Ok well the skill level ....fluctuates when it comes to me and embroidery. I'm not a strict artist even in my more familiar disciplines but the "Van Dyke" pattern used to create leaves is AWESOME (and what a cool name for an old embroidery technique)....perhaps more fun than effective at my skill level but all in all the cushion was definitely a good DIY project that makes all subsequent DIY projects an even greater joy.
I've also learnt to hide my ends in my tatting. Tatting is an old form of lace making that any one could do with very simple tools. Essentially you use a small "shuttle" and your fingers to tie small knots and picots (loops) and make joined loops of these knots to make patterns like these in the second image.
Since I took this little picture yesterday I duplicated the "daisy" pattern a few times to start making a what I hope will be a collar. It isn't my favorite motif. I prefer more improvised patterns of smaller units, however it is a fast and easy motif for creating larger amounts of lace with fewer maneuvers. Tatting doesn't create the impressive and detailed lace that bobbin lace does but what it offers is a simple repeating technique, the way knitting is simply a variation of small twists and knots, so is tatting.
there is also something enjoyable about taking up something long lost that few can do. Someday I will post some Etsy entrepreneurs with great skill in the technique as an example of what this simple repeating skill can truly achieve.
