Here are the finished Makena that I have made. The turquoise one is made without beads, but the others have beads at all of the joins. Speaking of beads, what size crochet hook do you use for 11/0 beads? I'm having trouble with the thread on the chains splitting when I add the bead, but it is the only hook that will fit through the bead. Any ideas?Yes, these are stiffened. Don't look too closely because I do need to clean up the extra glue. They keep their shape, but can be reshaped some after the balloon is popped. I need to make or find some small boxes to give/store these in so that they will keep their shape. A word of warning, 2 year old daughters love to play with these items and can make it so they don't look like a ball anymore!
I don't remember where I got the balloon pump, but I use it to make balloon animals. As long as you can stand the noise of twisting the balloon, making the animals is fun and not to difficult.
I will be making more of these for Christmas gifts, so you will see more in the future.
Could these be tatted around a glass or satin-covered ball instead of blowing up a balloon? Just curious, since they are so lovely! (...and I have about a dozen satin-covered balls in need of some tatted embellishment)
ReplyDeleteThese look great!
ReplyDeleteYes, it is tricky to keep their shapes! That's why I've wanted to try the balloon idea, because after 20 years of hanging on my Christmas tree, the ornaments are getting out of shape. One idea is to put them into a clear plastic cup with a lid. That kind of protects them.
One trick I've used with my other stiffened items such as snowflakes and angel wings and even the bells, is to use a heat gun (the one used for rubber stamping) to 'relax' the thread. A hair dryer might also work. The item becomes 'limp', then I reshape them very easily.
I've also tried the heat gun on the eggs and balls, but I can't get the perfect shape they had originally when they were stiffened over 'forms'. Once I joined the halves together, it became a problem to re-shape them. I believe I'd have to let them soak in hot water, then blow up the ballopn and let them dry.
You should have fun making these!
Gorgeous! Great gifts!!! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's me again! I received your nice comment on my blog, and if you would like to see my 3-D tatted pieces, simply type "3-D" in the search box on my blog and begin scrolling down.
ReplyDeleteYou will see my egg tree, the slipper and parasol, the Christmas tree that I take to tatting events (although there's a clearer photo later on in my post of Aug. 22, 2008 where you can see the ball and other items like my little bird cage.)
Then you'll see my most recent bell (I have about 12 bell designs). Click on "older posts" again and you'll see my handkerchief doll with her parasol, simple basket and hat; and keep scrolling down, down, down, and you'll see my 3-D heart. Then in clicking Older Posts once again, you'll see the clearer photo of items on my tree, as posted on August 22, 2008.
I was in a tatting frenzy between 1990 and 1994, before I went back to work, and that's when I created most of these things. I've been attending events for 21 yeears with our little tatting group, and can't believe how that time has flown by. I have promised to write the pattern for the lady's slipper, but I just haven't been able to get it accomplished yet! I'm hoping to get it done this year now that some of my computer issues are being solved.
Thanks for inquiring!
these are incredibly beautiful! I use a size 14 crochet hook myself, a steel crochet hook, goes right through, size ll seed beads, but also remember, unless you are using laser cut seed beads, they are not likely to be all uniform in size, so you will always have some that won't fit regardless of what hook you use :)
ReplyDeleteThanks all for your comments!!! I'll really happy with the way that they turned out.
ReplyDelete