Spool Pin Doily

 

One of my sisters, is a quilter, that means she can sew but I cannot.  She requested a spool pin doily to gift. It is used to protect  wear of a spool against the machine.  I believe it also prevents the spool from continuing to spin once you stop pulling thread.  I made one with various ring counts and chains and settled on a simple pattern.

Here are a few I created for her.  The Shuttle is to show size.  The finished spool pin doily is about 1.5 inches or 4 cm.  Don't pull the center ring too tight so it will have some give to fit most machines.

I found some size 20 thread in her requested colors.  I put 2 yards of thread on shuttle one and 1.5 yards on shuttle two.  I started a ring of  3ds then 7 picots between and climbed out to the second round with a mock picot. The split ring was 3-3-3/3-3-3.  Chain between rings was 3-2-2-2-2-3.  I put six picots on one and it still worked out.  

 

Snowflakes

Although I don't know her, these patterns by Renata Niemczyk were posted for free on her Facebook page.  I found the repurposed vintage thread was very soft so the buttons and beads gave the snowflakes structure.  I have made many many of her patterns.

I found that the pattern could accommodate most sizes of buttons, 

 

 

Pumpkins

 October is time for pumpkins.  The earrings were found on The Things of Anto blog (in Italian) and I adapted the stem as a one shuttle pattern to make it easier to hide ends.  I brought these to my CGNFA guild meeting and they were scooped up. They are really cute.  I used Lisbeth thread 183 Orange Crush.

 The second little pumpkin was tatted at Camp Wanna Tat and is the design of D. Arnold.  I believe she will be offering the pattern in her new book when it is ready. I used Lizbeth Bright Orange. Don't you just love shuttle only patterns. 

Pioneer Acres 53 Annual Show

This year at Pioneer Acres Annual Show they featured John Deere Tractors and Farm Equipment,  Celebrating 100 Years of the Model D Tractor.  There were over 100 tractors and equipment on display.  I usually bring my shuttles and demo tatting for the three days of the show and this year I thought I would tat a tractor.  As the date drew close one of my tatting friends said it had already been done.  So began my search for a tatted tractor and I found one.

Grandpa's tractor is a pattern designed by Tamie Alliss dedicated to her grandfather.  I ordered the pattern but it would not arrive in time for the show so I made one up.  I used the John Deere colors of yellow and green in Omega thread. (Not the greatest thread to tat with IMHO).

I also enjoyed tatting with "Batty Tatter" who dropped by for a  visit and gifted me a find from a garage sale.

I can't wait to try these yummy threads.

Leen's Angel and Bestitched Tatted Medallion

I tatted this angel with some thread that happen to be on the shuttles, might be Coats size 30.  The pattern was shared in the online tatting  class.  The designer is  Eileen Stafford and she suggests adding beads at the joins or putting double picots on the skirt bottom. 

If I tat this again I would carry my threads down from the bottom of the wings to the skirt to avoid a cut and tie. It was only a few stitches and the bulk would not be noticed. 

Another pattern from the Online tatting class is the Be-stitched Tatted Medallion.  Done in the same Coats thread it is an easy shuttle and ball pattern.  The designer is Nancy Tracy.