Showing posts with label torchon spider bookmark. Show all posts
Showing posts with label torchon spider bookmark. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

I think I'm good with this style/pattern. Last night I worked it at Sally's house and it had been exactly a week since I last worked with bobbin lace. I didn't have any problem at all. I refreshed my memory a few times starting and I had to back out of a few stitches that I got off track on by talking at the same time, but it went well.

I think the next one is about the same but with diamonds. There are only 2 more in this bookmark series. The book has other projects, larger and in fine yarn but I'm not interested in doing those yet.

After the bookmarks, I will follow some lessons posted online that have to do with various grounds, starting points, footsides - details, in other words. I want to work on those now before I get into a different project although there is a heart I might do. I also didn't see a fan bookmark in this series and I want to practice that so I can do the one I had a class on properly.

I'm out of town today but mostly riding in a car with a couple of other employees. Too bad I can't lace on the way. I've tried tatting, but there is a lot of conversation and I don't generally get much done.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Last night I laced another Torchon Spider bookmark and this one was much easier. I will still make at least one more, maybe two, to get comfortable with the process. I'm understanding why there was only one twist above the spider body and two twists below. I know which direction to do the Torchon in although I do still have to stop and think and occasionally back out of a spot.

There is a tiny little loop in the center of the spider body where I pin between the two halves. I made sure I tensioned to get the legs more even and I wonder if it didn't force a loop upwards somehow? I do think the leg length and spacing is better in this one.

I also tried gathering each side of the tails into one knot after I had knotted each pair. I don't really like it so I'll probably experiment with the next one too. I might try to finish it off like I did the original Torchon bookmark where it ends up as a tassel in the center.

I had this in draft earlier so put it here. I like these Irish Crochet roses and have plans for them but I will be teaching some Irish Crochet classes later in the year and am preparing a bit now, testing some patterns.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

I finally finished the Torchon Spider bookmark! I undid it twice and the last time I even had to completely rewind the bobbins as I had manipulated them so much they were all different lengths.

I was confused by the directions in the last bookmark. It says to always work from an angle and I just assumed it was the same angle but in this one, while you do work at an angle, it's from the sides to the center. I had no problem with the spiders, just the outlining and torchon part.

I started it last night and figured out what some of my prior problems were. Then at Sally's tonight, I picked up where I left off and for some reason, it was easier to see where my mistakes were and how to correct them. I'm really pleased with the way it ended up though I will be making a few more to get the finer points in my head.

I can see where I need to work on tension too but now that I understand the transition from one place to another, I think that will sort itself out too.

Happy Happy Dance here!