Tuesday, May 07, 2013

First Drafts

Most tatters would be aghast at producing something that looks like this.  For me as a designer, it is an excellent first draft. I've tried a few ways to make a curved set of rings, and two ways to make the feet.  I can take what I've learned here and use it to make the next draft, and repeat the process until I've got it right.

I hear some folks can make a drawing or a diagram of exactly what they want and tat it right up.  Not me though.  My drawing isn't so great, and I need to visualize things in the thread.  For me, being a designer means being willing to do a lot of tatting that will be thrown away.




Now then, as first drafts go, this is awful.  Truly, truly awful.

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11 comments:

  1. Jane Eborall3:36 AM

    Oh, Martha, that's the way I work too. I can't imagine ever drawing something first - unless it's just an outline of a critter to get it's initial shape. Not even a simple motif works from a drawing for me. I have to have two shuttles and a clear head to start and then the amount of thread I fling away at the end is amazing. I always use very old thread that I don't like on the drafts!!!!

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    1. Martha12:28 PM

      I used to use the old thread, "ebay ecru" as I called it. But last time I used it, it was so wretched to work with, now I'm using up my non-Lizbeth threads for rough trials.

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  2. God's Kid6:01 AM

    The top one kinda reminds me of a Chinese New Year dragon tipped upward, but if it was down on the left side that's what it reminds me of. :)

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  3. Kathy Niklewicz11:17 AM

    The top one definitely looks like an amazing dragon! (I thought that's where you were going!) Save that for future reference! The others are also instructive as drafts! Your designs are wonderful, so it doesn't matter how you get there!

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  4. Crazy Mom!11:32 AM

    I know exactly what you mean! I have to play with things a lot before it's right....

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  5. Martha12:26 PM

    The top one did indeed grow up to be a Chinese dragon. The bottom one, well, still hasn't matured.

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  6. Ladytats5:09 PM

    wonderful first draft.
    sigh, I wish I had finished the pattern floating in my brain last year. It was set aside for other things. I may never get it back up and running. I am glad to hear that other designers have starts and stops too.

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  7. goudenregen6:15 AM

    Great to see how you work. I haven't found the right method for myself yet.

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  8. Professional Doctorate by Millie3:52 AM

    You have a creative and wonderful idea and it really shows on your finished work. I find it like an abstract coz’ the first one looks like a dragon to me. A sea dragon to be exact, waiting to attack. While the second one is like a swan, silent and beautiful as ever.

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  9. Margarets designer cards12:21 PM

    Great draft, it's a better draft pattern than I have produced. I look forward to seeing the final pattern
    Margaret

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  10. Leeanne Boyd7:56 PM

    I love your draft! You are an amazing designer.

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