Sunday was a pretty lazy day because the hubby also had to work a show alone Saturday night so we both got home really late. I got in a little bit of yard work because it was the first nice day we have had for a while but other than that we didn't get much accomplished.
Earlier in the week I had decided I was just going to do another doily of the same pattern that I had just completed. I had someone in mind that I was going to do the first one for but since I am not super happy with that one I am going to try it again. I am going to be brave and try to do this one with several colors which means quite a few decisions. So far I have already decided on the colors and which colors the first few row are going to be.
I also decided to tryout one of my new shuttles. I had ordered an Handy Hands Aerlit shuttle which has a crochet hook on one end and a removable bobbin awhile ago but I haven't had a chance to try it out yet. This shuttle has good points and not so good points. I really like the fact that I don't have to constantly look for a separate crochet hook to do joins but the hook sometimes tends to get in the way and it hooks itself on the thread when you least want it to. I love the the fact that I don't have to unwind a shuttle if it has the wrong color thread on it I can just change out the bobbin. I ordered a set of extra bobbins so I think that will be an extra bonus. The down side is I don't think the bobbins hold as much thread so it seems I am having to add thread more often. I have tried to find out how much thread each shuttle holds but I cant seem to find that info out. I think I may have to do a little experiment to find out exactly how much each holds so I will know in the future.
Pay attention to how you put the bobbin in the shuttle. I hold the shuttle up so that the hook is facing up and on the right. I insert the bobbin so that the thread comes out on the bottom on the right. In that position I can tat without the hook getting caught in my work. If the hook faces left, I catch it every time. Try it and if you're still catching the hook in your work, reverse what I just said. We all tat differently and you need to try what works for you. When I first tried a bobbin shuttle, I'd use it once and it worked like a charm, and the next time I got the shuttle caught up in my work. Then I started paying attention to the direction of the hook in relation to the direction of the thread coming off the bobbin. Once I had that sorted out I never had a problem with it again. The bobbin shuttles hold about 9 yards of size 20 thread or about half as much in size 10 thread since it's about twice as thick. Take a look at the instructions for adding thread and hiding ends on my blog. http://sharonstattedlace.blogspot.ca/2008/11/adding-in-new-thread.html
ReplyDeleteWhen I use the method shown, running out of thread isn't such a big deal since I can add more thread and hide the ends on the fly. It's a method I figured out when working on a design where I had to design a bit, cut it out, try again, cut it out, repeat a whole bunch of times. I had to do it so often I was spending more time hiding ends than I was tatting. This method adds new thread and hides both old and new threads simultaneously without knots.
Great start!!! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat start!!! :)
ReplyDelete