Monday, March 02, 2009

Designing Course Anyone?

Lest you think I've given up on square motifs, here are some of my latest trials that have been done in size 20 thread. I posted a challenge in January based on a rose motif and since I don't like to ask people to design something when I haven't given it a try myself, I did this one and since I also am on a "make it square" kick I just had to turn the rose into a square motif. None of these have been finished or blocked, mostly because there are mistakes that need to be cut off and re-worked.Gina posted a picture of a crocheted rose and I had to give it a try in tatting. It needs work, but I'm on a roll so it will have to wait until I can re-visit it. The rose shape would look better if the layers were done in different colours possibly with another layer on top. Notice the extra ring in the middle of one side. I started out with one idea and forgot by the time I was on the second side. By the time I noticed, I was on the last side so I just finished it. The white round is going to get cut off anyway, so I'm not too worried about it. I think it would be easier to see the 3D effect if it were in a lighter colour, and if anyone would like to do it and send me a picture, I'll send you the pattern. without the mistakes of course :-)

The next rose is surrounded with clunies which took forever to do, and now that it's done I'm not sure if it's something I want to repeat or not. I kind of like the way it looks although the corners need to be re-done. I think it might make a very pretty x4 to see what the intersecting corners look like. I'd do it, but I'm on a roll and I don't want to stop just yet

Same basic idea, but all very different. I have been kicking around the idea of doing an on-line course on designing tatting, except that, it sounds rather conceited, because what, after all do I have to teach? Maybe a zillion ways of not doing things.

Sometimes a design comes by trial and error. If you do a thing often enough you have to eventually get it right. Sometimes it's sheer dumb luck. You make a mistake and see that your mistake actually looks good, so you repeat the mistake. Then sometimes you design with purpose setting out a sketch or a mental idea and you follow the plan until you come out the other side.

I'm not sure if there would be any interest in a designing course, or if anyone thinks I have anything of value to teach, but if there is, let me know and I'll pull my ideas into a more coherent form.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great idea! Yes, please do have a session on designing. I have tried a few things on my own. Some were great and others were not. If we see what others have tried and they worked out well and also their failures it will help us all.

Gina said...

I like the cluny one too though I wouldn't be likely to make a bunch of them since clunies are so labor intensive.

You mentioned the crocheted rose motif I posted about and I wonder - you know the rolled rose such as the one used in Jeanne L's earring pattern? That would be very similar and has definite dimension to it, although I think it is the dark color that is hiding the 3D in your motif. Joining picots for the outer round might be a problem too.

I think a design course would be well received. In fact, one of the classes I accidently sat in (for 5 minutes) was Terry M teaching how to go about designing. It was a full class. Lots of people have ideas in their head but don't know where to start in getting them down on paper, let alone thread. Go for it!

Unknown said...

The rose with the clunies is gorgeous! I can see why you think you may not want to repeat it, though! Clunies are time consuming. :)

Unknown said...

I think a designing course would be a great idea. I think there are a lot of designers out there who just need some confidence building and this could be the key.

Krystle said...

I vote yes for a designing course!