Thursday 31 December 2020
Something to look forward to
Tuesday 22 December 2020
First Attempt at Design
Thursday 17 December 2020
Icy Blue Snowflake
If you need practice with bead placement this is the perfect project. Designed by Marie McCurry of WestPineCreations. She now has a sales page with instructions available here.
Tuesday 8 December 2020
First Snowflake
No, not my first but one designed by Grace Tan called First Snowflake and Variation which you can find here. It works up fast and easy. I did it in one pass using a split chain. I think it needs some beads, so 60 on the shuttle to cover the picots on the final ring and another 18 on the shuttle for every picot except joining.
Monday 7 December 2020
They are here
These hand painted shuttles in ruby red were commissioned to mark the 40th Anniversary of the Ring of Tatters.
Wednesday 25 November 2020
Size Matters
Yes, size matters when it comes to picots. These are small, medium and large picots all done with the same stitch count, creating three different looks. This is the Star in 2 Colors with Pearls by Inga Madsen from the book "Christmas Decorations in Tatting". Below you can see what they look like on the other side. I also did one without beads.
Tuesday 24 November 2020
Inga Madsen
Friday 20 November 2020
Joyce's Angel
Thursday 19 November 2020
Star Motif
I love to tat this pattern. I do it with two shuttles, using split rings and a split chain to climb to the next round. I tat this at least once a year. The top pattern is done in a size 80 vintage thread and woks out to 4.25 inches. It has made its way to Europe in a tatting exchange. The lower one was done with Wonderfil thread, I made two Wonderfil motifs which will be given away in a local exchange later this year.
Size 20 yields a star 5.5" size 10 yields a star 7.25" and size 80 makes a star 4.25"
Sunday 15 November 2020
More Earsavers and Mask Chains/Lanyards
Thursday 12 November 2020
New Nametag
It needed a little tatting. This edging is called Hen and Chicks and is a vintage one shuttle pattern. Had I used a picot gauge the bare thread between rings would have been more consistent and neater. I stitched the tatting on the nametag going through the picots. You can view how to do Hens and Chicks by Frivole on her You tube channel.
I used a Wonderfil thread Spagetti a 12 wt Egyptian cotton which is double gassed making it a great thread for tatting if you like to use small threads.
Tuesday 10 November 2020
Three Flakes
These snowflakes appeared on Renulek's blog many years ago. I always wanted to do them and this was the year. Renulek also has an Etsy page where you can purchase her designs.
Tuesday 3 November 2020
And Then This Happened
But no, I chose something that would take a bit longer. I only had a picture to go by but searched my stash and came up with enough colors to complete the sample.
I learned a lot about thread and counting while completing this little project.
Learning new stitches and getting encouragement from everyone is just one of the perks of belonging to a guild.
Saturday 19 September 2020
More Crochet
Thursday 17 September 2020
Wednesday 16 September 2020
I've been knitting
My sister in law mentioned the other day that she wanted some dishcloths. Apparently her daughter in law loves them. I knew I had cotton yarn waiting to be used and began to knit and knit and knit. This is an easy pattern and after some trial and error used this technique to create smooth edges,
I started with 4 stitches, then for each increasing row: purl into the front of the stitch, knit one, yarn over, knit to last stitch, slip knitwise.
For each decreasing row, purl into the front of the stitch k2tog, yarn over, k2tog, knit to last stitch, slip knitwise.
I have heard this called Grandmother's Favorite Dishcloth but for me it is my go to pattern for dishcloths. I still have quite a stash of cotton thread to use up.
I will get back to tatting soon.
Thursday 6 August 2020
Daniela Mendola
Wednesday 5 August 2020
A Fruit Full Day
Before the heat of the day sets in I am off to gather saskatoons and nanking cherries. I didn't get much of each as these are in a city yard but cleaned and froze them for later use.
Monday 13 July 2020
More swiffer pads
Friday 10 July 2020
Ear cozy
Thursday 9 July 2020
Knitted Slippers
Thursday 23 April 2020
I Should Have Been
Sunday 29 March 2020
From Down Under
Saturday 21 March 2020
Metis Beadwork
Tuesday 17 March 2020
Happy St. Patricks Day
I had made two previous pairs of earrings and brought them to my guild for show and tell last week. I had a request for them so I gave them away. Of course I needed to make another pair for myself .
These shamrocks with the celtic knot in the centre are a pattern from Yarnplayer, Marilee Rockley. She has provided a free pattern here. I made slight pattern alterations by using a SSSR to finish and hide ends in the stem. I used another the SSSR again in the second round; a ring for the earrings attachment. This is one of my favorite ways to end an earring especially to hide both ends.
Monday 13 January 2020
Hold on a minute
I will post my progress as it happens.
I have also been reviewing conferences I want to attend in 2020 and reviewing costs and logistics. I hope to see many of my tatting friends and see all the wonderful things being done round the world.
If you have ever considered attending a workshop or conference please do so. It is very rewarding and will give your craft a boost, plus it would be fun to see you too.
Below are the tatting events happening in 2020 with links to the web pages.
Finger Lakes CANCELLED
Shuttlebirds CANCELLED
Tatting Corner Tat Days Rescheduled
Palmetto
Fringe Element Tatters CANCELLED
Happy Tatting
Thursday 9 January 2020
Test tat
I love how it almost looks interwoven but it is not. Just three little rounds.
I started on a chain and used a split ring to climb to the second round. Then I added magic loops to the first and last chain and no ends to sew in.
Using a Coats thread size 20 the small doily measures 4.25 inches from point to point.
To start on a chain you can use a paper clip or one of those coiless safety pins. You might try what I did by starting with an unflipped second half and then with a flipped second half counting as the first double stitch and you can remove your paperclip once the chain is completed.
Thursday 2 January 2020
More Exchanges
Thanks to the Fringe Element Tatters another exchange completed.
Also below is the cover to a needlebook I received from an exchange held by a guild I belong to. It is so cute how the needlebook is the front and back of the house. I love it, you can never have too many.
Maybe just me but that house is asking for some tatting don't you think?