Split Ring tatted Edging

I am slowly getting all my incomplete projects out of the closet.

This tatted edging for my kameez sleeves is something I started almost a year ago. I finally completed it. Not my best work - here it is anyway.

I used Anchor Mercer cotton no:20, Art 4054 for this project
I've used split ring tatting with beaded picots. You'll find the instructions for this tatted edging here

Crochet Rose and Leaves

I made a set of filet crochet curtain ties for my son's room. You'll find the instructions for making this curtain tie here.

Thought they were rather plain and I'd embellish them with some Irish roses. Here's the result.

 The rose has come out okay.  But it  looks too girlish an embellishment for a guy's room. Besides, it does not go well with the curtains or the curtain ties.  Another thing is, the petals are excellent dust collectors. I can't imagine what colour, the rose will become in a week's time. So, for now I am shelving this. Maybe I'll use it on a scarf or a muffler or a handbag.

Daisy Chains Tutorial

I wanted to complete the beaded strap for my cell phone pouch. So I sat at it and completed it today. As I was working, it occurred to me that maybe I could do a simple tutorial on this technique, and I took pictures of each of the steps. Here they are. The pictures are self-explanatory.

Isn't this a terrible strain for your eyes? Not if you use a needle. Then you can do this blindly. Well, almost. Another trick is to use a threader to load the beads.

If you can find the needles, wire and beads that work well together, you can have fun making all kinds of exoctic things with this beautiful beading pattern. 

With the long summer vacations ahead, kids can drive you crazy. Keep them engaged with this project!!!

Beaded Strap

I think this beaded design will make a lovely strap for my cell phone and keys pouch. I got the idea from a Russian beaded jewelry book. There are very clear pictorial instructions. I've adapted the design to suit my requirement.

I thought I'll make 2 strands clasped occasionally with a larger bead. Have to work it out. I've tried out several options. Haven't come up with a satisfactory idea as yet. I've decided that the ideal length for the strap is 35". That's it for now.  Here's a close-up of the design.

This is actually a variation of a design I posted a couple of years back.

All About Faggotting - Part I

Faggotting? Never heard of the term before? It's an embroidery technique  introduced sometime around 1920 to help seamstresses keep pace with the vagaries of Dame Fashion particularly the hem length.

Okay. Faggotting is a decorative technique used to attach an extra stretch of fabric to the hem of a skirt or sleeve. The purpose is either to add length to a garment or to attach two contrasting coloured fabric. It is sometimes both. Whatever the case, the result is very attractive and give the garment a delicate touch.

Here's an example of this technique.

I found this picture in an old embroidery book. You can download the book from here.

The book has very few pages.  But all the pictures are self-explanatory to an experienced needlewoman dabbling in various techniques.

If you Google 'faggotting images', you'll get a fairly good idea of the practical applications of faggotting.

There are about 5 faggotting techniques that I know of, including this one. I'll post tutorials of them soon.