A first ......
This is a first for me in tatting the front/back side tatting. It is a small motif/snowflake using the Yarnplayer's Snowflake HDT.
Here are my first thoughts about the front/back side style of tatting (is that the correct term to use?)
First, I find that my picot size is not regular when I do the back side. I don't use a picot gauge but I have managed to make my picots of consistent size when I do the front side (i.e. when starting with the first half-stitch)
When making a join, I make the second half-stitch after the join and count that as one double stitch. When working on the back side, I find that I have to keep checking myself to make sure that I make the correct half-stitch after the join. In this case, the first half-stitch.
This design was worked using two shuttles, and I used a split chain to climb out from Round 1 to Round 2. I thought it got me here because I had to do the split chain on the back side. It stumped me for a minute (yes, just a minute) because I am not sure if the split chain double stitches can be started with the second half-stitch first.
Then the light bulb moment came .....
Hey! just flip the work and you are on the right side of the tatting. Now do the split chain as usual!
It became obvious then, that the split chain can be worked from any side - front, back, left or right side of the chain in progress.I might try this style on a few more designs to get the routine right. I might use this for all new projects after that.
Well I wouldn't worry too much. Personally I do front/backside tatting when I know that the item will only be seen from one side! BUT if I'm making for a suncatcher or mobile then I don't bother!!! It's not the end of the world if you do or you don't but good for you for having a go. I now try to annotate my patterns to help people who want to do their tatting this way. Keeps me on track too!!!!
ReplyDeleteI've been doing frontside/ backside tatting for several years now, and I do like the look of it better. I know that many people don't want to bother about it, and that's fine. Of course, a non-tatter wouldn't even see the difference. But since I tat for my own pleasure, I want the finished product to look the way *I* want it too! It did take a bit of getting used to, but now it's second nature, just as much as flipping the stitch.
ReplyDeleteYour picots look just fine in the photo. And as always, I love your design. I like how the number of rings in a cluster increases with each round.
Lovely doily, Jon! I've been trying to do front-side/back-side tatting also. It is a form of mental gymnastics for me, pumping up my brain. I like the results, but know just what you mean about the picots.
ReplyDelete:) Ann
you'll probably find yourself never going back to non-frontside/backside tatting. It never feels right again :-)
ReplyDeleteOh my, that is really beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWow, Jon, this is incredulous to me that someone who has your skill level has just done front side/backside tatting for the first time. That's okay. I've been tatting for 30 years and I only did it for the first time 2 years ago.
ReplyDeleteHey, thank you so much for joining in the blogoversary fun over at my blog today! Good luck to you!
Thank you for being a blog friend! I cherish you as one of my blog friends the past 2 years! I have so many wonderful international bloggy friends and you are one of them. Thank you.
~TattingChic ♥
Jane, you have a good point about doing the front/back side method only if one side is going to be seen.
ReplyDeleteMiranda, thank you for stopping by. It may take a while for it to become a second nature to me.
Ann, it does slow me down a bit. I keep turning the tatting over to make sure I get the stitch count correct, :p
Krystle, I will try to get used to it.
Susan T-O, thank you for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment.
TattingChic, nice to know that I am not the only one procrastinating on this, ;) I feel blessed to be your friend too. It has been a wonderful two years and looking forward for many more.