Coasters

I got these inexpensive cotton coasters and fabric glued the motifs on. Top is the motif from the Japanese doily where the pink was not the right shade. Bottom is the botanical coaster.

String of Pearls

I am helping a friend string these together. Using white silk threads, a knot is tied after each pearl. Lovely matt colours. I rather enjoyed this. Took me 3 hours to tie this strand together but the ending isn't perfect. 

Under An African Sky Doily WIP5

Trees are done. Dappled green to show the different stages of leaf development. Still very bright! Now to add the animals in black or maybe grey.

One More Botanical Coaster

Tatted in Flora Size 20 in mint green and pink. I think this pattern appeals to many people, thanks to Tomoko Morimoto.  I think I will put the two motifs on a coaster. I just had to tat something else besides trees for the African Sky doily. Perfect distraction.

Singa

This is what greets you at Gardens by the Bay near the escalator. Carved from one piece of wood. 

On another note, Singapore is often known as the lion city but it is unlikely that lions ever existed in Singapore. Read about how Singapore got its name here.

Under An African Sky Doily Challenge Update 3

This is week 3 since we started. Are you excited to see the trees? 

Doily #1

Doily #2

Let's see what the other participants are doing:

Fox

Denise

Ninetta

Kristen

Pigmini

Happy Deepavali

Today in Singapore, we are celebrating the Festival of Lights. The above photo is a rangoli. It is a piece of art usually made at the entrance of a home to welcome Hindu deities during festivals.

Under An African Sky Doily WIP4

While joining the trees to my doily, I got a little restless and decided to start a new 'Under An African Sky' doily. This time I was going to use more solid colours but could not help myself but to add the variegated blue for the sky. 

Looking forward to seeing the trees here? Stay tuned!

Glass Jellyfish

No, its just a glass chandelier. Can you see that the whole chandelier is made up of a glass tubing shaped into a hook which when assembled together makes this beautiful light fixture?

Botanical Coaster

This pattern is from my newest pattern book by Tomoko Morimoto titled 'New Tatting'. This is found on page 110 of the book. I rather like this book. Patterns are not difficult and there is this doily I am dying to tat. Perhaps after the African Sky doily by Jane McLellan.

This pattern combines Josephine knots and tiny rings. In the book, a lighter ecru is used for the twin rings while I used a contrasting darker colour. Tatted in Flora Size 20 threads in pink and purple.

Osmanthus Jelly

Flowers suspended in time. 

Light fragrance and a refreshing dessert to complete the meal.

Restaurant a little noisy but

company was familiarly enjoyable.

Under An African Sky Doily Challenge Update 2

These are bright colours. Will be joining the trees now.

Check out their progress on their blogs:
Fox
Denise
Ninetta
Kristen
Pigmini

Pumpkin Soup

Now isn't that a pretty picture. 

It was from a 5 course lunch set at a vegetarian restaurant called SuFood.

Under An African Sky Doily WIP3

More sky.

Thread Art

These installations were in a showroom. The company is a clothing manufacturer. You may not be able to see the details but they used metal bobbins (top) and thread spools (bottom).

Pg 52 Japanese Doily - Completed

It measures 18 inches across in Size 20 threads. My blocking board was not large enough so it isn't exactly flat. May need to run a hot iron to flatten it. 

See previous posts for details on thread colours and pattern.

This was what's left of the thread. It worked out just right.

Thank you so much for all your wonderful comments.

Interlocking Self Closing Mock Rings Tutorial

I took some photos as I tatted the interlocking SCMRs. 

This is how I tat them. 

The 3rd SCMR tatted

Use a crochet hook to bring the SCMR loop from bottom up the previous ring

Pull the core thread so that the chain is pulled up through the previous ring.
The chain will be twisted here.

Turn the work so that the chain is not twisted before closing the ring.
You do this by passing the core thread shuttle under the work.
Above photo shows after the turn is done.
Pass core shuttle through the loop to close the ring.

After closing the ring, make a lock stitch.
I do this by tatting the second half of the double stitch without flipping the thread.



After tatting the last SCMR, arrange all the rings so that they appear as above.



Holding the remaining rings, pass the SCMR loop up the previous ring and turn work as before to untwist the chain and floating ring.



Pass the SCMR loop through the first ring.



Pass the core thread shuttle through the SCMR loop



Close the SCMR and tie a knot.



Anchor the thread to the thread gap between 1st and 2nd rings before tying another knot and finish.



Interlocking SCMRs done.

I just noticed that two of the rings above were not interlocking correctly (rings at south and south east directions).

This is because the SCMR loop was put through a flipped 1st ring during the closure of the last ring.

It should look like the photo below instead. Note position of the first ring compared to the previous. 

Now this is the correctly done.

Under An African Sky Doily Challenge Update 1

It has been a week since we started. This is my progress so far besides the 1st round of the trees and experimenting with the animals. Tatted in Lizbeth 20 Falling Leaves #100 (sun) and Carribean #122 (sky).

Another tip for the interlocking rings, After completing the last ring, I find that it is important to anchor your threads to the base of your first ring before tying a knot to finish.

Links to see other participants here:

Fox
Denise
Ninetta
Pigmini
Kristen


If I missed your name, please drop me a comment or e-mail.

Also wanted to show you what Carollyn has tatted. I think it is a lovely piece.

Animals for Under An African Sky Doily

I wondered if the Lizbeth Zebra thread would work for these animals but I agree with some of you that the outline of the animals may be lost. The top animals are 2 chains short. Maybe my VSPs are not small enough but the bottom two looks a little too long?

Blue Cat Mobile

This is a free shuttle bus that ferries people from the MRT station to a couple of shopping malls in Jurong West. It has cat ears and a tail. 

Cute!

Under An African Sky Doily WIP2

I wanted to practice the interlocking rings, so I went ahead and tatted the first round of the trees in Lizbeth 20 Christmas Green Mix. I need four more of these.

Tip is arrange the interlocking rings properly before passing the last SCMR loop through the previous and first rings and closing it.

Some of the floating rings are pointing all over the place but I think blocking and adding the 2nd round will solve that problem. 

I am still not sure if I made the right choice of using the variegated threads for this doily. Time will tell.

How are you doing with it?

Pg 52 Japanese Doily WIP6

It is progressing well. Nine motifs done, nine more to go.

Under the African Sky Doily WIP1

It looks fine here but I am not happy with it. I think more practice tatting these interlocking rings is required.

On the left is tatted in Lizbeth 20 Gold. The colour looks fine on the ball but when tatted there is a dingy tinge. It isn't bright as gold should be. Not my favourite.

On the right is Lizbeth 20 Falling Leaves. This could be the colour of the sun, couldn't it?

Clowesetum Flowering

The photos look better than the real thing. Funny isn't it. I bought some orchid plants at the Singapore Garden Festival in August. This is the first flowering. I hope the others will flower too. Maybe next year. This orchid has growing, blooming and resting periods. After growing, the leaves drop and a flower spike emerges. After blooming there is a dormant period where no watering is done until new growth is observed.

Under An African Sky Tatting Challenge

Ready, Set, Go . . .

There will be weekly updates here. No deadlines. Tat as fast or as slow as you like. Post progress photos on your blogs and I will link to them from here.

Past posts:

1. Invitation

2. Choosing colours