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.  

Wiosna Row 7

This is the butterfly round and it was not easy. I didn't like how there was a hole in the center of  the butterflies (aka gaposis) Another tatter, Cyn suggested I change the order of the tatting by doing the chain first.  I did this after about halfway round and was able to finish the round and climb to the next.  Yes there were a few rings that had to be undone but I am finally moving on.  
I am using a King Tut quilting thread by Superior Threads color 918.

The current diameter is 5 inches or 12.5 cm.

What is she up to now?

Believe it or not I enjoy to tat with other tatters but there is a shortage of them so I am on a mission to create more tatters.

This may look like a mess but it is some of the prep I have done for a  free tatting class.  I've  taken a  plastic container apart and made a dozen shuttles wound with 3-4 yds of  cotton thread.  I have added more thread on floss bobbins so the student can choose their own colors. 

Those two tatsy shuttles wound with satin/rattail cord will be used for a demonstration of the double stitch and pony beads for a later lesson on adding beads. 

I have included a sheet of tatting terms and a free pattern for discussion.

So what do you think, would you start with a ring or a chain.?