You know, sometimes my own level of stupidity just amazes me. I have been working on testing this pattern for Ms. E. for a while. There are 6 rounds total. For some reason, I feel like I have to finish every round to prove the testing. The other day I realized I don't. I don't even have to do entire rounds at all. Of course I will, though, because I want to finish the doily, but for testing it is not actually necessary.
I am almost done with round 4. I took a couple of other shuttles, tatted a bit of round 5 onto round 4 in a color that is easily distinguished from round 4. OK, that round pattern is good. Cut and tie off so it won't unravel and try round 6 on top of that. Round 6 pattern reads correctly and works as intended. Testing done. Now I can remove the testing and continue making the doily without the pressure of having to get it done for the test.
Why did I not think of this before? I suppose it is part of the perfectionist in me, wanting to complete things. All I can say for sure is I am glad it was not the monster doily that I was testing. That one took me about 18 months to complete, but I only worked about an hour a day on it.
I have not been blogging for over a month. Sorry, but I got busy with other things. Life happens. I think the biggest reason was I wasn't tatting a lot. Arthritis in my thumbs got to where I almost could not hold a pen to sign my name. It is better now. A friend suggested a cream call Blue Emu. I am not endorsing it, but it seems to have helped a bit. The pain is still there, but not as bad. Hopefully I won't be as far between posts now.
Thank you a million times, Tim. I’ve nearly got another one ready for testing so let me know if you want it when it’s done!!!!
ReplyDeleteGood thinking. Funny how we sometimes miss the obvious.
ReplyDeleteI'm right there with you, Tim. I've never thought of test tatting just one pattern repeat. I've always done the entire piece. I've heard Blue Emu is great, but I've never tried it. I've used China Gel for years. I'm kind of addicted to the smell and feel of mint!
ReplyDeleteTim, I had a bad spell with my thumbs, the right hand in particular. I gave it a rest (so incredibly difficult to do). I changed shuttles to one with a shorter post. Voila! Problem alleviated. The right thumb still blows up like a balloon if I overdo, but the shuttle change made a ginormous difference.
ReplyDeleteYour solution is brilliant. Stupidity does breed brilliance. Sometimes we just don't recognize it as such.
ReplyDeleteTaking care of my hands often starts with taking care of my back and my shoulders and my elbows, and being very aware of how things are. Nor sure if it's available in your neck of the woods, but CBD cream is a go-to for quite a few of my friends. I've found that if I mask the symptom, I make it all worse because I'm just doing: "la-la-la-la-la" with my hands over my ears. Just my stupidity at work.