25 motif challenge, 2nd round

After a bit of thought I think I'll try the 25 motif challenge again this year.  There are so many more tatting designs I want to try, and the challenge is a great motivator.   I'll start simply with these 3 white snowflakes done in DMC Cordonette Cordonet Cordonnet 40.  I have a box full of different weights of the stuff, and yet when I try to type the word, I have to look up the spelling... every... single... time...  Sigh, spelling is not my strong point.

Oh well, back to the snowflakes.  These are 'Spring Blossom', 'Sunburst' and 'Pirouette' from Jon Yusoff's snowflake book.  Sue, one of the nices commentors around, left a note saying that she liked the 'Astral' snowflake.  I agree with her, so far, 'Astral' and 'Pirouette' are my favourites.

Three more snowflakes and I'll have worked my way through the book.  I find these snowflakes so restful, yet satisfying.  What will I do when they're all gone?

Motif 22-25: A day late

It's been a year and a day since I started my 25 motif challenge, and I've only just finished my last 4 motifs. It seems I haven't changed much since I was a freshman; slacking off for a whole semester, spending the last few days cramming, then asking for an extension :)

Still, it's been a lovely experience. I've come into contact with many kind, helpful and talented people. Perhaps, if I can manage to grow up a bit, I can try again this year.

Motif 22: Suncatcher 3 (this one's a garden)

This is the third and final window picture from the Burda tatting book. The original is all white (a winter garden). Mine is a spring garden, made in DMC Cebelia 20.

Like any garden, it required some pruning (cutting thread ends) and watering (wet blocking) to look presentable. Here's how it looked before the pruning.

Motif 23: Choker 2

I made another choker using Jon Yusoff's wrapped rings. This one is the Kejora motif (DMC 80, 1.5cm rings, size 11 delica beads). I'm auditioning ribbons again. I think I'm leaning toward the black this time.

 

Motif 24: Approachable lace

This edging is from Tatting Lace (by Sumi Fujishige). It's done in DMC Cebelia 30. It's approachable for a few reasons. First, it's a pretty straightforward pattern. It only uses rings and chains, and with a slight change in working order, it's possible to do a motif in one pass, no cutting.

It's also approachable for non-tatters. I tat in public and I'm often asked 'What are you going to do with it?'. This edging looks like a normal bit of lace, so instead of asking 'What are you going to do with it?', people would make suggestions like 'Oh, this would look pretty on a sleeve! You could put this on a scarf.'

It's made up of little motifs, so most of it sits in a ziplock bag while I work on the latest piece. People would pick it up and model it, wrapping it around a wrist or laying it along a hem.  So it is indeed an approachable bit of lace.

Motif 25: Beaded necklace

This is Nina Libin's Kaethe necklace. It's done with DMC metallic embroidery thread. I don't hate this thread. I don't like it either. There are a multitude of errors in this because I find beaded tatting VERY VERY DIFFICULT. Thankfully, the sparkly beads do a good job of hiding the mistakes.