Too Small or Just Hard to Work?

    I tried it. I really wanted it to work, but I don't think so. Too bad. I have such nice colors, too. But it just isn't worth it. What am I talking about? I have about 60 or so spools of embroidery thread on a rack on a wall. I love the color selection and it does do nice embroidery. So I got the bright idea to see if I could do Jane Eborall's "Twirly Doily" with embroidery thread. Ha ha foolie.
    I wound the bobbins and started in. 4 times. This stuff is just plain hard to work. At least for me it is. It fought me constantly. I tatted over tails. I put the thread through the loop and it pulls itself back out. I make a ring and the picots are almost too small to connect to. You have to hold it tight to keep it from unravelling. I finally got what you see here done in about an hour. And 6 more rounds of fighting this? Nope. Ain't gonna happen. Now I know, though.

The hook end on the shuttle is 5/16" (8.2mm) this round in 20 would probably be 1 1/2" to 2". This stuff is tiny and hard to see. But it is not hard to undo if you make mistakes. It tries to come apart on it's own.

Staying Amused

    Since I seem to be in and out of doctor offices lately I needed something to do. This is the Amusement Doily by Celtess. I have made this doily before, but in size 20. I am moving more and more away from 20 and towards size 80 thread, so I did it this time in size 80. I think the color is Caribbean. Lizbeth #122. I had some already wound so I used it for this. It will reside under my phone stand in my office. You know, the stand I 3D printed.

 

    In other news, for anyone who isn't aware of it, Jane Eborall has her game going again. I mean, of course, her yearly TIAS. This is the last one, so get in on it if you are not already there. I am even going back and finding the previous ones and making those. I may post the results later, but for now I will work the 2018. 

A Horse of a Different Color

    This is the second horse for the carousel. I only have one side done. This thing has fought me all the way. I don't know why. The blue one was easy. This one - well, not easy at all. I think I started the saddle 6 times. I kept messing up. Then I would work along adding the white part and something would go wrong. Several times I had to un-tat to fix problems. It took me a while, but I finally got it. Maybe it's the meds I am taking for the sciatica. That would be my best guess. I hope the second side is not a fight. I am tired of fighting something that I should be enjoying.

    One of the problems I had that was easy to fix was that I forgot to make a join. I made a picot there instead. Then I tatted a few more rings and chains. Nope. I'm not gonna undo all that just for a join. So I did it the old fashioned way. I tied it and hid the ends. Unless you really look for it, you won't see it.

Repairs to the 3D Printer

    I got my package today. I had to order a new cable and bed heater board for the 3D printer. The board was $63 and the $12. Shipping was $14 making the total $89. Still a lot cheaper than buying a new printer. This one was $999 plus tax and shipping. No, wait. I think the shipping was free. The printer is a Flashforge Creator Pro. I think you can get it now for $799.
    Anyway, I got the box and spent an hour installing the new board and cable. Then I put the machine back together and turned it on. Nothing. It did not start, nothing showed on the screen. OK, all I did was swap a couple of parts, nothing major. It was starting properly before. It just would not heat. I opened it up again and checked one of the connections. I think I had it on wrong. I pulled the plug, put it back and hit the on switch. Success!! It came right up. I closed everything up and Started the preheat on the bed. It started working properly immediately.
    In the photos, you can see what happened. The cable plugs at the heater board got fried for some reason. I have no idea why. One of the connections even had the solder melted off. Must have been too hot.