Patterns from Agnieszka Michalowska

The patterns for these snowflakes are all from a website by Agnieszka Michalowska and here is the link. 
She has other crafts and videos on on her site like how to do a some tatting techniques. 

These were all done with a DMC 12 pearl cotton and the size of these snowflakes were all near 2 inches or 5 cm across. My favorite is the six armed snowflake and especially the negative space in the center. 

It is always interesting to see what other tatters are doing around the world. 

 

Flurry Snowflake

This flake is designed by Harolahlala and the pattern can be found here.  She also has a Facebook page called The Shade Tree Designer Tatting. This flake is begging for some embellishment and I added the Josephine rings between the points for some interest. 

I tatted this with a vintage ecru 40 thread by J&P Coats.  The finished flake measures 6 cm or 2.24 inches.  It holds its shape very well. 

I have placed the Flurry snowflake into the plastic frame and you can see my tatting cabinet in the background.

I purchased this cabinet to try to contain my tatting in one spot.  It has lights inside and when I am tatting in the evening it gives off a wonderful glow.  I even have room to display completed items on the top shelf. 

One day when I have this cabinet organized I will give you all a peek inside. Stay tuned!

Lil David's Snowflake

This flake is designed by Harolahlala and the pattern can be found here   She also has a facebook page called The Shade Tree Designer Tatting. She provides a variation of the flake which can be made with beads in the center.

I used a vintage ecru 40 thread by J&P Coats. The finished flake measures 8 cm or 3 inches.  I did not need stiffener as the flake holds its shape well. 

I purchased a few of these snowflake frames below and I have managed to put one into the center. I plan to gift  this year.

Qanik

It is that time of year when I tat snowflakes.  This is the latest pattern by  Joëlle Paulson which she calls  Qanik.  You can find the pattern on her etsy page.  I was lucky enough to win a free pattern during a draw that she had on her blog leblogdefrivole.

I must admit that those long chains were a challenge so I asked Joëlle if she had any tips and she said to do them with reverse stitch. so I tried it and it did come out better than my first try.

Joëlle also coached me on the Josephine knots, and you can view a video she made on that here. 

Bells

Here are a few bells.  The one with the ribbon is actually crochet (my design) and was a favor I handed out at my wedding.   I had a few leftover from the wedding and have put them up on the tree every year.

I recall I made about 140 bells, the ribbon has our names on one end and the date on the other.  The bell is a little yellow but still holds its shape.  My guess is that the stiffener has turned yellow. 

The second bell is shown in detail on green, it is a pattern from Renulek and available on her Etsy site.  A nice size bell, made in three rounds. It holds its shape and needs no stiffener.

The next bell is a pattern I found on Pinterest and traced back to this website. The designer is Ewa.

Finally the smallest bell is a great pattern by Roberta D'Annaballe.

All the tatted bells were done in Lizbeth 601 Snow White size 20.  I believe the one with the ribbon was done in Daisy size 30.

Diagonal Potholders

One gal in my Tai Chi class asked if I could fix some potholders for her.  She said she had them for years and they finally broke down in the dryer.  I looked at them and figured out how they were made and I have since made her a few new pairs.  

This easy potholder pattern is a double layer of crochet with the stitches going in opposite directions. They give great heat resistance being 100% cotton and are easy to clean.  I made this set  including the matching dishcloth. 

I'd forgotten how fast these made up.  I also found a link to the pattern. Enjoy.

Beaded Reticule

This small tatted bag was done in Lizbeth size 10 Color 684 Leaf Green, the beads are a 3mm purple. This was a class I took at Fringe Tat days in 2016.  This is a Karey Solomon pattern and she taught the class too. I have been sorting and organizing and found this WIP, (work in progress).

As I remember, I purchased a kit with blue thread but while tatting I ran into a knot so the green was substituted.

It is a bit fiddly to work with all these beads on such a small project and the weight of the beads makes the reticule heavy.  I had no problem loading the beads on a large clover shuttle. The reticule is 3 inches at the widest part and not quite large enough for a small clover shuttle.  But if you have a barbie doll this bag is a perfect fit.

  

Matching Clip

Just enough thread left on the shuttle to complete the badge clip cover matching the retractable Measuring Tape. 

This pattern was compiled by Diane Daiker and available as one of the classes at The Fringe Element Tatters Fall 2017 workshop.  It is done in a size 10 Hand Painted Thread by Karey Solomon of Graceful Arts.  The color is called Haloweenie 2.

There should be a metal split ring attached to the clip at the back but I have temporarily put a bent paperclip in until I find a ring the right size. 

You can attach your scissors to the badge attachment at the  bottom and the blue ribbon at the top goes around your neck.

Measure Up

This is the result of a class I took at Fringe with the teacher Diane Dalker.  Diane adapted the pattern from "Ecru Doily Pattern" from New Twist on Tatting by Catherine Austin, Sterling Publications, 1994.  It is a tatted cover for a retractable measureing tape.

I made this in a size 10 Hand Painted Thread of Karey Solomon of Graceful Arts. This color is called Halloweenie 2.    

Fringe also provided another pattern by Diane Daiker to cover a retractable badge holder which they suggest you use for scissors.  

I have one of those and must may make a matching set. 

More Flowering Quatrain

Because one bookmark is never enough, I made another Flowering Quatrain bookmark.  There is one flaw an extra picot can be seen on the top left clover. Oh well, I was well around by the time I realized it.

This time I used a large bead and a head pin curled into the single shuttle split ring at the end.  Great way to finish off  because when you are done, you are done.

I have a few single earrings that could easily be attached to finish off the bookmark too.  I think if you added another repeat in the middle the resulting size would make a good bookmark for those who don't like anything hanging out of the book.

This free pattern is by Joëlle Paulson and available on her site Le Blog de Frivole.

Flowering Quatrain Bookmark

This week we had a visitor, her initials are EEE. She is an accomplished musical artist and provided me with many free concerts.  We shared a laugh at the Schubert tune that comes from my washer and my dryer indicating the end of a load.  It is the only classical music I listen to.

As a little token of our friendship I tatted the Flowering Quatrain Bookmark in Lizbeth 178 Grape Pomegranate for her.

This free pattern is by Joëlle Paulson and available on her site Le Blog de Frivole.

The pattern is easier than it looks, you start with a series of split rings down the center then tat around them.  I continued on with a Josephine chain, and after putting a few beads on the end I finished off by finger tatting a single shuttle split ring (SSSR) and hiding an end on each side of the split ring. The SSSR keeps the beads on the end and facilitates the addition of a charm using a lobster claw finding.

The treble clef charm is just clipped to the SSSR and could be changed out for any to suit your recipient. 

Fringe 2017 continued

At the conference I had a class with Jane Eborall and purchased a beautiful  bag and pink brooch.  I did tat her little heart  which she called "My Heart is in Canada". Jane gifted me with a bit of her tatting, thanks again Jane.

Randy Houtz was teaching three classes and I took two of them.  I also purchased two more of The Shuttle Brothers books.  He had lots of shuttles and samples of his work which I thoroughly enjoyed.  He has a great sense of  humor is an excellent teacher.

Much to my delight Martha Ess was also attending the conference and brought some of her books to sell.  I bought home two.  Martha also brought her amazing tatted collar and to see it in person was a real treat, it is spectacular. She modeled it for us and I have pictures but best you visit her site to see it. Then if you have any questions she can answer them for you.

Now what tatting adventure is next?

Fringe 2017

I had a wonderful time at Fringe 2017 held in Cambridge Ontario.  But before Fringe I arrived a few days early to take in the Stratford Festival. They have a lovely walk along the shore of Lake Victoria where 22 swans reside.

I traveled with Marjorie and we saw two plays; Guys and Dolls  on Wednesday and and Bakkhai on Thursday.  After Guys and Dolls I was so overcome with emotion that I literally cried.

We left the theater Wednesday and headed off to Kingston to meet Ingrid who would be our guide into the Mennonite countryside.  We stopped at a farmers back door and I bought raw honey for my honey.  Marjorie bought plums and Ingrid, eggs, plums and potatoes.   The lady selling had lots of other homemade crafts for sale but I wanted to be careful to leave room in my luggage for tatting.  Many of the farms do not have electricity and some use buggies and horses to get around.  A few of the churches had hitching posts and outhouses.

We went to St. Jacobs for Dinner and Ingrid finished up the tour with a visit to the universities surrounding Kitchner/Waterloo area.

The next morning we traveled north to see St. Jacobs Farmers Market but we only stopped at the Antiques Store.  I found an edging book with crochet and tatting and a small hanky and a crystal which will have tatted wings added to it so it becomes an angel. 

Back to Stratford to See Bakkhai a play based on greek mythology and a tragedy.  This play was shorter so we had an evening free to snoop around the Mennonite countryside by ourselves.  We found a fantastic general store in Wallenstein.  I highly recommend a stop in to see the hats and boots in the back.  I found another little hanky (they call them honky's) and then on to Elmira then back to the hotel. 

Friday morning we had to return our rental car and had a pleasant walk back to the hotel.  The beauty about this conference is that there are stores and a variety of  restaurants all withing walking distance from the hotel.

Trim Done

Well, I finished this shirt just in time.

This simple edge was done using a King Tut Quilting thread color 918.  There is a very short color change and much shorter than the Sulky Blendables I used a few years ago.  This thread tats up a bit smaller than size 80.

I have basted the trim on using the same thread. The length of the trim is about 18 inches and goes between the shoulder seams. I slightly eased the trim to make that turn at the V.  

You can't see from this picture but I used frontside/backside tatting as this will only be seen from one side and it was a nice easy practice using this technique.

See you all in about a week as I am off to Cambridge Ontario for some new adventures and to take in Tat Days at the Fringe too.  I'll post when I get back.

Power of 3

The power of three because this pattern is 3p3. As the pattern is so easy to remember it gives me the opportunity to practice some frontside/backside tatting.   This is the trim for my second shirt and I am just over halfway done.

I am still using the King Tut thread it takes just a small amount of thread to do the trim and I plan to sew this one down along the collar binding.  This trim and the former  have used less than one bobbin of thread.

You can see a wide white elastic (I get these around broccoli and asparagus) around the spool of thread.  I use it to control how much thread unwinds.   I also use these wide elastics or rubber bands to grab the thread when I need extra grip. 

I'm going to Stratford

There will be tatting and I will see a certain Jane but it is not what you think.  I am going to Stratford Ontario to see some plays. Then off to the Fringe Tat days and visit my good friend Jane K.

A few months ago I met a local tatter and we got together a few times to chat and tat. We came up with the idea for the trip to Stratford and the Fringe and to knock a few things off her bucket list.

Stratford is just down the road from Cambridge where the Fringe is held.  It will be a great adventure.

I was given some homework for one of my classes so I can get to the fun part at Tat Days and this is my homework shown. I have used a size 10 Cordonnet Graceful Arts Handpaint called "Halloweenie 2".  It tats up nicely and I practiced some frontside backside tatting on one of the motifs.

For those of you travelling to Tocca I wish you safe travels and many hours of fun tatting.

One Shuttle Earrings

Quick and easy these three sets came from one shuttle of leftover thread, It is a size 20, gifted shuttle wound with this thread, a pink and white variegated.  The beads give the earrings some weight and assist with keeping the shape.

I loaded the beads on the shuttle, pulled of a yard of thread and made the first ring.  I finished off the earring with a SSSR (Single Shuttle Split Ring).  I was able to hide the ball thread in the first side of the SSSR.

All the beads are on rings so this would make a good travel project. 

Trim and Earrings

Someone else in tatland was putting trim on a shirt as it happens at the same time I was tatting with King Tut cotton quilting thread with the same thought.  I had bought two cotton shirts and will be wearing this one to Fringe next month.  If you see me wearing it be sure to say hello.

I believe the trim is a vintage pattern, can't remember where I found it but I had pulled quite a few books off the shelf and they have all been put away now.

I used a size 14 crochet hook to hook a chain and attached the tatting to the shirt.  I thought this way if there was any pull on the shirt it would be on the crochet not the tatting. I've sprayed with water and left overnight and it is laying very flat against the binding around the neckline.  I was able to ease the trim into that V at the bottom.

The earring pattern is one I found on the internet with no reference.  The beads are really too big for the thread but I didn't have time to search my stash as we had company in the spare room where the beads are kept so these will have to do.

If I was to do them again I would just pull off a yard from the shuttle as you don't use much ball thread for this pattern and all the beads are on rings so they are loaded on the shuttle. If I feel brave this may be a good pattern for the plane ride.

King Tut Threads

This is King Tut Color 918. You can see the color change is very short.  I thought I would try to make some trim for new shirts.  This is the top of the spool and the tatting is sitting on a clover sized shuttle.

The first pattern I tried is called Tradition. I didn't like how it  was not lying flat so I've picked another to try.  The shirt has a "V" neckline and I will trim only from the shoulder seams forward but I do have that one corner to deal with.  Any tips?

Spring Wiosna 2017 Completed

I was in a slump, a tatting slump.  I started this doily way back here so I am very happy to say that the Spring Wiosna 2017 is finally completed.

I enjoy working with vintage thread but it has its challenges.  I had one ball that was totally rotted and I had already wound a shuttle full before I found out.

The doily is all done with a size 80 threads by J&P Coats. The doily is sitting on a pink 12 inch by 12 inch sheet so you can see the size.

There are a few mistakes in this so I will be keeping this one.

Many thanks to Renulek who provided this pattern on a weekly basis. 

The Garden Ate my Glasses

Oh my it has been a wonderful summer, filled with many adventures but sadly not much tatting.  My hands are usually in the garden, at first preparing. then planting, watering, weeding and finally harvesting.

I have two gardens one for show, filled with flowers from April to September.  I plant sweet peas and nasturtiums, all others are perennial or self seeding. Just as one bloom finishes another one comes along.
My second garden is for eating,  a vegetable garden along with a patch of raspberries.  It was the raspberries that ate my glasses.

A few of you may know I had some minor surgery this spring, all is going fine. I had a follow up appointment last Thursday and once I arrived home I went immediately to pick some raspberries before the heat of the day.  I wanted to have enough to make some jam.  My glasses are only used for distance so I took them off and folded them over the neck of my shirt. After about ten minutes my glasses had disappeared.

The patch measures 5 feet deep and ten feet long. You'd think it would only take a moment to find them but the raspberries were not giving up so quickly.  When hubby got home he held branches back with a hockey stick (yes he plays four times a week) and we looked for them without success.
It would take two days before I saw a glint of light and reached down to find them.

Now about tatting. I am on the last row of  the Renulek Spring 2017 Doily and in order to get the color in the right spot I was using the SLT but I didn't like the blip of color that showed up. Then I tried using a SCMR but couldn't get the rings uniform enough so I set the piece aside. Now I  have taken another look  and think I will go back to using the SLT as it puts less strain on this vintage thread and a blip of color is much better than thread breakage.

I did make the jam and have eight little jars ready for gifting.

From Illinois

On Wednesday I received a package from Illinois.  Denise W. I can't thank you enough.  I have sent you  a note as no email was included.

So many lovely gifts.  Two little tins one filled with a tatted Ice drop,  more Ice Drops to tat around too, some hand dyed thread,  Chocolate Superberry tea, some findings to tat around and a retractable badge holder with a button attached.

I have shown a close up of the Ice Drop below which has a ribbon for hanging and a sunflower charm attached for added sparkle.  It has beads attached at the points.  If you recall I had Ice Drop Fever and made an ice drop into a brooch and used the technique to make earrings from some buttons.  Now I have two pink and another orange gem, there is also a clear gem with a flower inside.

The hand dyed thread is Corsage, the same color I purchased from Marilee Rockley some time ago.  I can't wait to tat with it again. All my favorite colors, pink, orange and purple.  

Thanks again Denise, watch the mail for a note from me.

Boo Boo Bear

While at Shuttlebirds Workshop this year,  we all received a doorprize and mine was filled with many tatting treasures.  One of the treasures was this boo boo bear and I will be attaching all my boo boos to him.  It is a great idea but I may need a few more as this one is almost covered.

What do you do with all your boo boo's? 

Spring Wiosna 2017 Round 12

A quick look at how I finished this round with a split chain. Now to climb to the next row, mock picot and split ring, I'll add the pink back in only when I need to. My plan it to do a slight modification on the final round. The doily is almost 12 inches across with one more row to go, it is laying quite flat and I will wait until it is done to block it.

Spring Wiosna 2017 Round 11

Between all my other bits of tatting and yard work  including getting the garden in I have finally finished Round 11.   My plan is to do a row of plain light green and then finish off with some additional pink.

If you are interested in starting this doily you can find the pattern by Renata Niemczyk on her blog Frywolitki, Tatting, Chiacchierino where she has released the entire doily.  She also sells the pattern on her Etsy page.

The colors of this doily are truly classic and this spring my flowering almond tree also bloomed these colors of spring. 

Shuttle Name Tags

Everyone needs to label a water bottle, keys or hat and these name tags work well.  I found the alphabet beads at the Dollar Store along with this craft cotton thread.  I split the thread into two strands of three twisted threads each. These were fun to make and see how many names I could come up with from the one package of beads.

The pattern is by Kathy Lowe and can be found here.  There is a pattern for five or seven letters, using split rings with the beads in the center, You could add a bead  or use initials to get to the five or seven ring combination.

I was able to make the names on the left, my aunt and uncle who are celebrating 43 years of marriage today.  The one on the right was for my brothers birthday.  I still need to make one for myself and my husband.

The total cost for all the thread and beads for the five shuttle name tags was under three dollars.


Adding beads to the center of a split ring can be found on Jane Eboral technique page. 

http://www.janeeborall.freeservers.com/AddBeadCentreRMethod2.pdf

Treats from Overseas

Cleaning up the craft room today and organizing and sorting.  Winding shuttles, sorting patterns and dusting.

I great gal I know just returned from a trip to the Phillipines, Cambodia and Vietnam. She brought me a bag full of goodies.  I am so thankful.

There are some interesting shells, roses, stars and coi fish beads along with pearls and lovely red glass beads. There are seed beads in a variety of sizes and color.

I predict that there will be beaded tatting in my future.

She also brought me polvoron and uba cookies.

Spring Wiosna 2017 Round 10

This round took a while because I took the doily to Shuttlebirds 21 Workshop and didn't get back to it for a time.  I have just finished round 10, started round 11 so less than three rounds left.  I am always a bit behind on her doilies because I like to see where she is going on the next round so I can plan a climb out or not.

As I was completing this round I found one join not made and one spot where I added an extra picot.  I had originally thought to give this doily away but it will not be finished in time, at least I don't think I would and I don't like to rush my work so I have not corrected the mistakes yet and may just keep this one.  The errors are hard to find amid the thousands of knots and have no effect on the shape of the doily.

Round 11 is basic with some long chains.  I have not blocked it and it is laying nice and flat. I must finish this project before I get bored with it.

If you are interested in starting this doily you can find the pattern by Renata Niemczyk on her blog where by now she has released the entire doily.  She also sells the pattern on her Etsy page.