More Linen

It was another sale free day so I was allowed some more time to play with the linen thread. As I tatted up a set of bracelets I learned a few more things about the thread and how working with it more slowly and deliberately is important especially when pulling through stitches. All the bracelets worked up without a hitch, but when I started on a necklace I learned yet another lesson.

I had chosen a design with a larger ring and about two elements into the design I pulled the thread and it snapped, dramatically. I suppose that's due to the looser fibers in the thread, but I didn't want to chance it again and worked up a different design for the necklace. I only got one done though. With these pieces I'm trying to get all three colors worked up before listing so I can comfortably use that variation tool I told you about.

In other news, it seems Facebook has gotten worse again. I've seen a message going around other fan pages sharing that without paying to have content seen by people who have liked the page, posts are only being seen by 10% of them. I will likely share the message there as well though apparently no one will see it. Here's the deal as I understand it, in order to receive all the posts from Facebook pages that you like you need to hover over the 'like' button near the top and 'add to interest list' You can create a list with all the pages you want to be updated on and you will apparently, actually get their posts. Now again, this is info I've gotten from other pages and I can very implicitly the veracity of that 10%, but I know views of my posts has been down. So if you actually do like a page, add it to an interest list so you see it and if it works, pass it on, if not, please feel free to ignore me.

So today I have much to do as we are headed off to Las Vegas for the weekend for a wedding, with the kids and we're driving. There's packing and prepping and extra schooling so we can skip work Friday while in the car for like 8 hours. I might bring some tatting, but it's more likely that I'll work on the afghan instead. Mindless crochet is less likely to trigger my latent car sickness. I will try to get the other two linen necklace done before we go though there hasn't honestly been much attention to them yet. I wanted at least three pieces so I could start a shop section for the linen specifically and I also ordered some more black linen thread from a different source, this time 3 ply so it might work up closet to size 10. If so, I have a whole lot more pieces that can potentially be more Eco-friendly. I feel all over the place this morning, so I'll just go now and get this day started.

Organic Linen

I worked so hard yesterday to finish a pair of ankle corsets so that I could finally, really play with the Lithuanian linen thread. After doing some actual making I have more information to share on how it behaves...you know, if you're interested. I got a three ball set in black, dark and light gray. It's that combination that finally got me to try it. After more work with it I would definitely put it in the size 20 range. I say range because unlike the perfect Lizbeth or DMC cotton thread that I've gotten used to, there is a variation in thickness throughout the thread. It reminds me a little of hemp or twine in that respect. It is also rougher on the hands while working with it.

I decided to use the opportunity of the new thread to also try out Etsy's new listing variations tool. It allow you to make one listing with a drop down menu the customer has to use before checkout with options like color and size, among others. My one quibble is that we have recently gotten a 'ships in' tool as well where we indicate the time before shipping and since I have black pieces ready to ship I've selected 1-2 days for the listings I've updated, but if I add color options those would need more lead time to be made to order and there isn't a way to separate those in a single listing yet.

I made up a rose tattoo pendant in each color for this experiment. I was trying to find something that would still look nice sized down in size 20 since most of my work is done in 10 and had that whole Eco-friendly vibe to it. I also tried to be as forthcoming about the differences in the thread in the listing. The lace works up less evenly with the thickness variations and there is a slight fuzziness to it as well. I was quite worried about it being scratchy as well since that's how it was behaving when I worked with it. According to Internet sources, linen softens over time and with washings so I was hoping that a nice press with steam would help and boy did it. The pendants are quite soft now. It was this worry that kept me from starting with barefoot sandals which were suggested as an Eco-friendly feeling pattern. Now that I know they will be comfortable to wear I'll have to devise a pattern that works well in size 20.

Of course I don't mean to imply that everyone who wants Eco-friendly products has a certain aesthetic. I personally want more organic and natural things in my life and I clearly have a darker aesthetic than the stereotype. This is part of the reason for the black thread, to try to provide that option to people who don't always get it, but it seemed a nice place to start was closer to the stereotype. I should have some time today to work on another set of something in the linen since I was order free yesterday and I'm trying to avoid remaking a mask right now. I just want things that work up quickly for a while, so I should have something to show you tomorrow too.