The End

of the Mystery.

Here it is after I had washed it and laid it out to dry.  As it is, I did not have to block it at all.  After squeezing out the excess water, by rolling it between an absorbent towel, I just had to pull it into shape and leave it to dry.

This is with all the end trimmed off and all dry.  The measurement is 26cm across, or 10.25 inches using size 40 Lisbeth thread.

This is a close-up of a quadrant of the doily,

But the ending was not without some drama.  It took me four attempts to finally get the join of the final repeat.  I totally miss the join in the first attempt, and I joined to the wrong picot in the second attempt. At the third attempt, the joining picot ended up twisted.  I almost butchered the thread when un-tatting it after the third attempt.  Spent almost 30 minutes un-doing a lock join. Lesson learnt from this, the quality of thread is very important.  It would have broken off much earlier if I had used a 3-ply thread instead of the 6-ply Lizbeth.
I don't which is worse, butchering the thread or breaking the tip off the shuttle, as I had blogged here.  But, i managed to save the shuttle by carefully filing the broken tip.
If yo are wondering how long ago I started on this doily, this next photo gives the approximate date,
All in, I have spent more than 50 tatting hours on this Mystery Doily but it is worth every second of it, mistakes and all.

Comments

  1. Jon, it is marvellous! I love it tatted with that thread, which surprisingly shows the pattern off very well.

    Also, it was SO reassuring to me to hear of your problem joining at the end as I managed that trick many times during this adventure. Thank you for sharing that!

    Once again, thank you for initiating this stimulating exercise.
    Fox : )

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  2. It looks terrific! And I stand corrected: the multiple colors work really well with the design.

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  3. That's OOOOOHHHHHH so pretty. What a task you gave yourself. Congratulations on reaching the end.

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  4. Wow really nice job and pretty color, I like it and feel like its a good pattern when the wash up good like that. But that a lots of work for the brain, don't know if i could do that! You deserve a medal for this one!

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  5. It's a beautiful piece; congratulations on finishing it! Since I seem to spend so much of my tatting time unpicking, I consider myself an educated thread-user by this stage, and I have found the very best thread is good old Flora! - but once again, I cannot get it anymore. Anchor Artiste also unpicks well.

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  6. Beautiful doily. You should be very proud!

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  7. It is beautiful and well worth the time spent! Isn't it frustrating to make mistakes at the very end. I'm glad your thread didn't break!

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  8. Dear Jon, many, many congratulations with this grand doily! I love it! The way the colors assort and radiate outwards is a spectacle. But, above all, i admire your hard work!

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  9. I'm definitely exhausted reading this, and I admire your patience with all the 'untatting!' But what a fantastic result! Congratulations! Beautiful colors in this
    magnificent doily!

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  10. Brava! You finished it! And it looks gorgeous. Ah, I will need to get back to mine now...

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  11. Wow, fabulous, congratulations! Really worth persevering.

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  12. It looks very nice.

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  13. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
    In spite it beings a simple rings and chains design, it is a very challenging piece, even with the monotony of the repeats.

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  14. Wow wow, that is the most gorgeous mat, well done
    Margaret

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  15. Wow, this is wonderful, and I love how the colour flows through the design! I don't think you took long to tat something so complicated. A beautiful finish!

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  16. Jon - how many balls of each colour did it use? - not that I am even thinking about attempting it in this lifetime, but still........ :)

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  17. Oh my goodness! That is so stunningly gorgeous!!!!! :)

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  18. This doily is stunning every time I see it (either in progress or completed!). The colors you chose also showcase the design very well. Beautiful piece!

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  19. I am only on round three and have enjoyed tatting it

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