I just keep stumbling along

[xstchntat]

I havetried to start tatting again and it seems like every day this week I havewasted time and not accomplished anything.

Monday Idid a whole day of tatting only to discover that I made a major error and sinceit is size 100 HDT is was irritated that I had wasted the thread and not enoughenergy to untat it so I put that project away.

Tuesdaywas the chemo day and everything I tatted while there was wrong, I cut andstarted 4 times and still could not get it right.

WednesdayI decided to work on the hanky that I spent so much time untatting in the size100 thread. If you remember I needed to untat 100 rings. Well I only had onemore ring to untat when low and behold when undoing that last ring the threadsnapped. I was finally able to get it restarted after 2 tries and did about 20rings on it.

Thursday Idecided to work on the shawl that I was designing since someone asked about ashawl and I again snapped the thread. I fiddles with it for a while, but wasgetting nowhere, So.... I set it aside and tried to work on Mary Konoir'sConvolvulis. I have 5 starts to it that I messed up, cut off and began again. Ifinally set it aside last night at 11:30pm with only one repeat complete toshow for a whole day of tatting.

Friday Iwas working on a gift for some one and the tiny tatted butterflies were done(Ionly had to restart once). I was putting them on the findings and when almost donesaw that the entire thing on both of them was wrong. Now how can you mess upthat simple butterfly from Handy Hands this bad and not notice until you areadding the earring wires that you did it wrong.

I justfeel like my fingers are not doing what my brain is telling them to. It is veryfrustrating but I intend to keep trying. Some times all it takes is tellingsomeone else about it and then the problems seem to just go away.

[MercyPres]

I hope the problem goes quickly, I love seeing your innovations, patterns and lovely work. I spent today tatting and retrotatting the simplest thing. A pattern I have done many times, *sigh*, finally got it done and since it is a sample piece trying to work out a variation, I did something I never do - square knot and glue - I will block it to see how it shapes. Will try again tomorrow in a different color. I cannot imagine retrotatting 100 rings in size 100, yikes, I have to retrotat size 80 under the lite magnifier. Your patience ----

[PattyD]

Well, dear, I feel for you. You are just trying to keep busy and do things you like to do and it's all going wrong. Maybe we should start a new thread with pictures of things that are just wrong! It would be so uplifting to newbies to know that even experienced tatters have "issues" at times. I know this is a wretched string of disasters, but it just shows how much stress you are under. It would be great if you could giggle at the mess!

So, you have 100 rings in size 100 to untat. That's a tall order, even or especially in size 100. I could definitely undo it for you if you send it to me. I think you need to be pampered a bit.

[prettyeggs]

Just hang in there. I admire anyone that can open a ring! I have only successfully opened 2. I usually break the thread. So, I do a lot of cutting and starting over. Sending prayers and positive thoughts your way from Nevada.

[xstchntat]

I could definitely undo it for you if you send it to me.

Patty - I had already undid 99, it was that last one #100 where the thread broke. It seemed so silly to me at the time. I have now tatted back in 47 rings so I think it will be ok in the long run.

[Lynn]

A few years ago my sister-in-law went through chemo. She dealt with what she called chemo brain. Her experience was that it was difficult to concentrate, and she couldn't remember things. Exhausted as she was, she couldn't really do anything. She just sat and tried to maintain, while she watched a few movies. In several months, she only watched a few, because her concentration was so poor, she couldn't remember what the movie was about after the first 15 minutes. So, she would start over. Guess she drove her kids berserk, watching the same thing over and over. Fortunately, she didn't remember their complaints any better than she did the movie. All this to say, chemo is no joke. Sometimes it's better to accept that you'll do that again when you feel better, just not today. I have to admire you for your courage and tenacity, Rachael. I hope your problems really do go away after telling us about them, but don't feel bad if you just put the shuttles down for a day or two. It's only for a short time, to clear you head and reconnect with your fingers.

[FairyTattingAndTings]

I'm sorry. You are obviously struggling. If the process of tatting is giving you joy in a world of fustration.....but I'm with PattyD...you need to be pampered a bit. Perhaps instead of untatting you could cut and re- start? the bits that were cut can go into an I conquered cancer item?

[Ireneho]

Just keep trying. The whole "cutting and starting again" is something I can relate to, and I still do that when I try a harder pattern involving lots of rows. Much glaring and anger ensues but eventually I get a part of the pattern right. And soon your hands will know what to do.

[GraceT]

A few days ago, I discovered a mistake in my doily which meant I had to retrotat 400 stitches, including 14 rings. Argh! I had never retrotatted that far before. But I remembered xstchntat's travails...

WednesdayI decided to work on the hanky that I spent so much time untatting in the size100 thread. If you remember I needed to untat 100 rings. Well I only had onemore ring to untat when low and behold when undoing that last ring the threadsnapped. I was finally able to get it restarted after 2 tries and did about 20rings on it.

... and that gave me the courage to start retrotatting. I'm almost done now. Thank you! Thank you all.

[MercyPres]

But I remembered xstchntat's travails... ... and that gave me the courage to start retrotatting. I'm almost done now. Thank you! Thank you all.

Way to go!!!!