u/Kindly-Ant-3850

I am currently working on my first doily, Harmony by Tat-a-Renda. I've finished the first four rounds and started on the fifth one. It's tough, and slow-going, but I'm managing. I've had to cut it off and restart a few times, but alright.

I've just noticed a mistake in my fourth round. My chains are meant to be 8-8, so they can stabilize the bottom ring of the fifth round clover. One of my chains is just a chain of 8. I guess I was distracted and forgot to tat the second half of it. Do you think cutting off the two top rings this chain lays between and rettating them along with the correct chain could work ? Or would I just make it worse ?

(Sorry for the poor image quality)

I'm trying to follow the Birthstone's Angel pattern but I'm having difficulty with the joinings (I kinda feel like I reverse my threads while joining rings ?). I've managed the bottom part of the angel after four attempts, but now I've messed up the wing (and my thread broke after fraying...) and need to start over again.

Any tips on how to keep the work from flopping all over while I tatt ? Could I pin it to a bit of cardboard to keep it flat once I reach the upper half ?

Started from the top leaf then I decided I wanted to have some simmetry and went a bit rogue. Split rings are kind of fun ! Picots, on the other hand, I have a hard time with. Can't make them even. I'll have to try and pick up picots gauges I think.

But that bottom leaf was awful to make. The rings were alright, but then I realised the chains need to start from the bottom to attach correctly. Or I did not know the technique to attach them differently. I kept starting a chain, then needing to unpick and reverse my work. Again. And again. And AGAIN. So yeah, it was fun, then awful, then fun again for the last two chains. Still proud of it !

Any tips on how to block it ? I was thinking of ironing it then either starching it or backing it onto a wide ribbon, maybe velvet, to give it structure and make it a more usable shape for a bookmark.

I've decided to learn shuttle tatting, both because I love lace and because I have some dyspraxia and figured it would help me with fine movements. It is frustrating (I tend to drop my working shuttle, and my left hand thread often slips like I do rings) but I do enjoy it a lot. I still dream of the day I'll start on bobbin lace, but shuttle tatting is quite fun. And far more easier to carry around.

First attempts were awful, but Frivole's videos on YT have helped a lot. I have finally finished her small leaf pattern ! Took around three hours I'd guess, I've had to restart it thrice. Final attempt, I've had to unpick no less than six messed-up stitches. I need to work on tension and closing the gaps, but I'm quite proud of myself.

Any tips on how to keep the thread from slipping around while I do rings ? It's a problem.