Lace Mats, Lace Mats Everywhere!

Here is mine to add to the crowd:

Many thanks to Jon for charting Norma Benporath's pattern. I like it a lot and would probably have tatted it even if she had not organized a Tat-a-Long. As it is, it is fun to see everybody's different takes on it, and the chart is a breeze to follow. I've been enjoying using split chains and rings to jump from round to round, but apparently I haven't been winding my shuttles full enough. With the amount of times my shuttles have run out so far, I don't know if my split chains are saving me any end-sewing! They are definitely good practice, though. I have been completely comfortable with split rings for a while but am only just easing into doing split chains without constant reference to a set of instructions, so steady practice is definitely needed.

This picture is a little anemic -- the true color of the thread has a lot less of a blue tinge. It's a lovely green that I chose not because it matches anything that I own (it doesn't!) but because it was so beautiful. When I post the finished lace mat, I'll make sure to take a picture in a better light! As you can see, I only have part of one round to go.

Procrastination

Here is my (first?) rendition of Arches, by Marilee Rockley. I LOVE this pattern. And I love this thread color. This measures about three inches across, so it is dainty and alluring. But I'm not happy with the actual arches, which is completely my fault. As I was tatting the long foundation chains, they seemed SOOO long that I compulsively pulled them as tight as possible so they would not be quite so floppily huge. Then, I started tatting the rows that go over the chains and realized unhappily that they were heavily affected by the too-tight chains. This doily still needs blocking, but while the blocking may calm the ruffling, it won't bring the pattern back to its full potential, because those chains are just too darn tight. I'm disappointed. I may just have to tat it again and do it right this time!

As for the title of this post....  When did I finish tatting this? Two years ago. When did I finish sewing in the ends? Yesterday. Clearly I have a problem. As if you couldn't tell already from the last time I posted on this blog! Oh well. The only way to solve it is one small step at a time. So. I sewed in the ends. And I posted. On to the next step!