More earrings

These are tiny.  The thread is Altin Basak 50.  It is a soft thread with a silver metallic wound around it.  I made two sets, one to keep and one to give away.

I also have taken a daylight picture of the chandelier crystal with fairy wings and am working on another pair with beads.

Wishing you all a very happy new year, all the best in 2019.

No Fairies Here

Ever since I took that chandelier apart, I am always on the hunt for angel wings. These were designed by Carollyn Brown as wings for tassel fairies that were posted on Facebook. 

I took this picture at night as I couldn't wait for morning to post.

The wings were tatted with a vintage Coats size 30 ecru thread and measure 2.5 x 2 inches.  I have some larger crystals so using a 20 or metallic 20 would work for those.

I found the bridge connecting the two wings a bit tight so the next set will have a few extra stitches.

Below are some angels ornaments/suncatchers that found new homes last year. I have found that any color works.

Silver Earrings Continued

Some have called this snowflake week but for me this was Snowflake Earring Week.  Once that ball of  Metallic thread was opened it was quickly made into these beaded beauties.  

They are a perfect size and just enough sparkle that they can be worn during the day or evening.  

I used Lizbeth Metallic Comparable to Size 20 Silver 311.  The  earring are one inch around.

Now don't forget to plan your endings and keep your  stitches nice and even as they don't move once tatted. 

Silver Earrings

I found this pattern on instagram by @sunny00bunny, here is a direct link.  I used a Lizbeth Metallic and the finished earring is 2.25 inches long plus the ear hooks.  I used a shuttle and ball for the earrings. 

With the silver metallic thread still on shuttle I added beads and made up these quick snowflakes.   I liked them so much I wound 2.5 yards on the shuttle, added beads and began tatting a pair in blue green.

One thing to remember when working with the metallic thread is to be sure to close your rings tightly and be consistent with the tension so that the stitches are nice and even. 

Another tip is to plan ahead on how to end the threads.  I can tat over the tail in the first half of the first ring at the start then tat over a magic loop along with a piece of  contrasting thread for the second half of the first ring.  The extra thread leaves enough room to pull the metallic through without effort.  

Using a Single Shuttle Split Ring to finish off the motif also is a perfect way to end with metallic thread if the pattern allows.  If I do have to stitch in an end I use one of those self threading needles with an eye that you can easily slide the thread into.  The metallic threads unwind and fray very easily and this should help you finish off nicely.   If you have further tips for working with metallic threads, please let me know in the comments. 

I'll be making more snowflakes, as I love shuttle only patterns.

Recyclable and Washable

I have a pad that came with my dustmop which I love to use because it is removable and washable. The dustmop itself is quite wide, about  15.5 inches so I can get a large area done in a short period of time.   Today I got a paper cut on my index finger so it needed a rest from tatting.

I decided to make some reusable pads for my swiffer and while I was at it I made one for my  favorite wide dustmop.  I used 100% cotton.  This one is made with hand wound thread of 4 scrap cotton yarns, red, white, lavender and peach.  I completed these three washable and reusable dust pads in one afternoon.  They can be sprayed with a little soap to give the floor a quick wash.

For the swiffer ones I used all single crochet and popcorn stitch to make it more usable as a wet mop.  I have also found that an unmated sock will fit on the swifter but not my wide dustmop.

I've given these a test run and I am very pleased with the results. 

Angel Earrings

This pattern for earrings is free from Sezione Hobbystica .  It looks like an angel and worked up to a nice size for these bold earrings. 

I used a size 20 Opera thread and the finished tatting is 2 inches long.  Although I didn't add any beads you could easily add after tatting to the bottom or the centre.

If you are wondering about the shuttle it is a GR8 made of Blood wood and darker than the photo shows.  One of the nice things about this shuttle is the hook, actually not a hook but a ball on the end which still allows you to pick up thread through a picot but will not snag your thread. 

Short bugles

My apologies to  Corina Meyfeldt  as I am sure this was not what she had in mind for this snowflake pattern. 

I went wrong using short bugle beads and the Lizbeth Metallic thread which tats up slightly larger than 20.  I have also found that this flake did not lie flat but the overall effect is a quite pleasing 3D effect.

I used a Lizbeth Metallic 20 Color 321. I am still not sure if I like this thread, I do like the color and it is a bit more sparkly than it appears in the photo.

More flakes to come.

Trees

These earrings can be tatted up in an afternoon.  I think it took me longer to figure  out how to load the beads than it actually took to tat. Well maybe not quite but they do work up really fast.

This pattern is from a facebook post by Gloria Nelson of  Sparkling Light Creation Studios and I have provided a link  here.  Please note that the order of the bead placement in her directions are for needle tatters.

This is how to do it using two shuttles. Wind 5 yards on shuttle one and place the beads as follows on shuttle one thread, 8 red beads, 7 gold beads, 8 red beads and 3 bugle beads.  Do this sequence twice, then pull off one yard along with 3 bugle beads and wind shuttle 2.  Start your first ring with two red beads round the hand.  Tat ring B as a throw ring with the bugle beads round the hand.  Continue around, all picots either have a bead on them or are small joining picots.  When choosing beads that will be on a picot, they should match the size of the thread so they do not twist or be too floppy.

I used a size 30 Omega thread, not the best for tatting but fine for a pair of earrings.  Finished size is just less than 1.5 inches. Change up the color of the beads along with the thread  as you desire.

One Little Picot

I find it amazing what one little picot added to this pattern by Patti Duff has done.  The typical lanyard has been transformed, so much so that the new design gave me inspiration for a pair of matching earrings.

This lanyard is meant to be stitched on a hat as a hatband and together with the earrings are being gifted to a lovely lady who gifted to me her extra pair of boot grippers.

If the hatband is too long a small part can just dangle down or if too short then a flower or bow can be added to make up the space.

I used a Tatsy shuttle for the long hatband but only a small shuttle is required for the earrings.  Don't forget that extra thread and beads on the shuttle can become zipper pulls of various lengths.

I used a vintage Coats 30 ecru and a 3mm glass bead.  The hatband is 22.2  inches or 57 cm long.

Thank you once again Patti for a quick and easy one shuttle pattern. 

And Another lanyard

Oh yes another lanyard. 

I have provided a link to the pattern here and you can adjust to fit your size of beads.  I have used size 20 Hakelgarn with inexpensive glass beads.

If you don't have access to a Tatsy shuttle you can do this in stages adding on thread and beads as required.  You can even make this without beads.

Extra thread and beads already loaded became zipper pulls. . 

Garlic Rope

Maggie sent me a text a few days ago saying she would be in town on Saturday and wanted to know if we could get together, she had some tatting questions.   I  set aside a few hours to chat and tat.   She also asked me if I wanted some Garlic rope she had gotten really cheap.  "Sure", I replied, thinking  it was garlic.

When Maggie arrived I found it was the netting you put garlic into.  She brought me 10 yards/meters of the rope.  I had some  metallic thread asking to be wrangled as the balls don't stay wound once they are out of the bag.

I used a comparable to size 20 color 321 Turquoise Green Liz Metallic and tatted up this snowflake.  It is by Teri Dusenbury and called Wheel of Fortune.  You should be able to see a pattern on this page.

Another Lanyard

You can never have enough Lanyards.  This pattern by Patti Duff is a great takealong project.  I can load up the thread and beads on my Tatsy shuttle and away I go.  I also bring a hook with me to make the joins.  This shuttle only pattern works up easy.  I can do it while in waiting rooms or even while taking the bus. 

I have provided a link to the pattern here and you can adjust to fit your size of beads.  I have used size 20 Hakelgarn with black inexpensive glass beads.

If you don't have access to a Tatsy shuttle you can do this in stages adding on thread and beads as required.  You can even make this without beads.

Don't limit yourself as this pattern is adaptable to any combination of thread, beads and length, Previously I have used up some extra thread to make a zipper pull and a key fob.  This one may go on my glasses. 

Tat over tails at the beginning and hide the tail in the beads at the end.  I have added split jump rings to each end which make this easily converted to suit my needs. 

What I learned at Camp... CampWannaTat

Dodecahedron

Juliette Pendant

Celtic Weave Pendant

This past September I had the privilege to attend Camp Wanna Tat.   We completed these three tatting projects and I stocked up on my tatting supplies.

The Dodecahedron was designed and taught by Debbie Arnold. It is difficult to take photographs of 3d tatting but this sphere has 12 pentagon faces (motifs) and 20 vertices. I used a balloon and Elmers school glue to stiffen.

The Juliette Pendant is by Mandy Kerwell Bez and revised and taught by Char Toyosaki.  Done in one pass a 16mm plastic gem is in the centre.  One could easily adjust the centre rings to accommodate typical sized ice drops.

Patti Duff is the designer and taught the Celtic Weave Pendant.  It is so hard to tat with narrow celtic shuttles so I used regular ones until the time to weave in the chains.  Patti says we could add another round and I just may do that.

Oakleaf

It is an oak leaf, we don't have them here.   The pattern is in the book Tatting turns over a new leaf by Karey Solomon. 

I tatted this in a size 40 Lizbeth thread color 136 Autumn Spice.   I had an almost full bobbin and working CTM with a ball was able to do this in one pass including the little acorn on the end.  The finished leaf length is 5cm or 2 inches.

I think it would look good on a card. This pattern works up very quickly.  So quickly that I think I will make another. 

Bookmark Maria

This cross is a pattern from Tatted Bookmarks - cross shaped by my friend Lene Bj⌀rn.  The pattern is called Maria.

I put a green ribbon through this bookmark.  The pattern worked up really fast and I used the ball and one shuttle as it is only rings and chains.  The finished length is 5.75 inches or 13 cm.

 I used more of the Coats Ecru size 20 partial ball I was gifted.

Ribbon Bookmark

This is the Ribbon Bookmark from Lindsay Rogers Mastering Tatting.    My version is on the Left and the picture from the book on the Right.  It is almost the same size.

I acquired this vintage thread, Coats, size 20, ecru. A nice thread but only a partial ball.

I haven't been tatting much lately and I was not happy with the result of the chains.  The thread did not slide as smoothly as I like and uneven stitches resulted. 

I made this up in one afternoon, it measures 6 inches or 15 cm long.  This bookmark has already been gifted. 

Pioneer Acres of Alberta Museum

This past August I had the pleasure of joining the Wild Rose Lacemakers and demo for three days at Pioneer Acres. 

The lady in the first picture is spinning flax.  She was in the Quilt room and I enjoyed seeing the vintage quilts. 

The second picture is one of our guild members who has just let this young girl try her hand at bobbin lace.  She did such a good job that she got to keep the lace.







That little girl came back the next day and tried her hand at tatting and was able to make a few good flips.  I gave everyone who tried tatting a small tatted heart.

It was a wonderful weekend and I even met a few tatters, one woman brought her vintage book to show me.  I hope to go again next year.

Wiosna 2018 Round 11

Round 11 is done and it seemed to be a catching round again.  I found that by changing shuttles for the lower chain and then again at the small ring at the top the thread behaved without twisting.   Renulek gave some instruction to do this round on her blog.  So far the work is staying flat.

I am still climbing to the next round.  By knowing what lies ahead it is easy to plan ahead.  Diameter is now 23.5 cm or 9.5 inches.

I am using a King Tut quilting thread by Superior Threads color 918.  That is a yellow clover and a pop-a-bobbin shuttle for size reference. 

Not a Doily

 I posted this picture up to Instagram a few days ago and received a few comments on the doily, well it is not a doily rather just ten hearts sitting beside one another.   I always like to have plenty of hearts to give away.  It takes me 45 minutes to 1.5 hours to make one depending on the number of interruptions. 

This pattern is in my head now.  It is by Irene Woo called Butterfly Heart and a pattern can be found here. 

I have been tatting consistently for five years. Oh yes I learned to make rings many years ago but only rings so I never really took up the craft seriously until May of 2013.  Once I learned to make chains and use two shuttles my tatting really took off and became my main craft.  After five years of the flip I can now say I am an advanced tatter. 

Happy Tatting

Wiosna Row 9 and 10

I finally had time to do another round on the Wiosna doily.  I didn't like that round 9 wasn't attached and had to be careful that the thread did not catch.  I did some slight blocking  and it all sits great.

I am still climbing to the next round.  By knowing what lies ahead it is easy to plan ahead.

I am using a King Tut quilting thread by Superior Threads color 918.  That is a yellow clover and a pop-a-bobbin shuttle for size reference. 

The current diameter is 5.75 inches or 19.7 cm.

Blossom Crochet Hook Chatelaine

    

This Chatelaine has a mix of  tatting lock chain, beads and a small portion of macrame. Hidden inside the large blossom bead is a crochet hook size  14. 

I purchased this kit at Shuttlebirds but some of you would have taken the class from Karen Miner as she  taught designed this pattern.  She had a few extra kits for sale and I was fortunate to be able to purchase one. 

Mary Anna Robinson

 Lee Flower with Pearl Center and  Curled Ring Cinquefoil Motif

Mary Anna is a tatting teacher and lovely lady with cute little sayings like "I'm not the boss applesauce".  I  took two classes from her at the Shuttlebirds Workshop.  In one, she read us a story she had written about a tatter.  She told me that in  another class she sang for them.  

Mary Anna is open to new ideas and in class we shared ways to adapt her patterns and how we would do them. Both classes made use of the folded join.  It is  good one to practice, here is what I do. Fold the joining picot over the thread, then come up the picot with my hook and pull thread down the picot, then down  the loop with the shuttle.  She passed out another method called the hard left  turn into the garage by Judy Banicheck.

Now I have just looked and you can meet this teacher at Palmetto.  If you are lucky enough to see her say hello from "CANADA".

Square Pinwheel Motif

I am back from the Shuttlebirds Workshop at Ross Point Camp and Conference Center.   I had a real treat taking a course from Heidi Nakayama and produced this Dora Young motif.  Using a size 20 thread the blocked motif measures just shy of 4" square.  It would make a perfect coaster. 

There is one split chain, you can see it at the 9 o'clock position.  The pinwheels are made up of lock joins and you use a few new techniques to move the thread over one to create the pinwheel effect.

The pattern is on Page 16 and 17 of All New Knotless Tatting Designs.

I also took another course from Heidi but she has asked me not to post a picture so you will need to see me in person for that one.

I participated in the Poker Run with Natalie and even completed a small blossom for the competition.  I will tell you more about that in another post.  

I brought home new books, threads and even a few shuttles. 

The venue, food and classes were once again well organized and each mealtime  we were gifted little goodies.   I just want to thank Patti D and the rest of the Shuttlebirds for a totally awesome time at Ross Point.  I hope to see you all again next year.

Wild Rose Lacemakers

The Wild Rose (Rosa acicularis) was adopted as the official flower of the province in 1930.

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to spend the afternoon with the Wild Rose Lacemakers guild based in Calgary, Alberta Canada.  Although most of the members do bobbin lace a few of them also tat. 

I brought along a variety of tatted items for show and tell.  Janet A. brought out a pattern she was pricking, every now and then she held it up to the light.  She went into detail what she was working on and how it will be done.  She also took out a box of  bobbin lace she had made or was gifted, a variety of pieces, mostly white but some metallics. Two other lacemakers brought out their cushions and I tatted , we all had a cup of tea and chatted the afternoon away.

This is a very  informal group, as Janet had the most books and equipment, they always meet at her place once a month.  Fortunately for me she is only a short walk away.  The group will be doing some lace demonstrations this summer and I have been invited to tag along and demo my tatting. 

I am very thankful to have found a gifted lace group so close to home. 

Heart Earrings

My favorite heart pattern.  I started on the top clover and then down ring and second clover then repeat around.  To finish up I added a SSSR (Single shuttle split ring) and hid both tails in it.  By adding a metal ring before the earring finding there is less wear on the thread as the earring will swing between the metal ring and the earring finding loop. 

The only trick to the pattern is to switch shuttles (to change direction) before the side ring on the way down and then after on the way back up.  Or you might try a SLT (Shoe Lace Trick).

You can easily adjust stitch counts and add beads to personalize the earrings.

Good thing I took this picture as my cousin has laid claim to these. 

Wiosna Row 8

I had heard that this round caused some issues with the doily not lying flat.  I adjusted the stitch count and so far it sits quite nicely.  I am still climbing to the next round, in this case using a split chain.  

I am using a King Tut quilting thread by Superior Threads color 918.

The current diameter is 5.75 inches or 14.5 cm.

Humboldt Ribbon

On Friday, April 6, 2018 a bus carrying members of the Humboldt Broncos ice hockey team  collided with a semi-trailer truck.   Of the 29 on the bus, 16 would perish.   

I tatted this ribbon using the Humboldt Broncos team colors. 

This pattern is by Sachiko Yokoyama and can be found on her blog, here. 

She asks that you not use this for commercial use only to promote cancer awareness.  Yes Sachiko, my next one will be pink. 

Birthday Bookmarks

We were recently invited to a milestone birthday party for a teammate of my husbands.  The invitation said that no gifts were required but cards would be OK. 

I slipped these two bookmarks into a card.

I did manage to add another green crystal to the Flowering Quatrain and a green satin ribbon to the cross bottom before I sealed the envelope but was not able to get a picture of that. 

I've done the Flowering Quatrain before here , this one was done in a Lizbeth 20 Sea Green Lt. No 686 and the cross in some  Omega  threads.

The cross is from Jan Stawasz Tatted Treasures.  I should have taken more care on the graduated picots.

Sisters Choice Quilt

First of all I did not make this quilt. I don't even own a sewing machine but this lovely quilt belongs to me.  I have a very talented sister who asked me if I wanted a Sisters Choice Quilt.  I gave her input to style and colors I wanted in the quilt and let her choose the rest.  I only wanted a lap quilt but this one covers the top of my queen size bed.   

The blocks are all done with vintage patterns which I really like. There are lots of flowers and a few birds in the prints.  I love exploring the blocks to see what I find.  

The back of the quilt is a tatted print, yes that is tatting with a light tan almost wood like background.  I have no idea where she found the material but I have seen a few tatted printed fabric.  

The label is a block surrounded by a tatted print and she has written our names with the date.

Thank you again Sis.  I'm your biggest fan.

Travel Tip

When I travel to the US I will tell the border security personnel that I am off to a tatting conference. I always need to explain that tatting is type of fibre art and then they get a sample piece of tatting to assist in the explanation. 

They are always surprised when I let them keep the tatting.  These are Irene Woo, butterfly hearts ready for travel.

Interested in making these hearts, the pattern can be found here.

Just my way of spreading more tatting into the universe.