Saturday, July 25, 2009

Motif #1 for 25 Motif Challenge


I did it! I have signed up for the 25 motif challenge. See me wading into the waters with SweetHeart pattern by Birgit Phelps © 2003.

I chose it for a few reasons:
  • 2003 was the year I went on a tatting hiatus (until 2008)
  • the joins create the illusion of four-petal clovers
  • no awkward downward joins

Plus, I think this design makes a terrific central motif upon which to build a bigger heart. More on that later.

The colorful heart on the left was made with an itty-bitty mini skein of Tatskool's lovely Rainbow Bright HDT in size 20. Hee, hee, the center rings remind me of Fruity Pebbles®.

The pink heart uses the same thread as the pink-and-white edging pictured in my last Tatting Tea Tuesday post. This thread came to me in a box salvaged from an estate sale rubbish bin. Not sure, but I think it is a finer quality crochet cotton in roughly size 30.

For the past few weeks I have been experimenting with a lattice-like heart design that includes four-petal, split ring clovers and adapts an edging pattern for the last round. But my end point is awkward and I'd prefer not to have to cut and tie ends to start a new round.

Birgit's SweetHeart motif looks like it will adapt well. It offers a more straightforward "climbing out" point to begin the next round. Hence, the pink heart on the right.

I'll stop here to ponder the best "climbing out" method. Simple chain? Split chain? Other options?

Time to put the kettle on. See you on Tuesday!

8 comments:

JB said...

Both hearts are very pretty. Love the "Fruity Pebbles" terminology. I can't remember the last time I eat them--those and Fruit Loops were my absolute favorites.

Unknown said...

Pretty hearts! Have fun with the 25 Motif Challenge! :)

Cindy said...

I love this SweetHeart pattern [especially "fruity pebbles"!] - it looks like something I should try. I will have to watch your progress on that 25 motif challenge. I'm too chicken to start something I may not be able to keep up with :)

Tatskool said...

I love what you did with the little sample, especially with the varig purples. Have printed off the pattern, now on my to-do list.

rainbows and raindrops said...

Lovely heart. it reminds me of fruit loops too! (fruity pebbles wasn't that big here lol)

Fox said...

Thanks for the pattern! These are great little hearts.....

Love that pink and white thread. Amazing what you can find in a rubbish bin.... You should see what I have refurbished in my apartment from other people's cast-offs!

Good for you for doing the 25 Motif Challenge!

LadyShuttleMaker aka MadMadPotter said...

I LOVE fruity pebbles...hmmm you've made me hungry.

The hearts are beauties!

Tattips said...

Thanks for the warm welcome to tat-land. I was touched and thank you for it. I like your blog, its very expressive and well written and the tatted hearts are very, very pretty.