I'm so exited, look what I did today!
I made cluny leaves! This string of leaves is actually my third attempt. First I tried to follow this tutorial, and I ended up with this:
The weaving is not too bad, it actually looks like a leaf, but I didn't get the loom right and I ended up with an extra loop at the bottom. Beginning the weaving wasn't easy either, I think my shuttle was in the wrong place, hence the lumpy mess... The top of the leaf was fine until I pulled on the wrong thread when I tried to close that last loop, then the top became just one long knot :/ I cut the thread and tried again, and this time the leaf looked even more promising:
But, somehow I ended up with a loop on the outside of the leaf, a thread going from the top of the leaf to the bottom. Other then that, it was perfect. I really like that the color changes in the middle :)
Finally I started a third time, and this time I looked at the directions in The Complete Book of Tatting. I started with an ordinary ring to have something to hold onto in the hope that it would help, but sadly I got the same results as the second try... Then I suddenly remembered to check on YouTube, and I found this great tutorial, and then it all made sense :) The last three leaves are made following the video:
But I wonder if that lady's loom is different than the others? When I close the loops the leaf sort of bends and becomes more compact on one side. The ball thread is one of the outer loom threads - is it supposed to be in the middle?
Well, that's all I've done today. I have a pain in my wrists and have been ordered to rest as much as possible. Therefore I probably won't post much new tatting in the near future, but some "old" pieces might show up :) By the way, if you want to see what I feel is the cause of my pain, check out this post on my other blog :)
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Congrats on your cluny progress. Many of us don't hang in there long enough, eventually we'll go back and dabble but mostly stay away..lol
ReplyDeleteYou have done a great job with our cluny leaves! Ingrid
ReplyDeletevery nice job, they are looking really nice, smooth and even. I have seen a lot of sloppy cluny leaves, you and yours are pretty :) I myself have yet to attempt them, congrats on beautiful work :)
ReplyDeleteBree
Awesome clunies! I hope mine look that great when I get to them! :)
ReplyDeleteYour clunies look wonderful! If I'm every to make them, I'll have to have a helper... just can't hold my hand at that angle since breaking my wrist a few years ago. I wish I could remember the French blog I saw where the tatter uses clunies as the focal point for many tatted designs, including my favorite Spinning Wheel glass mat by Mary Konior. I think you'd find it fascinating.
ReplyDeleteClunys are very bobbin-lace like and I admire your bravery at jumping right in and giving them a go! And you did a very good job in the end.
ReplyDeleteI have a list of techniques prioritized to learn; clunys are way down there on my list as I want to learn all the pure tatting techniques first.
I am so enjoying watching you grow and discovering new tatting ideas. Thank you for the joy you give me!
bj
Thanks for all your comments! I really enjoyed trying out clunies and I will definitely make more of them, and include them in my tatting when I've learned to do them right :)
ReplyDeleteDiane: I think I've seen the blog you're talking about, though I can't remember the name.. Those cluny projects are really beautiful!
BJ: I'm glad you like following my work, I wouldn't want to be boring :p I really like to discover new things do do and make, as I get easily bored with repetition.. Think I'll try needle tatting sometime soon :)