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.