December 2020 - FairyLace

Posted on December 20, 2020February 24, 2021 by Elena — 8 Comments

Instant Christmas Gift for tatters

Instant Christmas gift for tatters, or one question and one piece of advice.

Hello everyone! In this post I want to ask you one question and also give you one good advice (so it seems to me)!

First a question. Perhaps you will find it strange to hear this question: cheaper or more detailed?

But I will try to explain. You may remember my lace jewelry box. I finally took the time to create a tutorial about this box. Trust me, it takes time and effort. Moreover, I personally do the entire process of creating a pattern. I invent it myself, draw a graphical diagram myself and test the created product myself. Yes, I don’t invite testers! This is a very delicate topic for me. Because I want to be 100% sure of the correctness of my plan. And also I am personally responsible for the quality of each of my tutorials. Perhaps someday … 🙂

Ah, I’m distracted. If I only do the pattern for the lid and sides of the box, I won’t spend a lot of time and materials on it. Accordingly, this pattern will not be expensive. But if I do a FULL detailed tutorial on how to make a box from the beginning to the last knot (this is a lid, sides, bottom, fasteners), then, of course, I will spend a lot of time and materials on it. Here’s my question. Which option do you prefer, cheap or detailed? It is very important for me to find out. Write in the comments, please.

Now my one piece of advice. I hope you enjoy my thought. Although (I’m sure) this idea is not new.

Christmas is near! And the issue with the delivery of parcels is especially acute. Have you made your Christmas orders online? Awful workload of postal warehouses in different countries. If you haven’t taken care of this beforehand, then your package might be here (I’m sorry):

But there is a good way out. I think the best gift for a tatter is threads, tools and patterns! Do you agree? Unfortunately, the threads and tools will not arrive before Christmas. Therefore, remains INSTANTLY LOADED pattern ! Show the next paragraph to your friends and family (ha ha!).

I suggest you buy any pattern, or a whole set. Of course you can do it at any store, but check mine first, please! Moreover, the 10% discount on all patterns continues until December 31st! Coupon code OFF10HAPPYPATTERN https://fairylace.kozinenko.com/product-category/patterns-tutorials/patterns-and-tutorials/

And print the purchased pattern. Moreover, all my patterns are created in PDF format and you can easily print them on your home printer. For this purpose, in addition to the pattern, I created a cute picture. See how cute your gift will look! https://fairylace.kozinenko.com/product/additional-file-for-tatting-pattern/

Do not forget to wear a protective mask before giving your gift! Believe me, this is a nice and very useful gift. But if you are very strict in quarantine, I can send your purchase to any email address you specify. To do this, just contact me before buying by email fish20085@gmail.com or FB: https://www.facebook.com/kozinenkoelena

I look forward to your comments and questions! Happy Holidays!

Posted on December 17, 2020November 26, 2021 by Elena — 10 Comments

How to stiffen tatting lace

How to stiffen tatting lace, everything I found on the internet and my personal experience. But I would sooooo much like to see your comments on my posts. Trust me, feedback is very important. After all, this is the only way I can understand how interesting my articles are. I am very interested to know if my experience was helpful to someone. So subscribe to my blog. Comment and ask questions. I will be happy to help with tips!

Hello everyone! Thank you, dear friends, for new subscriptions. Your support helps me improve my blog and store!

Please be patient. Because the article will be too long. But I added pictures for fun! So, let’s begin! As beautiful as the pattern is, the finished tatting product almost always needs to be fixed. I mean giving stiffness and stability to the lace. All tatters know if the lace is not fixed, it looks sloppy. But we should always strive for excellence. Do you agree?

Apart from my own experience, I have found many articles on the Internet on this topic. There are many solutions. Among which are absolutely unexpected, ha ha! It turns out that you can make the lace stiffer: sugar syrup, starch, hairspray, nail polish, PVA glue, varnish for resin, embroidery fixing agent, and even candle wax. I’ve seen a few more experiments. But they did not interest me. So let’s talk a little more about each method.

Sugar syrup for to stiffen tatting lace

_{I don’t like using sugar syrup. It’s hot and uncomfortable. In addition, sugar lures pests who will eat delicious lace with pleasure!}

Starch for to stiffen tatting lace

_{You can use the powdered kind that is dissolved in water. You will have to get the object totally wet with the starch and then pressed with a hot iron.}

_{Or you can use the pressurized starch sprays that are available in the laundry section. There is a drawback to this method though. It isn’t recommended to use starch for white objects as it will yellow over time.}

Hairspray for to stiffen tatting lace

_{It is interesting to experiment with hairspray. I have tried spraying a strong hold polish on the earrings. But after a few days the varnish peeled off. Therefore, the earrings lost their rigidity and shine, alas. But this method works well with pieces for greeting cards or framed pieces. Moreover, you can use glitter polish. This is what you need for Christmas!}

Nail polish for to stiffen tatting lace

_{I have not tried using clear nail polish. But maybe you tried it? Then share your experience with us in the comments, please.}

_{PVA glue for to stiffen tatting lace}

_{is great for doilies and center pieces. Mix the glue with water. The proportions may vary. If you use a lot of glue, the solution will be too thick. You may be disappointed with the thin film on the back of the product. So the glue is absolutely not suitable for colored threads, only for light ones (white, ivory, etc.). And I think you should not use glue for the products to wear. These are collars, chokers, jewelry, clothing. So I don’t really like this method. And don’t forget! Do not iron! It will darken if you stroke it.}

Varnish for resin

I did an experiment with varnish for resin. But the result did not make me very happy. Because I got insufficient rigidity of the earrings. you can also notice traces of dried varnish on the leaf on the right. I think that in this case it is better to use the tatting in resin method. I wrote about this in detail in my previous posts.

Spray for securing embroidery

I don’t use this for tatting. In my opinion, these funds are too expensive. And sooooo expensive for big projects. And also scares me DANGER: Extremely flammable. Fumes are harmful. Content under pressure. Keep out of reach of children.

Embroidery stabilizer solution

This is my favorite way. Read more about this in my article here: https://fairylace.kozinenko.com/cute-tatting-ring-final/

This is how I dispose of the remains of the embroidery stabilizers. I also like that these materials are harmless and environmentally friendly.

Candle wax for to stiffen tatting lace

This is a completely unexpected way for me! I was very surprised. Read more about this on the JEDDAH MOM blog. But come back to me at once! My story is not over. We continue! https://www.jeddahmom.com/how-to-stiffen-a-doily-with-candle-wax-2/

How to soak the finished product for to stiffen tatting lace

_{I have seen many videos showing the complete immersion of a small piece of tatting into a container of solution. Perhaps this works for small items. Provided that there are no long picots in the lace. Ha! Have you tried this trick on a large item? I tried it once. Now you can cry with me. For I have hopelessly ruined my long work on the bag. The lace should NOT be deformed during the application of the solution.}

_{Therefore, I do not put tatting into the solution. On the contrary, I put the tatting on a flat surface and saturate with the solution. Of course, it is convenient to use a brush for small items.}

_{It is very convenient to work with a spray. But in this case, some of the solution will not get on the product. And be sure to blot the wet product with a towel to remove excess solution.}

_{I use a simple and “reliable” product – a cotton ball. With this ball, I can spread the picot out during the soaking process. I often don’t even need to use needles.}

Where to place tatting lace for stiffen

_{It all depends on the size of the finished product. For example, earrings, snowflakes, bells can be placed on a table or windowsill. In any case, find a place where they will not interfere with you while drying. There are two important points. Try to keep out the sun and dust! To do this, cover the damp item with a plastic container and a towel. I do this for tatting in resin too.}

_{But I have to place very large projects on the floor. When I was finishing the borders for the table linen set, my family was uncomfortable for a while. By the way, do not forget to lay polyethylene or oilcloth under your product BEFORE applying the solution.}

And one more important question. Do you use needles for fixation? I don’t have a definite answer here. Because it all depends on the pattern. Of course, you cannot do without needles if there are long picots in the pattern. Or in cases where you need to achieve the perfect shape. For example, for a box.

Thanks for reading my opus! Perhaps I didn’t remember everything. You probably know other methods like to stiffen tatting lace. Then write about it in the comments, please. Your experience is very valuable!

Reminder! 10% discount for you is still valid in my store! Coupon code OFF10HAPPYPATTERN is valid until December 31st. How to use the coupon, read in my previous post, please. https://fairylace.kozinenko.com/2020/12/11/christmas-is-coming/

Posted on December 11, 2020February 24, 2021 by Elena — Leave a comment

Christmas is coming!

Christmas is coming! Hello everyone! Are you ready for the holidays?

Oh, I have sooooo much more to do! But I hope everything goes according to plan. Of course, I will write a post on how I decorated my house for holiday.

But for now, I create another cute Christmas pattern. Of course, you will have time to make this original tatting wreath with voluminous flowers. Because the instructions are very simple. You can decorate with this cute wreath greeting card for your family and friends. Also, these wreaths can be used as a garland or Christmas tree decoration. I am sure you will enjoy looking at the windows decorated with little lace wreaths.

Pretty wreath, isn’t it? Look here please: https://fairylace.kozinenko.com/product/christmas-wreath-pattern/

Especially, off 10% for you! Coupon code OFF10HAPPYPATTERN is valid until December 31st.

I have written detailed instructions on how to use the discount. So:

1. Follow this link: https://fairylace.kozinenko.com/ and select the “Patterns and tools” section.

2. Add the item to your cart.

3.Then you can continue to select a product (arrow 1). Or enter the Coupon Code OFF10HAPPYPATTERN (arrow 2).

4. Click Apply Coupon (arrow 1) and scroll down the screen (arrow 2).

5. You will be directed to the checkout page. Attention! You can pay the bill by credit card or your PayPal.

Enjoy the shopping!

I am always ready to answer your questions. For this you can write to me on the comment, email fish20085@gmail.com or FB:https://www.facebook.com/kozinenkoelena

I also hope my video will be interesting and useful to you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Of-fmKKNp4A&list=UU3dn4_9pp7tIKA2k564wLBQ

Subscribe to my blog, comment, ask questions. I will be happy to help.

Posted on December 8, 2020February 24, 2021 by Elena — 4 Comments

Measuring sticks or picot gauge

Measuring sticks or picot gauge. How to make neat long picots. What tool is better to use for this.

Hello everyone! In early autumn, I finished creating my Summer Mood collection. After the blog post, many readers asked me which measuring sticks for long picots I used. Therefore, I decided to talk in detail on this topic. So, measuring sticks or picot gauge. I will share my experience and my opinion. Your opinion may be different, of course. Therefore, I ask you to share your opinion in the comments, please.

First, by tradition, I must start with history. But I don’t want to waste your time on long historical sentences. It is absolutely clear to me that tatting measuring sticks have been used for a long time. The next photo confirms this.

Photo signed: Antique bone tatting spatulas.

Very interesting, measuring sticks were called spatulas ?!

There are a wide variety of picot tools out there these days.

There is a variant of combining gauge for tatting needles and picots . I don’t like this kind of tool. In my opinion, it is too uncomfortable and cumbersome for weaving picot. Possibly just for measurement.

In my opinion, such sets are much more convenient. But these sticks are handy for tatting shuttles. For tatting with a needle, the wide ends get in the way. Anyway, for me.

The ideal option is straight plastic sticks of different widths. I found this picture on the Internet.

My measuring sticks for long picot

When I bought a set of mesh needles, I was very happy. Because this set includes three plastic sticks. They are long enough, smooth, comfortable. But only three sizes. And the package went sooooo long. And I need a lot of picot gauge of different sizes and urgently! To you too?

For example, to create this collar, I used 10 strips of different widths.

I took thick cardboard and cut out 10 strips of the desired width. The length of the stripes is whatever is convenient for you. I have signed a number on each strip. This number indicates the width of the strip in millimeters. Then I covered each strip with scotch tape for better glide. This method is perfect! You can make as many measuring sticks as you like, quickly and easily. Is not it?

Another option is to make spatulas (haha) from used plastic cards. But you have to try, because cutting such a card neatly and neatly is not very easy. But you get a graceful, smooth and durable strip.

Also, I don’t throw away ANY plastic sticks. For example, ice cream sticks. It’s a shame they only have one size.

Helpful advice for use measuring sticks

Pay attention to how the measuring stick is positioned during weaving. The strip can be parallel or perpendicular to the work. This will determine how long the picot will turn out in the finished form.

For example, in this photo, the cardboard strip is located perpendicular to the work. The shuttle and ball threads are located on both sides of the strip. Therefore, in the finished form, the picot will turn out to be two times shorter (in this version, 7, 5 millimeters). By the way, this method is suitable for weaving only one picot at a time.

But if you want to make several picots in a row, you need to position the stick perpendicularly. And in this case, the finished picots will be the same length as the measuring stick is wide.

The same applies to tatting with a needle.

I invite you to check out my pattern patterns using long picots. I hope you will enjoy. Especially, off 10% for you! Coupon code OFF10HAPPYPATTERN is valid until December 31st. Welcome! https://fairylace.kozinenko.com/product-category/patterns-tutorials/patterns-and-tutorials/