On to the chains

I’ve reached the trickiest part of the BWV 549 pattern. These chains are long: 75 DS on some, 45 DS on the shorter ones. Getting the stitches to lay nice is a challenge. Add to that the weaving over and under as I get to the final half dozen. I hope to finish these today. We’ll see if I have enough patience! 

All is revealed for the Fugue theme

 

The Fugue theme motif for BWV 549 is not symmetrical. The ring at the top left position is not the same as the top right motif. That’s on purpose. The music does that.

As I’m tatting up this iteration of BWV 549, I’m making notes and an outline for a class on this pattern. I’ll explain why in the lecture part of the class.

Meanwhile, I finished the Prelude round. And I used some of the cast-off Fugue motifs to make a pair of earrings.

One of these is not like the other......

 Recently, I’ve been doing a lot of puzzles: jigsaw puzzles, sudoku, crossword puzzles, and the like. Even those search puzzles where you find the differences between two pictures. I know, I know, but I’ve been put on “rest” for a trimester. It’s week 8 of 13 and I’m still not used to this lower level of activity! I’ve been tatting away a bit. Mostly patterns I know and love, samples for classes I’m teaching, and trials of techniques that I just haven’t got done yet.

I’ve been plugging away at BWV 549. I thought I had enough of the Fugue subject motifs tatted. Then, I found some motifs I tatted years ago when I thought up the design. After setting them side by side to compare color (I figured out I’m using the same color.), I discovered I had been making assumptions that are false. I missed a key design point. Can you spot what’s different?

One more time....and to be continued

 

I love teaching. Not the classroom kind where the “expert” who cannot actually play music or tat tells you how and when and where to teach. I guess too many times, someone’s ego gets in the way of actual learning. I like the teaching when the students seek you out and you get to expose them to what’s possible and help them gain skills.

This Friday, I’ll be teaching the final class of tatting at Slow Fiber here in town. I can’t wait to see what the budding tatters would like to create and what they are drawn to learning. I can’t wait to see what they have created in the last month. I can’t wait to share and be a community!

I’m also just about 1/3 of the way through tatting BWV 549. Once I reminded myself how to tat the motifs, things fell into place….literally. Now to remind myself how to connect them all together!

Oh, now I remember

 

I decided to re-tat BWV 549 for my Bach Festival donation this year for Art of Music. I found my notes…. except for the actual pattern. I thought no problem as I have clear pictures of the finished piece and all the notes. Hmmmm……about that…..

Well, after a few days of taking a stab at it, I’ve decided I’m glad I have revisited the pattern. It will be a good one for workshops. The part that represents that Prelude has 9 of these motifs. Each motif has 2 rings with a curled section, and lots of stitches to wrangle in the rings. I’m trying to see if I can create a pair of earrings out of it.

Continuing my experiments

 I tried out more yarn and thread with the Takashimabari. 

The red thread is size 3.

The pink is a mystery cotton yarn.

The multi is an acrylic yarn that I think is classified as sock yarn.

I’m getting better at gapsosis and pulling things too tight. I will have time next month to start a collar or vest of some kind. So, this will be set aside until Bach Festival piece is off to the framers.

Hook tatting samples

 I’m enjoying exploring this new to me tool. I found out at the workshop that the tool was invented decades ago. I view the version marketed by Annie’s Attic as a knock off. But then, there are those who prefer Boyle crochet hooks to others, so maybe I just prefer Takashimabari tool.

The green sample is tatting in Eliza size 5 with the smallest hook in the set.

The pink sample is Cebelia size 30 using the same hook. I also tried out how to climb out using needle technique for split rings. It worked, but I still need lots more practice.

After I finish a session on the bench…….

Afterglow

I had fun!! So much Fun!!

Traveling wasn’t as stressful as I anticipated. I must have had an angel pushing the wheel chair when no one was looking. The campground was so peaceful and easy to relax with my shuttles. I met so many wonderful tatters! But, the real news:

hook tatted flower

I can now tat with a hook set! It’s a beautiful set. The instructions were so easy to follow. Taeko was very clear and helpful. She has so much energy and curiosity we got along fabulously! Here’s a flower I completed in class:

I probably could have completed more flowers, but I wanted to make sure I understood how to tat a chain and how to create other types of rings. I wish the class had been longer, but I had 4 other classes to attend….as teacher!

I’m glad to be home. Now to navigate all the details for getting my days organized!