I have finished tatting the third china hutch edging! I’ve even finished blocking it, but I haven’t got it in the cabinet yet.
I noticed on the first two shelf edgings that they might be just a bit shorter than I planned. So I made the 3rd edging a bit longer. Maybe too long. I’ll find out soon.
For a bit of a change and to answer a question I was asked about making one, I decided to make an Ice Drop, specifically Diane Cademartori’s Basic Ice Drop. (You can check out all of her adventures on her blog Lace-Lovin’ Librarian.) I’ve made it before, but this time I goofed.
This gem is the same size I’ve used before, but this time I didn’t do something quite right. Maybe the joining picots are too short. Or maybe the gem is just bigger than the one I used before, even though they came out of the same package. Whatever I did, or didn’t do, I’ll have to find a different center if I want to finish this ice drop.
I can’t say that either of these miscalculations are mistakes. With the china hutch doors closed, which they are most of the time, you can’t see either end of the edgings, so I’m not unhappy with them. The Ice Drop can be saved, I just have to find a different center. Let’s just call them learning experiences.
“Trust your own instinct. Your mistakes might as well be your own, instead of someone else’s.” Billy Wilder
I don’t think you can say miscalculation, some gems are slightly bigger than others, if I find one that is just a bit bigger I add a few more rings around it.
It’s a lovely colour with the green gem.
Your edging is looking gorgeous, I don’t think it really would be bad if they are just slightly shorted sometimes a while pattern would be too long.
Thanks, Margaret. I agree about the edging, but as it’s for me, I play around with it anyway.
My first thought was that no one would notice a shorter edging with the china cabinet door closed.
I have quite a few glass gems that are slightly larger than the original ones I used to design Ice Drops. I find that more often than not, I need to dig through my collection (yes, I have a collection of glass gems!) to find the right size. Sometimes, I give up and slip a penny in there. I’ve found that pennies are really dirty coins and are difficult to clean!
For the glass gems that are too large for the basic pattern, I use the one pass method of tatting the back ring, the front ring, and then the chain, using a count of 6-6-6 for all the rings. Sometimes I need to adapt and add extra rings to go around the glass gems. Once the glass gem is encased, I can then follow any of the Ice Drop patterns.
I have tried using larger joining picots, but I think they look messy and ruin the look of the tatting.
I guess it’s all about experimenting and finding what works for you!
Thanks for the insight, Diane! I had used the green gems before and didn’t give it any thought when I started. But a bag of gems from the Dollar Tree do not always have the gems the same size in them, as you mentioned.