It isn't often you get a snowflake named after you, but the one that Jane has just designed has been, and I am so chuffed. She is right, I like to see bugle beads in tatting, but at times they can be annoying especially if there is a sharp edge on one them and it cuts the thread whilst in the middle of making something.
These are my snowflakes and yes I did find the new technique a wee bit difficult to start off with, but here are a few helpful hints before you start. Don't attempt this pattern late at night. Don't start it and then go and do something else either! But the best advice is that when you have all the safety pins on and start going around to each of the points and taking the pins out, be very very careful you do not twist the piece of work and go out of sequence. This happened on my first snowflake (one shown in the picture) and it is very easily done as you are so excited to get going with the pattern after achieving the middle bit. Also on the top one I miss counted when it came to the last round, but 'practice makes perfect' and so will be making more.
And in case you don't know what I am talking about, this is the pattern now on Jane's blog.
These are my snowflakes and yes I did find the new technique a wee bit difficult to start off with, but here are a few helpful hints before you start. Don't attempt this pattern late at night. Don't start it and then go and do something else either! But the best advice is that when you have all the safety pins on and start going around to each of the points and taking the pins out, be very very careful you do not twist the piece of work and go out of sequence. This happened on my first snowflake (one shown in the picture) and it is very easily done as you are so excited to get going with the pattern after achieving the middle bit. Also on the top one I miss counted when it came to the last round, but 'practice makes perfect' and so will be making more.