The box is difficult to photograph, so I put a few shuttles in it to help see the dimensions. These are old German Silver tatting shuttles that I bought on eBay a while ago:
Here's another view from the side. Although the walls stay upright, they are wavy. If the box is picked up by one of the sides, it will collapse because it has no rigidity.
The next step will be blocking and then stiffening the box. I want to try using card stock to create a box form, to block and stiffen the tatting on. I'm hoping that wrapping the card stock in plastic wrap will prevent it from getting wet. If that doesn't work I'll have to find a small Tupperware or something at The Container Store that I can use as a mold for the tatting. If that goes smoothly, then maybe I can design a lid for the box as well.
I also had the chance to test out criss-crossed picots in the bookmark from a few posts back. I ended up scrapping the idea because the crossed picots don't add anything of value to the bookmark design. I think they would work better in a pattern with larger open spaces.
Anyhow, the pattern for the bookmark and variation has been added to my Etsy shop. Here's a photo of the two bookmarks together and a link for the listing.
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| Two Bookmarks pattern Click Here |
Your box is beautiful!!! :)
ReplyDeleteOh, I think the crisscross picots are pretty!! :)
Your bookmarks are fabulous!!! :)
The box looks interesting and useful. Maybe you can store threads in it. I hope you find the right stiffener. I heard some horror stories about some of them... I would really like to see the box finished with the lid on too.
ReplyDeleteHmmm...if you come back to check on this comment, could you tell me which stiffeners you've heard bad things about? I'd want to avoid those!
DeleteI tatted a box several years ago and used a piece of styrofoam cut to size as my form. I wrapped it with aluminum foil and then Plastic wrap before putting the wetvtatting on it. It worked pretty good and held its shape while the tatting dried. I don't remember what stiffening agent I used but it could have been Stiffy by Plaid.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea Patti, I completely forgot about styrofoam! I think I will use that instead of the card stock. Thanks for sharing.
DeleteI have some Styrofoam that is a weird plastic stuff that you would not need to wrap, I could mail it to you if you want it.
ReplyDeletelove them they all look great and perfect as always :)
No need Carollyn, there are lots of craft stores here and I'm sure I will find something to use. But thank you for the offer!
DeleteWhat a great idea, I collect little boxes but don't have a tatted one yet. This one calls to be filled with chocolates. :)
ReplyDeleteI've never successfully stiffened anything. Nothing seemed stiff enough to me. I do have some lovely crocheted pieces from Slovakia (gifts from my son-in-law's family) that are very stiff, but I have no idea how it was done. I'll be interested to read more!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful box design, not tried to tat a box
ReplyDeleteLovely bookmarks and pattern