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Monday, November 4, 2019

Designing with Amaziograph

When I design a piece of tatting, I almost always need to work from a visual reference. I can kind of picture designs in my head, but the ideas are fuzzy, so I draw them on my iPad. For the past few years, I have been using an app called Amaziograph to brainstorm tatting designs. It works best for things that are symmetrical, such as doilies, snowflakes, and squares.

Here is my latest project, a small doily. The first photo shows the doily at about the halfway point. It is tatted in Lizbeth size 40 thread in white, and the Amaziograph drawing can be seen in black on my iPad:


I was worried about the outer chains because they are so long, but was able to get them to work by using balanced double stitches. Here is the finished doily next to the iPad:


Even though I have the drawing, stitch counts are still figured out the old fashioned way: through trial and error and past experiences. Stitch counts get a lot easier to calculate after years of practice. I've built up a kind of mental knowledge base and can get fairly good starting numbers just by looking at a drawing.

There's still a lot of work to be done for this pattern, including creating the diagram, written instructions, test tatting, and compiling some information on balanced double stitches. It will be a little while before the pattern is ready, probably December at the earliest.

19 comments:

God's Kid said...

Gorgeous and delicate!!! :)

Madtatter80 said...

Your tatting and patterns are among the best! and is this an ecru? so very beautiful cant wait for the pattern!

Robin Perfetti said...

Thanks Sue and Carollyn! Carollyn, it's tatted in white thread but the camera distorted the colors to make it look more off-white.

Mandatory said...

It is exquisite! From the Blogger thumbnail picture I thought it was a framed version of Jan Stawasz’ masterpiece Doily in the background.( I think the arches brought it to mind.) Then I realized it was the drawing on your iPad! Looking forward to your pattern!

Michelle said...

Anotherp Perfetti masterpiece! Can’t wait to make this one! Wow!

Jane McLellan said...

Wow. Love the idea of using modern technology to enhance a traditional craft.

Claire said...

Lovely design (as usual).
A visual reference does make it easier for me to follow instructions and keep track of where I am in a pattern.

Claire
OClaireDeLune.wordpress.com

muskaan said...

Wow! Incredible! You've done it again 💗
In case you are interested, I have a detailed article on padded double stitch posted back in May 2014.

Ruby said...

What a gorgeous doily. It really is a standout. The arches, with the medallions underneath are beautiful.

Margarets designer cards said...

What a beautiful pattern, but all your patterns are beautiful this doily is going to be one of your best I am sure.

Lace-lovin' Librarian ~ Diane said...

Beautiful! I've tried experimenting with my iPad, but I have no real concept of what to do. So, I will eagerly await your patterns and purchase them when they're available!

Ninetta said...

I find your skill with drawing apps amazing! There's a lady in FB that designs and uses apps too and guesses stitches' count from her dotted lines, Eva Antonucci. The long chains remember me the Morimoto's doily, it was very difficult keeping a good and consistent tension, your tatting is beautiful!

Robin Perfetti said...

Thanks everyone!

Mandatory, I love the look of Jan Stawasz's masterpiece doily and the inspiration from that does come out in some of my drawings :)

Muskaan, thanks, I may include a link to your post when I compile the information. Still debating on how to present everything.

Ninetta, I don't have a Facebook account but I have seen Eva's work on Instagram. I tried out her method before, and it gives a good starting place for stitch counts. It's certainly an interesting method for calculating the numbers!

Kathy Niklewicz said...

As usual, I am speechless! Your skills at designibg are amazing! Glad to see your exceptional talent is recognized by all.

Robin Perfetti said...

Thank you Kathy!

Joschaocchi said...

Eine wunderschöne Decke.

Anonymous said...

I can't wait! <3

Esther J Moehrke said...

Oh My!!! Such a beautiful design. Is the pattern out yet for sale? I would love to give this one a try.

Robin Perfetti said...

Esther, I got so sidetracked with my snowflake project that I never did finish this pattern. I will get back to it sometime after the snowflake book is complete!