Variegated thread swatches

[Liyarra]

An idea - need some feedback,
I have been looking at buying some of the Lizbeth variegated thread but really hard to know which ones to get. Post is expensive to Australia so want to make the right choice.
A lot of variegateds look really crappy on the ball but great when tatted up.
Is there a chance we can have an album where we can put pics of a "standard" motif in various variegateds (of ANY brand) so people can see how they tat up????? That way if the motif is basically always the same we can see the color changes and range without the pattern swaying our judgement.
I have done this for my Perfect Quilter threads for my own use and it seems to work ok.
When posting the pics- if we put the color, size and brand of thread - it can be a resource we can all use.
Whatchya think?????

[Kersti]

Sounds like a fabulous idea

[Linda S Davies]

I think it sounds like a very useful, practical tool.
If someone put up a very basic ring and chain motif and then any tatter could tat a sample in any of the variagated thread they happen to have, and then post a picture of it - perhaps into an album specifically set up for this.
What do you think of this idea?

[Ridgewoman]

I think it sounds like a very useful, practical tool.
If someone put up a very basic ring and chain motif and then any tatter could tat a sample in any of the variagated thread they happen to have, and then post a picture of it - perhaps into an album specifically set up for this.
What do you think of this idea?

Sounds good to me! I have one variegated thread that looks terrible in almost any motif; except for that snake I tatted. It worked wonderfully there and prob. would work for geckos or lizards.

BUT if it was the same motif ~ it's a great idea. That basic motif that we used in design class was simple rings and chains...quickly tatted. You all know the one ~ 8 ring center, connected with a chain around (with or without a small picot). B

[Artylady]

Great idea to get a more realistic perspective of the variegation.

I also want to get some of this thread eventually - Liyarra if you want to go halvies in postage, just let me know (just a thought).

[Maureen L]

I seem to have a feeling that one of the suppliers has already done this with Lizbeth; tatted rings-and -chains in each colour. Was it Handy Hands? I'll go on a hunt later on and see if I can find it

[Tammy]

I like this idea. I try to do this for my sample book so I learn what threads I like. It is a great way to try the thread from thread swaps. I use a simple ring and chain motif like Bev, Ridgewoman, suggest only I do a six ring six chain motif. I think it would be nice to have a couple more things to add to the list

Needle or shuttle tatted
soft thread firm thread
If you would use it again why or why not

I think these things might help a person that has never used that specific thread to know more about it from another tatter's point of view.

[Liyarra]

OK - sounds like a plan. Now how do we do this??
Is there a way we can put pics into an album ourselves or does it have to go through an admin person Tammy?
What size motif ? Has to be big enough to see the colors in 80+ thread but not too big for 10.......

I have been using ring: 10-6-10 and chain: 20 (6 repeats)for my PQ threads but that might be too big for the larger variegateds?

It would be nice to have for all the variegateds we can find - not just Lizbeth. Then they would be all in the one place.

[BahmaTerri]

This is a wonderful idea. I'd like to see what a thread will look like when it's all tatted up and dream about adding even more thread to my collection. There are so many fabulous colors out there that it's hard to decide which to purchase next.

If all of the samples are the exact same ring/chain count, they could also be helpful with size comparison.

If it's HDT, would we need to know who made it and/or where it was purchased?

[Tammy]

I think it would be nice if the pictures or scans could have a ruler showering metric and imperial measurements put next to the motif then we can see the size it makes up.

As far as how the pictures will go up that one is for Kersti to answer. :flowers:

[Judy]

I love this idea and will help with samples. We may need a giant spread sheet to keep track of what we'll have generated LO veryL.

[IcePrincess]

I'm working with variegated wherever I can get my hands on nice varieties. If there is no timestamp for finishing I'm in.

[delseylynne]

I love this idea - I have a lot of varigated thread and some of it - after trying it out on a bookmark - leave me puzzled on how to best use it. Some varigated threads work better than others. I have some that works up like a dream.
I think the ruler would be a big help too.

[AnneB]

A great idea!

It could either be an album if you can make one that everybody can add to, or a social group whith one "topic" per thread.

The pattern should be easilly found in the description of the album or the group.

[Tammy]

I'm working with variegated wherever I can get my hands on nice varieties. If there is no timestamp for finishing I'm in.

I don't know if I'm correct or not but I don't think there would be a time they would have to be finished by. Seems to me that this would be an on going resource as new colors become available and such. Just my thought, though.

[Liyarra]

It was an idea that could be added to as new threads/colors became available. Ideally it would be best to have a group and subfolders for different manufacturers so they all stayed together. Nothing worse than having to sift through everything to find what you are looking for. Just my thought.

[Ridgewoman]

Since there's not a time factor, I'm in ~ but we need a prototype and the stitch count that everyone will use. B

[Kersti]

We have some new software coming soon that will make this easy, so we can in the meantime start working on what we have in order to get started. If everyone does their threads and posts the images to their album then makes a not here that will be a good start.

New software is due in the next 8 weeks. (I'm quite excited about it)

So, for a motif I suggest the following as it's quick and can be done equally well by both needle and shuttle.

Ring: 6ds, large picot, 6ds, close
* Chain: 6ds, p, 6ds
Ring: 6ds, join p of first ring, 6ds, close
Repeat from * for 5 rings and 5 chains.

Yes, it's the one from Pam's instructables :)

[IcePrincess]

I'd have suggested a pattern just like it!

Maybe an idea: Why not add a picture of the ball as well? So one may guess how a ball that hasn't been sampled yet works out?

[Kersti]

Good idea.

So, you'll need to post picture of the motif, ball too if you can.
Details of the thread including any dye numbers, brand and size.

[Kersti]

OK, I've realised that the motif I suggested won't work for finer threads, nor will it work for longer variegations, so how about

for fine threads, say 40/60 +
ring: 10-6-10 and chain 20 with 6 repeats.

for thicker threads
5-5-5-5 for rings and 20 for chains, 6 repeats

[Sonja]

I will start with the tread I have

[Ridgewoman]

OK, I've realised that the motif I suggested won't work for finer threads, nor will it work for longer variegations, so how about

for fine threads, say 40/60 +
ring: 10-6-10 and chain 20 with 6 repeats.

for thicker threads
5-5-5-5 for rings and 20 for chains, 6 repeats

[COLOR="Purple"]Kersti? Where are the joins? :ermm: B

I did one in R 10-6-10 CH 20 R 10 + 6 - 10 and it doesn't work out well because the chains are too long. Need to rethink motif. B

[Judy]

Do you want picots in the chains, too?

[Liyarra]

Nope - as plain as you can make them so the colors show up Judy.

[madhur]

Jenni, I just tried out both versions of the motif just now. One without and one with picots in chains... as suggested by Kersti and Judy respectively. I'll click their pics and upload immediately. Please finalize the design thereafter.

[Sonja]

http://www.intatters.com/picture.php?albumid=43&pictureid=2834
My first trying

[Sonja]

It's Flora nr. 50

[Sonja]

This is Floretta nr. 10 col. 4494http://www.intatters.com/picture.php?albumid=43&pictureid=2838

[Ridgewoman]

Jenni, I just tried out both versions of the motif just now. One without and one with picots in chains... as suggested by Kersti and Judy respectively. I'll click their pics and upload immediately. Please finalize the design thereafter.

I agree. I see from the samples the tatters just went ahead and added joins. The main thing is that we all do it just the same ~ I prefer a picot in the chain. I don't think adding a picot or places for joins changes anything that much with the color graduations.
The thing I notice about variegated thread IS always in patterns that have a lot of picots or rings and chains ~ that is when some of the variegates go off and obscure the motif pattern. Consequently if we don't include these changes we won't get a true 'idea' of how it will look in a pattern.

So before I begin, I'd rather have the pattern fully written out so that we know FOR SURE what it is suppose to look like! Just my humble opinion....bev

[madhur]

http://www.intatters.com/picture.php?albumid=198&pictureid=2829

It was a test transfer. Thanks Sonja.

[Tammy]

OK, I've realised that the motif I suggested won't work for finer threads, nor will it work for longer variegations, so how about

for fine threads, say 40/60 +
ring: 10-6-10 and chain 20 with 6 repeats.

for thicker threads
5-5-5-5 for rings and 20 for chains, 6 repeats


I agree. I see from the samples the tatters just went ahead and added joins. The main thing is that we all do it just the same ~ I prefer a picot in the chain. I don't think adding a picot or places for joins changes anything that much with the color graduations.
The thing I notice about variegated thread IS always in patterns that have a lot of picots or rings and chains ~ that is when some of the variegates go off and obscure the motif pattern. Consequently if we don't include these changes we won't get a true 'idea' of how it will look in a pattern.

So before I begin, I'd rather have the pattern fully written out so that we know FOR SURE what it is suppose to look like! Just my humble opinion....bev

I believe because the pattern was given in simple terms it was assumed that the tatters would understand where the joins would occur. Though on the thicker thread the second picot could be left out completely if simplicity is wanted. I agree that the picots seem to give a more realistic look and for me personally and my old eyes :innocent: having picots in the chain makes it easier to keep track of my stitches. :flowers:

[Ridgewoman]

I believe because the pattern was given in simple terms it was assumed that the tatters would understand where the joins would occur. Though on the thicker thread the second picot could be left out completely if simplicity is wanted. I agree that the picots seem to give a more realistic look and for me personally and my old eyes :innocent: having picots in the chain makes it easier to keep track of my stitches. :flowers:

Oh I agree. I knew where I could make a join, but when I made them, it looked so barren. just me...sorry. bev :heart:

[Linda S Davies]

I agree entirely that there should be picots in the chains as it is very rare to find a chain without - not only for looks , but for joinings on any following round.

[Sonja]

I will make a new one, if the pattern changes

[Ridgewoman]

Did one (so far) in Lisbeth size 40 Varigate # 122 will scan today Bev
Searched this thread and couldn't find where to post our finished trial pieces. ? ? ?

[Liyarra]

Thread swatches of the variegateds I have are now in my album under "variegated Swatches" (original huh?)

[Judy]

I love the variegated threads. Many are new to me. Suggestion: show a ruler in the photo...cm, inches, don't care. Photos come through in different sizes and without some uniform scale its hard to see where I am.

[PattyD]

Liyarra! I notice that your variegated swatches don't have the speckles problem. (Where the ring you are joining is not the same color as the ring you are joining to and the join shows both colors in a speckled arrangement.) What method do you use?

[Liyarra]

Sorry - most of these were tatted ages before this topic was suggested and so they were scanned without a ruler. The more recent Lizbeth ones were done in a hurry and I didn't have a ruler with me at the time. But to be honest even if I had one I probably wouldn't have scanned them against it. These were for my own info and all I wanted to see was the way the colors tat out, see the way the colors flow and to get an idea of where the color breaks are. I needed a simple comparison method so just did them in a similar basic motif. But most important!!! - now no matter where I am I can log on here and check them if I need to!! (it's ALL about ME!!!!! - I am always forgetting which ones I have)
I put them up - thinking that someone else might be able to get some sense of how the thread works from them as it is not always easy to judge it from the ball or skein of thread.
Size will always differ between tatters. I can tat something in 20 and a friend tats the same thing and even in such a small space there can be up to a cm in difference.

If I get some time soon I will rescan them with a ruler if it will make a difference..


PattyD - they were pretty rough when I did them - I did an opposite join to the "usual" join if that makes any sense - can't explain.....if doing front/back - the join you would do on a "back" becomes the "front" and vice versa?? On close look they have a line at the join but it was only to see what the color looked like - not for show so I did not care much.