InTatters - Blogs

Romantic Heart

Batty Tatter — Tue, 15 May 2012 04:41:04 GMT

Designed by Birigit and the pattern was written by Beelizabeth. The thread is Lizbeth "Girly Girl"

What show judges are 'looking for'

Fiona T — Mon, 14 May 2012 11:16:14 GMT

Hi all,
Sorry, with Mothers' day being hosted at our house there wasn't much time for computer play on Sunday. Here is my blog post from yesterday with some hints and links for show judging.
http://onemadtatter.wordpress.com/20...e-looking-for/
Enjoy,
Fiona T

The easiest way to make a split chain

Batty Tatter — Sat, 12 May 2012 15:31:48 GMT

Jane Eborall gave me this site to learn the split chain. It is the best. I've watched it several times and my first tries were a little messy. But you soon learn that you want to keep the ds over to the left. And you leave the first half a little loose. Then you pull the second half to tighten the first then pull the shuttle to tighten the second half.
The next row is going to be a heart. I'll show it again when I'm finished.
Here's the site for Maire Smith's instruction on the easiest way to do split chains.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx5AMqmPxoA

New cap

Batty Tatter — Tue, 08 May 2012 22:42:14 GMT

Here's a new addition to my caps.

Mother's Day Card

Batty Tatter — Tue, 08 May 2012 02:11:13 GMT

This is from Pam Palmer's book Tatting Treats 2. It's a Mother's Day card for my mom.

I'm... knitting?

wodentoad — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:05:42 GMT

So I was looking through the projects I have in the various mediums that are pending. I have two medallion carving projects, I would like to finish Springtime^3, a tatted doily, and I remembered today that I needed to make a couple of new shirts for my son's little stuffed monkey. (Monkey helps us learn things like "Getting Dressed" and "Holding Hands" so he has to have clothes.) That's besides some sewing projects. One had to be put on hold because the recipient is currently making me a new niece or nephew, the other because I'm a little intimidated by it, in spite of the fact that in theory it looks really comfy.

So I found myself looking at Monkey's little tank top, which is knitted. Unfortunately, the orange one he wears doesn't match the blue (and multi) fabric that I bought, so I guess I'm gonna have to coordinate with some old stashed yarns. I've got the Baleen II's back out and am swatching as I type this.

Am I really insane? I mean, I'm coordinating shirts and tank tops for an 8 1/2" non-living little buddy? I should add at this point that monkey also has a plastic canvas house... and car and my son is five years old. At what point have I gone too far?

Little Medallion

Batty Tatter — Wed, 02 May 2012 20:38:27 GMT

I sent this to Handy Hands in hopes they'd make it into a variegated thread.

When I was in school ~

PattyD — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 00:51:07 GMT

Around the time I went to high school, teachers started asking for "papers". Nothing as fancy as a term paper, but we had to go through all the steps: pick a topic, research, write notes with references for the bibliography, copy a quote or make an observation, review the notes, write an outline and fill in the data with quoted and footnoted references.

You know what my biggest problem was? I didn't think I had any idea worthy of foisting on an unsuspecting public. To me the idea of writing a paper while I was still learning was preposterous!
What did I know? It was really hard to go through all that work, not believing that I had anything useful to say. Not surprisingly, I sometimes utterly failed to produce the desired product.

Isn't it interesting that now I answer questions at the drop of a hat! Who knew?

ADDING OLD THREAD to NEW TATTING THREAD

Halibut04 — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 21:43:11 GMT

:thmbup: I've posted a instructional YOU-TUBE video of attaching old thread to the new tatted thread.
It is a technique I wish I would of learned when I first started tatting. I give credit to my mother
Barbara for this technique. So from one tatter to another may your tatting experience be even better.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yn7v66Xjvbk

Winners! ~ �Ganadores!

soyloquesoy — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 15:06:48 GMT

Here is the winners post!
http://creativasuculencia.wordpress....ers-ganadores/

Congratulations to Julia and Catriona, the winners!

Crisis of confidence :(

Deb13b — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 09:18:06 GMT

Suddenly losing confidence. I haven't been tatting long, a couple of months, but I love it, I really enjoy it. Never been any good at craft stuff. I want to start making tatted jewellery to sell but what if my tatting doesn't get any better ? I've just uploaded some pics to my album, going off to blogger now to do a post on there too. This is one of my favourites so far but as you can see it's not good enough to sell. Best get practicing !

Valentine Heart

Batty Tatter — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 01:10:49 GMT

This is Tatted Heart (valentine) 2 from "Free Tatting Patterns" It was a pretty strange pattern. I wish it had said to use two shuttles, in the first place and the numerical order could have been done, (in numerical order). Thank you Patty D for explaining it for me, as I was very confusseled.

I Broke My Toe!

PattyD — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 21:53:45 GMT

So I am limping around because I broke my toe! Doesn't interfere too much, but quite unexpected. I remember bumping into something yesterday, but it was today that I figured it out.

The only good thing is that I can still tat!!! Not like when I broke my hand. What a fun day this has been.

New Member

quayceetatter — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 17:03:02 GMT

Greetings from New Mexico! I aman intermediate tatter and love to crazy quilt. In February I won first placewith my wall hanging �Heavenly Orb� inthe first online International CrazyQuilt Show. I just finished a pocket book with lots of tatting, a picture is inHandy Hands catalog. Attended the Finger Lakes Workshop and it was awesome,learned lots of new techniques and enjoyed visiting with other tatters. ThankYou Kreste for your warm welcome.
Linda M in NM http://quayceetatter.blogspot.com

Success! Floating rings on the ball thread.

nikki — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 13:51:25 GMT

I figured out how to make floating rings while working from the ball!

I'm sure the technique is common knowledge for experienced needle tatters, but I'm still excited. Does that make me a tatting geek? If so, than I'm pleased to be one. :D

Floating rings by flanklin_globblin, on Flickr

Shuttle patterns with a needle?

nikki — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 18:12:03 GMT

As the state of my house can attest, I've been playing with my tatting� A LOT.

Especially since my new needles from Handy Hands arrived. I can't get over how much easier it is to work with a needle that matches the thread. My needle came with a thread sample, so I used it to make a couple patterns from the catalog, also included.

I've been finding patterns online I really want to try, but they are written for a shuttle(s). What is the best way to attempt shuttle patterns with a needle?

The specific pattern I want to try is the Wintery Tree by Tat-Man. I made some progress on it, but what I was doing seemed much more complicated than it needed to be. I had a core thread, an "A" thread, and the "B" thread I was working from the ball. I had my needle on the core thread for the pearl chain and would move it to the "A" thread to make the rings. Is that right?

Attached Thumbnails

Two Little Froggies

Batty Tatter — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:57:35 GMT

This pattern is from Pam Palmer's, Tatting Treats 2. I made a mistake on the first one, so I made another, with a little more color to him. I dreamed up the dragon flies myself, as I needed just some little ones. I have glued them to greeting cards.

Split chain doily completed

Linda S Davies — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 10:49:21 GMT

And here is the split chain doily completed. My designing hat must have been really tall as this pattern just rolled off my shuttle.....no retro-tatting needed at all!
Being able to do split chains makes such a difference to the amount of cutting and tying needed between rows. With this design, using split chains and split rings to climb out of rows, I only had to cut and tie after row 8 and the last row, doing away with masses of ends to sew in!

Posted byToptattyheadat11:44 0 comments

Five Heart's Desires

Batty Tatter — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 21:02:41 GMT

Susan K. Fuller's Heart's Desire is still my favorite. I like to put them on greeting cards. Some, I've enhanced with some pearl beads.

Split chain doily

Linda S Davies — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 19:12:48 GMT

When I did the little motif to demonstrate my method of doing a split chain it seemed a shame to waste it.....and so I just carried on. I used a thick thread for the demo and I don't normally use such a thick thread for doilies, but I thought, "what the heck" and this is the result so far. I have no idea what I shall do with it when it is finished, probably give it away, as usual, LOL!!!

Happy easter and a recipe

Fiona T — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 23:33:35 GMT

HI Everyone,
Here is a link to my latest blog post, via my other blog. I have done my first PDF recipe and photo tutorial to make it, along with a suggestion about how to prepare the mix in advance to make it more quickly during busy work weeks.

http://onemadtatter.wordpress.com/2012/04/08/happy-easter-and-a-recipe-mypaperlessphd/

Enjoy :biggrin:
Fiona T

Another try

Batty Tatter — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 20:16:38 GMT

Well, I finally got this the way it's supposed to be. Well almost. I had to cheat, because, I should have put 8 picots on the inner ring. But now I have a pattern, so maybe I'll try and make a nicer one. I don't think I can handle making it with smaller thread though. I tried #50, but it was so twisty that I couldn't make the inner ring correctly.

Progress: 11/11. Uh... Guess I'm Done. :B

Moonbroke — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 02:45:22 GMT

That's what I get for not measuring out my yarn.

The scarf took a little longer to finish mostly because I wasn't sure if I had enough yarn to finish another panel. I decided partway through to go down to twelve panels since I was mirroring the ends to flip the Row 1 and 2 flowers every other panel. There might be enough scraps left for one more, but I wasn't really up for adding yarn partway through a round. Plus, I wanted to add a Row 1 flower to each end to hang over the fringe (I dunno, the scarf seems to end too abruptly without them).

Also did a little "clean-up" with matching/close enough sewing thread; had problems tying off and hiding the ends on some of my Row 3 rounds in that a knot would make a bulge off the side of my rings or sometimes made a gap between the end of the ring and the last chain. You might be able to spot the giant coil knots on the wrong-side despite my strategic attempts to hide them in the photos. I'm still worried the scarf'll fall apart (or at least "unhide" the ends) when I need to wash it.

All in all, it was still pretty fun to try this out. Took almost the entire fifty-gram ball of what I'm guessing is either baby or sock yarn to do. It probably would've eaten the whole ball if I'd taken the time to measure things out.

Seeing as I'm picking up some basic crochet, I'd love to try incorporating that into my next project (and have a few gifts handy when I get a little more experience). :blush:

My own motif

Batty Tatter — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 19:54:30 GMT

I was trying to duplicate a motif and didn't do it so well. But, it turned out not bad.

First finished item!

BamsZoo — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 00:39:50 GMT

Through You Tube and Totusmel I was able to create my first item, a flower. It turned out great and now I am eager to learn how to read a pattern (where to start and how to best utilize needle tatting patterns for simple animal patterns). Any direction that could be useful for finding a cute next pattern or how to read the charts, would be great! I can knit, crochet, and spin and am happy to add another skill to the club :thmbup::thmbup:

Old pattern, new tweeks

emeania — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 18:42:04 GMT

I found a video on youtube teaching how to make a 3D rose which can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRSY9...f_OYVgy9YPI%3D. For anyone who just wants the pattern without the video, the original can be found here: http://www.georgiaseitz.com/2002/jlrose/jlrose.html

I love the videos from this person. She has so many, and they're all pretty clear so far. Though I admit, with over 100 videos, I haven't seen them all. However, after I saw this one for the 3D rose, I decided to give it a try. I'm still relatively new to shuttle tatting and since this whole pattern is a series of split rings, I figured it would be a good pattern to practice them.

After making the first one, I decided that I would make a few more to give away at an upcoming meeting to recognize everyone's hard work over the last semester. I wanted to see what this pattern looked like with picots on the outer edges. And I wasn't disappointed with the end result. I added a picot every two ds on the side that's originally void of picots.

Also, I hate having a bunch of strings hanging when I'm done with a piece. On the original pattern, I'm left with three strings to deal with, and they're a little awkward. Since you need to keep the string at the very beginning for winding through all the picots on the bottom, you can't simply bury the beginning threads. You have to leave one of them out. So, I decided to try working the pattern backward. Then the necessary thread would still be there, but I could eliminate the two threads at the end (now the beginning). And the other thread that comes out of the split ring parallel to the necessary thread can be used to secure the necessary thread after all of the winding is done.

Here is a picture of the two flowers. The one in white was done following the pattern exactly. The variegated flower was tweeked.

I have decided I like the rose without the picots. But I gotta say, I'm loving working the flower backward. I have less strings at the end and they're easier to deal with, so goal accomplished. But there is an added bonus to this backward rose, it's more secure!

With the original rose, I feel like I need to add some glue to help keep the petals all where they should be. And if I were to attach it to anything that's going to take any abuse (hair clips, pillowcase edging, etc) I would definitely tack everything together so it doesn't lose its shape. But with the backward flower, I don't have to worry about it. The whole flower maintains its shape better when subjected to tugging on the petals.
If you decide to try this tweek for yourself, just make sure when winding up the petals at the end that the second string goes down through the middle of the flower. It should happen pretty much on its own. Then, the string is in the perfect position for tying to the winding thread to secure the petals.

First attempts

nikki — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:11:31 GMT

I just started tatting a couple weeks ago. I don't really have anyone to teach me, so I learned online. My best accomplishment so far is my tiny teapot made by looking at a photo online. Here are my finished objects so far.

I'm a traitor!

wodentoad — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 13:56:55 GMT

So as I have noted before, my great grandmother tatted lace before me. A long time ago when my son was newborn I went to a fiber festival and saw many many things. I learned the start of continental and left handed American knitting. I poked about with felting and thought it was kinda fun and cute but all I could imagine was making fedoras and bowlers. And then I saw bobbin lace. The pins, the bejeweled bobbins, the complex patterns!

Now this is not to say that I don't love my tatting. Portable, simple, complicated, tough as nails, and of course don't forget BEAUTIFUL! Most importantly, I have half-a-dozen little daisy studded bags that keep it safe and if I have to rush off, there's nothing my five year old can do to mess it up since I took away his scissors.

But there remains that part of me. When I don't have a little one around and don't have to rush off at a moment, leaving behind something so interesting as a pillow pricked with pins and shiny bobbins. I realize that I'm going to have another little one (eventually) and that my dreams of bobbin lace will be suspended. This is not to say I shall ever abandon my true love of tatting, but I'm always looking for a new craft to try and I've so far done a LOT of trying:

Scrapbooking,
Quilling,
Papercutting,
Sewing,
Plastic Canvas,
Sculpting,
Carving,
Cartooning,
Painting,
Knitting,
Crochet,
Tananko weaving,
Backstrap weaving,
Card weaving,
Finger weaving
Loom weaving,
Tapestry weaving,
Embroidery,
and of course, TATTING!

When you come from a family of artists, there's a lot expected of you.

Happy world tatting day!

Fiona T — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 06:57:54 GMT

Here is a link to my blog post for this week.:

Please also note there is only one month left to claim the special order deal from Emsy Jane's Etsy shop via my blog. Read todays blog for information about this deal.

Also, if you click on the blog, look in the side bar on the right of the screen and like my facebook page. We are currently at 42 likers, when we get to 50 likers there will be a random giveaway of tatting supplies. All 50 likers are in the draw and I will post internationally.

Good luck and have a great day!:thmbup:
Fiona T

Ugly Bunny

Batty Tatter — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 19:34:12 GMT

Well, my bunny did not turn out as I'd envisioned. It's from Mark Meyers, adorable, pattern. But when I tried to put two together, he turned out pretty strange looking. I added a bow. Nothing like a little bling to help even the ugliest of creatures. Maybe I could start an ugly critters club, for all tatted animals that didn't turn out very cute. What do you say out there in tatland? Got any tatted, knitted or crocheted critters that you've been hiding in the back of a drawer? Cummon, lets have a look.

Dreamed of tatting.

wodentoad — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 17:11:01 GMT

So last night, I had a strange dream where I was going off to the music store down the road to buy a saxophone on sale. (there really is a musical instrument store down the road from where I live.

While I was there, I saw a piece of vintage tatting that was unfinished and broken. I talked to the owner and apparently it was started in 1941. It was made with rings and threads, so apparently my brain dated it correctly. After some discussion with the owner, I ended up ready to repair the piece, but the problem was that I needed thread from 1941 to repair it. I honestly doubt if thread that old would actually stand up to it, but I was willing to try!

So that brings up this thought of attempting design. There are a few pieces that I don't know how to do, and I don't know where to find. One is these little rectangular bits, which I thing MIGHT be tiny picots. The second part of it was something that looked as though it had been tatted around a thick cord. I'm still pondering how to give it the lobed look of my dream.

Right now I'm looking at medallions.

Okay, stream of consciousness over.

April tatting giveaway in my blog!

soyloquesoy — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 12:16:00 GMT

One of the great things about �tat-land� is how generous it is. I have been the grateful, happy recepient of several giveaways, (and I do enter almost every one I see!) and it is now time to give something back! It is a humble little �this-and-that rainbow� prize, with bling, tool, thread and lace!

Una de las cosas especiales del mundo virtual del frivolit� es la generosidad. Estoy super agradecida y contenta de haber recibido varios premios en diversos sorteos (si, �me anoto en casi todos los que veo!), �es hora de de dar algo a cambio! El premio es un humilde �arcoiris de un poquito de todo�, con cuentas, herramienta, hilo y encaje.

Bling: a bunch of round flat shell beads.
Tool: a celtic wire shuttle hand made by my brother. Perfect for interlocking rings!
Thread: a 50m hank of my rainbow hand dyed. And the winner can choose the size! I�ve got 80, 50, 20 and 10. (pictured is size 20)
Tatting: a tiny sample of the celtic rings you can do with the wire shuttle, and a small round motif.
Cuentas: un manojo de cuendas redondas planas de nacar.
Herramienta: una naveta de alambre, ideal para frivolit� celta con anillos entrelazados.
Hilo: una madeja de 50m color arcoiris te�ida por mi. Tama�o a elecci�n del ganador, tengo 80, 50 20 y 10. (en la foto, hilo n�mero 20)
Frivolit�: una muestra m�nima de lo que se puede hacer con la naveta fina, y un motivo redondo.

Since I don�t post too often, and I want to give a chance to all my tatting friends, I will be keeping this open for a full month. I will make the draw on Saturday, 28th April. To enter, just leave a comment. I will be centralizing the entries on my blog post � one entry per person, anyway, though. I know some people were not able to view my blog, so I am copying here. Please make sure I have a way to contact you!

Dado que no publico muy seguido en general, y quiero que todos mi amigos y amigas frivoliteros tnegan oportunidad de anotarse, voy a dejar la inscripci�n abierta todo el mes. Har� el sorte el s�bado 28 de Abril. Para anotarse, simplemente dejen un comentario en este post. Estoy centralizando las inscripciones en el anuncio en mi blog � una por persona en total. Como algunas personas no pod�an ver el blog, lo copi� ac� �Por favor dejenme una v�a de contacto con la inscripci�n!

This is my first giveaway, so I may be forgetting some important detail � please bear with me! Ask if you have questions, and I will be adding info as the month goes on.

Es la primera vez que hago un sorteo, as� que puedo estar olvid�ndome de alg�n detalle � tenganme paciencia, pregunten si hace falta, e ir� agregando m�s informaci�n a lo largo del mes.

I hope you enjoy this!

�Espero que lo disfruten!

Mr. Bean. How to Make a Good sammich

Batty Tatter — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 21:37:09 GMT

http://www.snotr.com/video/7159/How_...a_good_Sammich

New book

emeania — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:50:43 GMT

I just ordered Occhi Schiffchenspitze Frivolite abotu two weeks ago on Amazon and was told to expect its arrival around the beginning of May. It just showed up this morning! I'm so excited. Now I just get to figure out how to carve time out of my ridiculously busy schedule to begin yet another project! With this being the last month of school, and having a conference to plan and run, and then finals just days after that--plus the regular wife and mother-of-two-small-children duties-- and the small and not so small projects I'm already working on, needless to say I don't have a lot of time or energy left over. But I'm just so excited I had to tell someone! And since my husband doesn't really get it, I thought I'd share it here.

Happy Tatting, and have a great day!

Hello and Progress: Panels 6 and 7/13.

Moonbroke — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 03:36:30 GMT

Attachment 15938Hi! I'm still pretty new here (and to tatting in general), but I'm currently needle-tatting a scarf using a modified version of this pattern from Be-Stitched (thanks to PattyD for the idea to drop some of the outer chains). I figure I may as well post my progress here (not sure if it would be better to do the blog or just post in the forum).

The goal is a thirteen-panel scarf that's roughly forty-eight inches, but I also want to give it some simple fringe later. I am currently on panels 6 and 7, in an attempt to see whether I should go into "assembly line mode."

If anyone's curious, I'm working with a ball of Gala Mixed Fiber yarn, a little thicker than size 3 crochet thread. Doesn't really say what size it is on the label, but judging on the way it frays when I'm having trouble threading it, it looks like four strands twisted together. May wanna sneak over to the store tomorrow to see if they've got another ball left; not sure if I can get to thirteen panels.

The scarf's coming out thinner than I'd thought it'd turn out-- it's about... an inch, an inch and a half wide? I don't really mind it, just not what I expected. I also hadn't noticed as much while I was working with size 10 crochet thread, but these get kinda sculptural, don't they? The Row 1 flower sticks up because of the lock joins in Row 2, and the clover rings in Row 3 end up hanging over the chains.

I do like that I'm picking up a bunch of things on this project: the shoelace trick (once I realized what that meant:blush:), lock-joins (the way simpler method than what I initially did -- thank you Catriona and Judy), knowing that I can keep tatting with the tail-end thread if I happen to cut the working thread a little too short.

On the other hand, I'm having issues about missing picots at a join and then having to undo and redo a portion of a panel. Probably need to slow down when I hit Row 3 and count the picots before I start joining; it'd be a lot less grief and less tiring for my fingers that way. Also not sure if I'm tying these panels off as securely as I should, considering how squishy yarn is next to how big my needle is; I think I've been doing coil knots in the back when I'm done with a row. I'll probably need to sew down some of these spots before I start adding fringe.

Problems aside, I really like tatting up a scarf. Half-way there -- should take just another week to finish. :happy:

Geek Deluxe!

PattyD — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 05:40:52 GMT

I have been participating in a very geeky, but very fun thing. There is a website called Zooniverse that recruits normal, everyday people to help scientists go through lots of data and do what humans do best, image recognition. There are 20 something projects now, but one just closed and I have been notified that I have found a Kuiper Belt Object! The Kuiper Belt is the space out at the edge of the solar system where lots of icy bodies spend all their cold, dark time. Since Pluto got demoted from being a planet to a minor planet, it is actually a Kuiper Belt Object.

I review 10,000 plus images and found lots of Variable Stars and asteroids and just 1 Kuiper Belt Object! So I get my name listed in the scientific papers that will ensue.

The reason we were looking for Kuiper Belt Objects is because there is a space craft named New Horizons on its way to Pluto to spend a day taking lots and lots of pictures and measurements. No space craft has ever been so close as it will be. Where all the picture viewing comes in is that New Horizons will have plenty of power left to do something else and since it is heading toward the edge of the solar system, the Kuiper Belt is perfect.

But to be as economical as possible, we had to know where to point New Horizons when it is done at Pluto. So thousands and thousands of us have looked at about 50000 pictures and marked what we thought might be the little white blob that would be a Kuiper Belt Object (KBO). The vast majority of our sightings were variable stars well outside the solar system, which in itself is useful information. A fair number were asteroids, which are much closer to Earth between Earth and Mars. So the small, cold Kuiper Belt Objects were relatively scarce. Our whole effort was to find interesting scientific objects to inspect that were in the vicinity of Pluto and we have been successful.

It's very exciting! (to me anyway!):celebratefireworks:

Determination

wodentoad — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 13:45:33 GMT

I'm on the last row of the Lucky Clover doily, or, at least, I would be had I not misplaced my work bag. I'm sure it's somewhere in the house which I suppose gives me a passable reason to actually mop up a bit of the clutter.

In other news, I've decided to not be defeated by the Jabon from Julia Sanders' Tatting Patterns which requires "Battenburg rings." I have lost the info on doing overcast rings in regular tatting, so for now, using a bright (and easy to de-tat) red and making simple rings for the center. I'm having to re-write the pattern almost entirely as Ms. Sanders is unfortunately not clear in her instructions. I'm making a primitive visual pattern as well... but it's VERY primitive. As in, written on post-its. I'm excited because I want to put a clip on it to make a hair ornament, which I think will look really quite fetching and dainty.

I'm not sure of the legality of posting the re-created pattern, though I would love to share it. If anyone has a yea or nay before I get in trouble, that would be awesome.

Butterflies with bodies

Batty Tatter — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 22:19:28 GMT

Here are two more butterflies with ideas for bodies.

HELP

Oleander — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 01:33:43 GMT

im new to tatting and to this site and im in need of help. BIG TIME. could anyone help me???? please???

ADOS

emeania — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 19:20:20 GMT

I have a blog that I recently started. This week's post is for everyone who gets into that funk that just won't let you focus on anything. Rather than post the same thing twice, here's the link to the blog. http://oflaceandlight.blogspot.com/2012/03/ados.html

Turning lists into action!

Fiona T — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 22:09:41 GMT

http://onemadtatter.wordpress.com/2012/03/18/ideas-are-everywhere-what-action-will-you-take/

This week's blog looks at how I turned my 'tatting dreams' into reality. When you read the post, you will see I have loved tatting for a long time! Enjoy!

FionaT

Christmas Hearts butterfly

Batty Tatter — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:56:13 GMT

I put three of Anne Bruvold's Christmas Hearts together, thinking I'd make a fan. Flipped over, they look like a butterfly.

Seahorses with googlie eyes

Batty Tatter — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 01:20:31 GMT

I made some more seahorses with googlie eyes. Do they look weird?

Three New Tatters

PattyD — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 06:33:27 GMT

Went to my friend's house today to start to teach her tat. In the course of the afternoon, her neighbor showed up with her grandmother's tatting things and joined us in pursuit of the flip. Then my friend's son joined us and was soon tatting away.

The son made an error I hadn't seen before. Somehow he got the idea that you flip the first half and don't flip the second half. But I must say that his lock stitch ring was looking pretty good, even if he couldn't close it. Very clever lad, that one.

The neighbor had the most trouble, but I kept encouraging her to try a few different alterations to her tatting position and finally she felt best with pinch between her thumb and her middle finger and tensioning with her index finger.

We will get together again real soon (within a week) and advance their knowledge a little more.

I started them on rings with size 10 cordonnet and everybody got it. But I was tired after talking for 3 hours, I can tell you!

Almost as soon as we started, someone dropped their shuttle, so I showed them how to put everything back together again and keep going. I follow the shuttle thread to the finished work and find the thread that sprouts out of the top of the last DS, which is the thread that goes over the hand. I still remember after all these years, what misery I had when I removed work from my hand. There were very bad odds of actually getting going again.

It was a good day.

This weeks blog: online tatting classes

Fiona T — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 05:38:46 GMT

http://onemadtatter.wordpress.com/20...-for-learning/

Above is the link for this weeks blog! I reflect on the discussion of design ideas from this weeks tatting design class and provide a link for anyone wishing to be involved.
Have fun
Fiona

Another Sea Horse

Batty Tatter — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 05:17:55 GMT

Root Beer Bear

Batty Tatter — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 22:12:49 GMT

I made this one with size 20 Lizbeth thread, Root Beer Float. It's from Pam Palmer's book Tatting Treats Two.

I love the mail man

Antiquarian — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 16:26:09 GMT

I just got a box of things I ordered from HH. *happy dance* The box came while I was outside playing with my daughter. It was a like a mini birthday party. My only complaint is that I could break into the thread, shuttles, and tatting book right then because there was peanut butter and honey all over curious little hands. *laugh*

Today is another matter and while I know I need to be binding a book and working on the altar cloth I really want to tat up a book mark. I can justify that. Yaa the person getting the hand bound book needs a bookmark :innocent: But do I do it in purples or the lovely green/blue?

Starting over?

emeania — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 05:06:44 GMT

So I just discovered two-bobbin shuttles, and now I'm rethinking my latest project.

For those of you who don't know what I'm currently working on, I decided to make a table runner for my sister. I'm estimating this to be a 300 hour project, and so far I've put about 30-40 hours into it. And it's looking ok so far. But I was just thinking to myself the other day that I wished I could alternate the color of the leaves. I think it would help make the vines look like they're weaving better, and make it all look more dynamic and interesting. I started thinking about trying to add a second shuttle. Even though I'm new to the shuttle, I think I could make it work.

I was looking on InTatters to see if anyone had posted anything like this--two shuttles AND ball thread, or three shuttles. I eventually stumbled across someone talking about their shuttles and posted links to some of their favorite suppliers. (Thank you, btw! I apologize that I can't remember exactly who it was.) It was from following the links that I stumbled upon the two-bobbin shuttle.

What a beautiful invention! Now, I don't have to worry about tangled shuttles bouncing around, or dropping one and making a mess. Sounds like a perfect fit for my project, and of course I bought one. But now comes the question: do I scrap what I've already completed and start over so everything is more uniform? Or do I try to work what I have done into the "new and improved" design? And then comes the question of what do I work on while waiting for my awesome new toy?

Actually, I already know the answer to that last one. It's somewhat painful to throw away 30 hours worth of work, even if the second attempt is far superior. But the size of this little strip will be different from all of the new stuff due to the extra thread running through everything, and I'm worried about the leaves on this strip (because they don't alternate color like they're going to on the new piece) causing the strip to stand out and look terrible. So. . .

Do I suck it up and start all over?

That Reminds Me ...

PattyD — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 09:12:59 GMT

I read in the comments that new member wrote about how much the first tatting she had ever seen captivated her. Well, that triggered a recollection of the first tatting I ever saw and received as a gift. In the fourth grade, when I was nine years old, Pasty Davis' grandmother tatted cross bookmarks for everyone in our class. I was mystified, enchanted and totally absorbed in trying to figure it out. As I recall, the crosses had a simple ring and chain design, but it was SO fascinating. I did learn to tat when I was 11. You know, I had never made the connection between these two events.

Sea Horses

Batty Tatter — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:23:42 GMT

These guys were the brain child of Debbie Arnold, in 1999.

Butterfly Hearts Doily

Batty Tatter — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 18:21:49 GMT

Had a little fun putting this all together. I had three made, so after Elfiona's suggestion, I made more and tatted them together as I went. I only needed 2 more, so I had to cheat a little. :innocent:

Framed Rocking Horse

Batty Tatter — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 21:18:03 GMT

I decided to frame my rocking horse. I put a sheet of blue sky and clouds in the background.

getting bored

emeania — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:51:48 GMT

I don't think I could ever get bored with tatting itself. But I find myself getting bored with my current project. I'm working on a table runner for my sister. The idea is that it will look like a bunch of vines running across her table when it's all done. But I keep finding all of these great patterns and ideas, :w00t: and I find myself itching to make something else. And with so many great options out there the more I find, the more I want to make.

I've always been the type to get really into a new project, but the larger the project the less likely I am to finish it. But I've tatted a table runner before (which I also gifted), and while I took a couple months break in the middle of it, I still completed it in about six months so I didn't think much of making another one. But that one seemed to work up faster. The rows were wider thus requiring fewer rows to complete it. And each row took about 8 hours. This one, however, is taking me around 10-12 hours a row and will probably need about twice as many rows to make it wide enough.

I realize this is all my own fault for biting off a little more than I wanted to chew (not that I can't). But with some many exciting projects out there, who can blame me for getting a little bored? :blush: Luckily, her birthday just came and went, so for any major occasion in the next year I've got plenty of time to work on this and many other projects. :happy: Time to dig out my needles again.

I haven't worked with my needles in a while. I decided to teach myself the shuttle recently, and since I've been working to become proficient with the shuttle, my needles have been tucked safely away. But if I begin a project with the needles, that will make the number of projects in progress go up. And I've already got a bunch of those (and in many different styles--tatting, crochet, embroidery, etc.) I'm not sure I want another "work in progress" either. :shock:

Rocking Horse

Batty Tatter — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 18:11:39 GMT

When Gina Brummett made this little guy a couple months ago, I liked it so much, I sent for the book. (Little did we know) It's from Pam Palmer's Tatting Treats Two. I didn't have the size #40 thread, so I used 20. I've sent for some 40. It's on sale right now, Lizbeth, at Zig Zag. Mine is not so dainty. But, he's my first try at it, so I'll have to give it another go, when I get my thread. It would make a very nice picture in a baby's room, or sewn onto a patch on a patch work baby quilt. I'd put his tail on upside down, so off that came to do again. My only beef with this pattern is that it would end with a chain just sitting in space and I wasn't told to attach it somewhere. That comes with more experience, I guess.

My History of Continuous Celtic Tatting

PattyD — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 22:51:53 GMT

The whole principle of what I wanted was to have the chains around a ring woven celtic style and I wanted the whole thing to be unbroken by cut and tie.

Celtic the first. Seems pretty simple. Go around once and then the second time weave through.

Celtic the second. Whoa! Not so simple. The first 7 chains always get tatted on top of all the previous chains. The last 4 chains complete the weaving, but some of the previous chains are already in the proper positionas if they had been woven and so the last 4 chains only weave every other repeat.

Celtic the third. I had to try this 4 times to get it right. The first attempt was in a solid colored thread. Not a good idea. Really hard to know where you are. Then I started coming down with the flu and my thinking was going in circles. The last one worked, I think I would have given up if it had not succeeded. Writing the patterns now.

New to blogging

Lacefingers — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 02:38:37 GMT

I hope that someone can tell me if I succeeded. I started a album, I don't know if I was successful so that others could see it. Right now I only posted two photos. I am hoping that someone will let me know if I did it right. :blush:

Thank you

Fishy and Hearts

Batty Tatter — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:16:19 GMT

giving someone a shuttle in the bus

liteNairy — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 03:52:25 GMT

Monday on my way to work (on the bus) I was tatting. A lady asked me what I was doing, I said tatting and she said she never heard of it. I was like :ohmy: really. Well I explained as much as I could about what I was doing. So much so I decided to give her one of my shuttles. I tried to show her but well I only had 5 minutes til I got off to show her and I think I didn't do such a great job :ermm: oh well I told her to go online and:biggrin: come to intatters to get extra support so she can learn as much as she can. You all have been so nice and sweet to me I had to share.... now Im not one to usually go out and recommend anything unless I truly feel happy with it. So yeah that was my big :thmbup: to myself.

Happy tatting ladies

Fooling Around with Continuous Celtic

PattyD — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 07:42:39 GMT

Originally Posted by PattyD

Attachment 15382

I've got to tell you! I was trying out a continuous celtic that skips 2 picots and it does work, but the weaving does not occur as expected.

Attatched is an updated file that shows the progress of the work. When you skip 2 picots (or attachment places) with the start ring having 11 attachment places, it behaves in a quite unexpected manner. But now that I have made one and have a clearer idea of how to proceed, I have updated the document

Attachment 15381

Great Buys!!!!

Twighlight — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 06:12:44 GMT

A few days before Xmas I spotted a number of crochet cotton lots for sale on Trademe in NZ. One lot starting bid $1.50, so I quickly emailed my daughter and asked her put in a bid. I knew no-one would be looking at these just before Xmas. She won the bid - for only $2.00. There was 27 balls of crochet cotton, mostle coats No: 20 and about 12 balls near full and untouched. That would be the best buy I've had for a long time.:thmbup:

recent change

desertcarr — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:07:33 GMT

I have been really struggling to smooth out my stitches. I'm pretty much a newbie so this was to be expected to a point. Anyway, I get a new shuttle (plastic) and put away my grandmother's antique shuttle for the time being. Her shuttle had a bobbin that really didn't want to move. I also started with some larger thread. Definitely an improvement.

Gold Fish

Batty Tatter — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 04:08:13 GMT

This guy was designed by nami 2011. It was fun to make.

Working the butterfly round

Ellen Norman — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:51:07 GMT

Hello to all tatters! I've been steadily working on the butterfly round. I had to break the pattern apart into short hand. I could understand it. It's working out well...Can't wait to see the round compleated:happy:

Playing with Marys Butterfly

tatting margaret — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 13:03:11 GMT

Hi
I am trying again to put this on intatters, I got in a mess with the pictures yesterday, so new day try again.

I had an idea with Marys Butterfly and made it into a ring with pearls which proved to heavy to make a pendant, see close up picture.

Then I tried again using the white thread and red lighter beads, but I made a ring too big, dont ask how I did it I dont know, anyway I thought I show you just dont look at my cock up, I still find the beads in every ring a bit heavy so I am going to try again using every other ring.

I did the same pattern as mary
1st ring 10 - 10 - 10
2nd ring with bead 10 + (attached to second p on 1st ring) 10
3rd ring 10 + (attached to last join) 10 - 10
carry on until you have a ring and join the both at the 1st ring free p

What do you think?

I am interrested in any opinions I just hope Mary likes what I did with her pattern, I dont want the tatting police after me for playing with a pattern.

Have a lovely weekend

Margaret

A special offer for my blog followers!

Fiona T — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:31:44 GMT

Hi All,
This is my latest blog post: http://onemadtatter.wordpress.com/20...-my-followers/
Have a look, it may be of interest to you!
Happy Tatting
Fiona

More fun with Heart's Desire

Batty Tatter — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:01:58 GMT

I've shown the top one before, but I glued it to a card and added beads. I hope they show up. The bottom it just some fun with unexpected color combinations.

kokopellis

Batty Tatter — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:07:32 GMT

These little kokopellis were fun. The small one is a design from Debbie Flork. The larger oneis from Jane Eborall.

Size 8 perle cotton?

FairyTattingAndTings — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:41:55 GMT

[QUOTE=FairyTattingAndTings;72319]Krystledawne,

My experience tatting with #8 DMC cotton perle is that it is very close to a #20 cotton crochet thread. The rainbow doily in my InTatters photo album was tatted with all #8 DMC cotton perle....the colors are an absolute joy and I love how the rings slip closed so nicely. Here are some pictures I took to demonstrate. One is tatted with the #8 DMC cotton perle and one with #20 cotton crochet. Both of the finished cross bookmarks are about the size of a business card. Hope this helps!

Attachment 15240
Attachment 15238
Attachment 15239

More hearts

Batty Tatter — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:19:48 GMT

It's a Butterfly!

Ellen Norman — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:11:16 GMT

Finally! Okay, it's good enough for me at the moment. The next step is to make 15 chains and three clovers.....

The butterfly round

Ellen Norman — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:06:13 GMT

Just so I could see what I'm getting into next! Oh me, oh my! I hope I can do this.:blush:

A little lazy

emeania — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 01:53:12 GMT

I realized recently that I've been a member here for quite some time now and had yet to upload any pics of my work. Going through the whole process is a little tedious to me, and I've been putting it off until I had more time (like that day would magically appear before me.) I found myself with a little time on my hands today and looking for my next project which reminded me about the pics. So here is my attempt at be better about sharing. Apparently, I haven't documented my work all that well either, so now that's also on my list of things to do.
I've only been tatting for a couple of years now, and been a college student for about the same amount of time so I really don't have a lot of tatting to share yet. But since I recently learned the shuttle (in just the last two weeks), I'm really excited to practice :biggrin: so hopefully my posts won't be so far apart!

Creative tip

Twighlight — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 01:39:41 GMT

I have mentioned in a couple of my replies how I stiffened my baskets. I soaked them in a watered down wood glue (aquahered) that dries clear. Then shaped them over a suitable object and left to dry. You can also use this other creations eg: bookmarks, coasters.
Try it and have some fun!:whistling:

Heart's Desire

Batty Tatter — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:37:00 GMT

I thought this was such a pretty heart when I saw that others had done it. My first try was terrible, so I tossed it out. But, I still wanted to make it. The second is better, not perfect, but better. I must learn to make sure my chains are all slid along enough to make them arc. It was designed by Susan K. Fuller and Frivola made the diagram.

So far so good!

Ellen Norman — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:47:38 GMT

I have made some progress. I"m working on the 3rd round. The next row involves the butterflies.:ermm:

Visor and card

Batty Tatter — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:04:26 GMT

Here's a visor and greeting card I just finished. The card is from Irene Woo's designs.

Red and Yellow

wodentoad — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:30:23 GMT

Getting ready for Imbolc dinner, I have nearly finished the bulk of my red and yellow piece. I used one of the stars from the mobile in Blomqvist's Tatting Patterns and Designs but I'd like to put an edging on it to give it a better finished look. I'm thinking of using Jon Yusoff's Row of Crowns. I would prefer a frilly edge to it, but I couldn't find any among my books and I'm still fairly new at this. So, here's the pic of the finished but for one red square.

I realize that it was upside down in the pic, as the red-yellow joins are not visible when you flip it over. Once I finish the last square, it will be steamed and blocked.

A month of tatting

Fiona T — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 02:01:35 GMT

Hi all,
Here is a link to my latest blog post: http://onemadtatter.wordpress.com/20...th-of-tatting/
There is a photo of the projects I have completed this past month.
Happy Tatting
Fiona T

Baskets

Twighlight — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:07:02 GMT

Here are some little baskets I have made. The purple one is off a pattern, the others are medallions I have adjusted.:smile:

Tatting from Burda

Ellen Norman — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:25:21 GMT

Originally Posted by Ellen Norman

Hello to tatters.
I want to make a table topper from the book, "Tatting from Burda" page 41 for the large doily which is 38" (97 cm) round, number #10 crochet cotton. I have ordered 5 balls of thread Lizbeth brand. Two Round Doileys with Butterflies It doesn't say how many balls. I'm hoping 5 will be enough? I have no idea. Thank you for your time. Ellen

Oval Doily in Ecru now finished!

Linda S Davies — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 17:38:46 GMT

The doily is now finished. I have also finished the written pattern, but I have offered it to Georgia Seitz, to help raise funds for Palmettos sponsorship. If it is that she is not in a position to sell it to fellow tatters, then I will post it on my blog for free as usual.

Horseshoe hat

Batty Tatter — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:45:16 GMT

I just finished this brown hat, with flowers on it.

Oval Doily in Ecru 3

Linda S Davies — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:00:28 GMT

Here is the doily, now a little bigger. I'm quite enjoying this pattern, it seems to be flowing naturally without having to re-do any rounds.

Oh dear

Batty Tatter — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:27:43 GMT

To the person who told me how to delete my blogs. Thank you so much, it works :blush:. I apologize that I didn't catch the name before deleting. I'm on some new meds for my pinched sciatic nerve and I feel sooo dizzy this morning. Again, thank you very much and I'm very sorry I didn't acknowledge your name.

BEADS!

Antiquarian — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:05:18 GMT

I learned how to add beads to my tatting today. Yea I know it's easy, but I'm one of those types that likes to see it done once before jumping in. It was fun. I now must find tatting project to add more beads to.

I also learned to tat holding multiple shuttles...very cool. If anyone reads this and knows of some good patterns that take 3 or more shuttles I'd love to give it a go. Let me know titles or authors so I can go looking.

upload

Twighlight — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 23:34:11 GMT

Whoop-te-do!!!!! I have finally been able to upload 'first attempt' and my 'bookmark'

Thank everyone who tried to help

Tatting projects I am part of.

Fiona T — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:52:38 GMT

Have just blogged about the exciting tatting projects that have been the focus of my sparse free time in the last few weeks. Have a read here: http://onemadtatter.wordpress.com/20...-the-letter-t/
Have a read and leave a comment! Also, if you are into facebook, pop over from the blog and 'like' One Mad Tatter, we are nearly up to 25 likers, and I will have a random give-away to one liker once we get to 25...and yes, I will post the 'prize' internationally.
Happy tatting
Fiona T

Butterfly hat

Batty Tatter — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:08:35 GMT

My latest addition to the tatting site.

Oval Doily in Ecru 2

Linda S Davies — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 12:45:10 GMT

Here, as promised, is a photograph of the next few rows of this new doily. So far each row has worked in very well.....no retr-tatting! Mind you, as it gets bigger, this will probably change! LOL!

Oval Doily in Ecru

Linda S Davies — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 15:45:41 GMT

Having finished all my projects and having nothing in particular to do I thought I would make an oval doily to put on my new television table, which itself is oval, and is in black glass.

This is the start. I have done a couple of more rounds and will post a picture when it is bigger still. I am writing the pattern out as I go, for a change. This makes life much easier.....trying to count stitches retrospectively is no joy. I am doing this one in an antique thread in size 40.

Introduction

fneal — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 20:23:09 GMT

I have not been involved in a site like this before but look forward to the interaction.
I have been tatting for a number of years, but haven't done anything elaborate.
Maybe I'll become brave enough to post a picture.:heart:

Bookmark

Twighlight — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 03:34:54 GMT

I have since made a bookmark. Tried following a pattern, I managed 1st round and then got stuck. So I did my own thing - I was pleased with it.

:happy:

Double Fuchsia Pattern

Linda S Davies — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:58:53 GMT

I have now completed the pattern for my double fuchsia, and here is the link to the PDF. It will also be available from the free patterns section of this blog.

Posted by Linda S Davies at 15:15 1 comments

Needle tatting - oh no.

Antiquarian — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:23:49 GMT

I have to say I've gotten quite good and kind of fast on the shuttle. I can roughly turn out a small snowflake like motif in 3ish hours. I say ish as I have an active 3 year old.

I "learned" how to needle tat at my lace group many moons ago. We used a little rosebud pattern and I wanted to make another one so I rummaged about for my needles, pulled out the patterns and stared at it confusedly. I had to convert it into a patter I could easily read, THEN I had to figure out how to make the stitches *laugh* you would think that was the easy part, but ...

After much tribulation I pulled out a "learn to tat" book I knew had multiple ways to tat in it and slowly figured it out. Got the ring made *HOORAY* and proceeded to try and do the chains...*ROFL* There is quite a bit of 1/2 stitching in those chains and by the time the leaf part was made I was wondering why I decided to do this. FYI my finger was starting to hurt from the needle sliding along it; pain and confusion are never a good motivation.

After struggling with 3 "petals" I had decided it wasn't worth it and that I would just make it with a shuttle. Except that the "joins" are made by "passing the needle through the picot and continue with the next chain". YA

*sigh* I'm so not a needle tatter

First Attempt

Twighlight — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 04:40:43 GMT

After practising with lots of silly little things I took on the unimaginable. Seeing a picture of a doily I liked - guess what - couldn't find pattern. I blew the picture up on the PC and this is the result.

Took a little break and POOF!

wodentoad — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:51:43 GMT

Mama's back on the horse! I've gotten two motifs now connected. If there are any mistakes, they are not major ones. I don't know what I'll do with it, but it's certainly a beginning. So here's the first one:

And here it is multiplied!

They are done with what I assume is 10. Not sure how far I'm going to take this, but it'll be cool. Yay me!

2012

Antiquarian — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 02:51:13 GMT

Just in case this really is the last year of the world as we know it and Jesus does come to usher in the millennium ( or whatever you think) I'm not going to make a single "resolution". *shrug* why bother.

I'm just going to tat and sew and paint and read books and bake goodies like any other year. Sound good? ya.

How many is enough?

Diane — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:03:01 GMT

Happy New Year fellow tatters! Since this is the year of the dragon, I thought I should try tatting up a Minor Norwegian Dragon. I have some wonderful HDT I think would look great as a dragon. Of course this means learning a new technique - the single shuttle split ring (SSSR). I made 6 SSSR yesterday, and am feeling more comfortable with the technique, but am still a long way from loading the shuttle with the HDT for a pass at the pattern.

Did you see Jane Eborall's post about 'Tat and See it?' It sounds really fun and I do believe that I am going to try it. I will either have to clear my shuttles or buy new ones. I am thinking that I will buy myself a new set of Clovers, and perhaps a fancy bone or horn shuttle. My husband will be leaving next week to start show season (marketing speak), so I don't have to worry about him seeing the package and asking me what I have bought. Sort of sounds like I am supposed to buy some new tatting equipment doesn't it?

This leads me to wonder, how many shuttles or needles do most tatters have? I currently have two plastic Clovers and two wood shuttles. I have never worked a pattern that requires more than two shuttles, so you think that four would be plently, but I am finding that to be false. So I ask you reader, how many shuttles or needles do you have, and is that enough?

Viva Las Vegas

Batty Tatter — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 02:12:44 GMT

Well, we're off to Vegas until Sunday. I hope I find lots of threads in the "Happiness Is" when I come back. :yahoo:

Happiness Is.....

Batty Tatter — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 17:27:02 GMT

I would like to start a "little things that make you happy" thread. What small thing was a pleasant surprise for you recently. Like...your son put the toilet seat down, or someone else fed the cat. As for me, this morning there was extra space in my Tupperware cupboard, room enough for all of it. WOW, a rare find around here. :happy:

My TARDIS bookmark!

Fiona T — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 07:05:54 GMT

http://onemadtatter.wordpress.com/2011/12/29/tardis-bookmark/
Thanks AnneB for this pattern in english! It is great, hubby loves it! http://nuperelle.net/EngPatterns.htm

tatted snowman

Batty Tatter — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 15:50:08 GMT

This little guy is for my daughter. The body is from The Complete Book of Tatting from Rebecca Jones. The pattern is very small and hard to see. So, I didn't use her hat pattern. The hat is from Jane Eberoll's snowman.

insert crazy ranting

wodentoad — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:59:36 GMT

Okay, so I don't drink but somehow I've ended up with drunk tatting. No less than seven times I've started a project only to have a mistake before the third repeat. This is making me a little crazy. I'm going to switch to a simple one-pass repeat just to get myself back into the throw of it.

I might also take a little break and work on some carving until I can get my tatting head back on straight. Seriously, I think five Christmas Celebrations broke my brain.

Black faced sheep...

Fiona T — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 00:25:46 GMT

For some reason the link for the woolly sheep isn't working from the thread/post. In case it is not just my computer playing up, here are both pictures. I will write up the patterns for both versions in the new year. The bead did sit a lot better in the woolly one, as I used a downward picot, and am practicing making a longer loop for this picot too. Thanks to everyone for their ideas and suggestions :smile:

Merry Christmas

Biba — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 08:42:17 GMT

After a busy couple of weeks christmas has finaly arived. The christmas fair was fun, exiting and most of all satisfying. I did not sell a lot of my crafted projects but so many people complimented me and that makes it worth while :). Also 7 lady's gave me theire names and telephone numbers to learn how to knit or crochet :). And what surprised me most is that a young lady came up to me with her little douchter to ask me if i wanted to teach in her craftshop, she will provide the students and i can deside for myself how to teach them knitting. Wow... i am not a teacher but i can try cant i :).

So.... today i am going to start on a snowflake. I promissed myself i to tat this christmas, my boys are with their father and i have got all day to myself. I only tatted some rings and chains and 1 split ring, so i am just a starter but i am going to give it a go. The coffee pot is on and i am going to enjoy myself today by crafting just for me and just for fun :)

Everybody... enjoy your day, have a wonderfull christmas with lots of beautyfull moments
:thmbup:

Kira's stars with lots of little gold beads, 162.

Batty Tatter — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 07:25:05 GMT

162 beads on the top one. I put three little beads on each picot. I'm happy with it though. These two are the last snowflakes for this year.

My new tatting boxes

Diane — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 00:46:10 GMT

I just had to share with all of you. Here is a picture of my Christmas present from a co-worker.
They are made of wood. The lids are thin, flexible sheets of wood that wrap around and are held closed by the elastic cords you see in the picture. The smallest measres 5.5" wide, 3.75" front to back, and 2" tall. It is perfect for holding my tatting shuttles. The largest one holds my collection of HDT. I will use the other two boxes for beads and tools.

Tardis Bookmark

freetime — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 21:55:29 GMT

Just posted a photo in my album of the Tardis (Dr. Who) bookmark. I want to thank Anne Bruvold for putting the pattern in knots. My daughter is as advid knitter and is part of the Raverly Tardis group. I made it for Christmas for her. Challenge in it was learning split chains (learned split rings earlier this year).

This was my second attempt at hand dyeing the thread (I am just beginning to learn to dye my thread). The first go round was to dark. I like the color of the second batch so tatted it up.

Cro-Sheen

Batty Tatter — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 16:34:28 GMT

I still have 14 balls of J&P Coats. Cotton Knit Cro-Sheen. It's size 10 and all of it is black. Does anyone need some? I will send it for the cost of the shipping. Send me a private message with your name and address. I will find out how much to ship it and send a note back for confirmation.

legs

Susan B T — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 03:38:23 GMT

Laid up this holiday season.... wanted to put it off until after the Holidays... but insurance.....

Had my bulging veins in my legs taken care of... Wrapped feet to knees, not very comfortable, key board in my lap and feet propped up on my desk drawer.

But now I will have "beautiful" legs...

There could be worse ways to spend the holidays. My husband is the best cooking such.....

These are a few of my tatted work.

AKhunter — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 19:21:39 GMT

There are all needle tatted

The A & S were for a Retired Doctor I worked for, the frame is from Dollar Tree. The A is my initial and the frame I found at Riley Hospital for Children. The Doily was a ball cap pattern, but I added to it to flatten it our.

I like the frame that open so you can place the tatting on the glass then put on the back and lock it in.

The tatting project I'm working on is for a hat. I got a red one from my son that works at Kmart. They changed uniform and he no longer uses it (waste not). I cover the lettering with a red market now I'm tatting doodles to sew or glue around it. I also have two blue waiting in the wings. I like to fish and a fish motif would be great on one of them. There are so many ideas flashing around I'm not sure where to start.

Looking for a tatted "A"

AKhunter — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 02:23:05 GMT

I hve The complete book of tatting and the letters quick and simple, but I'm looking for a fuller letter with two or three rows involved.

Give me an A

Black Lace

wodentoad — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 02:37:35 GMT

So I've finished my medallion doily (Picture: http://yfrog.com/z/kjfxklnj) it just needs a little blocking and then it's into the wrapping paper.

I suppose my taste for tatting wool has not yet been sated, as I'm now working on plans for that which lace makers speak of only in whispers: Black lace. I'm still looking through my books to find just the RIGHT doily pattern, or else, there's a tatted favor in one of my books that I know my sister has already claimed before I even think about making it. I'll have to do some pondering.

Not like I don't have anything _else_ on the shuttle right? Because we crafters always work on ONE project at a time, right? No?

Has gotten a bit excited!

Fiona T — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:52:11 GMT

This weekend just passed I managed to make Frivole's criss-cross snowflake, adding beads to picots using a needle threader and using SCMR. My first one was finished in a few hours and, though a bit wobbly, I think it looks beautiful.

I now have BIG plans for next year. Went past a store today and they had baubles half price....so I bought a few hehehehe:

Each packet has 12 baubles and they will fit the snowflake on top....I hope to play with other designs (found some promising books at Crochet Australia and Georgia has posted lots of free patterns too...I'm sure some motifs will fit them too). Planning on giving these as Christmas gifts for next year. :w00t:
I love holidays! I get so inspired.
Fiona

Typewriter Tangent

Fiona T — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 23:22:47 GMT

http://onemadtatter.wordpress.com/20...riter-tangent/

The link above will take you to my blog for this week, directly inspired by the intatters project in TROVE. It is mostly about typewriters, and not much about tatting, but does have a link to some 'eye candy'...yum yum :blush:

I will also share 'exclusively' on this blog that I have learned 3 new techniques this week...SCMR, Rings off SCMR (thanks Shannon) and how to attach beads using a needle threader (Thanks Linda)....and am very excited to use all this knowledge (and a new packet of bugle beads) to attempt the 'criss cross snowflake' from Frivolle's etsy shop.

Oh, and my "christmas exchange" arrived this week, thanks Piney Woods Tatter, absolutely beautiful! I got great compliments on the pendant, and I only wore it to school pick up on Friday LOL. Will surely be wearing it to work this week. I am also excited at the threads, thanks for tracking down orange...it is a difficult one to find. The generosity and kindness of people in this guild is truly heartwarming.

Happy Tatting
Fiona

still making snowflakes

Batty Tatter — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:44:50 GMT

Now, it's all about making snowflakes for friends, etc. I finally got brave and put lots of gold beads on one. I'm happy with it. These are Kiara's stars. I'm getting so I don't even need to read the pattern.

A rare thing

Diane — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 11:08:04 GMT

Well my friends, ready or not, the holidays are upon us. I have been in full panic mode as I feel as if someone (probably my daughter) has pressed the fast forward button in order to make time fly even faster than usual. The company I work for announced that we would be shut down the week of the 19th. This is great - I will have time to get my shopping done. But it also means that I have to have those gifts for my co-workers ready to give this week. Since I am making all the gifts for my work friends, it means that I have been working double time to complete everything. I completed the final project last night..

The mad rush to finish the gifts has led to a very unusual situation for me. All three of my shuttles are empty! Not a single project in the works for me :cry:. I have patterns that I want to make, but no thread for them. And I don't know what I want to make with the thread that I do have. Is there such a thing as tatter's block? I want to tat. I feel like an addict in need of a fix. I just don't know what to tat.

I received Sharon Briggs' book Transitions in Tatting From Flat to Floral in the mail Monday, but haven't had a chance to look through it. I bought it for the 3D Angel pattern. I want to make it for the top of my Christmas tree next year. When I ordered the book, Sharon emailed me to tell me that there would be short delay as she had run out of printed copies. I told her that I was looking forward to receiving the book, and was especially interested in the Angel pattern. She very kindly and without my asking, sent me an electronic version so that I could start making it right away. Perhaps I will go browse the book now and find something to tat. Since I probably won't have time to post until next year I would like to wish all of you a Merry Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and a Happy New Year.

Here i am :)

Biba — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:13:50 GMT

Hi there,
I think it is about time to tell you all a little bit more about myself. I joined InTatters last week and have fount myself reading here a lot :). So many things i want to know but not to much time now to do that. As i was saying in my profile, i am a creative, chaotic and always buissy mom of 2 twin boys. Time goes by really fast, i still remember them as little angels, playing with their toys on a rug. Now... they are 10, going on 11 and like to watch tv, listen to music (on loves duch rap, the other one is singing al day and listens to Justin Bieber and Bruno Mars :)... )

I hope that in this small piece of this post, there are not to many language mistakes :ermm: I am trying to think in duch, then translate, and say the words while typing them. Doing this i notice that i have to be realy carefull not to still type in duch hahaahaa. Quite tricky. Ok, where was i.

Ah... creative and chaotic. yep thats me :). We live in a small town in the middle of our little country and are surrounded by water, woods and more (i dont think that is te word :sad:) i mean more.. moor.. thats it. We have 2 small dogs living with us. :) A **** tzu named Toetie and her pup who is named Paris. Toetie is black and Paris is white, has allmost no hair and is really ugly :w00t:. We just love them.

It is almost Christmas and in 11 days i will be on a fair with some of my friends. We rented 2 market stalls (?) to try and sell our crafted gifts. This idea was mine, but somehow time just flew by and i still have a lot to do. Thats not a big problem, we well have fun that day and i think that is te most important part of it. At this moment i am knitting and crochetting (yes... for the x-mas fair) and have little to no time left for tatting. And i reallyyyy want to learn. I just have to be patient and wait a little more. This Christmas i will sit down at the table and start tatting :). I have tried some things and love to go on.

Last week i played Sinterklaas (when you say that out loud it sounds a bit like Santaclaus :) ) Sinterklaas is a typical duch holliday for children. Every year he arrives by steamboat with a bunch of Zwarte Pieten :).
Ah... thats Sinterklaas :)
He brought us some gifts (the children dont believe in him anymore but it is still fun to play Sint ) a new mp3 player for Thom and soccer gloves for Jesse. And "surprise" there was a small gift for me too, a shuttle and some thread. So now Sint has left the Netherlands again and went home to spain and by the time Santa is here i will make time to enjoy Sints gift and start to tat :)

Ok time to stop writing and put on the kettle. The boys are now on the way home from school and want some nice warm thee (tea) when they get here to warm up

Bauble color request

HappiTam — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 05:27:08 GMT

My four year old nephew has been interested in my baubles since last summer.

Finally I offered to make one just for him in any color he wanted. His choice...black. :ohmy: I was able to talk him out of black beads. I'm thinking that his ornament will be the only non-colorful item on the tree, I was happy to find a glass glitter-ball to make it at least look fun. I'll try to get a better picture tomorrow.

Read twice, tat once.

HappiTam — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 08:12:08 GMT

In construction the saying goes, "measure twice, cut once".

Tatting today I've learned that if I would have read the thread info twice (or even once) correctly I wouldn't have stressed about a mis-fitted bauble. In my haste to work with a new color I failed to notice the size was 40 and not 20. Ooops!

Wasn't a disaster, but now have a half naked bauble. :ohmy:

Today's blog from Fiona T: Intatters Treasure trove of patterns.

Fiona T — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 22:45:09 GMT

http://onemadtatter.wordpress.com/20...e-found-trove/

New blog post from my blog...reflecting on the project on intatters to correct scanned old patterns in the public forum. I am quite excited about this project! Have a read and leave a like or a comment...it would be great to her from you.:biggrin:
Fiona T

Back to baubles & beads

HappiTam — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 09:16:45 GMT

The last few weeks I've enforced a self imposed tat-ban in order to fulfill a couple of volunteer commitments. Now that I've made a 7 1/2 foot candy cane for the local theatre and passed out a couple hundred bags of goodies as Santa's reindeer helper I can dive back into my favorite pastime, needle tatting. :wink:

Whew

Batty Tatter — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 17:57:32 GMT

Whew, I finally finished it. This is my first bauble. It's from Janet Carroll's "Elegant Tatting Patterns" When she says it's an intermediate, she's not kidding. I guess I'm an intermediate with beginner tendencies. :ohmy:

Сегодня выложила новые фотографии в альбl

Yanka Moroz — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:09:18 GMT

Я совсем позабросила свою прекрасную салфетку. А жаль. Ведь я хотела доплести ее до этого нового года.
Но я сплела много новых снежинок и шариков, которые выложила в альбомы, и еще в процессе много чего.
Надеюсь я все же вернусь к салфетке и закончу ее, очень уж красивая :)

Coronet Doily Variation

Linda S Davies — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:15:18 GMT

Here are pictures of the finished Coronet Doily Variation completed.

This all came about because Judy Edwards decided to make a row of my small Coronet Doilies around the outside edge of my large Coronet Doily and she needed to make a joining motif to complete it. She did a great job and won first prize with it at the NC State Fair. (See my blog post about it.) I decided that I would have a go myself at a joining motif and this is what I came up with. It was made with Coates Aida size 20 and measures approximately 25inches across.

Lots of Snow

Batty Tatter — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 00:04:46 GMT

We have a total of 6 to 8 inches of snow now. It's not cold, just lots of snow. I changed my avatar to a smiley with earmuffs (more fitting. I went for a walk and was cold when I got home. But, got a brilliant idea. We have a box of those yummy After Eight mint chocolates. So, I made a cup of hot chocolate and put one After eight in it. Yuuummy.:happy:

My new shuttle

Diane — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 12:52:42 GMT

Good morning my tatting friends. I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with all those things for which you are thankful. We traveled in order to spend the holiday with my husband's family. There were 27 of us at dinner (I come from a small family where 12 for a holiday dinner is a LOT!). It was the first time for many of them to meet my 6 month old. A good time was had by all, and especially my daughters! Now we are fast approaching Christmas and I am not ready. I still have two more items to tat as gifts (they're on the shuttles right now), and many more gifts to buy (as I have not bought a single one).

I received my David Reed Smith shuttle prior to the Thanksgining holiday. Here is a photo of it and one of my current projects.

I love the shuttle. I chose Sycamore wood and really love the way it looks. It smells like pine sap which reminds my of the camping trips we would take when I was growing up. So now when I tat with it I am flooded with happy childhood memories :biggrin: and that makes tatting even more enjoyable for me.
The project on the shuttle is Jon's Entwined Hearts. I am making another attempt at it. I want to make it into a pendant for someone I work with. I am opening that ring as I forgot to join it to the chain. I have gotten pretty good at opening rings, so I guess practice does help. Hopefully I can get it finished before my next post and show you the completed pattern.
Take care my tatting friends.

What size needle

Batty Tatter — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:17:24 GMT

Here's a question for the needle tatters. I use mostly number 20 and number 30 tatting thread. I'd like to learn to needle tat. What size tatting needle should I buy? :ermm:

Buttercups

Lynette — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 12:40:50 GMT

Hello all, Has anyone ever tattered buttercups and if so could you share the pattern with me.
My friend loves buttercups and I would like to do some to put on her birthday card.
Thanks:smile:

First Blog Ever!!

Starshinetatter — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 05:44:40 GMT

Hello to all, This is my first blog ever, pretty excited about i guess. ive been tatting now off and on for about 10 years. My Great Grandma taught me how to tat when she was 90 years old, that is all she did until she died at 101. After i learned to tat from her i wanted to learn more than the rings and chains she taught me found the internet, and a butterfly pattern that i shared with her and she liked it so much i dont think that she tatted anything else but that butterfly in the last years of her life. I named my first daughter after her because of the great infulence she had on me. Im very excited cause i just taught my friend to tat and she loves it and picked up quickly! Tatting makes me very happy and i love to share the joy of tatting with my friends. Im 27 years old and so i call it my old lady craft cause i dont know of any young people that tat. I would love to meet more people that did. I hope you all enjoyed my first blog and hopefully there will be more once i figure out how to get arond this site! Happy Tatting to All!

New and Confused

hiram — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 01:00:35 GMT

hello

I have been tatting for only 2 months now
I can do rings and picots of
Trying to follow a pattern I found on line of a cross
and keep getting lost

Help Pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

here is the cross i am trying to make it starts out with these instructions
*R 8-8 RW clr

Ch 3-3-3-3-3 RW
R 8+8 clr**
Repeat from * to ** (2x's total)
R 8-8 DNRW clr get lost here
Repeat from * to ** 2X's

can any one help explain the sequence

thanks

Peter

Japanese Crochet Patterns

Antiquarian — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 19:31:37 GMT

My mother-in-law is visiting for Thanksgiving and she brought me the best treasure. A whole bunch of crochet patterns. They are in Japanese, however they all also have diagrams of the patterns. :yahoo: I guess this means I have to find time to learn more than single & double crochet.

Attached Thumbnails

What are your favorite tat tools/toys to use?

Batty Tatter — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 15:54:41 GMT

Originally Posted by Batty Tatter

Attachment 13957 Attachment 13958 When I'm tatting at home, I have an old Kraft macaroni cup to keep my thread in. That way it doesn't tumble on the floor. My bobbins are in a bobbin case that has removable panels, so my shuttles will fit and various bobbins in other sections. Also, in there are some plastic bread tags. I wrap small amounts of left over threads on them. In the background there is also an old plastic box from some sanitary wipes. I use it to hold whatever tatting I'm working on when I'm out and about. The lid snaps on nicely, so it can be put in a bag and nothing get jostled about. When it's at home, I've stored my beads and findings in it. Also, I need more than one size of needle. So, at home my little stuffed mouse holds any needle I require, eg. one for removing mistakes, another for threading to put some beads on, etc. And I keep a very pointy pair of embroidery scissors, for close snipping. I used to have a pair of scissors that were curved. But I frequently managed to snip my fingers while trying to cut threads. I seem to be somewhere between blonde and senior. he he.

Looking For JoAnne

Batty Tatter — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 05:51:39 GMT

Hello, out there in tatters land. I am looking for JoAnn Engelbrecht from Brandon, South Dakota. I have made the adorable "Old-Fashioned Angel" that you got published in a Crafting Traditions magazine. People would like to have the pattern. I cannot give it out without your permission. So if you read this, please let us know if we can pass it on. Thank you.

My First Try at Beads

Batty Tatter — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 22:42:35 GMT

This is my first try at putting beads on a tatted item. I sold her at Christmas farmers market yesterday. :happy:

Intatters craft exchange

Fiona T — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 01:10:55 GMT

http://onemadtatter.wordpress.com/20...my-first-ever/

This week I post about my first ever involvement in a craft exchange. I am so excited to have found this community and support.
Next week I will probably blog about the online tatting design class I have been lucky enough to be involved in via Intatters.
Fiona T

The best lain plans...

Diane — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 12:37:03 GMT

Well, I had every intention of having a picture of a completed intertwined hearts motif, but the mock picot got the better of me :cry:. After several odd looking attempts, I decided to put the shuttle down before my head just exploded. I had planned to just let it rest for a day or two then start fresh. However, while looking around the forum, I found ladybird's thread in the show and tell area and her Russian bracelet http://www.intatters.com/showthread....ssian-bracelet

Since one of my shuttles was close to running out of thread, I unwound it and loaded it up with some of Yarn Player's beautiful hand dyed thread and started tatting. Here is a photo of what I have so far

The pattern is nothing complicated (all rings), and has given me the chance to work on my front/back side tatting. I think I finally understand the concept, and my tatting is looking all the better for it. After I get this piece finished I will give Jon's pattern another go. I had a thought yesterday on that mock picot and how to make it work for me. Hopefull I will be able to report on my success next time.
Oh, and I almost forgot! I finally ordered myself a David Reed Smith shuttle! I am very much looking forward it's arrival. When it gets here I will be sure to post a picture for all to see.

seeking Cross pattern

kaptats — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 02:54:25 GMT

Looking for help on a pattern. I want to do this cross bookmark, does anyone have or know where I can get the pattern?

Tips for show entries..

Fiona T — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 05:59:14 GMT

This weeks blog is about the things I have learned about tatting show quality pieces.
http://onemadtatter.wordpress.com/20...-have-learned/

Have a read and feel free to comment and add your show suggestions too...
thanks Fiona T

Back to Work

Diane — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 11:58:20 GMT

Wow, how time flies. Yesterday was my youngest daughter's half birthday. The past six months have just flown by and it is time to return to work :yuk:. Although, today will be my third day back, I have yet to hear my alarm clock. For whatever reason I keep waking around 2:00, and even though I am tired, I cannot go back to sleep. So this has been my morning coffee, Face Book checking, and tatting time. And this morning I discovered that I can start this blog here. I have never blogged, but thought 'Why not?' So here I am typing my first blog.

I am currently working on tatting Jon's pattern Hearts Entwined/Crowning Hearts. It seems to be going well so far. I am about half-way through with no mistakes. I am keeping my fingers crossed. I do see that I have to make a mock picot, so that will give me the opportunity to try a new technique. If the piece turns out well enough, I will make it again with a hand dyed thread to turn into a neckace for a Christmas gift. Isn't it great when you can do something you love and check a name off your Christmas list at the same time?

Well, since this is my first blog, I will keep it short. Hopefully I will have pictures to show you next time.

Catching Up with my Tatting Friends

Ridgewoman — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 03:55:33 GMT

[FONT="Comic Sans MS"][COLOR="#2e8b57�] [SIZE="4�] Hello All! Well, during Aug-September we moved from our big home in NM to a much smaller home in (Greenhaven) Sacramento, CA. It is 1,300 sq ft; my son-in-love spent over a month getting it up to �his� standards; he owns a home renovation business here (RB Construction). I gave him a budget and turned him loose. It is truly like a model home and so clean! A lot less storage space is my only challenge.

We�ve set up a new physician�s team; so am now in dialysis on a regular basis. Which was the reason we relocated from New Mexico. Our new Doctor set me up for all the tests I needed to have, so on my �off� days from Da Vita, I go for mammogram, lung test at the hospital (he is trying to figure out why I HAVE a breathing problem), and still having troubles getting a working fistula; have a catheter just below my collarbone in the mean time.

I haven�t tatted. Found my thread and shuttles, but need to find a box of books! LOL Plus just no time for a month or so, running all over. Deciding where to put what. Plus the first month I was just too tired after riding almost 1,200 miles in a 26� U Haul truck...bounce, bounce, bounce...Not the air ride they promised. By the tine we arrived I had blood in my urine. Not good. But that went away after a week or so and I began to get my strength back.

As of today, I�m down to 184 lbs (from 222 last year this time), have increasing energy, get hungry and no nausea. Much better.

Daughter took me to her hair stylist (Holly) and my hair is recut in its angled bob; inspired by the Fall colors in the leaves....I went a coppery-red in color! Woo Hoo Then we went to have a mani-pedi at her �Pedicure Palace� in East Sac. We are to have a girls day out every 6 weeks! That will be FUN! She has a very tight work, home, play schedule and that Saturday has been her �me day� for about 10 years. Now it is Me and Mom day...I�m tickled pink!

That catches you up. I�m behind in my monthly bookmarks...I THINK from October thru November...I�ll have to check. And, I�d better begin a bookmark! LOL

see ya later gator. . . .

If you want my new addy or cell number; or both...send me a private message. bev
[/SIZE]

Tatters Elbow

Batty Tatter — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 02:11:30 GMT

Having issues with my elbow, wee bit of tatters elbow. Anybody know how to make it better? :sad:

New post for One Mad Tatter Blog

Fiona T — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 10:55:32 GMT

Hi all, new post just published on my WP blog...have a look :)

http://onemadtatter.wordpress.com/20...ect-completed/

I have also uploaded a photo of a card I made for my MIL to my intatters album.

I am very excitedly working on my project to send in the 'christmas exchange' (I can't call it 'winter exchange' as it is summer here in Australia) and now have some decent thread to send as well...read the blog above to find out my supplier of choice :)
Happy tatting
Fiona

From 24 Snowflakes in Tatting

lamazona — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 09:01:27 GMT

This is the 7th Snowflake from '24 Snowflakes in Tatting'.
I am going to make all of the snowflakes, and I am tatting 22th now.
I used Lizebeth 142 and 601 in size 40.

On a search

Batty Tatter — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:34:46 GMT

Hello all my fellow tatters. Included is a very cute tat that I only have a picture of. Can someone tell me who it belongs to and supply the pattern? I do want the credit to go to the right person, but all I have is a picture. I apologize for being neglectful. I am still very new at this. I promise I will never forget to find out who the designer was right from the start. Most free patterns have the name printed right on the pattern. That's helpful, because I love to explore all the tatters sights. There has been a request (other than my own) for the pattern. And it is very lovely.

Some pictures of my show entry (Royal Melbourne Show 2011)

Fiona T — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:21:07 GMT

Here is a picture of one of my entries to the Royal Melbourne show this year. The picture shows the butterfly beads I added to a pattern from an old pattern book (I think 1930's).

A picture of the whole doily here.

Here is a picture of my 'sea and sky' entry, a combination of patterns from three different brilliant women, Nancy Tracey (http://www.be-stitched.com/), Jane Eborrall ( http://www.e.n.e.btinternet.co.uk/ ) and Lisa Trumble ( http://www.thisntat.com/ ). It took third place at the show. I am still quite excited. More pictures can be seen at my tatting blog site: http://onemadtatter.wordpress.com

I am working on a few patterns at the moment and will share them soon.
Thanks for your interest, happy tatting :biggrin:

Joining Motif for Coronet Doily

Linda S Davies — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 11:41:12 GMT

Following Judy Edwards adaptation of my Coronet Doilies (see previous post) I thought I would have a go at doing my own version.
This is how I would join the smaller outer coronet doily motifs together.
Only 5 more outer doilies and joining motifs to make! It will be quite large when it is completed (I am using size 20 Aida threads). I will post the overall size when I have finished.

Blue Ribbon Winner

Linda S Davies — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 11:40:08 GMT

Judy Edwards entered her adaptation of my Coronet Doily into NC State Fair and won first prize in the lace section, which included all types of lace.
I think that this is a wonderful result and kudos for tatting!
Well done, Judy!

One Mad Tatter

Fiona T — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 11:37:22 GMT

Here is a link to my tatting blog: http://onemadtatter.wordpress.com
I will be adding photos of my show entries and other projects soon. I also have a facebook page for this site. https://www.facebook.com/pages/One-Mad-Tatter/239600219420054

I am also starting to work on some new patterns, and will share them soon...
Happy Tatting
Fiona T

My first Album

Batty Tatter — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 22:32:31 GMT

Yipee, I created my first album. I hope it meets approval. It took some brain work. Not something I'm very accustomed to. I changed my profile pic too. Also, takes some patience. :cry:

Coronet Doily - next step

Linda S Davies — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:47:17 GMT

I had to stop for a few days as I was running out of thread, but I have now obtained some more (from Mary Helen - such a lovely obliging lady!) and so now I can get on with the project. I think I have already worked out how I will join the outside motifs and can't wait to give it a go!

Oh BOYE!

wodentoad — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 16:18:11 GMT

My Boye shuttle arrived yesterday, and I've already loaded it up with wool, ready to start as soon as my current shuttle runs out. I'm on the last quick row of the Occasional doily. I'm going to pass it under the iron as soon as it's done before I begin the last row of pseudo medallions. It's going to look very pretty. Still have to finish the seascape cloverleaf doily, which I'm planning on donating to the Community Fundraiser. I don't know if I'll get it done in time, perhaps I should make a couple of the candle decorations instead and keep the seascape doily for the one in spring.

Hubby looked at my metal shuttle and grunted over it, confused as always how my witchcraft produces beautiful lace! Maybe next Christmas I can add some snowflakes to our Christmas coffee.

Coronet Doily Adaptation

Linda S Davies — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 21:21:59 GMT

Over on InTatters one of the members had tatted my large coronet doily and then tatted and joined the smaller version around the outside. She then had to design a joining section. As you can see from this picture she did a pretty good job but I thought it would be fun to do my own version.
So far I have made the centre doily and done two of the smaller ones (pic not taken yet) but unfortunately I am running out of thread! I managed to get hold of Mary-Helen yesterday evening and very fortunately she has got the right thread and colours that I am using and is sending them to me. I will then crack on with the project.

In the meantime, I thought I would design a new fuschia flower. I have one in my book of summer flowers, but looking at a beautiful double one in my garden, I am going to see if I can do it justice!

Summon DRAGON!

wodentoad — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 14:10:33 GMT

My husband refers to tatting as witchcraft. He has no idea how two motions can produce lace. I decided to run with it and I told him I was summoning a dragon! Most gracious thanks to AnneB the creator of the Mini Norwegian Dragon pattern, and thanks to new tatter Catz who kicked me in the pants to get back to my tatting. (And also to the Twitter feed!) I've now completed Autumn Rose Dragon, which seems proper as I started it on the equinox! so here it is, tatted in Lizbeth Mountain Breeze. It's not been ironed yet, and the nose didn't turn out right.

I'm thinking about either picking up a motif pattern to make a chair doily possibly with wool, possibly doing some black lace, or working on my seascape doily. (And thanks for all the wonderful advice on blocking! I love this place!)

Update on the journey with rings

mcoperryl@gmail.com — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 12:42:01 GMT

My second attempt was less than appealing to me. It was just difficult to look at after all of the work and not being happy with the center motif I tried a third ring and am much happier with the way that center piece looks in the ring. I'll attach a photo in my album when finished with this.

Then, as tatting life seems to twist for me, I detoured a little to try a snowflake that I admired. (I have two wip's to finish this weekend) Always, I love Jon Yusoff's patterns and would like to try all of her snowflakes but the one I am working on is Wally Sosa's Superbowl Sunday Birthday Snowflake and it really has been a workout. The current piece is in Lizbeth White size 20 and when it's completed I want to immediately make one in size 40 and then size 80 (if I can). In the midst of my lefty/righty challenge with the rings, this pattern appeared and I just had to give it a try. It was just the ticket for me this week.

Moving Update

Kersti — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 09:19:16 GMT

It's less than 10 days to go. I managed to find a moving company, they turned up yesterday so the last couple of weeks has been the stress of packing. Not quite so easy when you're packing a partial house instead of a complete one - you have to ask the question of whether or not you own the item before you pack it!

Last weekend was going to be my big packing weekend, then we received some very sad news that a friend of C's friends had passed away. I had only met him a few times, but it was so sad - he was intelligent and kind and only 34. So, last weekend instead of packing we C and friend M flew in and we hired a car to drive out to Donegal for the funeral. I've heard from a few sources that there was over 3000 at the wake and there were about 300 at the funeral itself. Afterwards we drove back to Dublin so that the boys could get their flight home. A stressful and sad weekend but I wouldn't have not done that.

Meanwhile, my flatmate has decided that she's not staying afterall which means that when another friend takes over my part of the lease he'll need to sign up to take on the lot or he has to find something else. Even her own sister looked at her and asked why on earth she couldn't stay another month so that he could find someone. I guess some people just don't think beyond their own world. So I'm looking for a flatmate for someone else now :)

Yesterday the packing had to be finished - the movers arrived. On top of that work is not really letting up, they want me to finish projects while still doing my day job and handing over. No room to breathe there! And then there's the freelance work that I need to get finished before I go.

No wonder my hair is falling out in clumps!

Finished the Wool Doily!

wodentoad — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 01:35:42 GMT

And now I can work on either the Sea-colored cloverleaf or on learning a new technique. Oooh! Shiny new technique! Ive almost fully conquered SSSRs but still have regular splits to learn, but with that first one down that means I can finally make my dragon! It seems just like that row of simple joined rings, every tatter makes the dragon. And why not? They are superbly awesome! I was a HUGE Anne McCaffrey fan in High School, and the thought of a dragon just makes me happy! Mine will be in Lizbeth's Mountain Breeze which has an autumn rose feel to me.

I did a post in the FO's section of Tatting, but for those who missed it, my finished doily will be pictured below after finally figuring out the upload process! Yay! Win for me! It has some mistakes, but it's been steamed, blocked, ironed, and claimed. I'll be giving it to my Mom, who's Maternal Grandmother I apparently take after, not the least in the world of tatting.

Sorry about the pic quality, they were taken by my phone camera which has no auto focus. The second pic is of the twisted chains that give the final row that unique bumpy look that made me fall in love with the pattern even though I kinda hated actually making it for a few repeats. LOL!

Second day of tatting with rings.

mcoperryl@gmail.com — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:15:21 GMT

Yesterday's adventure was entertaining and I did complete one piece. From that day's experience I can see that this will also be a lesson in using different size rings and different sizes of thread. Yi, yi, yi.....it least it's fun to do.

I finally conquer SPLIT CHAINS

crazytatter — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 01:09:32 GMT

I heard of this technique last year but I never got it. I repeatedly watched video after video and looked at diagrams of how it should be and to no avail, I just couldn't get it. Now this past week I was watching Karen Cabrera's cabone how to video and suddenly remembered that I read somewhere if one understand how to tat with cabone, one would know how to do split chains. So I paid extra attention to how she does it and tried it on my own and I did it!

I finished a piece of project where the thread ran out at the end and only have enough to do split chains. yay! one less UFOs.....

Thank you to Karen Cabrera's video, it is so clear and easy to follow.

So little time!!!

emeania — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 22:47:41 GMT

Hello Tatters,
I'm new to this site, and still trying to find my way around. It was suggested that I introduce myself. So, to begin, I've been tatting for about two years now. I love it. After crocheting for almost 20 years, I wanted to learn something new. A friend of mine is a needle tatter and offered to teach me. I've still got a lot to learn.

I'm a full time student, wife, and mother of two little girls. I have almost no time to work on my projects, or learning new skills until the summer rolls around. But I'm always on the look-out for my next project (which usually means that by summer, I have enough projects to keep me busy all summer long!)

Next summer's project is to learn shuttle tatting. I love the refined look of shuttle tatting, but the ease of needle tatting. Shuttle tatting is still a little intimidating to me. So this is sure to be an exciting adventure. For now though, I'm currently working on beaded snowflakes to give as Christmas presents to my very large family!

I look forward to chatting with you as my crazy schedule allows! Happy Tatting!

Starting a new tatting journey today

mcoperryl@gmail.com — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 13:48:33 GMT

This actually begins a two step process for me. One is tatting with rings. I am confident because I purchased Jon Yusoff's "Tatting With Rings" and today will attempt to follow a pattern without beads. Then, I very much want to attempt to make a beaded pair of earrings...for me. When I purchased the book it was with others in mind. But, I absolutely adore the earrings that I have seen and it's going to be a week of challenge for me and also going to add some color to my jewelry box. Perhaps a pair for my daughter.

"Horstmar Expo 2011 album" finally posted and what I have been up to.

Lacetatting — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 18:41:51 GMT

[FONT="Arial Narrow"]
Hey Everybody, have been up to my ears in work....
... finally I found time to post Expo Album as I had promised a while back.
We all hope you enjoy looking at them! There are more to come, asa I get them ok'd by the tatters.

Am currently writing and of course creating the graphical and written patterns for 3 books.
One of which is about Art Nouveaux and Art Deco tatting... style is very different from regular "White Linnen" tatting and also complicated.
Am trying to make the patterns as easy to follow as possible , so beginners and intermidiate level tatters can manage, too, and not just the advanced crowd can get a kick out of them.
All are 2 shuttle, lots of change of direction and switching shuttles.
So far I am very happy with the results and I can't wait to get it done and out there.
General deadline is this winter season, when the gardens are asleep and I spend all my time piloting the shuttles and letting the keyboard rattle.
Wolf

A Knitter, A Crocheter and a Tatter - 5 newbies all at once!

PattyD — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 05:13:05 GMT

I belong to a group at church that makes needlework of all descriptions and sells them, sending the proceeds to missionaries. We decided to start a new group to make Prayer Shawls, which are items that the recipient can wrap around themselves and remember that they are in our thoughts and prayers. In order to get some new people involved, we offered to teach all comers to knit, tat, or crochet. So....

Last Thursday, I had 2 brand new crocheters, 1 knitter and a brand new tatter. Talk about maxed out emotional energy. They were all very kind about saying that I was a good teacher (I don't ever take things too seriously!) But, boy was i tired. This will be every 2 weeks

Moving Closer = Harder?

Kersti — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 08:34:16 GMT

So I've handed in my notice at work in Dublin, I've been doing interviews in Edinburgh and I'm all set to make the move.

Except for one important factor - I can't find a moving company! So far I've contacted 8 different ones, only three have responded with quotes and then after that they've all just dropped the ball, no response when I've gone back to accept or decline a quote. The quotes vary wildly too - two of them over �2000! :shock: So as it currently stands, with less than 3 weeks to go, I have no way to get my stuff moved over. It seems that because I have a half load, this is the issue.

I've looked into alternatives, would cost more to pay the insurance to take a van on the ferry, I don't know anyone with a van that I can borrow - with or without driver. Using the postal service will cost me thousands. Needless to say, I'm a little stressed!

So the act of actually packing is not currently going so well, I'm also accepting almost every social invitation I can - in many cases this could well be the last time I see some people. Thankfully my social invitations include knitting/crochet/tatting nights, without this I think I would go completely crazy!

Doily Inspired necklace

Raven1962 — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 20:22:26 GMT

I liked the pattern of the doily so much I decided to try incorporate it into a necklace.

This is my third attempt and I think I am getting there.

Giovanna's Flowers

Linda S Davies — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 10:04:25 GMT

Giovanna has been busy. Just take a look at these lovely flowers she has completed!
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L1WwE6VO1Go/TmnbvfayrlI/AAAAAAAABZ0/S9N41slEs3k/s1600/Edited%2B1.jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w0ukDoFu4x4/TmnbvM4ZnpI/AAAAAAAABZs/pWEi4p1zKEQ/s1600/Edited%2B3.jpg

Doily in a twist - need direction advice

Raven1962 — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 09:48:01 GMT

Well I decided to ween myself off TotsuMe's wonderful instructions for needle tatting. She really guides you through things step by small step and breaks it down so it's easy.

But my inspiration for tatting is my Dad. He used to talk with such fondness of the things his female ralatives back in Scotland used to tatt that I have always wanted to learn. I neer found anyone who could tatt to teach me and the books in the library were last century and seemed to assume you knew a lot about what tatting was even when claiming to teach you So the task seemed impossible to I stumbled on TotusMel's tutorials on Instructables.

However, I did not think my Dad would wear a necklace and there was this doily pattern I quite liked.http://www.iristatting.com/FREEPATT3.html But the instructions were in pictorial format. I was a little nervous to try tatting something so big (compared to a necklace) and with a pattern format I had not used before. In the end I walked myself through it in my mind before convincing myself I could work out which direction to take through the pattern.

I am pretty proud of the result. Still if you look at the photo I need some help. Below hopefully, is a picure of how it should look and how my work is turning out.

Besides the fact I obviously got lost in the middle there when I was starting out and one side of the centre has extra bits. The main thing I would like to learn now is how to get my tatting to lie in the right direction. I found it especially hard to do the second row of this pattern where there were picots going both down to the first layer and going up for the above layer (third layer) to join to.

Can anyone share any tips to help me improve my tatting?

Presenting My First Flying Minor Norwegian Dragon!

IsDihara — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 20:58:50 GMT

Today I posted a photo of my finished dragon - a lovely iridescent and gold hatchling. He's such a handsome hatchling!

Anne Bruvold's Flying Minor Norwegian Dragon has been on my Must Tat list since 2008. A long time, but so worth the wait.

The Sprout loves him and plays with him every day (Such a joy to watch!) but he insisted on changing his name from Zaurun to Toothless.

Thank you, Anne, for sharing this marvelous pattern!

Link to Ambitatterous Blog Post: Presenting...Toothless!

Tatting with Wool

wodentoad — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:01:55 GMT

My first lace-weight thread was made of wool. This is what I tatted with after moving on from some cotton string I had, as soon as I had my first clover shuttles. So I learned to tat, at first, very very delicately, as with too much tension, the wool will break. In the picture (linked below) it has already been ironed twice, and will be blocked a third time once I finish the final row, so it's actually laying flatter than it looks. http://yfrog.com/z/h28r2gwj

Of course, I can't be expected to do anything easy on the first try! I'd actually given this one a break to work on other pieces, but I find myself returning to it possibly because it is my first, or possibly because of the challenge of wool after working with Lizbeth or crochet thread.

There are other projects I'd like to try, both out of my books and online, but I'm not sure I've worked on my patience enough. I'm a long time knitter, and a designer, but sometimes I get bored and wander off when making other people's designs. I just don't know if I've got the guts to try to design in such a true art like Tatting. Those that do design, my hat is off to you! I suppose this is what I get for joining the Secret Society of the Craft world, but hey, even knitters put down their needles for a moment and stare in awe of my junior tatter creations. This makes me happy.

Coming around to my previous point, I highly recommend working with lace weight wool, especially if you've been having trouble with tension!

Butterflies flew away!

wodentoad — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 18:51:24 GMT

I was out tatting as I sat with my husband after a lovely dinner at a local Chinese restaurant. The ladies who worked there spoke little English, but LOVED my work. I'm always surprised at how delicate people think it is. Well as it was there were four of them and I only had two butterfly bookmarks on hand to give away. I normally keep five--all that will fit in my accessories keeper--but I'd already given a couple away. I guess now I've got some more tatting to do.

Right now I'm making new ones with the girliest Lizbeth I have, "Spring Flowers." I'm going to still keep five on hand, I'm just going to have to remember to replenish my stock. I'm currently using a standard 4-loop patter, and leaving the strings long. I like to think I'm promoting literacy AND tatting. I'm only having one small problem, and that's closing the last loop. There's one join, and then three ds before I close the final ring, but it always ends up looking a little twisted and funky. I'll have to figure this one out...

Simple Celtic Knot Bookmark

Linda S Davies — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 11:02:55 GMT

I have designed this simple bookmark. The twisted chains give it a Celtic Knot style and by using 4 shuttles in alternating colours, makes it look a little more interesting.
I have written the pattern out and published the PDF which you can get from here
or from the Free Patterns section of my blog.
Don't worry if you do not have 4 shuttles, it can be done with 2 shuttles and 2 ball threads, but it can twist up quite a bit this way. Much easier to keep the threads under control if you use 4 shuttles!

tatting and rabbit

ninibestiole — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 10:15:33 GMT

l'm the happy owner of cochise a 4 year old rabbit

he is cute , bit of a temper but that's ok it takes it from me :tongue:
yesterday l' was tatting sitting on my bed , chillaxing form a hard day at work everything was just fine until l've heard a "nom nom" sound coming from my thread basket :shock:

cochise had escaped form his house and had jumped into the basket , swam among my threads and found himself entangled :shock:
the "nom nom " sound ? he was just munching the thread l was working with to free himself :furious:

as a results l've to repalce 1/3 of my thread balls and start anew my tatting cause of course my thread was a limited edition (l've learnt it from the woman whol sold me the tread ) l can find the same color but not the same silkish texture .........:furious::furious:

l'm happy he is fine and dandy l really am but argh my threaaadddssss :cry:

Tatting Blog

shatteredshards — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 20:45:11 GMT

I actually have a tatting blog at http://shatteredtatter.wordpress.com/. The link is also in my profile, as my homepage.

I've been posting regular updates of the doily I started last week, and just posted photos of my thread collection. Very soon, possibly tomorrow, I'll be posting a destash sale of threads I would like to clear out so that I can maybe buy some ones I've been drooling over.

Variagated Doily

Linda S Davies — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 14:30:39 GMT

I had some of this thread left on my shuttles from the ~Rosette Doily~ and thought I would use it up. I basically designed one row and then just kept repeating it. Sometimes offset and sometimes straight on. Not bad, but I don't think it is the best of designs!

what the?????

Green Gal — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 02:53:24 GMT

could have sworn I did abig post in the how to section yesterday and today it isnt there.... what the???????

Rosette Doily - Test Tatted

Linda S Davies — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 16:11:01 GMT

Here is a picture of the Rosette Doily - the pattern for which my friend, Stephanie, test tatted for me. Didn't she do a grand job? I love the way she has used the white to accentuate the rosette edging! It just shows how colour can affect the end result and colour combinations are endless!

Rosette Doily

Linda S Davies — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 11:33:09 GMT

Here is my latest doily now tatted in a variagated thread which I have now name Rosette Doily. It is Lizbeth size 40 col 124. I have written out the pattern and my good friend, Stephanie, is test tatting it for me. As soon as she is done I will post the link to the PDF.

The work I do

Lacetatting — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 16:45:08 GMT

Yes , that is exactly what I do...converting old text patterns into graphical patterns (diagrams) besides my own patterns. I also do graphics for other authors.
while working with old publications, i often found mistakes, in the written pattern and or confusing terminology.... same stitches have different names all over, due to author,time,place,country, language.
A lot of germans don't like written patterns, because of that and all the language confusion on top.
graphical patterns are sort of an international language.
Experienced and beginners can tell by the photo and graphic side by side, where they are with their piece, what stitches used etc....plus
having to put a piece of paper or ruler ontop the written pattern is anoying and if you leave your work be for a period of time, you have to check with your allready tatted piece and reread the entire pattern at the same time, in order to find out how to continue...
There are lots of things I want to do and like to spend most of my time on the actual tatting, not reading and rereading patterns...
I guess it is an efficiency issue, bugging me, but we all got our ticks...

As promised, I will post a pattern in an album.
The original pattern was published in an old workbasket.
single shuttle...one round

I tweaked it .... to two rounds, instead of being knotted all over the place and a long thread running at the back of it as the case with being worked in a single round .
Let me know what you think and pass it on, as long as i get credited!
have fun.

Row Four done.

wodentoad — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 17:40:16 GMT

Out of 30 or so rows, it's actually turning out pretty well. A couple of flubs, a missed connection, a beaded picot out of place, but I think I've got it back on track now. Here's a pic: http://yfrog.com/z/gyf05amj It's actually a lot easier than beaded knitting, so I think my next project might be a new necklace for a pendant I've got, or maybe for a new pendant. This will take some thought, and perhaps some more thread. Yes, definitely will take some more thread. (Shhhh, don't tell my husband!) LYS seems to be the only place I can get tatting thread without having to order online. Oh alas, (*dramatic pose*) I guess I'll have to support a great local specialty shop with great people and selection. Whatever shall I do?!

So here we go, four rows of the tatted bag, taken to hide the flubs, because, well, I'm not gonna focus on them. I'm going to accept them as part of the unique charm of this early project and move on. The only thing that frustrates me at this point is that the one in the pic does not look like the one I've made. Possibly an effect of bead size.

Round Doily

Linda S Davies — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 13:38:17 GMT

My dear daughter-in-law asked me to make her another doily in brown and cream, to match her decor, to go under a vase.
On the journey to visit my mum on Tuesday, I came up with this design and finished it last night.
I used split rings and split chains to climb out of the rounds to prevent tying and cutting, but this shows up as the wrong colour. I decided that it didn't matter as the centre would be under the ornament and not seen.
I eventually worked out how to do the split chain with just one colour, but I couldn't remember how to do a single shuttle split ring, which might have solved the two-colour problem in the rings!
I really enjoyed doing this simple pattern and I am going to do it again with a single variagated thread and write the pattern out at the same time. When it is done I will post it here on my blog.

Pattern/description for two bracelets -- assembling

monedido — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 16:06:21 GMT

Just photos:

Pattern/description for two bracelets

monedido — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 16:01:00 GMT

For this bracelet I used 8 mm beads (15 pcs), DMC Perle #12 (cream) or Lizbeth 40 (silver) thread, some seed beads and magnet clasp.
My friend has rather thin wrist (15 cm), so you should change the bracelets' lengh as needed.

********************

Row 1:
1 = 3 =... ring (4-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-4)
2 = 4 =... chain (3 ring(4-4-4-4) 3)

********************

For turning make two chains (#1 and #2) -- both (6 ds).
After chain #1 join to the center ring.

Row 2:
3 = ring (4-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-4)
4 = chain (3-3)
Finish the row with two chains 6 ds each (see next picture)

********************

How to count tatted part lengh (we count center rings!):
1 ring (for the beginning) + (4 rings for each 8 mm bead (or 3 rings for each 5 mm bead))*(total quantity of beads minus 2) + 1 ring (for the end)

In my case I've got 15 beads, and I've made 1+52+1 = 54 center rings.

********************

Assembling -- see next blog entry :)

Oh my god, it's.... BEADS!!!

wodentoad — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 02:10:20 GMT

I've finally given into temptation. Halfway through the first repeat of the second round of a three round cloverleaf doily (in the most oceanic Lizbeth "Seascape"), I decided to take the plunge, so to speak, and grab some beads. Threading a tiny needle that would fit through size 10 beads with size 20 thread was a challenge, but I've threaded the beads, and this is going to be one spectacular project. I decided to go whole hog at first and make one in all black. I can hear it now, warnings of "Black Lace!" but I have a nice bright light, and heck I'm already near sighted. I also bought a green and some silver beads (though I'm wondering if I should have bought clear) for a second bag. Not sure if I'll make it or use them for another beaded project. Maybe a matching bag and necklace, eh? Not sure I'm ready for jewelry yet. Not sure if that makes sense.

The instructions were actually pretty easy once I took out the color change in the beads. I'm a simple girl with simple tastes. I re-wrote the pattern just a bit, creating my own shorthand based off of the Blomqvist/Persson book, with more complex instructions written out. As good a book as it is, it does fall down a bit with the pictures and instructions. It's not a problem with something like the cloverleaf I'm working on, but I had to give up at the first medallion of the butterfly corner when I could not figure out a couple of the directions.

In other news, I'm almost late in mailing out the Red Lace doily. Should probably pack the envelope away on Monday, as I don't want to miss my sister's birthday. I'll post again when I have a couple of rows down on the bag, as right now it is simply a very pretty edging.

What have I been up to?

Kersti — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 10:03:21 GMT

It's been a very busy 6 months for me, as a result I've not been online a much as I would normally be.

For the last 18 months I've been doing the long-distance thing, with me in Dublin and my partner in Edinburgh. So every couple of weeks we get weekends together, which is lovely but not really enough. It also means that every evening we're on Skype. That's also lovely but it's not the same as both just being in the same room.

In February I went to Australia for the first time in 5 years, and the first time since the break-up of my marriage. In other words, the first time in a lifetime! When I got back it was straight into planning a work trip to India. Wonderful trips, absolutely fabulous!

In the background I've joined up with the local fibre groups, so great to meet other crafters and to regularly spend time with them, as a result I've done more actual tatting than I had done in years. I've also taught myself to crochet and to knit - tatting will always be my first love though.

I'm also working on a few development projects. I'm hoping to get something out by the end of the year. And then there's Knots which I'm trying to get updated during my spare time.

But the good news, I'm soon going to be moving to Edinburgh. I can't wait - a whole new adventure, but lots of packing and organising to do between now and then! Still a bit of a secret, so I'm not talking about it anywhere other than here yet.

If you need to reach me you can send me a PM - I do read them all even if I don't always get to respond.

All my company is gone! Finally!!!

donnawannatat — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 04:07:37 GMT

Between my MIL visiting and then my dad and step-mom I have had someone else in my house who needed my attention for most of June and all of July and the first week of August. Finally I have my house to myself and my daily routines can go back to normal. :w00t:

I wanted to participate in the lion brand blog CAL for the first time but I was constantly busy running people around and visiting with them. Now that they are gone I'm quickly trying to catch up but I just looked and it looks like they're finished :ermm: Oh well, mine will be finished soon too.

I did tat another one of Rachel's easy cross bookmarks for my step-mom though. I was trying to explain to them what tatting was but they had no idea. I showed her a picture of the crosses I made and she loved them. I showed her some of my threads and she fell in love with this variegated purple thread so in a couple days I had made her a cross for her bible. She snatched it up so fast and stuck it in her suitcase that I didn't even get a chance to take a picture of it. Oh, well, I'll be making another one like that anyway.

One day someone called me to because I am the Project Linus Coordinator for my area and they said they were cleaning out a house that was full of stuff. They didn't know if I could use it or not but they said there was fabric and yarn and lots of patterns. Only problem was it was all mixed up together and I'd have to sort through and find what I wanted and dispose of the rest. Most of it wasn't really anything I could use for Project Linus since it smelled like cigarettes but they gave me this tall file cabinet full of various patterns and crafting magazines. I was in heaven! I found a few workbasket magazines with tatting patterns and few other books with tatting patterns in them. I even found a magazine with a hardanger pattern in it. Most of the patterns were crochet and there are some for knitting. So I'm in pattern heaven :w00t:

Thanks for the great response to my album

Lacetatting — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 18:45:02 GMT

..... and your compliments.
None were posted to my blog though...all picture comments, which I replied to the same way.
Was not aware of this possibility , before I started this blog for tis exact purpose....
Well.....live and learn!...

Pictures...

RandaGray — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 14:37:56 GMT

I have a bunch of pictures - believe it or not, I've been tatting since I posted last. Some of them I was able to put in my albums, but some of them I was kinda dumb & erased off my SD card. So I'm copy & pasting here :)

These are a few pictures "of note" of what I've been working on. In no particular order. There are other things, but they're in either my album, or I don't have any pictures right now. At some point I'll post pictures of Yarnplayer's "Arches" doily in size 80 thread... I kept it for myself, which I normally don't do for no reason :)

Finally!

wodentoad — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 13:40:03 GMT

So, with about three weeks to spare, I finally finished the red lace for my sister. Pictures here: http://yfrog.com/gz33250416j on yfrog. I looked at a couple more projects, but I don't think I'm quite ready. Not very good at estimating 1/8th inch as stated in one project. But I decided to work on my frilly lace for a bit and then decide whether to do my next project, another clover doily, in Lizbeth's Seascape or in Christmas Greens. I still need to finish my FIRST project which is on the last row, but uses wool so is very difficult to tat without breaking. It looks pretty though, and needs to be finished and out of my basket.

Not sure of the state of Springtime Springtime Springtime, it's not quite tensioned right, and I don't know if I have the gumption to finish it. Maybe after the Frilly lace, Clover, and Basket of Clover is done, I'll give it another look.

In other news, I'm glad I gave myself some time for reflection before I went crazy. Today, I looked at a window dressing in one of my books an instead of gung ho, I was awed. This is much more reasonable. As my mother said, you have to work UP to tablecloths.

My New Tatting Blog

elishama3 — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 06:44:23 GMT

I've been thinking of starting a tatting blog for years now, and InTatters has inspired me! I wrote one post here, but would like more autonomy, so...

...I'd like to introduce you to my new tatting blog, at http://www.TattedTreasures.com

I hope you will take a look and give me some feedback. It is still brand new, so please bear with me and check back often.

What would you like to see in a tatting blog? I would like to include some of my original patterns, tutorials when I've found a good way of doing something, and some eye candy of my pieces--both in progress and finished. What else would you like to read about?

One free pattern is already up! Take a look!

Something new

Imoshen — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 04:18:33 GMT

I decided to make a gift for my grandmother in law who recently helped us out of jam. Not strawberry flavored either. Now she likes my tatting so I thought I'd make her an hanky. I found a good deal on a few and picked up 4 packages. After trying out a few different edgings I settled on one from 1000 Mailles, it's a foreign magazine. i never realized how tedious it can be adding that initial tatting to the actual hanky. Yes, I suppose I could have done the edging and then sewn it on later, but why make more work right? This is the base of the pattern. It has another three rows following it that will fan out.

Attached Thumbnails

I AM EXcited!!!

jamlover — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 00:41:57 GMT

You've got to see this to really understand. Any slack in the tension on my thread and it drops off of my short fingers! But with the little cut, it stays in place.

Realize that the last joint of my ring and middle finger are almost an inch short. Chop an inch off your two fingers and imagine what your thread would be able to do.

This is fantastic!! Not so many dropped threads!! I am thrilled!!

Attached Thumbnails

My favorite purse___cont.

jamlover — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 21:54:44 GMT

Got to try again

Attached Thumbnails

My favorite purse is back at work!!

jamlover — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 21:43:53 GMT

And it's all to the credit of elishama3 and her blog about making a finger guard.

It all happened as I was procrastinating_____not really tatting on something different. But thinking about tatting. I did the finger ring ___well sort of___I can't leave anything alone. Mine is a thumb ring to hold my hook! You will see below.

Then I went so far as to approach a closet. There were a lot of big clothes needing a new home at Goodwill so I wouldn't be tempted to eat myself back into them. hehehe!!! Wouldn't that be fun!!

Anyway, in the cleaning process I came across this SAS navy blue leather purse. I have saved it for years, even though it was less than perfect any morel Heck, it will be my all time favorite purse for many purses to come!! Scrap leather she said!! Needed to make a finger guard!! You bet. And it's in my favorite colored leather!!

So I cut the side out of the purse. Oh, does it feel good to be so destructive. Using 'good sewing shears' I cut a strip out of my favorite 'not so nice anymore but too valuable to part with at cleaning time SAS leather purse' Crunch, crunch, it cuts so elegantly. This is really fun!! But, back to the job at hand.

Attached Thumbnails

Hi everybody

Lacetatting — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 00:15:06 GMT

I joined recently and finally found time to upload the first pics of my album.....
I mainly work and design my own patterns in size 80
Am interested in your opinions, since I am often pressed for time, I am not online much to chat, but in due time, even I respond to mail and notes am always willing to share my experiences and knowledge.
More pictures will follow, these are of my latest work.....the last 2 years I spent daily on those panels, which measure 1,15 m x 0,5 m

How to make a tatting finger guard

elishama3 — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 03:12:43 GMT

Does this happen to you? Okay, so the picture is not very good, but bear with me.

Often when I am tatting for a while the thread wears ridges into my middle or ring fingers, or my pinkie when doing split rings, and that can be painful. I've tried those commercial plastic things you slip over your finger, but they never stay in place for long, and the thread never stays on them anyway. So, I made my own finger guard.

I've been using this one for years and love it. It stays on my finger, stays in place under the thread no matter which way the thread lays, is easy to put on and take off, and is dirt cheap. Plus, the longer I use it the more comfortable it is!

Here is a little tutorial on how to make your own.

Go to your local craft store and buy a small swatch of craft leather for a couple of bucks.

Take a sharp knife and cut it in roughly this shape:

You don't need to be too exact, though it may help to trace it on paper a few times to get the size right for your finger. The wide part in the middle will fit over your middle knuckle, so should be about that wide. The thinner straps on either side should be about 1/3 the width of the middle and a little less than twice as long as the middle length.

When you cut it out it should look like this:

Then wrap the finger guard around your finger, with the wide part over the knuckle that has all the red ridge marks, and fold the straps around in a simple overhand tie:

The leather will keep itself tied pretty tightly for quite a bit of tatting. I find I have to snug it every half hour or so.

This is what it looks like in action:

I hope this little tutorial helps someone out.

The Daffodil Doily

Ellen Norman — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 20:45:53 GMT

Hello, I'm new to the group and I have found the wonderful world of needle tatting. I tried this pattern and ran into trouble at the last round when you have to leave a space. What do I do now? I have cut several stitches out numerous times. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you:blush:

help

lburr71105 — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 17:42:27 GMT

am working on the veil for my daughter wedding. I would like to find a book on tatting her wedding gloves . I would like to find a pattern to make the gloves. if anyone has ideal on where to find one please let me know. thanks for the help

Butterflies are a little girly!

wodentoad — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 16:06:36 GMT

I'm surrounded by guys all the time, so it's nice to girl it up now and again. Thanks to one suggestion, (I can't remember who or I'd thank them personally and profusely) I've made a few tiny tatted butterflies. Well, I give them away like hot cakes! Since I go through them so quickly, and again by suggestion, I've stopped attempting to weave the ends and now have butterfly bookmarks (Pictured here: http://yfrog.com/kix42exj ) but I'm still thinking I need something more "manly" for my little give away items. Maybe I should make small stars or perhaps a tiny motif. Oh alas, I may have to buy another ball of thread. I won't tell if you don't.

My butterfly pattern is:
R1: 3, p, 5, 3p sep by 1, 5, p, 3.
R2: 3, j, 7, 3p sep by 1, 7, p, 3.
R3: Same as 2.
R4: 3, j, 5, 3p sep by 1, 5, j, 3.

L.A.C.E. Day....Downers Grove, IL

bjulia_lacer — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 02:52:40 GMT

I went to the lace day with two other ladies from my lace group. We met up with a few of our friends from the internet. What fun...I bought thread, a new bobbin lace pillow and a pair of sterling silver shuttle earrings. Also, one wooden bowl to put either pins or beads in that can attache to a pillow if I want to use it there.

I had to make a cover for my new pillow before it got dirty....! Now because of it's size, I can bring it with me easier when I do a demo...!

My Mum's Birthday Present

Catriona — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 07:06:56 GMT

It was my Mum's Birthday yesterday and I was in a panic to finish her present as I had to take a brake for a week or two from tatting because of a swollen finger.

It is yet another Portrait necklace but this time it is in dark purple and instead of using 3mm beads on the chains of the rounds, I used gorgeous Swarovski 10mm Heliotrope heart pendents which are purple but with a blue hue that I don't think these photos do justice.

I am really please with how it turned out. I compared it to my last shuttle tatted necklace and it it a lot smaller so my tension must also be improving. I am also quite glad of this as my mum is a small lady and I was worried the bigger necklace would drown her.

I am really looking forward to giving this to her this lunch time! :happy:

Newbie

alice22 — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 21:58:22 GMT

Hello there, I'm new to this site and to tatting. Well, new to needle tatting and haven't done any shuttle tatting for 50+ years! I learned as a child but didn't keep up with it.

I have tried to edit my avatar but, no luck. Anyone tell me how to do this? I tried clicking on change avatar but it didn't work for me.

Anyway, I have uploaded a file of a Heather Edging that I did, today. My best try, yet. Not great but I'll get better. Anyone who has any handy hints is welcome to pass them on to me. I think my stitches are too loose.

Hope to learn a lot from the rest of you. Be patient, please, my ol' arthritic hands don't work as well as they used to do. But this helps keep them going.

Thanks for the invite.

Attached Thumbnails

New goodies :O)

donnawannatat — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 09:42:04 GMT

I got my set of 6 tatting needles in the mail today. It was funny because the ebay account is in my name but my husband uses it the most for buying magic cards (card game). We get a lot of little packages in the mail with my name on them but they are all for him. This time he ripped open the envelope and was bummed. He said, "needles?" with a frown LOL But I was very happy to see them. They came pretty fast! I can't wait to try them but I am making myself wait a little while. My doctor put me on a pain patch and I'm a little loopy (but not hurting!!! yay!). I'd probably stick myself a bunch and end up with a tangled mess.

I also found my beaded earrings I was working on in pink and white for my sister. I had already finished one and had just started the 2nd one. Then my husband told my kids to clean up one day and I couldn't find them anywhere after that. I found them in the bottom of a tub full of yarn and assorted other stuff that had been stuck in the garage! :furious: It took me a good half hour to get them untangled from the other stuff in there. Now I think I'll finish them. My sister sells Mary Kay so she's become very fond of pink. These earrings are from the same pattern as the green/white pair I made that is in my album only those were made with size 10 royale crochet cotton (and were horrendously long) and these are made with size 20 Lizabeth.

When Life's Karma kicks you when your down.

Antiquarian — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 16:39:29 GMT

It's amazing to me how things like online forums/friends make a difference when life's road turns down an ugly path. I really don't want to go into details (It's unneeded here), but the earthquake in Japan in March was only the start for my family, though the straw that broke the camel's back was the discover and removal of a one inch brain tumor in my sister-in-law's left vocal cortex, the destruction of Joplin, Missouri (USA) where my childhood BFF lives (she and her's are OKAY), and Obachan (grandma) Nori's death all within a couple of weeks of each other.

The kind and thoughtful words from this and my online needle lace community are like little chocolates that perk up the soul. I've been absent, but still... It's nice to know that people in there root souls/hearts care about complete strangers. Also, the wonderful poratblility of tatting and crochet kept me sane for the last few months. Things are only now "normalizing". So, on that note I'm going to go put on my early American costume and spend another lovely (hot) day making and talking to people about lace in the 4th of July Colonial Village. So far July is near perfect.

An experiment

LaceMistress — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 15:10:14 GMT

Went to Joann Fabrics yesterday after attending church with Gramma and I found some DMC Perle 8 thread in white, ecru, black, deep navy blue, bright red, and Gryffindor red. Got some of the navy blue and Gryffindor red thread, and some plastic sewing bobbins. Figured I could make up some shuttles with the bobbins for a tatting class I'm hoping to teach in August. Straightened paper clips actually work pretty well with the bobbins! I'm going to have to cut out some tapestry plastic in the shape of tatting shuttles and see what I can come up with.

And, I started tatting some edging with the navy blue for a sky blue plaid shirt I have. It's my own design in the style of the galoon braids, as DMC calls them, in the "one shuttle wonder" category. The worst part is trying to figure out how to turn the corner, and a triangular motif to attach to the straight edge that the corner turn has created!:huh:

Taking a knitting break but can't stay away from the thread

donnawannatat — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 07:52:15 GMT

My husband always says I'm ADHD when it comes to crafts. I can never do one thing for long before something else distracts me. Well I got this email from Lion brand yarn with a few patterns for tie's for Father's day. Well, I know that's over but I really want to make something for my husband. He is one of those guys who doesn't like "crafty" things. He always tells me not to make him anything because he wont wear it. BUT, since I'm not working now and we are tight on money I can't buy him anything. So for Father's day he got a nice breakfast and then we spent the day in the yard and grilled for Dinner........ anyway, it's bothering me to not give him anything. So I'm going to make this tie for him. I bought the microspun yarn in black since choices were pretty limited at our Joanns here in Alaska. For some reason that yarn is on clearance. He wears a lot of black and grey but I really wanted a variegated yarn. I didn't find anything I could use so I started knitting away and got about 4 inches and HATED it. It just was too plain for something handmade. So I ripped it out and went digging through my stash. Finally I ended up with some RED size 10 thread. I put it together with the black yarn and cast on. It looks much much better. :rockhard: I'll take a picture after I have more done but I really like the result so far.

Old Thread

eng.tatter — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 13:28:26 GMT

I finished a small doily with the old 100 thread. Only 5 inches and very delicate. Planning to start "Olive Doily" with same thread. Thanks again for the pattern. Still working on learning how to hide ending tails.

Baby Tatter's Ah-hah moments!

donnawannatat — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 05:43:18 GMT

I finally finished making two crosses using Rachel's pattern for her Easy Cross (found under patterns).
Sorry the image isn't the best. I used my iPhone since I can't find the battery charger for my camera. One of the crosses is cut off but if you look in my album it's not cut off there.

I am making these for friends and I think they will love them. So as I was working on the pink one it suddenly occurred to me that I could make one using two different colors. :idea: I know this is probably going to make you all say "yeah duh" but I didn't realize until I was trying to figure out how to hide my cut ends. I still don't really know how to do that but I noticed when I tried holding the cut end with the other thread when making a stitch that when the stitch flipped the stitch was made with the double strings. I've always used the ball end to make chains. So it occurred to me that if the ball thread was a different color the stitch would be that color and the shuttle thread would be the core thread and it's opposite for the rings. So I started with the two shuttles that had pink and purple on them and tied the ends together and wah-la! how cool is that?! I guess it must seem silly but I did learn from the internet and didn't see that anywhere.

Another thing I figured out by accident was hand-tatting. I have read where other people have said they hand-tatted a part of a pattern because it was hard to pass the shuttle though and I always wondered how the heck do you do that. Well I ran out of thread on my shuttle and wanted to finish my ring so I grabbed the end of the string and just did it without really thinking about what I was doing. I guess I just did it as if I had a shuttle in my hand. After I finished the ring I thought, "hold up, I just hand-tatted!!!!!!!!" So then I grabbed a ball of crochet cotton worsted weight for making washcloths and wound a little bit into a bundle and started tatting and I made this simple little flower maybe two inches across. Then I took a crochet hook and started crocheting a circle around it. I stopped when I had no idea what I could do with it though. Maybe I'll think of something.

It's fun learning new things. I feel like a big-girl tatter now! I need some pull-ups :twothumbsup:

Bible cover

Linda S Davies — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 17:38:11 GMT

I was asked by my dear friend, Eileene, from USA, to make covers for her Holy Bible and Book of Mormon. She gave me the measurements and this is what I have come up with so far. The motifs will cover the front and back of each book and the rows of tatting will go down the spines. I will also do rows of tatting at each end and fasten at the top and bottom to make sleeves to anchor the covers on the books. I am using DMC size 70 and so the work is really delicate. The one I am doing at the moment (the bible one) will be 12 1/2" by 7 1/2".

What do you think of it so far?

Handy Hands is SO Handy!

donnawannatat — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 18:06:16 GMT

I am so excited. I finally ordered my thread for the shower curtain I'm making from Handy Hands. I wanted the thread to match the new paint color and it can be hard to trust the trueness of the colors on screen or in printed catalogs so I asked if I could send them a paint sample. They were happy to help. I just put my order in and I was right. The color in the catalog that I thought was closest wasn't the right color and I would have never chosen the colors they suggested. I'm so glad they were so friendly and willing to help with this. I want this shower curtain to look like it was made for the room! I also bought some variegated colors to play with since the choices of thread here in town are slim. I can't wait to get my order. Oh, and since I got the newsletter I get free shipping.......from now on. KEWL BEANS! :thmbup:

Olive doily

monedido — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 17:15:03 GMT

In this post I'm going to write a pattern for this doily/tablecloth:
http://frywolitka.slupsk.pl/images/g...serwety/57.jpg
The Author (Jan Stawasz) did not publish it anywhere. I'm making it using a photo of his finished tablecloth and a pair of ideas from this project.

*********************************

ROW 1
A = ring (4-1-1-3-3-1-1-3-3)
B = chain (5)
C = r (6-3-2-3-3)
D = r (3-3-1-1-3-2-3-1-1-3-3)
E = ch (5-10- r (2-8-2-2-8-2) -10-5)

ROW 2
A = r (6-2-6)
B = ch (3- r(5-4-1-1-1-1-4-5) - 4 - r(5-3-2-3-3-2-3-5) - 4 - r(5-4-1-1-1-1-4-5) -3)
Ring -- just like ring A
C = ch (4)
D = r (4-3-2-2-2-2-2)
E = ch (3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3)

*********************************

ROW 3
All the rings = (4-4-4-4)
Corner chains = (2)
All other chains = (3-3)

*********************************

ROW 4
All the chains = (3-3)
Corner rings = (4-4-4)
All other rings = (4-4-4-4)

*********************************

ROW 5
All the rings (1-4-4-1)
Corner chains (7-4-7)
All other chains (7-7)

ROW 6
All the rings (1-4-4-1)
All the chains (7-7)

*********************************

Pattern for rows 1-6, drawn by mermaid (corrected)

http://i25.fastpic.ru/big/2011/0725/...e6ccd1bfc1.jpg

*********************************

TO BE CONTINUED

Dormouse???

donnawannatat — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 08:57:13 GMT

Why does it say "dormouse" under my name? :emoji-E524: And I don't see my status on posts in the forum. Why is that???? I'm confusaled.

A New Student

PattyD — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 23:49:35 GMT

Well, Diana didn't come yesterday, and knowing her, it was because the family was doing something else. Sigh, waiting for my star pupil.

....But! Lots of interesting things happened at yesterday's class. A good number of people in the shop stopped to look at my samples and talk a bit about tatting. You could see some of them thinking about trying to learn tatting. I kept telling them, I am here every Saturday afternoon!

Also, there had been 2 teenaged girls tying baby quilts all afternoon. One left the shop and the other one, Miriam, finished a quilt. Since I had seen her avid interest in what was going on over at our table, I called her over to me and said "Let's tat!". She jumped at the chance!

We had about an hour and she learned the flip and we decided together that the geometry of her hand was better suited to hold the pinch between her thumb and her middle finger. She tensions with her index finger. We are fighting the common beginner tendency to no want to relax the left hand in order to accomplish the flip. But she made stitches that slipped on the core and took home a shuttle and thread to keep practicing. I expect to see something she has produced during the week next Saturday. How exciting!

Both students are almost ready to make a butterfly of rings. I can hardly wait!

a few new things

fairmar — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 13:51:21 GMT

Check out my newest little necklaces and pendants. I would love to hear some opinions. Taken from my smart phone so some of the picture quality could be better. Need to get a digital camera, I think. Have a great Sunday everyone!!!

Note to Self

donnawannatat — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 04:36:49 GMT

Royale Metallic Crochet Thread is TERRIBLE to tat with. The little gold filament gets in the way and causes all kinds of trouble. Trying to make a join I broke the filament and then had to use a little glue to get it to stick to the thread again. It is constantly separating from the main thread and causing a tangled mess. I will NEVER use this again to tat with. It may just end up across the road. :furious:

New Blogger

louine — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 18:40:30 GMT

I've never Blogged before......I read other's blogs and really enjoy them....I just have never thought anyone would be interested in my own ramblings...but I am on a new journey and I am I glad that I found tatting.....it is a new road for me.

My husband and I have just planted a small vineyard on our Mountain farm in Wilkes county, NC. I decided that I wanted to tat something with grapes. I like the grape edging in Knots but really wanted to attempt Mlle Riego's "Bunch of Grapes" so I started on a new leg of my tatting journey last evening.

I just finished my first bunch of grapes, complete with a bit of vine and leaves.....and it was one of the hardest things I have tatted.....First, I thought the cluster of grapes was a breeze....however, the vine and leaves took me forever. Now, I am a needle tatter so I guess the easy with which the cluster was done is off set by the stuggle with the vine---I just marvel that the pattern as intrepreted by Martha Ess, used three shuttles.....but I was determined. I need much more practice, but at least now I have figured how to make the chain for the stem and the side chains for the leaf clusters....I left too much bare thread (it somehow grew as I was tatting the leaves0 and had to add more stitches than the pattern.

Well, Here it is.......

but now I have the question........... What to do with it?

How to make a rose /Como hacer una rosa

isi-ta — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 13:51:43 GMT

No se donde colocar esta explicaci�n, asi, que he creado un blog sobre el tema.....Este modelo de foro, no lo controlo mucho,jejeje......... aqui esta la explicacion de como hacer una ROSA como la de mi avatar....

Not you where to place this explanation, this way that have created a blog on the topic.....This forum model, I don't control it a lot, jejeje......... here this the explanation of as making a ROSE as that of my change....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGBVR...layer_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfX9A...layer_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_p9i...layer_embedded

Brilliant 8 Year Old Student!

PattyD — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 17:12:30 GMT

My student and I had 3 hour class to ourselves last Saturday, again. It was delightful! I saw a lot of progress in muscle memory from last week. She practiced! While she forgot how to make a ring, she kept wrapping the thread in preparation for tatting and it showed. The previous week, her left hand was had a mind of it's own. Now she wraps the thread without thinking about it. This week we tried chains and picots and joins and closing the ring. Diana got reversing the work instantly.

She is spoiling me for other students! Her mom thinks I am an angel of patience, but really, I am having a blast!

Tatted edging for shower curtain

donnawannatat — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 15:24:17 GMT

I want something that waves so I'm thinking of one of these patterns but I'm still looking...
Wave or Pattern Edging #1 by Tatman

Josehpine Knot Bookmark Pattern

Linda S Davies — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 11:33:13 GMT

I have now written out the pattern for my latest bookmark, that I have called Josephine Knot Bookmark. You will find the link here or there is also a link on the right side bar of this blog in the "My Free Patterns" section. Enjoy!

Bathroom Project

donnawannatat — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 20:58:59 GMT

Well, since my boys are older I have decided to change the decor of my bathroom from the tropical fish theme we've had for 7 years. My plan is to design each room of my house around a different country - my living room is Ireland, my kitchen Italy, my bedroom is Asian (couldn't decide on one particular country there), my master bath is going to be Parisian themed, I'm letting the kids do their own rooms how they want, and I thought the bathroom could be British ships.... like from the 1700's or so. About a couple weeks back we painted the bathroom a blue-ish gray and then I ragged it with a slate blue glaze. It turned out really nice! I looked at shower curtains and hated all of them so I'm making my own. I bought some crushed voile in white (made me think of a sail) and I'm going to add a tatted edging. Barb from Handy Hands said I could mail her a paint sample and she could work on finding a matching tatting thread. I'm getting excited. This project will take a little while since I have to sew the curtain too but it will be fun! I have an old shower curtain to use as a pattern. I'm thinking of using an edging that has a wave to it....like water. I think I'll tat some motifs and frame them in small square frames - maybe 3 of them to go over the bathtub. I'm taking watercolor painting classes so I'm planning on painting a few pictures to go with the theme too. I'm just giddy with excitement! :w00t2: I hope it turns out as nice as I've invisioned!

Spot the Difference

Catriona — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 06:55:39 GMT

I have finished my first shuttle tatted piece. I made another necklace based on the Portrait pattern from the tatters Treasure Chest book for my Aunt.

Can anyone guess which of the two in needle tatted and which is shuttle tatted (bare in mind this is my first finished item with the shuttle and I have been needle tatting for around 6 months now)?

http://flic.kr/p/9PRp5T

here is a close up of each...
http://flic.kr/p/9PRp2M
http://flic.kr/p/9PUgD3

So which do you think is which?

As requested my knitted Tablecloths

tatting margaret — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 13:37:03 GMT

A few weeks someone said they would like to see my knitted tablecloths, I have added three to my knitting and stiching album.

The Orange/gold was my first and I started with 8 stitches and end with 2,000 stitches, it took a year on and off, it was so big I laid it on the carpet, its not a good picture but it shows you the size and there is also a close up of the middle.
I have put a pale pink and muiti colour brown one both patterns were German and came from Anna Magazine back in later 70's 80's, all were knitted with coats no20

I found a piece of tatting which I did a long time ago but I thought you might to see it, it was tatted in coats varigated pink no 20 I have put it in my tatting 2011 album

I hope you enjoy seeing them as I do using them
Margaret

In Memory of Doretha Albee

IsDihara — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 22:58:43 GMT

On Saturday, April 16, 2011, Tat Land lost a treasured rose. I never had the pleasure of meeting Doretha Albee, but her contributions to the tatting community were generous and many. For that I am forever grateful.

Georgia Seitz was fortunate to know her and has published this memorial on BellaOnline. Shared here with permission.

Doretha Albee's "Rose Medallion" first appeared in "Tatting Online, The Official 1999 Tat Chat Pattern Book," published 1999 and edited by Georgia Seitz. Shared here by permission of the editor in memory of Doretha.

In January 2000, Carol Lawecki tatted this lovely multi-colored "Rose Medallion" by Doretha Albee and has kindly granted me permission to share her photo here. Thank you, Carol!

Did you know that Mrs. Albee designed a Pineapple Doily? Yessirree! Designed in 1997, it is called Pineapple Heaven.

CrazyMom is tatting this lovely doily. You can follow her progress here: Doily Progress.

"Tatting Knots and Notes Revisited, Book 1"
Doretha's only published book to which I can find any reference is the newsletter compilation, "Tatting Knots and Notes Revisited, Book 1." A copy of it, I am told, is available through the I.O.L.I. Lending Library.

I'm not an I.O.L.I. member. However, PLG of VA tatter Anita Barry shared 4 issues of "Tatting Knots and Notes" from 1999 that she had saved in her library. Was I excited!

The tone of the newsletters was intimate and genial. I immediately felt as if I were sitting with Doretha tatting and chatting over tea. Few bloggers, including me, achieve this level of warmth in their writings. Once I had devoured them all I was left wanting more.

Doretha shared anecdotes, patterns from turn-of-the-century needlework magazines, tatting news and original designs.

She wrote of hating to cut and tie ends (Don't we all!) and often reworked antique patterns to make use of modern techniques. Clear photos of her own samples rounded out the pattern sections.

Doretha's window on the tatting world was filled with warmth and charm.
Let's all encourage "Tatting Knots and Notes Revisited, Book 1" to be reprinted.

Never having known her, I feel sure that I would have liked her immensely. Thank you, Doretha Albee, for continuing to publish this newsletter after Pat Perry died in 1991.

Thank you also for leaving a legacy of tatting companionship that will grow and flourish for generations to come.

On this last Tatting Tea Tuesday of May 2011, I raise my teacup* in tribute and bow my head in silence before picking up my shuttles.

Wishing you all blissful me time to create something beautiful. See you next Tuesday for more communi-tea!

* Today's tea is an infusion of decaf green/pomegranate/raspberry/mint.

3 Pics!

Linda S Davies — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 16:37:27 GMT

I was playing around with my cross bookmark pattern, which I thought I could make into a star shape and this is the result - 5 pointed like a starfish - I quite like it. Next I am going to make a "straight" bookmark with the same josephine knot edging.

My next door neighbour is very kind to me, always lending me great books to read and so I thought I would surprise her with one of my cross bookmarks.

Here is a picture of my recent oval doily now in it's final resting place. I often put my tatted doilies under glass as it protects them and the glass protects the top of the wooden furniture. This occassional table is was bought in 1985 and there isn't a scratch on it!

Really old thread!

eng.tatter — Mon, 30 May 2011 17:27:07 GMT

My friend (age 63) gave me 6 balls of size 100 tatting thread and asked if I could please make a doily in memory of her grandmother. History of thread: It was her grandmothers when grandmother lived in South Africa. That should help with the age of thread. Next problem: I think is was white at one time. Now is has several layer of dirt and age - more of a dingy cream color. The more I unwind, the lighter the thread. Final 2 questions: 1. Are there patterns especially better for this size of thread? I have several tatting books but most are for 80 or 30. 2. Do I keep unwinding until I find a consistent shade of somewhat white or is there a way I can wash/clean the ball?

Taught Tatting Today

PattyD — Sun, 29 May 2011 04:01:25 GMT

Well, I appeared at the appointed time at our local quilt center and waited for students. The knitting class was just ending. Since nothing appeared on the horizon that resembled students, I asked the knitting teacher if she would like to see my samples. The whole table was enthusiastic and oohed and aahed appreciatively. The quilt center is a non-profit, volunteer staffed organization and one volunteer was there who had her 8 year old daughter with her. The 8 year old, Diana, was my student.

We had a rollicking good time. She's a clever girl and dove right in. We started with finger tatting and within 20 minutes moved on to tatting rings with a shuttle. The only problem she had was keeping the tension on the shuttle thread after flipping the knot. She was delightful and we called it quits after about 2 hours because her pinch had been so fierce that her little fingers were sore.

Her mother was very pleased that the session had been enjoyable and productive for her daughter.

Next week, they will both be my students because the mom won't be working that day.

There were other people who came through the shop and stopped to admire the samples and ask questions. I have the feeling that this will grow!

Easy tatted cross

donnawannatat — Sat, 28 May 2011 10:15:33 GMT

I'm going to make this for a few really dear friends :O) I love this design!

Originally Posted by xstchntat

ch- chain, r - ring, p - picot, j - join, rw - reverse work
ch 5
r 4 p 4 p 4 p 4
*ch 4 p 4
r 4 j 4 p 4 p 4(to last p of previous r)
Rep from * til there are 7 rings
ch 4 p 4 p 4 p 4 This is the inside corner
+ r 4 p 4 j 4 p 4(to middle p of previous ring)
ch 4 p 4
r 4 j 4 p 4 p 4(to last p of previous r)
ch 4 p 4
r 4 j 4 p 4 p 4(to last p of previous r)
ch 2
r 2 j 2 p 2 p 2(to last picot of prev r)
ch 2
r 4 j 4 p 2 lp 2 p 4 p 4(to last picot of prev r)
ch 2
r 2 j 2 p 2 p 2(to last picot of prev r)
ch 2
r 4 j 4 p 4 p 4(to last picot of prev r)
ch 4 p 4
r 4 j 4 p 4 p 4(to last p of previous r)
ch 4 p 4
r 4 j 4 p 4 p 4(to last p of previous r)+
ch 4 j(to last p on long ch) 4 p 4 p 4
Repeat from + to +
ch 4 j(to last p on long ch) 4 p 4 p 4
Repeat from + to +
ch 4 j(to last p on long ch) 4 p 4 j(to first picot on first long chain) 4
r 4 p 4 j(to middle p of prev ring) 4 p 4
#ch 4 j 4 (to p on corresponding chain)
r 4 j 4 p 4 p 4(to last p of previous r)
Repeat from # 5 times
ch 5
tie beginning and ending with an overhand knot, cut 2 inches from end for a tassel
Take a 24 inch thread and double it, put it through the top picot of the cross and twist into a rope ending with an overhand knot

Deleting first entry and trying new approach

donnawannatat — Sat, 28 May 2011 06:18:22 GMT

I tried to add pictures of my tatting projects to my first blog post by copying the photo link from my regular blog mygardenblue.wordpress.com and they came out huge! :shock: Since it appears that I can't just add pictures right from my computer I am just going to post the link to my blog posts and the pictures can be viewed there. Maybe I'll figure out another way in the future.

Anyway, I learned about tatting in February of this year (2011) and decided I wanted to learn how to do it! When I finally got around to learning I couldn't find a tatting shuttle anywhere in town. So I made my own. I googled images of "tatting shuttles" to get an idea of how they were made and then I looked around for what I had that I could use to make my own. Click here to read on my regular blog how I made it and see my pictures. Now I have a couple of purchased tatting shuttles but I really like mine better since it holds more thread but if I need something smaller the purchased ones would be better.

My first tatting project was a bookmark and next I made some beaded earrings. There are links to the patterns I used on the pages with the pictures. Sorry the pictures aren't that great as they were taken with my iPhone. I'm currently working on another pair of earrings in pink and white with smaller thread so the earrings will be smaller. I have taking a bit of a break from tatting to get some other things done around the house but I am excited to learn more :girlpower:

Hey, how come it says "you may add 5 tags to this entry" but you can really only add 2!?!?! gRRrrr!

Sorry about the HUGE pictures

donnawannatat — Sat, 28 May 2011 05:33:48 GMT

In my first post I just went to my regular blog and used the photo links from there. I didn't realize the pictures were that big! They also look blurry but they don't look like that on my blog BUT they were taken with my iPhone so they aren't the best pictures.

I'm still trying to figure out how to fix this. This website baffles me.

First completed shuttle tatting

Pandemonia — Fri, 27 May 2011 03:09:23 GMT

YaY! http://www.flickr.com/photos/pandemo...in/photostream It worked up quicker than I expected. Did not need to be blocked or anything, laid perfectly flat! I gave it to my mom, she loved it. :heart:

Oval doily in progress - completed

Linda S Davies — Thu, 26 May 2011 10:27:57 GMT

Here is my latest doily completed. I wanted an oval doily to go under glass on an oval occassional table that I have. The doily that is on it at the moment is an old one from a pattern book and I wanted to replace it with something that I had designed myself. I have used a very standard edging, with a few tweeks, that can be found on many old patterns.....but I think that it works well in this case.

I doubt if I will ever write out the pattern for this as I would have to rework it to make it absolutely perfect......maybe one day, when I am bored and looking for something challenging!

Spiral Pattern Play

Judy — Tue, 24 May 2011 06:37:26 GMT

One of my albums is the photo of the cover of a book on tilings. http://www.intatters.com/attachment....9&d=1284361671 I'm committing to spending the next six months to working on and off on trying to work out a tatting for this double spiral. It may turn out to be a bust... but I'm intrigued by the challenge.

I need a long curvy triangle. I don't want to double each of the long sides; I'll start in one of the two centers, the first one is Ok. To do the 2nd one, you skip it and do the 3rd one. When you get to the short side, you do a split chain back to the 1st one, (that makes the 2nd one) then finish the 3rd one. So, I think every other one, with the fill in split chains. On the lower spiral, you do 1-9, then they suddenly get "shorter" and from there on they're spikey on the short end side. How do I get the sharp point to move off the starting point shared by the first 9? Is there a way of leaving a short bare thread, and then tatting over that as you build the first long side of triangle//10?11? Do those two share a common end point? Or, can I keep them separate, and just join as I go by? Mathematically they won't , but in tatting? I need to remember to leave a picot in #9 to connect the split chain end of 10.I love the dimensional feel to this, and how visually it keeps flipping from peak to valley. I'm going to post progress photos here. I'm trying an experiment. They say that you're crazy if you keep doing the same thing over and over and expect different results.

Oval doily in progress

Linda S Davies — Sun, 22 May 2011 15:15:22 GMT

This is the project that I am working on at the moment. It is worked with DMC size 70 vintage thread in ecru with a white border. Another couple of days should see it finished. This is another pattern that I have simply made up as I went along. I have only had to remove one round that did not work! LOL!!!

learning to use the shuttle.

Catriona — Thu, 19 May 2011 19:52:28 GMT

I first picked up the tatting needle in February. When I told my Mum about it she told me she had been given two old shuttles from a lady at Church but she had never figured out how to use them.

So the past 3 weekends when i've visited I had tried to figure out how to actually use them. Then this past sunday I FINALLY managed to do more than 1 double stitch.

So never doing anything by half I bought by first shuttle. I decided to get an Aero shuttle because I found it a pain to need the use of my tatting needle to do joins.

So here is it... My Ali Baba shuttle, decorated by LaCossette (Joelle Paulson).

As you can see, I have just got the hang of the rings and chains. :happy:

Rosaries

Imoshen — Thu, 19 May 2011 09:03:41 GMT

I had some family ask for some rosaries. I looked online for patterns and through my many books and PDF files but can't seem to find what was requested. Correction, design wise. So here's a starter inspired by one of Yarnplayer'e earrings designs...

"Green Knots"

Cathryne — Sat, 14 May 2011 16:15:37 GMT

I heard in my Celtic tatting group that someone here might have translated this pattern. If so where might I find it.

here is the original link
http://mitglied.multimania.de/fodogr...GreenKnots.pdf

thanks for your help

Cathryne

Monkey Muffler!

wodentoad — Wed, 11 May 2011 21:16:41 GMT

Okay, I'm about to unleash a string of unholy curse words. If you have tender sensibilities, I suggest you cover your eyes: Oh Holy Heaven and all the Peanut Butter Sandwiches! Crumbs and Crackers! Blue Biscuits and Long John Christmas!

Okay, now that that's out of the way, I just pulled out my latest edging for my frilly lace. I've somehow misplaced one of my shuttles, I had a terrible mistake I had to cut out, and NOW I've learned that I've miscounted all but the first round. Fours became sixes, and the only thing that's RIGHT is the chaining.

Well, At least the chaining is right. Rather than cutting it out, I think I'm going to recount, double check, and then continue to tat this piece even from the mistaken portion. It will be going on the band overlaying where the tulle is sewn on. Luckily, I'm not a small chested woman, so it won't be as "Showcased" as the previous piece. In related news, when I tried it on earlier, the top tatting popped up to be more of an edging than originally intended. That's fine. it leaves a good space to sew on a butterfly or perhaps some small motif.

Wedding dress - Royal?

Linda S Davies — Sat, 07 May 2011 09:28:43 GMT

This is a picture of a wedding dress a friend made that I took 3 months to decorate with tatting. The same beaded edging is all the way around the dress skirt and train and all around the cathedral length veil. The bodice has appliqued tatted motifs all over it. The fabric of the dress was watermarked silk.

It was made in 1988, modelled by my (then) 16 year old niece, Paula.

Does it remind you, similarly, of a recent royal wedding dress?

The old designs never date do they?

Sorry about the quality of the picture, but there were no digitals in those days! LOL!!!

Step two = A rethink

wodentoad — Fri, 06 May 2011 16:47:11 GMT

I finished sewing on the tulle to the walmart bra, just above the band. It's lovely, but when I tried it on, the tatting on the top didn't have quite enough stretch to lay down over the bra (I need a LOT of stretch) and popped up instead. Although after examining it, I'm actually rather fond of it. It will leave room for even more tatting, this time an edging sewn a little closer together to allow some more stretch. The same is true of the band.

The downside of this is that i have to paw through the books again and pick out another edging.

Wait, is that a downside?

I'll be off camping this weekend, so I'll have to find some time to tat the edging I'm already working on. But I'll find the time, even if it's midnight by glow stick, I'll find the time.

I got my friends to start tatting too!

crazytatter — Tue, 03 May 2011 07:26:10 GMT

Since I have been tatting at work, a few friends/coworkers was interested to learn tatting. I want to hit the iron while the iron is hot so to speak, I downloaded some instruction online and provided them size 10 threads I first bought couple years ago at my own beginning.

My first pupil was able to flip with the help of using hemp twine and has since completed a butterfly and a flower pattern. Now she just have to move toward smaller threads. No pushing from me, she will make the change I say when she is ready.

My second pupil told me yesterday that she has finally figure out the flip and was able to do complete a little project of a ring with 4ds p 4ds p 4ds p 4ds p 4ds. Shes was excited and when she saw our friend with the butterfly she announced that she also want to tat a butterfly.

Since she only knows rings, I found a really simple butterfly pattern online today that uses only rings.

This is so great to be able to convert friends to tatting buddies......

Antique store Find

crazytatter — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 21:19:34 GMT

Last Friday I got a day off from work and I went shopping at the antique store to see what I will find. I went throught the whole store and found a stack of 12 work basket magazines for $12.

Since I have never read Work Basket Magazines I figure they would be good to have so I bought them. I found that in each of the magazine there is one tatting pattern. So far I found one butterfly, one heart, edging and doilies.

I am pretty happy with my find and they will be stored right next to my tatting books.

Cheating

Imoshen — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 01:41:56 GMT

I admit it I'm cheating on my shuttles. I wind them up and then just set them aside. Then a few days or weeks later I pick them back up unwind them, then load back up with other thread.:blush: But I still don't use them. When I do this, it gives me a false sence of accomplishing some tatting. even though I don't actually make anything.

Sisters and Grandma's Birthdays.

Catriona — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 15:07:17 GMT

So I thought I would take advantage of my new skill and save sey by making gifts for my nearest and dearest. Although it turns out that when you get into it, making nice tatted pieces isn't as cheap as you might think.

I started with my sister's birthday. She has seen the choker I designed and the slave bracelets I made from TotusMels design and she decided she would like them for her Birthday, with the intention of wearing them at her Anime convention this summer.

She chose Lizbeth Ecru for the thread then I chose Ocre coloured ribbon and "powdered Almond" swarovski pearls for the detailing.

The results of my efforts are shown below:

Now I like the slave bracelets but I felt like I was cheating using TotusMel's design (even though she gave her permission to use it for personal use) so I am working on a slave bracelet/cuff design based on my choker. The image work is done, I'm just working on the stitch count then I should be able to make her a matching set of hand jewellery in time for her convention.

It is also my Grandma's birthday on the 1st of May, and as a soon to be 88 year old lady she is very difficult to buy for as she doesn't need or want anything.. I do however know her favorite colours are blues and purples so I made this Seahorse Dragon using Lizbeth Caribean. I think the colours work great with the sea creature theme.

So thats part of what I have been up to recently. I next post will show the other things I have been doing this spring...

Just Starting to Tat.

Cherb — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 06:23:38 GMT

I wanted to post some photos of my first tatting projects. I am trying to get some insight to keep from running out of thread. And how do you get rid of ends you can't just cut off? I have been tucking them in and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. :huh:

Racing to Finish

PattyD — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 04:46:44 GMT

Two weeks ago Thursday, I was at a meeting at church of a group of ladies that does needlework to sell at an annual fundraising sale for the purpose of providing funds to missonaries. One of our members, who is approaching the age of 90, saw a tatted snowflake I was passing around and fell to musing over it. Suddenly as she did, she asked "Do you sell your work?" and I said "Yes." Then she told me that her mother had tried to teach her to tat but that it was a complete failure. She has always regretted it. Finally, she asked if I could make a six inch doily in white, and I said I could. Then she asked me to do it and I said that she would have a doily at the next (and last!) meeting of the year in two weeks.

I am racing to finish the Corona Doily by Judith Connors in white size 80! The first thread I picked out of the box was old and unknown and it DID NOT WORK! Gakk! Then I tried my own methods of finishing because I don't like to weave the ends, but that didn't work at the size 80 scale with this pattern. So now I am behind, but catching up. Tune in for the reveal~

How does the tattivity work

tatting margaret — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 14:24:22 GMT

Hi,

The other day I went onto my profile and found the tattivity, although I have been a member for over a year, according to tattivity I have only been a member for 264 days, and nothing seems to have been updated in a long time.

Can someone please tell me how does it all work and how does it get updated?

Tatting Margaret

Easter Egg #9....in the book

bjulia_lacer — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 01:54:12 GMT

Had this one started already when I posted the other one, so I have now finished it up. I wanted to take the picture with it stiffened, so I put the Stiffy on and then blow dried it. When I took it off the wax paper, it had some of the wax paper on it, so I then put it between a non-stick pressing sheet to soften it and most of it came off....whew! I won't do that again.... I used Lizbeth white along with #627 called Shell Pink - Med.

Another Easter Egg Done......4/24/2011

bjulia_lacer — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 16:59:27 GMT

No. 12 in my tatting book. This one caused me a bit of grief trying to keep the picots the same size. I have the tool for measuring, but with this many...I'd go mad! Made with Lizbeth size 20 thread No. 631 called Country Purple Lt. I don't care for how the amount of stitches are posted in this book and all the sections of the pattern aren't covered. I love the patterns otherwise though.... It has a row of crochet around the outside to finish it off. Next time I will make the picots a bit smaller. The pattern calls for 4 mm which in my book is only .16 of an inch....NO WAY! They don't look that small in the book...

Attached Thumbnails

One more Easter egg done......this one was tricky....!

bjulia_lacer — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 13:14:37 GMT

I thought I was getting pretty good with these eggs and then I picked this one....! I like it, but it sure was more difficult for me. This is No. 8 in my "TATTED Easter Eggs" by Kirsten Wind Hansen. It finishes up using picots on a spiral cord....err! Now, I think I have it figured out after I was almost done. Again in this pattern, I couldn't figure out her count in the pattern...

Lizbeth thread size 20 in white and #104 called Summer Fun...

Rabbit factory

crazytatter — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 02:18:18 GMT

I have been making Lisa Trumble's rabbit since the start of this month. I have made huge rabbits with hemp twine that adorn the office doors and made small rabbits using size 10 pastel color thread for some coworkers. I feel like the rabbit factory tatting these rabbits out as fast as I can. So far I have made 14 in total. with 3 huge rabbits, 2 yarn ones, and 9 size 10 threads.

It was fun to make and a great conversation topic for everyone who received a rabbit from me.

Will post pictures of rabbit soon.

Have more eggs in my basket....!

bjulia_lacer — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 06:22:32 GMT

I've really been on a roll with my Easter eggs....but, have also had problems. Anyway....I have added more eggs to my 'Easter Egg' album. Here are a few...
They are all from my book called "TATTED Easter Eggs" by Kirsten Wind Hansen. Having a difficult time with the one I'm working on now....

Attached Thumbnails

Picot on a spiral cord.....!

bjulia_lacer — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 06:12:58 GMT

I'm tatting these Easter eggs from this book called "TATTED Easter Eggs" by Kirsten Wind Hansen. I just love the book, but am having a problem with some of the patterns. The one I'm working on now has a spiral cord with a picot in it. OK, I've been doing it, but am having a devil of a time getting them to spiral for me after I do the picot in the middle. Any suggestions...??? If anyone has the book, I'm doing Egg No. 8 and I just don't get the count in there....some of the areas look smaller, but I don't see a lower number for the spirals. I guess unless you have the book, you won't have any idea what I'm talking about....! I hope someone does....
Thanks..! :wub2:

Top Edging done!

wodentoad — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 02:01:46 GMT

Okay, finished the top edging on my bra with near perfection. I'm really proud of it! Here's the link to the y-frog pic of it laying across my knees. I'm also a prude. Yes it's sideways, my phone accelerometer is a jerk sometimes. http://yfrog.com/h2il1puj

Frilly Lace Underthings

wodentoad — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 02:05:05 GMT

Okay, using my vast (read: I'm a newbie) knowledge of tatting, I have decided to forgo the traditional "Hey I learned this last week now I'm going to make something complicated" and go instead with "I've been doing this for a month or so, I'm pretty good and I love it, so I'm going to try something smallish but practical." I thought this was far better.

SO, with a decided lack of frilly lace underthings in my particularly difficult to find size, and with whispers of frilly lace under things in time for Beltane, I have decided to do a couple of very simple edgings to attach to a soft-cup bra I bought at Wal-mart. I'm using this because, though it doesn't fit perfectly, it will stretch enough to be comfortable and still be cheap enough to replace if I destroy it in my experimentation. So far, I am doing a longer cloverleaf pattern for the top, and a running clover pattern for the band, both done in Lizbeth Christmas Greens, because I am fond of it. I wanted to use red, but I am terrified that it will run in the wash.

So there you have it. Yay me!

In other news, "Springtime, Springtime, Springtime" has been moved to the purse project at the moment.

Roll stitch.....?????

bjulia_lacer — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 13:01:04 GMT

I have been selecting Easter eggs from Kirsten Wind Hansen's book according to which one I could do with no problem. OK, I'm getting to the sport where I will now have to think a bit, but on this one I have a question. It's calling for the ROLLED STITCH.... I have done this once a long time ago, but don't remember how many times I am supposed to roll it. I have done some searching, but haven't come up with an answer yet. Can anyone please give me a clue on how to judge the count for this......????? Please and Thank you.....! :flowers:

I have more of my Easter Eggs done....

bjulia_lacer — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 15:54:14 GMT

I have two more of my eggs completed....the one of the left I did while baby sitting and although the girls loved watching, I was also distracted a bit and my picots are different sizes. I will have to make this one over again. Both of these were done using Lizbeth thread. The first one I used No. 129 which is called Purple Splendor. The second one is bright white with tiny pastel lavender beads. I haven't used beads in many years, but I sure like them on here.

Fan-tastic project! Completed

Linda S Davies — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 11:06:18 GMT

Here, as promised, are pictures of the completed fan. It is a simple ring and chain design, but I think you will agree that it looks quite effective. It is a little fiddly to close, but I think this will improve when it has been in the folded position for a while.

And it works! Even though it is lacy, it still causes a nice, ladylike draught! LOL!!!

My Tatted Easter Eggs......

bjulia_lacer — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 12:56:07 GMT

I've been working from this book "TATTING Easter Eggs" by Kirsten Wind Hansen. Yesterday I did egg #5, but using first Lizbeth along with DMC size 30. I didn't like the feel of them together, so now I have re-done it. I guess I don't see much difference, but it sure felt better while doing the second one. I used Lizbeth size 20 in both, white and then 124 called Spring Garden. Love it!

The second one is the first one I did.....

Fan-tastic project!

Linda S Davies — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 16:21:43 GMT

It was Mother's Day here recently and my son and his lovely wife, Charlie (who is coming to the end of her breast cancer treatment, took me out for a meal. While we were eating, Charlie became very hot, as she often does, due to the side effects of the treatment and I thought that a lace fan would be perfect.

I found this old paper covered fan on Ebay for a very small amount of money and bought it.

When it arrived, I pulled the paper off and gave the plastic arms a good clean in warm soapy water.

It came up gleaming!

This is the design I have come up with so far and you can see it against the fan fingers in the next picture.

When I have tatted all the spines, I will then tat a fill-in design to join them all up.

I will post some pics when it is all done.

Loss of my broother

Susan B T — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 15:05:45 GMT

Thanks to all who extend thoughts and prayers for my and my family. I was able to have two very good days when he first went into Hospice care, he was alert and his usual funny self. Then was in and out of it.
Saturday he had very little response but would smile when we asked him too. I had to return home on Sunday. He and I were both okay with this... it was discussed long before he reached the need for Hospice Care.

My brother passed away Monday (4-4-11) I am doing okay about my brother. It is hard to lose your baby brother, He fought hard and long. It seems that every one says he is in a better place. I believe that too. He is no longer in pain. The pain was intense at the end. I am grateful that he did not have the bloating and fluid collection into the abdomen like so many pancreatic cancer patients. It seems that it affected his liver toward the end and not his small intestine (intestine involvement causes the fluid build up that has to be drained by putting a long needle into the abdomen) He was not assimilating his pain meds, having to take more and more by mouth to cover the pain, hence liver involvement.:flowers:

Thanks again to all my tatting friends.:flowers:

Maybe Last Post here??

RandaGray — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 13:29:35 GMT

I'm planning on not posting here anymore. I opened a blog on blogger yesterday, as it just makes more sense since I read there every day too & I have alot of other things I'd like to talk about that either aren't related or don't interest all of you ;) I will still be lurking around reading everyone else's blogs, & I may occasionally post something to my blog here. Since I'm saying I'm not planning on it, chances are it'll need to happen though!

Split ring.........I'm about ready to pull my hair out!

bjulia_lacer — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 00:46:43 GMT

I've got books showing and have tried and tried, but the ring always locks up, right where I go over to do the other half. I've tried keeping it in the same direction, then I tried turning it and it is always the same sport that locks up. When I start doing the opposite/other side, I see where there is one thread that crosses over another...it just isn't working....! Any hints...! Please! :hysteric: and more :hysteric:

Rose Heart

bjulia_lacer — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 17:06:12 GMT

The first one I did using 'Opera' thread, but after trying to correct a couple of mistakes and found the results not to good I made it over again. The second one I used 'Manuela' thread size 20 in #012. Loved it! I have never tatted anything before joining chains like this is the center, so decided to give it a try. Not bad at all. The pattern is from Be-Stitched and very delightful to make. :emoji-E030:

Charlotte's Square

Linda S Davies — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 14:44:31 GMT

Here is the finished doily, it measures approximately 12 inches across.

It is Mother's Day here in the UK tomorrow (3rd April) and Howard and Charlie are taking me out for a meal in the evening. I will take the doily with me and present it to Charlie. I know it should be the other way around, but so what! she's very special!

I learned something...

RandaGray — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:38:13 GMT

This past week I have started making flowers to attach to bobby pins. I plan on eventually making other things too, but the flowers are simple & easy(ish) to attach. The plan was to make a few for friends & family members to "test drive" for me, before I did anything to sell or give as gifts.
In the process my sister (always the diffictult one :) asked for something in brown or black. Well then she picked out some dark silver seed beads. Of course that means black. The beads are important because they'll be an option for later & the weight & all... Well you understand.
I learned a new admiration for people who use black thread - any brand or size. People like TotusMel amaze me! I have a daylight lamp, a well lit room, & a very large window at my back when I tat & I still have problems seeing my stitches. Heaven forbid I have to pick any out & go back. I'm thinking after the pin made for dear sister, I will shelve the black thread until someone specially requests it. My respect and admiration goes out to all of you who use dark colors on a regular basis!
I have pictures taken, I just haven't posted them here yet. Got them on facebook a couple of nights ago, just forgot them here. I will try for that later.

I just finished another Celt piece.....

bjulia_lacer — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 17:44:42 GMT

I always take two pictures because it looks different on the other side, but the other one is in my album. Now I need a break from the Celtic, only so I don't bore everyone with the same kind of stuff. This one is also from the 'Celtic Tatting Knots & Patterns' book by Rozella Linden.
I used Lizbeth size 20 in colors 684, the green and 121 is the variegated one. :emoji-E030:

Attached Thumbnails

Work in progress!

Linda S Davies — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 10:52:11 GMT

My new DIL, Charlotte, who is nearing completion of her breast cancer treatment, is feeling pretty rough at the moment and so I though I would cheer her up with a doily done in her favourite colours. She has a vase to sit on it that will compliment the colours perfectly.

I've got a couple of white rows to do and then I shall finish off with probably three rows of the dark purple. I am simply making it up as I go along and it seems to be flowing quite nicely....not much retro-tatting LOL!!!

The thread is Lizbeth size 40.

My brother

Susan B T — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 22:35:08 GMT

My younger brother with Pancreatic CA was but in the Hospice hospital in Houston this morning. I will be flying out tonight. I need to see him again. I promised I would come say my goodbyes at this time.
It will be hard. I have been out for visits twice already this year and we had some wonderful times. But now I must tell him good by and trust he is go quickly and easily into Gods care. We on earth can only love him that is all that is left.

Wish him ease into the next life, Thank you.

I may not be on line in Houston. But will keep my tatting friends posted as I can.

Again thank you for your prayers and support.

Small Celtic Knot Flowers............

bjulia_lacer — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 22:16:43 GMT

Just added another Tatted Celtic Flower, actually two, but one had a mistake, so I did it over. It's still a keeper however. I've explained everything about these in my Celtic Tatting album.

Teaching Tatting!

Tatikan — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 05:10:52 GMT

Yesterday I started teaching tatting to my "daughter-in-love" who is visiting for a few days with my son. She very quickly picked up the "flip" and in no time was doing a series of joined chains. She kept saying, "I'm SO EXCITED!" because she is wanting to make a necklace for her 12-year-old daughter. Today she was adding chains in between the rings, so, there she is, she can do a LOT with that!! I had to laugh, though, because I'm not sure who was more excited ... it was SO MUCH FUN finding someone I see occasionally so excited about learning and picking it up so quickly!:twothumbsup:

Handkerchief edging No 2

Linda S Davies — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 14:03:24 GMT

This is handkerchief edging No.2 from Mary Konior's book A Pattern Book of Tatting, called Betsy's Downfall. Again it is sewn to an old, never used, handkerchief that I have had since childhood and the thread is an antique DMC size 70. The handky had a pale blue appliqued butterfly in one corner and so I made a corner of the pattern to sew onto each wing. I think you will agree that it looks quite effective.....so much so that my lovely DIL, Charlie, appropriated it to put in her "going out" hand bag! LOL!!!

Can I ask?

tatting margaret — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 09:17:00 GMT

Good Morning,

I am wondering what "toe dipper" means, I was a newbie, fine as I had just joined, but all of a sudden I have had "toe dipper" by my name and I dont understand what it means, Is there a list somewhere that tells you what all these different phases mean.

Tatting Margaret

What I've been up to... I haven't posted since December!

RandaGray — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 15:07:20 GMT

Well, I've been tatting, it's just been slow work. I finally got the center piece of the Clover Doily, & since then I'm still working. I've made a bookmark for my father in between; I put some pictures in my album. I've also been working on the edging from A Tatter's Workbook (the one done in Lizbeth Jellybean in my album from before).
In a tatting un-related way, I've been working out! wwooo am I sore! Tae Bo is hard on someone as out of shape as I've gotten since I had my little girl!
I've been tatting in the evenings & while my daughter is napping & pretty much every chance I get until my hands are as sore as the rest of me. I'm taking a break the next few days from working out AND tatting. I think I may have a touch of either arthritis or carpal tunnel (man I hope I spelled that right!) Both are pretty common in my family. :( Could also be too many smashed/twisted/broken fingers from all the horse-play :) I will start back, because I have 60 pounds of what I'm going to call baby weight almost 2 years later that I want to get rid of!
As soon as I finish the last round of my current project, I'm going to venture into the world of celtic tatting I believe. I tried a snowflake once but it didn't turn out very well so I trashed it & forgot about it. I"m also going to finally learn split rings. I admit to being a little stubborn on this subject, but I've come to the conclusion that I MUST do Jane Eborall's little horse pattern... as well as some of the celtic patterns in the book I have. No way around it then I suppose :)
Every bit of knowledge opens another door though, right?

Questions about the Turkish Metallic Threads.

lynmorton — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 12:11:25 GMT

I have been asked a lot lately about the Turkish metallic thread I used in my book "Tatting Jewellery". It is the Oren Bayan (Crochet Lady) thread, I find it is the best metallic for Tatting that I have ever tried as its so strong and smooth.In fact it is so good it was the inspiration for the jewellery designs. There is a new free pattern on my website http://www.tatting.co.uk of a butterfly which is also using this thread. The beads I used in the book are 3mm. I tried to include the information in the book but the publishers thought that it would be wrong to name the materials in case it was taken to be an endorsement. If anyone needs more information they can contact me. Being so new to the group I am hoping this post is going to right place!!. Happy Tatting everyone. Lyn Morton at Tatting & Design.

Mary Konior Pattern Book

Linda S Davies — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 12:05:05 GMT

Yippee!!!! I was the winning bidder for this fabulous Mary Konior book from Ebay!

Although I rarely use other designers' patterns I simply could not resist another book from this treasured designer!

Browsing through has already given me ideas that I want to put into practice.

Finally managed to make myself a shuttle!! WHOOOOOOP

emsyjane — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 10:05:39 GMT

Hello everyone!

Finally managed to get around to making myself a tatting shuttle. After decorating loads of shuttles for my etsy shop I was starting to feel abit left out!!

So I designed myself a personalised shuttle!! YAY!! I think its my favourite yet...

Decorated shuttles.... ok im getting addicted to decorating them!!

emsyjane — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 10:44:40 GMT

A few weeks ago i was tatting and thought it'd be nice to have a pretty tatting shuttle instead of the plain ol'boring ones you get at the craft store... so my little mission started...

Off I went to the craft shop! paint, varnish and lots of plain boring shuttles and lots of thinking later (Yes my brain did hurt after all that!) I sat in my spare room and set about decorating some shuttles!

Well now I cant stop!! Its a bit embarassing when you go to the craft store to buy more shuttles and they say "Ermmm you've brought them all! We'll have to order more!" :blush:

But hey! I'm enjoying myself! I have a love for all things vintage too so it made sense to give my shuttles that vintage feel too.

I have to admit they first couple came out like a disaster but now im in full swing and have even started selling them in my etsy store! (Atleast I can tell my husband that I'm not just spending money.. Im making some too!! :thmbup:)

Oooooo gotta go... next lot of shuttles need their next coat of varnish!

http://www.emsyjane.etsy.com thought i'd include the link incase u fancy a look!

I Couldnt get it to let me put a photo on... :cry:

I have some new photos :)

Lado — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 14:34:41 GMT

I added some new photos and created a new album. I want to show to you my not-tatting project, too :)

Welkome :)

7, 8 и снова 7 ряд

Yanka Moroz — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 13:22:49 GMT

Ох. Сплела я седьмой ряд, он такой же почти как и 4,5,6. Сплела и восьмой.
Вот как выглядела салфетка:

слегка волнистая, но я думала отутюжу и ляжет.

Отутюжила:

Восьмой ряд не лег. Весь кривой, видимо он больше чем нужно. Я думала что делать. Не хотелось переделывать: столько времени на этот ряд и труда было потрачено.
Но, все-таки я не смогла смотреть на эту некрасоту:

Действительно, этот ряд по оригинальному расчету Яноша для моих ниток оказался велик, и очень.
Поэтому я решила его отрезать и сплести заново с меньшим количеством узлов.
Так что я опять в начале восьмого ряда.

Language - язык

Yanka Moroz — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 12:52:41 GMT

Мне очень нравится этот портал, хоть и не все я еще освоила.

Хочу кое-что объяснить.

Питая огромное уважение к англоязычному сообществу, общающемуся здесь, я везде кроме моего блога буду общаться на английском языке. Так как смогу.

В моем блоге, здесь - я буду писать по-русски.
Но коментарии с удовольствием приму на любом языке, на котором вам удобно их написать.

Думаю, мы сможем понять друг друга и почерпнем немного нового :)

4,5,6 ряды

Yanka Moroz — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 15:12:02 GMT

new needle tatter who is now addicted

Catriona — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 18:37:26 GMT

So I discovered tatting several months ago when I stumbled upon TotusMel's Instructables pattern for her lovely mask.. I never did anything about it and then randomly in the new year I remembered the mask and had a look at it again and thought I would like to learn how to do it.

Since it was my birthday coming up and I also had a trip to london which would entail a LOT of sitting about (my other half was getting a large tattoo by his favorite artist) i thought I would buy a book, some needles and thread and have a bash.

My package arrived the day before we left for london and I was really pleased I didn't have to wait till we got back...

Well that was 1 month ago exactly and since then I have been tatting almost every day. So I guess I am completely hooked.

At the moment I am suffering major withdrawals as I left my size 5 needle at my mum's house on Sunday and the piece i'm working on needs that needle. I also have a fabulous selections of size 10 Lizbeth thread which arrived yesterday and is now sitting taunting me. :cry:

As soon as I get my needle back i'll finish the piece i'm working on. Its a choker I designed myself. Nice and simple but i'm pretty proud of my progress in only a month.

i'll get picture posted as soon as its finished. :w00t:

My Pink Dragon

lalabel — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 09:06:13 GMT

This is the largest tatting project I've done so far. Usually I just make small stuffs and get bored.
Last week during searching threads in Intatters, I found the link to Anne Bruvold's dragon and wanted to do it because I just read some romance novel about dragon. So I started the dragon that night.

It took me 4 hours to do the tail, body, and head. I tried to do the SSSR but couldn't so I change to split ring instead. It worked quite well. Though I made some mistakes, I think it still looks like a dragon.

My wingless dragon.

The first wing I made was quite strange because I didn't pull the chains tightly enough. So I cut his wing off. Poor dragon.

And made the new wing for him.

Finally, he has two wings. :biggrin:

Happy Messes. . .

Sephers — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 02:39:20 GMT

When the holidays arrived my life seemed to erupt in chaos that just didn't seem to go away. LoL Just recently it has started to calm down. The latest thing that happened was finding out I was pregnant. :heart: I was told a long time ago, and it was a bit blatantly obvious that I could not get pregnant. I thank the Lord every day for the wonderful blessing he's given me. I always wanted this but thought I would never get it. I'm just so ecstatically happy!

So now that I'm a happy momma to be and my life is settling down to a slightly bumpy roller coaster, I finally get to start having fun with my crafts again. They've been on hold way to long and I miss them.

Hello!

Lado — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 19:04:53 GMT

Hello everybody!
I want to start my blog about my tatting's projects. I want to write just about tat, but usually my projects are a part of me :blush:

Now I have just some things, i was making 4 bookmarks and 1 valentine's card (you can see them in my album "My little things").
I think a long way starts from a little step :thmbup:
And I'm going to go :happy:

Третий ряд

Yanka Moroz — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 11:26:07 GMT

Back on the internet!

PattyD — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:50:15 GMT

I was beginning to think I lived on a cold, cold rock on the outer reaches of the solar system! I'm back!!! Has internet, has wireless, has happy feet!

Still working out a new email addy. So glad I am not tethered anymore!!!! Sit on the sofa with something yummy and just browse away!!!!!! Yes!!!

What a backlog of posts to look through, a whole month! Well, I will be heard again soon. What a wonderful feeling!

Второй ряд

Yanka Moroz — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 15:47:45 GMT

Первый ряд

Yanka Moroz — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 18:40:55 GMT

I have begun tat the big doily

Yanka Moroz — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 04:05:54 GMT

Pattern from magazine moje rabotki. A photo of ready work from magazine:

Large tatting shuttle!

susanmrichards@talktalk.n — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 21:33:06 GMT

I'm looking for a tatting shuttle that will hold a large amount of thread I'm fed up with refilling my shuttles using omega thread and making chokers for presents. At the moment it's taking five filled Aero bobbins to complete one choker......Anyone have any ideas

Hexagon doily

Linda S Davies — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 15:45:37 GMT

I played around with the square motif I did last year using mock rings and made it into a 6-sided hexagon shape.

It is a very basic pattern that I am sure many other tatters have come up with.

I simply joined each motif so that the whole shape was a hexagon and then finished it off with a border.

I have loaded photos

Yanka Moroz — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 22:09:07 GMT

Well here, I seem I have loaded photos - all what I wanted.
It has turned out so much! There are 9 albums and 131 photos in them!
I hope my works will be pleasant to you.
And I while look albums of members intatters and I admire!

Pattern books arrived!

Lena Lindstrom — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 19:53:44 GMT

I have got three new pattern books! Tatting Patterns by Lyn Morton, Tatting Patterns by Julia E. Sanders which seems to be a re-print of vintage patterns. Those two I ordered from a Swedish store. Then I made a first try to order from Etsy and chose Marilee Rockleys "Up and Tat �Em". Wonderful patterns in all three books. I also got Marilees "Jubiloso" pattern and a skein of her hand dyed thread Pizazz.

It�s really hard to know what project to start with but I finally decided to make the Jubiloso doily. It is coming on nicely.
After that I will have to make something with the Pizazz thread. Maybe from Lyn Mortons book. I am so excited and want to start everthing atonce but that would not be wise I think. :happy:

I am blessed to have all this and more to choose from. :flowers: Thank you all designers in the Tatting universe!

Love Lyn Morton!!

Green Gal — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 01:51:11 GMT

I have just finished another of Lyn Morton's patterns this time using some of her lovely metallic thread. Was it worth all that effort to order on-line, pay a million dollars extra because of the exchange rate and wait wait wait for it the package to arrive ( because of the blizzards shutting down the Uk).
Yes! Yes! Yes! The thread is so lovely to tat with and the end product so crisp. Love it Love it Love it.
So here is the link to my blog with my picture.

http://greenprizmthreadz.blogspot.com

Tiny teacup :)

PaintedBarn — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 21:43:56 GMT

I found a pattern for a teacup and saucer in an old workbasket magazine and decided to try it. I only had size 80 lizbeth thread lol. It turned out to be the cutest thing ever! I am going to go back and try it in a larger thread as it would make a wonderful ornament. Has anyone else ever seen or tried this pattern?

Two more weeks

fairmar — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 23:57:12 GMT

So, I have spent the last 8 weeks working 275 miles from home. Living out of a hotel. But, there is a light on the horizon. Just two more weeks. Last week was the only week that I didn't bring materials to tat with, and it was the only week that I had time to tat. We were snowed in the hotel all day Wednesday. Ugh!!!!!
Last day travelling is February 17th then on to my Mom's for a super fun crafting weekend with the girls in my family. It should be great fun, and we can all show off our talents. I can't wait!

Tatted Tiaras and Bridal Pieces

Linda S Davies — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 14:35:45 GMT

The new book "Tatted Tiaras and Bridal Pieces" is now available and uploaded onto my web site, Here is the direct link to the appropriate page.

I decided to get a move on with this publication so that fellow tatters had plenty of time for tatting for spring brides and weddings.

The pictures show just a few of the 24 pages.

I hope you all enjoy having a go!

Is anyone a NZ tatter?

PaintedBarn — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 00:52:07 GMT

I have a gal from NZ that added me on facebook. She wants to know of any other tatters in NZ that could help her learn again. She says she tatted a little as a young girl and would like to learn again so that she can teach others at her church :)

The flood of boxes is receding

PattyD — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 20:17:44 GMT

Hi All,

I didn't fall off the planet! I've been living in the new home for more than a week now and still working through emptying all the boxes. Overdid it yesterday and DH has decreed that today I will not lift more than 2 pounds (~ kilo) at a time. Feels like a vacation!

I have found a number of tatting books that have been "on vacation" for quite some time. In fact, I almost ordered one of the books I found before we moved. Glad I didn't

Typing at the library right now, since we don't have internet yet. (Talk about feeling disconnected!)

Tonight is my first appearance at choir practice for the new church we joined. It should be interesting. Their choir is bigger than the number of people who attended the first service at the previous church.

Hoping to be back to normal (whatever that will turn out to be) very, very soon!

Patty

New book nearly done!

Linda S Davies — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 19:14:03 GMT

New book nearly done!

This bridesmaid's headdress completes my new book. All I have to do now is to check through it for mistakes and to add an abreviations/instructions page.
Yippee!!!!!
What on earth am I going to do now? Any ideas? Mind you, the last time I asked that question I was landed with designing this latest book! LOL

Back Again

Cori — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:35:27 GMT

When I was a little girl I discovered my great-grandmother's tatting shuttles and immediately became curious. She had passed away years before I was born and no one else in the family knew how to tat so I would just occasionally take out the shuttles and stare at them. Fast forward some 40 years later and I finally found someone who knew how to tat and had time to teach me. Thanks Coretta!

I've tatted now for less than a year and - obviously - have so much to learn! But I love the art and enjoy working with various color-combinations and simple patterns that perfect technique. Probably joining InTatters right before the holidays wasn't the best idea, but I'm back online now and looking to grow my skills.

Hello again..

Imoshen — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 14:17:36 GMT

After being gone for a month or so..I've now managed to get back online. Between a broken laptop power cord and oh yeah... Miss Katalina was born on January 13, which is funny because we were married on a 13th and we had the pregnancy confirmed on a 13th. I had to be induced because she refused to come out. I guess it was too warm in there compared to where we are.:biggrin: Once the ball got rolling, it was one of the fastest labors I've experienced, I think it was 3 pushes and maybe 15 minutes? Since my husband is still working, I got the 'night shift'. So now I wake up around 9pm and go to bed around noon. I actually went 3 days without sleep before I crashed in the beginning. Talk about relearning experiences.

I am just now finally able to get back to doing some light tatting and crocheting. Since my santa packages have gone awol (sorry to my reciepants), I'm trying my hardest to get some new pieces completed as quickly as possible to send them on their way, all that's left is to finish the tatting portion of the gifts. (I feel so bad they've been waiting so long). I've reached the 1/3 point in the blanket I'm crocheting. Since working with larger thread because of the crochet, I've purchased 2 balls of size 10 pink and green thread to tat with. I'll make some nice flowers and hearts with them. The finer threads are once again snapping in my fingers because of tension, which I have to relearn. Who would have thought I would forget it all so quickly?

All in all, it's been a very full month so far this year.

My brother

Susan B T — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 02:25:17 GMT

I am in Houston visiting my brother that has Pancreatic cancer. Last week he has a PET scan and they found two new hot spots.
Needle biopsy in the AM (1/31). They are sure it is cancer but want to make sure with the biopsy. He is at the 11th month. About 3% make it to one year. We are all hoping. Please keep in him your prayers and wish him the best. If they are cancer he cannot have surgery or radiation. Chemo is the only option.

Finished arrangements

Linda S Davies — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 19:18:00 GMT

This is just to show how different the same motifs can look, simply by assembling them in different ways!

Designing all done!

Linda S Davies — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 19:10:26 GMT

Here are a few more motifs that I have done for the new book.

I have done enough patterns now and my next job is to show how I assemble the motifs into arrangements.

Books books books

Antiquarian — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 22:30:34 GMT

I've not been tatting much of late; a single snowflake for my sister. I have this pile of Reticella needle lace patterns and a whole bunch of bobbin lace projects. I've run out of free time!

This loss of tatting time all came about when I was invited into the pattern library of a fellow lace maker in my area. Books and binders of all kins of bobbin, needle, and tatting lace. A whole big bookcase! She even gave me copies of several books that she had multiple copies of! *hugs her thread conversion book* I can only hope to have as many patterns as she. I think I'm going to start buying a new book every month just to bulk up my library. :innocent:

Lost tatting hook

tatting margaret — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 08:34:32 GMT

Hi,

I thought I would tell you about my little bit of luck.
Back in November I did a craft fair and I lost my tatting hook. I brought them back in the seventies when the hook came with the shuttle. It is very small about 2 and half to three inches long and a silver colour, with a wonderful thin little hook.:sad:
In December the craft fair was cancelled because of snow and the roads were blocked. Last saturday I did my table at the craft fair, I say did actually I am off work ill so my husband stepped in and did it on one condition that I sat and did anything tecknical and nothing else. I ask Roger who does the set up of tables and clear ups if by any chance did he find my tatting hook. I explained what it look like, he disappered and came back and put it in my hand....... he only saw it because is shone on the floor.:smile: I am so glad I asked and he learnt what a tatting hook looks like, I was so sad when I lost it and I felt so happy I know its only a hook. My husband let me buy a hook in December but its so long I was finding it hard to get used to it. But there this year I have been tatting on and off for 40 years so this little hook is forty year old.
Tatting Margaret:flowers:

Crap! got to start over.....

crazytatter — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 02:26:02 GMT

Don't ya just hate it that you thought you were doing great chugging along and getting to the end when you notice this big huge mistake that cannot be over looked? Well that just happened. I was working on Tatmom's cross lunch time when I noticed the mistake. Wasn't even sure when it actually occurred but there it is a total goof. :furious:

Now I have to restart this cross from the beginning.....oh I am not tossing the bad one, I will get back to it and do retro-tatting and than finish it up later.

Progress so far.

Linda S Davies — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 11:33:42 GMT

Here are a couple of motifs that I am going to use in my new book "Tiaras and Headdresses".

My idea is to show that the same motifs can be put together in different ways to achieve a different look.

Celtic bracelet

prabhjyotsaini — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 15:35:06 GMT

I learnt shuttle tatting when I was in grade 9 but after that I never tatted anything. While surfing the web last year, I came across some patterns which inspired me to try my hands on tatting again. During this time I made this celtic bracelet for my sister in law, but unfortunately it was a little big for her wrist. Since she liked it so much, she removed the clasp and using it as a bookmark.

Completely Unexpected Birthday Present!

PattyD — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 11:04:16 GMT

Today, I received the IOLI Bulletin (US National Lace organization). And much to my surprise and delight, my Hyperbolic Tatting file was printed in the Tatting section by editor Bina Madden. I got a 3 page spread, wow!

Happy New Year.

Susan B T — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 03:25:55 GMT

Have been out of town for a week. My DH and I spent it in Lake Tahoe, Ca. Food, Fun and skiing.
It was a much needed get away.

Wish everyone on intatters a wonderful new year.

Attached Thumbnails

#1 - 25 Motif Challenge... ( second challenge)

bjulia_lacer — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 01:44:06 GMT

I wanted to do this right away, so I would have longer to do next months. This is called Posy and it is from "Tatting with Visual Patterns" by Mary Konior. I made this with Lizbeth thread size 20 #670, Victorian Red.

The one on the left was the first one, but I had a terrible time connecting the picots, so I did it again after more practice. Not one twisted picot in the second one!

#25 Motif Challenge....Finished!

bjulia_lacer — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 23:20:12 GMT

Finally finished my 25th Motif and my first Challenge. I'm definitely going to start a second one. I'm sure someone here has done these, so do I just enter the next one in the same blog with #1 again? I'm thinking so, but want to be sure I'm doing it right. Thanks..!

This bookmark was designed by grrlshapedthing (don't know her actual name), but she is here in InTatters. She named it 'Supermodel Bookmark'. I used Lizbeth thread size 20 #131 called Vineyard Harvest. I finished off the bottom like I do for my bookmarks in bobbin lace. I have this is my tatting album also.

Happy New Year!

crazytatter — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 05:51:11 GMT

This morning at 6:45 am my BF woke me up to get ready to go to Monterey Bay Aquarium. You see, Monterey is about 100 miles away and they open at 9:30 am, he wants to make sure we are there when they open those doors.

We stayed there till 12:30 after viewing all the tanks, they have several exhibit on seahorses, flamingo, and turtles. Does anyone know there are totally white and totally shocking orange flamingo not just the pink and white one we usually see? I really like the shocking orange one.

We also went to Gilroy outlets on the way back to go to this kitchen store for some hot sauces. Except, we found that the store closed due to bad economy. boohoo.

I tried to tat on the way home, except I kept on nodding off, that I had to just stop and put it away so I don't make mistake and get upset.

Back to Tatting....

RandaGray — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 17:14:10 GMT

Since I posted my enquiry about the Clover Doily by Eileen Stafford on the "how do i?" board & got no responses, I thought I'd try it here - I hope somebody can help & just missed it!! lol
Anyone have any ideas as to how to keep it from cupping? I'm pretty sure it's not the pattern.... After all, hers lays flat in the picture! Here's what I've tried:
Looser tension ( to the point of being ashamed of my work!)
Tighter tension (kind of counter productive, I know, but I did try it anyway)
Different thread (I really wanted to work this in a certain thread, but I thought I'd try it anyway - thankfully, I got the same results so I know it isn't my thread)
Altering the pattern - fixed the first round, but I got the same results with the other rounds. I took out some rings & chains. The original pattern calls for 9 rings & 9 chains. I made it 6, which fixed the first round...But the second & thrid cupped just the same.
Blocking - fixed the first round & the 2nd... But the third had ot be stretched so far out of shape I just scrapped the whole thing - it's a clover leaf round & I HATED how stretched it was. Looked more like a squished oval or something.

Seriously, I've used almost an entire ball of thread & haven't gotten past the 3rd round! I'm disgusted & thinking of putting the pattern away. I would if it wasn't a gift specially picked out by a friend. HELP!!! :)

Found! Easy Bobs at a Knitting Store

PattyD — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 07:16:19 GMT

Husband somehow decided that he could pick me up at the Lace Museum just about any old time (not so!) so when the museum closed, I wandered down to the friendly local knittery. There on the wall was a supply of easy bobs. Yahoo! What a great find.

The moral of the story is: seek ye the knittery!

A Lesson Learned

RandaGray — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 17:12:34 GMT

I've learned since coming to this site that the internet isn't completely the dangerous, empty place we are warned about. I've learned that it's a gift to be a part of a group of people who use it as a tool to connect with others of the same interests, & that with time, it truly feels like I've made new friends.
And this past week, I have learned that this is honestly the kindest group of people I've ever had the priviledge *sp* to meet. I want to thank all of you for the kindness given to me in a very, very dark time & tell you that your words have helped me more than any of you will *ever* know. Whether we ever meet "in person" or not, you will always be dear to my heart.
It has been one week since my friend left this world, & with your kind words, it is a brighter day than the one before. I am still sad, maybe even still angry & confused. But with your help and understanding, I am on the road to acceptance & even perhaps understanding. While Blake will *always* be missed, it is a great comfort to know there are people who understand and sympathize.
Thank you my Friends.

A Celebration is in Order!

PattyD — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 04:00:51 GMT

Today, the escrow closed for our new home! We are just so happy. Our new home is a mobile home and the price was ridiculously low. We are so lucky to have been able to buy it.

Tomorrow, we will go and start planning where to put our belongings and measure things so we know where they will fit. We have been sorting and discarding at a furious pace. Still, I have already packed 12 boxes of lace books and there are still more. I am not a hoarder, I am not a hoarder, I am not a hoarder ...... (I hope!)

I just hope that all my stuff fits in the "Lace" room. It is a lovely small room in the front of the house with a window onto the front porch and a small bay window. I think all the light will be lovely to work in.

Patty

My Last Piece for My 25 Motif Challenge...! (I re-made it)

bjulia_lacer — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 18:15:56 GMT

What with the snow storm we had last night, I of coarse stayed in and finished my last piece for my 25 Motif Challenge. It is a bookmark designed by grrlshapedthing called 'Supermodel Bookmark'. She is here in InTatters. I did as she suggested and repeated two parts to make it longer. I finished it off with a braid type weave that I use for my bookmarks in Bobbin Lace. I like it...! I used Lizbeth thread size 20 and #131 called Vineyard Harvest.

I had noticed that I made an error in the fist bookmark, so I made it over. I also enclosed a closeup of the finished tail. (I had problems with the first blog about this bookmark, so I completely deleted it and started over. Live and learn!)

Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!

spuriportugal — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 23:12:39 GMT

Dear friends,
I wish all of you a happy christmas time and happy new year!!!
All the best to you!!!
From Portugal, my best regards,
Maria Silva:happydancetwirl:

Mary Koniar Book....!

bjulia_lacer — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 02:55:50 GMT

I went on-line again, looking for a Mary Konior book and guess what...I found one! It is Mary Konior's book on just 'Tatting Patterns'. I have one of her books already which is 'Tatting with Visual Patterns', but I was just dying to get another one of hers, which were hard to find. Most of them were really expensive, but this one sounds quite used on the edges, but the price was right. I can't wait to see what is in this one...! One of my Christmas presents to me from me...

I'm finally back to tatting again....!

bjulia_lacer — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 18:15:05 GMT

Because of so much happening in my life for a couple of years now, I have been away from my favorite hobbies. The time has now come to get my act together again. Last night I finished my first tatted piece in quite a while. It is #24 in my Motif Challenge. It was done using size 20 Lizbeth thread, #117 called Country Side. It was a free pattern designed by Susan Fuller. I had to do redo it three times before my fingers starting working correctly. I find the pattern towards the end a bit tricky, but now that I've done it once I'm sure it will be easier next time.

Not tatting related, but I need to vent

RandaGray — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 16:18:41 GMT

I'm sorry in advance; this is a long, angry post about something totally unrelated to tatting. But I want the world to know we've lost one of the few great human beings.
Yesterday morning I received the news that one of my close friends was killed in an accident at work. He works with large equipment in construction so you can imagine. He was 28 years old.
I know, deep in my heart that God does everything for a reason, & that because Blake was the good & decent man he was that he's in a btter place now. But at the same time, I can't help being very, very ANGRY. He had so much ahead of him & he was such a wonderful man; to be taken in such a terrible accident seems a huge injustice!! Not only was he a good person in himself, he is also the sole financial support for his mother & sick father, as well as a brother who for some reason or another can't hold a job ( perfectly healthy, just won't). What will happen to them??
What bothers me the most is that there were so many things he wanted from life; things he still had left to do - marriage, children, grandchildren, vacations, holidays, & although it may be selfish, time spent with friends in the woods on a horse!
He always had a smile, & would give the shirt off his back to make another person smile. Would go out of his way to help you, even if he was having his own problems. Never asked for a thing in return. One of the most forgiving, loving, honest human beings I've ever known. And just like that he's gone. Forever.
It seems like a dream.... A VERY bad one that i just can't wake up from. I just can't accept that my friend is gone. Not when only days before his accident he was offering me the use of his truck & trailer so I could go to a race that my husband will be working day of. And I didn't even take the time to tell him how much he meant to me. Not even a "thank you" because it was totally normal behavior & he'd have only said "you know I don't care... get whatever you need"
And now the person that hated above everything else sleeping alone is in a cold, dark, room alone somewhere, waiting to be put in a dark box & buried alone forever. I can not stand the thought of all the terrible things that are happening to him right now, knowing there's not one single thing I can do to make it right or bring him back.
I have prayed & prayed & tried to accept that he's gone, that there's no place for him but heaven. That God did this for a reason. But I just can't. I just can't accept the reasoning that such a good, kind human being should be taken in the middle of his life such a terrible way! Maybe I'm being totally selfish; maybe there's something I just haven't seen. But I'm angry.... & lost..... And I don't know what to do. And it hurts more than anything I've ever felt. And I do believe Christmas will never be the same; it will always be two days after I lost one of the best friends I've ever had.
I love you Blake. You will be missed.

Merry xmas everyone

crazytatter — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 01:39:31 GMT

http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/jlyZrpjAItKtqczp

Please enjoy this really cute Christmas card, the dogs are all the pets my friend have.

Merry Christmas and a Happy Tatting year 2011!

Isabel — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 17:18:26 GMT

HAPPY TATTING YEAR 2011!:emoji-E00E:
Isabel:emoji-E030:

My Untatter

RandaGray — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 17:47:52 GMT

For my birthday in November, I bought myself a few balls of thread & a Sew Mate tatting shuttle with no point. I thought it would be better to use as a ball thread than those with points. At the time I had no idea I'd be starting the tatting addiction in my daughter (Untatter):)
About a week after my birthday I got the idea to try tatting while she was awake & around, which is something I never do because she just can't keep her hands off my bag & tools. Not that I blame her lol She immediately latched on to my new pickless shuttle (full of red Altin Basak by the way) & ran off.... Something she's learned to do when she knows she has something I"m about to take back. After the initial "NO!! She can't have my shuttle!" moment, I realized it wouldn't hurt anything to let her play with it until I was finished. I mean really it gave me some peaceful tatting time. The suprise is that about 5 minutes later, my husband says "Look at her, look what she's doing!! Look look look!!".... And low & behold, my 17 month old daughter is holding the shuttle in one hand & the end of the thread in the other, pushing it back & forth!!!!!
Now granted she didn't have the loop formed & she wasn't actually making stitches, but I was thoroughly impressed that she had paid that much attention to me! Not only that, but later when I reclaimed my shuttle, I discovered all kinds of tiny knots in the thread. Talk about a proud "Mamana" :-D I let her keep the shuttle.
I've been meaning to post about that incident since it happened, but it kept slipping my mind when I was or had time to blog. What brought it to mind is the continued love of her shuttle, which she calls "sshhh"...Yeah, it took some coaching, but she does lol As a matter of fact she's carrying it around right now, swinging it by the thread. Ohhhh how warm & fuzzy am I right now!?!?!?!?!??? I just wish she'd be still long enough to let me take a picture for all of you to see :-D

Happy Packages and one week to go.

Antiquarian — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 18:17:03 GMT

One week to Christmas!

I just opened my door to get the mail and found a box between the door and the storm door...and it had tatting books inside! *Happy Dance* I am now the pleased owner of 'Tatting With Visual Patters' and '24 Snowflakes' My sister's gift to me; she tells me there is a 3rd needle lace book on the way.

I have to note that the one pattern in the Konior book I was quite attracted to I have no idea how to make *laugh* It's the Jabot with all the netting technique...Which I've yet to understand how to do. Her directions don't quite make sense to me - Ah well, add it to the figure-it-out-this-year list.

For now I'll tat up some snowflakes and a couple more bookmarks.

Continuance from the last Post...

RandaGray — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 15:36:54 GMT

This is the bookmark I was talking about in my last post.... Sorry for the pictures again; Apparently my picture taking abilities have left the planet on the same ship as my sanity. You wouldn't believe how many pictures I took before finally settling on the ones you see in these two blog posts!! Maybe my senses will come back soon....

What I've been up to lately

RandaGray — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 15:27:44 GMT

It's been a week or two since I posted last; been kind of busy with the house (we finally got an offer, which we counter offered, & we're waiting for an answer!) & some other non-tatting things that made me fall into "tatting mode" to help me sort things out & keep from saying or doing something dramatic. We're still working on that, but it's not tatting, so I won't bother you with my crazies here.
First things first - I've been working on a doily since July. It's my second completed doily, & it's my first successful experience with blocks. It's not perfect but I'm happy with it. I'm trying to decide if it needs more blocking or not. It keeps trying to turn up on the edges! It's probably going to be a present for my grandmother, since that's what I started it for. I've had my doubts, because the blocks kind of beat me up sometimes, but now I can do them in my sleep!! It's from Judith Connors' book "Creative Tatting with Beads, Shuttle & Needle" & it's the Marguerite Doily, done in Lizbeth white size 20. Sorry for the quality of the pictures, but I wanted to show the whole thing. THere are closeups in my albums.

I've also been working on snowflakes.... Ohhhh at the snowflakes. I made one for a friend of mine on request, & for some reason after that I lost my mind & offered to make everybody one. And here are a couple of them. I won't bother you with a thousand pictures of the same ones, but here are a couple. They're all from the same place, "Tatted Snowflakes" by Vida Sunderman.

I also finished my first bookmark. I normally don't make them, & if I do, I use them as a motif or for something else. It was a gift for my sister because she kills me with the post it notes with a smiley face on them!!! I got the pattern from "Easy Tatting" by Lynn Morton... I believe it's the 6th book, but instead of the daisy on the end, I put a little bead I found in my stash box. But, since I can only attach 5 files per post, I'll have to enter them in the next post. Yay....

Attached Thumbnails

Lesson two - Part three - Adding new thread

IcePrincess — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 12:12:43 GMT

Igne Oya is fairly thread consuming. So you'll soon have to add a new thread to be able to go on working.
Don't forget to stretch the thread if you are working with a material that needs stretching (polyester, rayon)
You can cut off the old thread at the top of the work but it is very important to knot the end of the new thread into the first knots you make with it. The double knot of Igne Oya is very difficult to open from the top once it is tightened, it easily loosens from the bottom, tough.
If you have to open a knot - which should be avoided under all circumstances - you best do this from the back of the work by pulling the thread out at the bottom. The thread is likely to split and open unevenly though.

New thread while working dense double knots:

Pull the old thread through as spanned thread. Start off the next row with a new thread.
Catch the spanned thread and the end of the new thread when working the double knots.

New thread in a triangle of double knots:

Work a double knot with the old thread and snip it off close to the knot. Put the first double knot with the new thread into the same loop.

If you have worked carefully, the thread change is almost invisible.

New thread while hemming fabric:

Thread the new thread under some of the already made knots. Make the first double knot with the new thread at usual loop distance and catch the old thread for a few knots before cutting it off.

Lesson two - Part two - Dense double knots

IcePrincess — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 12:06:25 GMT

3D-flowers need more stability. You do not reverse the work while working in dense double knots.

Work a row of seven base loops into the fabric as before.

Instead of reversing the work at the end of the row, you put the needle through the first worked loop from behind. Pull the needle through and carefully adjust the thread to the length of the row just worked

Fix the thread to the base loop with a double knot.

For working the next double knot in the next loop you slide the needle under the next loop, but under the spanned thread as well. You have to catch this spanned thread with every following double knot.

At the end of this triangle you return to the fabric, just as with all the other triangles.

These spanned threads produce the typical structure of the 3D-flowers. Most flowers are worked from these dense double knots, exceptions are rare.

Lesson two - Part one - The single knot

IcePrincess — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 12:00:43 GMT

Work seven base loops in double knots as before and reverse the work.

The thread coming out of the needle eye around the needle gets wrapped around the needle counterclockwise only once before tightening. Work the entire triangle in single knots.

This triangle consists of single knots only. These single knots can be used for effect, since they are more dainty than the double knots. Pull the needle through the fabric beside the triangle when you're finished.

The first and the last knot of each pattern, as well as every new thread, has to be a double knot though. These don't get loose even on the most slippery nylon thread. The first row attaching the lace to any fabric also is done in double knots for stability's sake.

Still in the dark

Imoshen — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 01:50:15 GMT

The last ultrasound was a dissapointment. We didn't find out the sex of the baby, it's too big and positioned wrong. I still have placenta previa so it looks like it's going to be a C-section. After today's visit, the doc said they'll schedule the surgery date next Monday. It's looking like the week of the 27th this month. So in 2 weeks we'll have a new baby in the house. I still haven't gotten ANYTHING for it. Rushing, rushing.

I just started my Xmas tatting, but it seems to be going by smoothly...as long as I don't let myself get distracted by the internet, or Pokemon! The tatting is for my own pleasure and home, so if something gets left behind only I will care. :emoji-E00E:

Birthday and 2 weeks to C day

Antiquarian — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 23:27:27 GMT

It's TWO weeks to Christmas folks! Tat - Tat like the wind!

Today is also my Birthday. I have recived a plethora of lace making items. 10 new bolls of thread in various colors including a wonderful blue variegated that makes me think of the ocean in summer. They are size 20 Lizabeth, my FAVE, from my mother and I now have 3 books - from my sister in NYC - Tatting With Visual Patterns, 24 Snowflakes, and one on Retticella needle lace. I also know that Santa is bringing me 24 more bobbins so I can finally do a big lace project.

DH got me a large mirror for the front room. This may seam "practical" but I've wanted it for a long time so he get brownie points for getting me exactly what I want.

Baptising for my nephew

crazytatter — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 01:56:20 GMT

Here we go again, we are going to LA again to attend my nephew's baptising on Saturday 11am or there about. which means getting up and leave at 3:30 or 4:00 am. Blah...

This is a short stay trip because right on Sunday morning, we are going to get up and get out LA about 4 am again.

I wonder how much tatting would I be able to fit in?

Tatting will save my sanity!!!!!

fairmar — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 01:03:13 GMT

I just found out at two o'clock Monday afternoon that I will be spending the next two months at our corporate offices. And I had to leave at 6:30 Tuesday morning.This is 300 miles from home. Driving for 5 hours every Monday and Friday. I brought my tatting along! I should get a really huge project done in the next few months. Ahhhh!:emoji-E01B:

Christmas presents

fairmar — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 02:27:55 GMT

I am working on jewelry for Christmas presents this year. I just start tatting in August, but I really love it. The women in my family do hand made gifts and once I taught myself, I was hooked. There are actually some really awesome tutorial videos on YouTube. But, I really looking forward to moving on from Christmas presents to try some more challenging items. Does anyone have any suggestions for larger projects. What do you like to do the most. Doilies, edging, etc. I would love to hear some suggestions. I am going to stick with the jewelry, because I really love it, but I would also love to try some new stuff.

Healthy start to the day

Green Gal — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 23:19:22 GMT

Num num num thats better! A delicious toasted crumpet covered with Vegemite what could be better to put a good spin on the day. Seeing as today started with the cat sitting on my head to wake me (taking the whole ' me cat you slave' thing a bit too far if you ask me) I think I will be needing a lot of yummy comfort food. Oh don't worry I will eat healthily, Chocolate is a vegetable you know. :wine:and wine is a fruit and southern comfort comes from peaches. Oh yes I will be sooooo healthy.

Lesson one - Double knot - Part four

IcePrincess — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 13:03:28 GMT

Again turn the work as before and start with the next row. This row will decrease another loop.

You work row for row until you have but one loop left for the last knot. Work this last knot.

Then pull the needle through the fabric on the left side of the triangle just worked and pull the thread through. You leave a slack piece of thread beside the triangle. Now you start with the next triangle.

Practise several triangles until you feel comfortable with the double knot and triangle construction.

In lesson two I will teach you the single knot as well as the dense double knot.

Lesson one - Double Knot - Part three

IcePrincess — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 12:57:22 GMT

You will get a small loop of thread between the two knots.
These loops are counted in igne oya instructions. By changing the angle during the tightening of the knot you can influence the length of the loop. By pulling to the right, the loop will get shorter, by pulling to the left, the loop will be longer.

Work six loops more, then reverse the work.

Slip the needle through the first loop from behind and pull the thread through.

Then work the double knot.

Proceed by working one double knot in every loop. At the end of this row you will have only six loops left, have decreased one loop.

Lesson one - Double knot - Part two

IcePrincess — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 12:53:46 GMT

The finished double knot on the fabric edge. Since you wrap the thread twice counterclockwise, this knot is designated as double knot.

For the second and every following knot you put the thread coming out of the last knot to the left on your left index finger and fix it with the middle finger.

Put the needle from the front through the fabric in a distance of three fabric threads (two "holes"in the fabric) and slide it under the thread going across the left index finger.

Wrap the thread coming from the needle eye twice counterclockwise around the needle.

Pull the needle through fabric and thread loops and pull gently tight, keeping the thread perpendicular to the fabric edge.

Lesson one - Introduction and double knot - Part one

IcePrincess — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 12:50:34 GMT

Introduction

Material

A tapestry needle fitting the size of thread. Turkish nylon thread is worked best with sizes 26 or 28.

Thread the colour(s) of your choice

Sharp scissors

Maybe some thread wax

For this course you will additionally need:
A piece of 27-count cross-stitch fabric

It doesn't make sense to wax the entire thread. Use the wax only when the thread starts to split up during the work.
The thread for igne oya has to be smooth and firm. Today polyester crochet thread is used. It is available in shops catering to bead crocheters or on ebay.
Historically, these flowers were made from silk, which works the best. Almost any silk thread available today is suitable, but tends to be costly.
Rayon threads and mercerized cotton (perle cotton as well as cordonnet and sewing thread) are possible as well. Before using those materials, you should have some experience with the knots though.

If you are working with my beginners' kit, please save the bright red thread for our final project.

In the beginning

You need a lot of thread for needlelace, so don't cut your individual threads too short. Especially when working with the nylon thread you should be able to stretch it with both arms stretched out (about 1 to 1.5 yards).
Wrap the ends of the nylon threads around your index fingers, hold on tight and pull them apart firmly, but not jerkily.
The nylon thread will give in noticeably to the stretching, but it doesn't snap easily. Should nylon thread snap during stretchihng, it was faulty before cutting it off the ball. Check then, if you still can use one of the pieces, or if you need an entirely new piece of thread.
Rayon should be stretched as well, but it snaps easier. Silk and cotton don't need stretching.
Igne oya are always worked from right to left. Thus you always start on the right edge of the fabric you want to work on.

The double knot

Work your first exercises on cross-stitch fabric. I have chosen on Linda fabric by Zweigart since it is easily available and inexpensive in Germany, but any 27 count fabric will do.

Fold the fabric at the hemline.

Pull the needle through the fabric from behind at its right-hand edge and hold the end of the thread with your left index finger.

Stitch back at the same point but don't pull the needle completely through.
Put the thread coming out of the fabric across the needle to the left.

Now take the thread coming out of the eye of the needle and wrap it around the needle two times counterclockwise.

Pull the needle through fabric and thread loops and pull gently tight, keeping the thread perpendicular to the fabric edge. Here you see the not yet completely closed double knot.

Chocolate Box Contest-OH NO! There are visitors LOL!!!

RainbowRose Connie — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 02:57:37 GMT

WoW what a fun week! I decided sort of last minute and talk about sliding into home base, to join the contest Isdihara at Ambitatterous is having. She is going to be giving away a wonderful prize! Personally I don't think I stand a chance as there are some really BEAUTIFUL entries. All the same,,,it was a blast joining in on the fun. As you can see my little buddy:emoji-E527: just had to get in on the fun. Barely kept him out of the chocolates! I think though if you look close enough you might find a little 'evidence' left behind :)
Sooo after thinking a bit on what sort of theme I could come up with,,,all I could think of was how 'chocolate' should be in EVERY tatter's first aid kit (unless you are allergic to it of course, then something else). Soo here is what I came up with!!

I used a regular chocolate box, (only one I had in the house ha ha ha) and covered with wrapping paper. Then went to work tatting away. :) I used chocolate colored DMC crochet thread and wanted a 'chocolate' theme of course. Those letters weren't the easiest shaping. I found I have REALLY gotten rusty in my tatting.
The little bears you can find the pattern here by our wonderful creator Heather at Heather Designs The lettering I used Josephine stitches (hope I have that right) LOL!

Then the amazing part is just before I found out about this fun contest,,,I came across a crochet pattern for making these yummy looking chocolates.!You can find the pattern here! I of course had to put them in their own 'paper cups' Using a 'basket' pattern I found in Rebecca Jones' Complete Book of Tatting,,, I created these little lacy paper cups.
Then the icing I also tatted using the Josephine stitches.
Well I better get this posted or I will miss the deadline, if I haven't already. Thank you Isa for such a fun contest!

Y'all have a Happy Holiday Season, and Stay Warm, if you happen to live in these cold climates!

UPDATE: OH NO!!!!! LOOK AT MY BOX!!!!! It has been INVADED!!!!!!!!!

I woke this morning to find NOT ONE but TWO critters:emoji-E524: in the First Aid Box!!! LOL! Looks like one is pretty happy with what she found too! Of course they went and scared Barnie the Bear:emoji-E527: plumb away!!! No wonder he was hiding in the corner of my desk shaking! All is well though, once I convinced him they were only after the chocolates and not him. Poor guy!

Igne Oya or the art of Turkish needlelace

IcePrincess — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 11:19:26 GMT

Hello, my InTatters friends! Some of you sincerely expressed interest in learning the ancient art of turkish needlelace and I promised to teach you. At first I must say that I'm really sorry for not reacting earlier, but it took me some time to prepare my online course in such a way that I'm satisfied with it.
Tonight I will finally be able to upload the entire course to

http://oya.spitzenkiste.de

It will have some more pictures, all the pictures are in colour and you can work at your own speed there.

In this blog I will put together teaching posts, four lessons all in all, with a fifth - a poinsettia flower - to follow.
Please put discussions, questions and answers in the forum area, there is a special thread in the needlework section for discussions. This will be easier to maintain than a comments section.

Next step in the Teneriffe Lace saga

LadyDoc — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 18:32:41 GMT

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Teneriffe Lace web completed

So, this is how the web looks when it is completed. I need to take it under the last stitch, but when I do that I will also have to start the darning stitch for the center of the medallion.

Working with a stiffer thread (Cebelia #10) than I have before (I previously always worked with perle coton) was a little tricky. I found that if I sat in the recliner and each time I went under a thread I sent the extra thread to the side of the chair, well spread out on the floor, it didn't tangle too much. As I worked on it, it became more relaxing.

This step also took longer than I remembered- about 3 hours, or maybe a little more. I used to think of this as "setting up" for doing the Teneriffe, but when I made my mind think of it as part of the finished piece and not "set up", it seemed to be much less tedious. Strange how our minds work, isn't it?

500 post giveaway

Lace-lovin' Librarian — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 16:10:48 GMT

I'm giving away 5 prizes on my blog... http://lacelovinlibrarian.blogspot.com

Please feel free to enter, even if you've never visited before!

An other beautiful ANgel!

Isabel — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 14:14:13 GMT

This is my last angel. It's a 3D, from Mark Meyer's book. This is Hilda's Angel.
I love this angel too. I have fun in tatted it. The finally result it's my best angel untill now :emoji-E002:
Happy weekend to all my tatting friends.
ISA

Happy Thanksgiving!

PattyD — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 17:12:09 GMT

Off to celebrate Thanksgiving! A wonderful, relaxed day with friends. Have a joyous day whatever you do today, wherever you are.

Tiaras assembled

Linda S Davies — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 14:24:34 GMT

While I'm waiting for my new wool to arrive I thought I would finish off a couple of tiaras.
I have attached the tatting to the headband using fine jewellery wire. The left one I added pearl beads at the same time. This could also be done for the one on the right and I think it would benefit from it....what do you think?
After I had assembled the tiaras I felt that they were not stiff enough - I had used "Fraycheck" - and so I dipped the tatting in full strength PVA glue, wiped off the excess with a damp cloth and reshaped the tatting by moulding them against curmpled alluminium foil. The stiffness is now perfect!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

RandaGray — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 01:39:58 GMT

I probably won't be around tomorrow, so I thought I'd go ahead & wish everybody a Happy Thanksgiving!!!
I have so much to be thankful for that I couldn't possibly list it here, but a few of my favorites are
My Healthy Baby Untatter :)
My Dear Family
My Animal "Babies":emoji-E01A:
The fact that I'm blessed to live in a country where I have the freedom to choose what I'm Thankful for, & to celebrate them!!
That I have a roof over my head & a full stomach, even if my roof has a leak & I burned the stew....
And Last But Not Least, My Tatting Family Here at InTatters!!!

I hope EVERYBODY has a WONDERFUL & BLESSED THANKSGIVING!!!:emoji-E022::emoji-E022::emoji-E022:

Tinny Tatted Turkey

Antiquarian — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 00:14:13 GMT

A tinny tatted turkey for Turkey Day. I was using up thread.

Hello Fellow Tatters

RainbowRose Connie — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 21:41:45 GMT

Hello Fellow Tatters!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! I pray safe journeys for those traveling abroad and back home again!!!

Seems I have tons of catch up to do,,,besides some repairs to make, in more ways than one :(

I'm looking forward to catching up with old friends and acquaintances as well as making new ones. I have really missed in the tatting world this past yr or so.

Well here is to a new and better year :)

Away for a bit...

Susan B T — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 17:41:03 GMT

Heading to Gualala, Ca.:emoji-E01B: to a house on the bluff above the Pacific Ocean. Looking forward to the get away.
My DH and I really need it. With Nolan, my brother, not able to come is a bummer.
Then Sunday we had to put our 16-17 year old cat to sleep.:sad::sad: Great holiday...... He will be cremated then retunred to us. He will be put on the self
in his wooden box next to Nikki his sister cat.

Wishing everyone a safe holiday:emoji-E022:

YIPPEE!

Green Gal — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 22:10:00 GMT

Zippiddy Do Dah Hip Hip Hurray! My thread has arrived. The doorbell rang and I practically leaped out the front door in all my morning glory. Hair sticking up wildly and crumpled pajamas no makeup. Delivery girl didn't know whether to laugh or run away. I've ripped the box open already. Yeehah!

My gold angel! Cluny!

Isabel — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 11:33:49 GMT

This is my last tatting work. A Gold Angel.
I have tatted it with gold metall thread. Many clunies and with pearls. This angel it's from Hazel's angel. I love this angel :emoji-E030:.
I'm still wating for my Secret Santa package, hope I get it today :emoji-E030:
This is a brooch and I still working on it. I hope to finish it today. It's in a flower of my Hibiscus :emoji-E030:
Have a wonderful tatting week everyone.
Best wishes from me in the south of Scandinavia.
Isa:emoji-E030:

Bubbles . . .

Sephers — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 09:53:23 GMT

I've been so preoccupied lately with being home for Thanksgiving and my new iPhone :happydancetwirl: that I haven't done much tatting. Hopefully I'll get back to work on it tomorrow. I did manage to make the very first draft of the bracelet I want to create, so far I love it :heart: It still needs quite a bit of work, considering it needs to be double in size for one, but here's a picture of it so far:

There are only a few mistakes in it, which surprised me, a couple of places where I forgot to connect it and a couple of fail sizes. All-in-all though I went a hell of a lot smoother than I thought it was going to.

I don't know if it is a good thing or a bad thing...

crazytatter — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 08:49:25 GMT

I made Jon's snowflake with the Celtic twist. Today I decide to starch it. except I grabbed the wrong can and sprayed fabric and foam adhesive all over it. At the time spraying it, I was thinking how come the starch is all gummed up that it is not watery and runny but gummy and sticky.

I tried to blame on my bf but he isn't taking the blame of leaving his industrial strength adhesive right next to my starch. I am currently waiting for it to dry and see what I got. Hopefully, the picots are not stuck closed. Well, my thinking is that there were plenty of tips on using glue to block so in a way this is one way for me to find out.

Who knew, this might just not be a bad thing that happened.....it is just too funny. I need to see and read the label of the can before using.

Tatted neck 'chain'

susanmrichards@talktalk.n — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 01:25:09 GMT

Well I know I found a free pattern on here for a tatted chain that had rings and another with a ring with a chain either side, but in the way of cyberspace I can't find it again. I thought I'd bookmarked it but it must be floating around in space....any help please???:emoji-E020:

Sherlock Holmes and the case of the traveling thread

Green Gal — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 22:51:57 GMT

I have been tracking my thread order and I'm wondering exactly how it has been traveling. Its taken 10 full days from the time it left US to when it actually hit Aust. That's too fast for a boat isn't it and too slow for a plane. It must be sightseeing on the way. But it's an interesting question. I would have thought that it would have been by air, but 10 days!. It has now zoomed through customs and hopefully it's on it way to me. To say that I can't wait is a huge understatement. Maybe tomorrow.

Thanksgiving trip.

Susan B T — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 23:41:32 GMT

I am a little bummed this evening. My brother D. Nolan was to come to California for Thanksgiving. My husband and I have rented a house on the California coast for five days. We were so looking forward to my brother coming. He is the one with pancreatic cancer. He is not doing well as far as nutrition and stamina. His Chemo and radiation is over. His PET scan this week is negative, but he is not well enough to travel from Texas to California.
My DH and I were looking forward to this vacation for us and for him, but it is not to be. We will still go and send him pictures, but it will not be the same. The doctor is thinking about putting him in the hospital to build up his nutrition, he has lost 60 pounds in the past 6 months. Having a hard time keeping things down. He can eat chicken today, but not two days from now. It is very frustrating.
Pancreatic cancer is such a terrible thing.

For all of you who will be with family this holiday, cherish them to the fullest. Do not fight and fuss. Reach out to those with who you are distant, Distance and be in miles or in emotions. If they do not respond in kind you have done your part.

Take care and I hope each one of you here at intatters has a great week, even if you do not celebrate the Thanksgiving that we do in the USA. All of us has something to be thankful for.:emoji-E022:

Too many things on the boil? Yes it must be Christmas

Green Gal — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 10:12:37 GMT

Don't know about you but I currently have 8 billion and two projects on the go at the moment. So I just keep spinning from one to the other trying manfully to finish one off each day. Hah!
Like that is going to happen! So can we put off Christmas for 2 months so that I can catch up. PLEEEEZE!

Teneriffe Lace, step-by-step

LadyDoc — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 03:31:41 GMT

Originally Posted by LadyDoc

Here's my next installment- sorry it is late!

Well, it took a lot longer than I planned to get back here, but here it is. This is the Stitch-Around "fully loaded" with the base thread. Next step, which I *will* have ready for tomorrow is the beginning ( and hopefully more) of the web thread.

With my interest in Teneriffe Lace re-piqued as it were, I've been doing some reading and some Internet cruising. I've found two fun old tools that I purchased from ebay last week.

The first is called a Crazy Daisy. It has spokes that come out of the body of the gizmo with a wheel in the center, allowing you to mount the web, do the design, then just retract the spokes, and VOILA!, there is your medallion. Sorry for the blurry picture; my scanner doesn't do 3-D very well.

Another fun new to me but very old tool is the Proctor 1903 Teneriffe Lace wheel. I have not had time to read any instructions, so I don't even know for sure how this one works.

I did get the base thread done for a second medallion, on the needlelace loom I got last week from Hand Dyed Fibers. So, I will also be seeing how this tool works out.

All three of these tools here have a distinct disadvantage compared to the Stitch-Around, and that is that the sizes possible are limited to one size with the Crazy Daisy and the needlelace loom, and I don't know if there are two options with the Proctor tool, but certainly not more than that. The lines in the Stitch-Around are also very valuable for helping you to make your knots evenly, so we will see how that works out with the other tools.

I found another tool for Teneriffe lace at Lacis, but that won't be here for a while and I am unclear how it works, so that might have to wait until the second round of tests- I really can't quite figure it out from the picture above from the Lacis website.

The one thing I *CAN* tell you is that I found the plastic grids sometimes sold for "making Teneriffe lace" are nothing more than plastic canvas and I could NOT make them work. I tried them several times several years ago and I am guessing that someone could do Teneriffe lace medallions on them, but that someone was sure not me!

Down the road even a little farther I am going to try using my bobbin lace pillow for making Teneriffe lace- I've been told on good authority that they do work that way- but that is another item on the list for after this first exploration is done.

Tomorrow, the beginnings of the web.

Shopping. . .

Sephers — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 21:38:44 GMT

I hate shopping, yes I know it's weird, unless I'm shopping for either electronics or crafts I can't stand it. Today though, was all about thread and shuttles. I found some really nice thread that I adore, and also some thread that is just a tad bit weird. The weird thread was for just a bit of fun and if something neat came out of it that would just be great. I don't have my hopes up though.

For the last couple of days I've had bubbles on the brain and I just have to get them out. :emoji-E522: I've come up with a rough draft of a pattern to do, unfortunately it's a little complicated and I might have to do the piece a few dozen times to get all the sizes right. Practice makes perfect though, even if I want it perfect now. It's yet another item that's comprised of nothing but split rings and if that wasn't enough I have to do it using shuttles. *shivers* Should be interesting as I have a whole set planned out. Now lets see if I can conquer it and make my idea a reality!

Tonight I go out to chickenz [buffalo wild wings] with my friend Frank and get to deliver his bracelet to him. Hope he likes it, and doesn't think it's too girly. . . I tried to not make it girly. . . Yes I'm still having self confidence issues with my pieces but then again I've never gone this far with something either.
Here's to my determination to finally stick with something I enjoy doing!

Oh and I found some beading thread to finish the other part of the chain on one of my pieces. Go me. Now just to tat the finale and then finish the rest of the bead work. . .

Help for this Tatters Block!!

RandaGray — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 16:50:04 GMT

Okay, so I'm trying to get rid of my Tatter's Block. I've got this little doily that I've been working on off & on for over a year, & I just can't seem to come up with the next round. So I've decided I'm going to work on it to get the creative juices flowing I'm going to try to come up with my next acceptable round for it. Maybe not the best idea but who knows?

This is the first round. It actually started out as the center round for another item, but I liked the green & pink so much I decided I'd try my own design for once :)

This is the second round. Yes, simple was the idea.

This is the third round. It's an edging from my Rebecca Jones book. I really love it, but I'm afraid it's too small & close together to use as an actual round. I tried a clover leaf, but it was just too big following that round.
I'm thinking an "all chain" row of green.... Maybe.... but another problem occurs to me at this point: The pink I've been using is almost gone & I can't remember the number of the color. I know it's Flora, & I know it's #20, but I can't remember the name or number! It's almost a Fuscia, & I'm torn when looking at it online if it's dark or light.... I guess I could order both & see what comes up? I guess I'm going to look now, wish me luck!
Oh! Here's the so far finished product, in case any of you have any thoughts on it! :) Those clover leave attached at the bottom aren't on there anymore, I just don't have a picture anymore of it without them.

Blah...

RandaGray — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 04:06:26 GMT

This being my first blog post, I feel like I should have something to show... Maybe just *one* picture or *something*. But no, I don't have any; well, not any you couldn't see in my albums. I've been having a serious case of Tatter's Block lately!! And when I say block, I mean I haven't been able to even work on my UFOs. I have a doily in the works, an edging I've been working on when I can't concentrate on the doily, & I *should* be working on Christmas tree decorations (angels, snowflakes, stars, & the like) since this will be the first Christmas I've had my own Christmas tree - well it will be if I get the ornaments made!
But, then again, I've kind of had everything block here lately. I've had a massive cold (DH was thrilled I lost my voice for two whole days lol), which I promptly gave the UNtatter. She's so pititful - it breaks my heart to watch my 16 month old daughter suffer through a cold, but I hate even worse to dope her up on cold meds; so it's just enough to keep her (& me) sane. Before you call me cruel, I don't take anything when I don't give it to her.... Usually not at all. I have this terrible phobia of overdosing her, after watching a friend's child pass away due to accidental overdose due to miscommunication between mom, dad, grandparent, & babysitter. Call me crazy but.... If she gets worse, she goes to doctor - I don't like to self medicate!!
I'm sitting right now with my back to a pile of dishes, not sure *what* gave me the urge to start using my blog..... Probably because it's my 25th birthday & for the first time in 20 years, I haven't gotten to ride my horse on my birthday. :( But I know we *desperately* need the rain, so I'll be thankful for that!! I *will* I *will* I WILL!!
Oh well, enough dwelling on my bad mood...... Happy thoughts, happy thoughts.... :emoji-E030:

6 weeks folks! 6 weeks to Christmas!

Antiquarian — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 01:09:23 GMT

Christmas gifts have been in the works for a few weeks. I have a long list and I do hope to get it all done (and photographed). Today, I finished a bit of bobbin lace and am almost done with another doily. I have yet to start on my sister's ornaments, but that has more to do with not knowing what colors she likes. Well, I guess I'll just have to make several, each in a different color and let her pick.

I pulled up the calendar today while mapping out what had to get done when and realized it is exactly 6 weeks till Christmas.

I will be putting up my decoration this weekend and getting into the spirit. :santa:

Teneriffe Lace, step by step

LadyDoc — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 23:15:24 GMT

I also posted this in the Teneriffe Lace forum, but thought maybe some might miss it there, so here it is again.

There's been some discussion of Teneriffe Lace over at InTatters (an online tatting forum) lately. A few ladies have expressed interest in learning more about it.

Well, I'm no expert, but I do know how to make basic medallions of Teneriffe lace using my Stitch-Around board, so I am going to make a new medallion over the next several days. I will be taking pictures at every step of the way and posting them here and at Intatters, so if you are inclined to want to learn more about how Teneriffe Lace is made, just follow along here.

The picture above is of a new medallion at the very first step- laying down the base thread, also known as a holding thread. You go around the form, threading over and under, filling in every hole. You can use any available thread, as long as it is strong enough to hold your working thread- I am using some left over #5 perle cotton. When I complete this round, I will do the same thing again, but doing the over-and-under on the opposite sides, so that there will be a complete holding thread- no spaces- on both the front and back of the form. Next picture will be a completed holding thread, and the beginning of the web, so check back tomorrow!

Cluny cluny cluny

crazytatter — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 20:39:25 GMT

As a promise to myself, I was watching the TV yesterday while practicing cluny. It is getting better but how do one use it in a project? after my leaf are made, I got all these threads on both side. Sure I can wind up the shuttle side but what about the other side?

Good thing I was using size 10 threads that I don't like (so no big loss for me to cut it off and toss) as I got lots of size 10 to practice with. I think maybe the patterns calls to make the cluny first than rest of the tatting? but then what do you do if you have more than one cluny to make and in between all the rings and such? How do you place the cluny right next to the rings and other elements?

That is the question I am stumped on. I guess I have more theories to try out with those size 10 threads.

Thank god guys are simple.

Sephers — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 15:14:34 GMT

My friend Frank finally got me to agree to make him something yesterday. I was a little worried I wouldn't be able to think of something not so. . . :emoji-E030: frilly and girly :emoji-E030: . . . Then I remembered a design I've seen around quite a bit that's fairly simple, so I mutated it a tad. I still had trouble trying to make the rings a little bit pointy to aim for a tribal design so they didn't come out pointy at all. I'll figure it out though. In the mean time suggestions and ideas are always nice. (he's allergic to metal like I am so it's a tie up kinda bracelet, hence the no clasps)

Made with all split rings and hematite beads:

Project "Tiara" started! and Bridesmaid - first design

Linda S Davies — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 19:07:07 GMT

Here is the first little headdress completed. I think that I will design a certain amount of 3D flowers and then show how they can be arranged in different ways.
How does this sound?

These are the first designs of the tiaras that I am going to do. I have now soaked the pieces of tatting in a stiffening solution and when they are dry I will attach them each to a headband.
The new book will also contain headdresses/fascinators and corsages

Nag nag nag. . . .

Sephers — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 01:49:58 GMT

My mom has spent the last month nagging me to make a bookmark. I don't even know why, she doesn't want it for herself. I guess she just felt the need to make me make something? :blink: So for my mother, whom I love and adore, I put everything I was currently tatting aside for a day and made her a bookmark. The design idea came from a bracelet which I altered to be exactly what I had in my head. That's pretty hard for me to do, normally it gets all muddled or doesn't work well. So now I have to call mom today and thank her for helping to boost my self confidence. I know that was her evil plan all along to get me to call her. . .

So here are the pictures for my creation:

2nd Lace Guild meeting

crazytatter — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 02:50:43 GMT

Yesterday was my 2nd time going to the GGL meeting. It was raining very hard visibility was low at times but the good thing that it was sporadic from place to place.

During the meeting, PattD gave us a pop quiz of taking the ring apart. All of us passed the test. Then she went on to show us how to hide ends without magic thread, SSSR, and Cluny.

SSSR- turns out when I tried myself I was not doing it wrong but I just didn't know what to do with the extra threads afterwards that I decided I failed and cut/ tossed it out.

Cluny- I also tried this by myself but I ended up with a mess of threads on my hand that took a while to take apart. When PattyD coached me thru, I was amazed at the semi leaf shape that came out. I will keep on trying it out until my cluny would come out looking like a leaf and all threads are pulled and no loop left over.

I am really happy to have found this lace group and greatful to PattyD for giving me the needed instructions.

Ebay..

Imoshen — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 00:46:26 GMT

Lately I've gotta a few really good deals off Ebay. I log in today to see what's available on tatting and come across this. It's an instant camera, like a polaroid. It's pictures are small, business card/wallet sized. So here I am bidding on a camera I don't really need, but I want because sometimes you just don't feel like printing off your memory card. Now film is available locally, and it's pricey, about $1 per print, but I'm hooked on the novelty of it. Heck, I still have my Pokemon 35MM camera, it takes pictures with 3 different pokemon borders put right onto the film. How's that for old school?:emoji-E524: This one is an older version of the camera (2006) but I like the compact sizing of it. I've tried bidding on this particular style of camera several times and lost, but so far I'm the highest bidder. With 15 minutes to go, I'm anxiously watching to make sure someone doesn't come in in the last minute to outbid by a dollar. That's what's been happening lately. Yes, I can go buy the 'latest' version locally but it's bulkier than this almost twice the size width wise. I told myself, two more tries..If I don't win it within two more tries I will stop. It's addictive, like those claw machines you win cheap stuff toys out of. Oh 7 minutes to go..let's see how my luck holds up.

Baby thoughts

Imoshen — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 02:38:24 GMT

After reading up on Sherry going into labor, it reminded me I don't have too much longer to wait to have my own baby. I'm 32 weeks, so technically I have 2 months left or until the end of December. That's next month! :shock: And we still don't know if it's a boy :emoji-E531: or a girl :emoji-E523:. I will have one final ultrasound done in the begining of December to see if I will have to have the baby via C-section or if I'll be able to do it natural. Maybe then we'll find out the sex. Being so close to the due date, I was thinking why bother knowing since in a couple weeks more the baby will be born?

I do have to put a rush on the blanket I was making for it though. I'm a tenth of the way through.
Then again, there is christmas tatting to be done as well. I suppose I'll just have to turn into a :sorcerer: and magically get it all done. The baby blanket is being made with size 10 bamboo crochet thread and those are my Tatsy shuttles for a sizing comparison. I still don't have a measuring tape in this house.

LAces and tatting exhibition in COpenhague, Denmark !

Isabel — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 18:50:28 GMT

Here some videos from the Lace and tatting exhibition in Copenhague, Denmark on the last Saturday. 30 Oct.2010. I have more videos.
The pictures are in my album.
Isa

My last Tatting!

Isabel — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 12:55:24 GMT

My last tatting.
I have tatted this par of earings and a pendant, with this beautiful thread I bought in the last tattings meeting.
I'm going to Copenhague tomorrow with the tatting group. In Copenhague it's a International Lace exposition tomorrow Saturday and Sunday in the Slagelse city. We are going with a bus from Malm� to Copenhague. The bus from Malm� at 8 o�clock in the morning tomorrow and we are back about 5 o'clock the same day. We must have danish money and I have already my danish money to buy some beautiful things tomorrow. I''m very exiting and I hope to have fun with all the member of the tatting group.

Bandwidth exceeded!

Linda S Davies — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 10:02:35 GMT

Well! After all the cafuffle of getting my web site up and working, I have now exceeded my bandwidth for this month!

This does not normally happen to me, but because I kept trying, on several occassions, to upload my edited web site files, it was all registering as traffic.

I think everything will go back to normal in November, but if anyone would like to purchase any of my books before then, please contact me by email.

Coronet Doily - Small Version

Linda S Davies — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 17:49:48 GMT

I have been playing with the Coronet Doily pattern and have come up with a smaller version. (It will look better when I have pressed it, but I wanted to get it posted on my blog!) It can be made in conjunction with the full sized one, like a dressing table set, or just on its own as a coaster or ornament mat. I will write out the pattern as soon as I get a moment.
Clyde is hoping to finish test-tatting the large doily by this weekend. As soon as he gives me the go ahead, I will publish the pattern.

Here's To The Tatters

TotusMel — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 15:04:47 GMT

I don't normally blog here as I have my own, but I thought that today's blog post would be lovely to post here as well since I am certainly talking about many of you. I hope you enjoy it.

Yesterday morning started with a message from one of my very first tatting friends. Now while the contents of our discussions surrounded a really bothersome subject, I was still glad to hear from her and it reminded me of the all the wonderful people I met when I first started blogging. I started this thing at the behest of etsy folk who cried that it would help business. What actually happened was after a few months of decidedly etsy-centric posts, the tatters found me and I shifted subjects a bit and have found my happy place. Things I have learned are, if you don't want to join the tatting community, don't talk about it. Tatters are crazy for finding their own and have alerts set up to do so. Joining said community is the best thing you can do for the art and for your own sanity. No one will ever understand your new found obsession with string like they will. Being adversarial, paranoid or selfish will get you nowhere, the opposite will earn you friends, allies and trust.

I guess the point of this diversion is to thank all of you out there who support each other and understand that this art we all share is just that, something to share. Sure some of us might be trying to earn a living and some of us might just want something to do with our hands and some might have the art in their blood. We come from different backgrounds and have different stories of what led us to the needle or shuttle and an enormous, unexplainable collection of thread, but for the most part the one thing tatters seem to have in common is kindness...even if it is draped in a cloak of sweet, sweet sarcasm. So I say to those of you that are brand new to the art, join the community and thrive. To those who would say they were tatting before I was born, thanks for all the groundwork. We would be nowhere today without you hanging onto that thread and giving us something to work from. We can not forget that we are not doing something that has never been done, we are merely adding to a foundation that has been held strong.

There are a few of you who might understand why I went on this diatribe today, but it's not important and I shall not give it another thought. I have tatting to attend to and that is far more important. I still have not heard back from the one eyed mask customer so I shall assume that she has decided against it. That means that I will get one made up for the store as soon as I can. I think I might adjust the design a bit as well, particularly over the eye just so the whole ribbon over the face is...well less. I was also given some advice to add attachment points for glue on the back side so as not to gum up the lace, so I will look into adding a couple of pads of fabric or oilcloth on the underside for potential gluing. Well, off to it then and thanks for reading.

You can visit my blog for a little context if you like.

Very Happy!

Isabel — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 07:37:56 GMT

Last Saturday I have been at the new meeting of the tatting group, here in the south of Sweden. I had a wonderful time with surprises and sales of tatting supplies. As always the metting time was from 10 o'clock until 15 in the afternoon. Breakfast, lunch and afternoons coffe, including at the quote we payed when we arrived at the meeting. I get 3 pattern which we working during the time in this wonderful group. About 2 o'clock was a lottery and I won 3 times. I won a harpin lace, a wood shuttle and a beautiful candel with tatting pattern on it. It was a beautiful Saturday with a lot of fun.:emoji-E030: The next 30 October we are going to Copenhague to an International Exhibition of Laces.
I'm happy because I'm in the Secrest Santa Exchanges...:emoji-E030:
Happy Tatting to everyone!:emoji-E030:

Fall Vacation

mcoperryl@gmail.com — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 12:08:25 GMT

There is one week out of the year that the pup (Annie), the bird (Lily) and I are all alone to do what we want and this is it. While I must admit, it will be quiet without Warren, it's nice to be able to focus on my tatting and some other projects I want to get done. Hopefully, this is my week to become comfortable with the MTT and making a split chain that is presentable. In addition, I have always wanted to make puff pastry and hopefully I can master that too! It's so expensive to buy it in the grocery store....my recipe says that you can freeze it for two months.

Hope I won't drive everyone crazy this week with my silly questions.

Package from Joann

crazytatter — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 07:54:44 GMT

I finally received my package from Joann. I got 2 books, one on celtic tatting and one on bookmarks. I also ordered some big eyed needles which I immidiatedly tear open the bag and used it on a piece of tatting that I have lots of ends to hide. It was easy to use as PattyD has promised. Thanks PattyD for the tip.

The book on bookmarks will come in handy as I plan to work on some of the beautiful patterns as gifts this year. Celtic tatting looks very similar to Chinese knots to me. I think I will learn the trick first and see if I can incorporate some Chinese patterns. I can't wait.

I will be busy....

Itsy Bitsy Laces

PattyD — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 20:12:18 GMT

The Lace Museum in Sunnyvale, CA is just down the road from me and I hang out there quite a bit. In preparation for the change of displays for the holiday season, I was asked to contribute some miniature laces for dolls to create the illusion that the dolls had worked the lace.

The first batch was some tatting, mostly single thread, single shuttle. Since the dolls are all Victorian, there had to be some Hens and Chicks, which was invented in that period. Now I am working on the crochet, which, to my amazement is much more difficult. I am working with a size 16 crochet hook (0.4 mm). It turns out that some silk thread I have is just the right size. But seeing it involves lots of magnifiers. I went straight to handweaving.net to the Griswold Archive and found a crochet book from Barbour Brothers. It has some nice edgings that work up to the right scale with a fine thread and hook.

Coronet Doily - Finished!

Linda S Davies — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 18:03:52 GMT

Well the tatting is finished, just the pattern to write out! It won't be long though, I've only got the last round to complete and then I can send it to Clyde to test tat. (What a star he is!)

As soon as Clyde has checked the pattern, I shall put a link to the PDF, here on my blog.

Coronet Doily - Nearly there!

Linda S Davies — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 14:54:43 GMT

Nearly done!

The new stitch count is working out very well as can be seen from the picture.

I am getting on well with the written instructions as well. Just the last round that is complicated to write out. Although I will include good digital close-ups I think it will also need a diagram to get my explanation across!

Each point of the coronet starts in a backwards direction and may be consfusing to tat just by looking at the picture.

Clyde has very kindly agreed to test tat the pattern for me, and I shall definitely be taking him up on this. I hope he will still be
by friend afterwards! LOL!!!

Hummingbird! and a question!

Isabel — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 13:31:06 GMT

My Hummingbird flying in my garden! This pattern it's a design from Kathy Lowe. I have used thread nr.8.
Anybody know where I can find a 3D swan? Thank you and happy tatting !
Isa

A Hummingbird in my garden :)!

Isabel — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 08:11:32 GMT

Wensday and a beautiful morning here in south of Scandinavia. I have tatting this beautiful Hummingbird, yesterday and it's in my garden this early morning.
This Hummingbird it a Kathy's Lowe pattern.
Happy tatting to everyone.
Isa

Second version of Coronet Doily

Linda S Davies — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 12:56:58 GMT

Here, as promised, is a picture of the edited version (so far) of my new doily. It is lying flat much better already. You wouldn't think that just reducing each ring and chain by 2 stitches would make such a difference, but I suppose, when there are 96 rings and 32 chains in the round, it is definitely going to make an impact!

I have decided to call it Coronet Doily.

I knew when I purchased this Finca thread that the pink colour was my best friend's favourite and so Janet will be the recipient of the doily when it is finished.

Tatted in this special Sunday!

Isabel — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 16:28:27 GMT

Today in this special Sunday i have tatted two stars with beads and with metallic thread.
Special Sunday becauset today it's 10 10 2010 ! It's a beautiful autumn day, 10 C. and a wonderful blue sky!

This is one of my daily visitors in my little garden!

Happy tatting to everyone! Happy 10 of 10 of 2010!
Isa

October

wmstem — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 12:48:41 GMT

It is into the middle of October.

Finishing the angels I promised a member of another group.

Teaching 3 classes in tatting. There should soon be 23 new tatters in the world!

Halloween customer tryouts

Imoshen — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 03:25:22 GMT

Looking at my son watching T.V. I thought he looked a bit like Bruce Lee. I ran the thought of dressing him up like that by my husband and he just laughed at me.
Well he certainly is hyper enough to be..jumping and kicking and running everywhere..lol..

"Note to self"

rain — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 16:22:12 GMT

DO NOT TAT WHILE SLEEPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:emoji-E531:

Ah how I love to tat at night while the kids are asleep and the hubby is watching tv..no one to bother me and my work... I am thinking I am doing a great great great job, working quickly, making rings/chains..feeling sleepy but just wanting to finish.... then comes the next round or side and poof... I joined the wrong p!!!!!!!!!!!! But now its way to late to go and undo it all :emoji-E023: SO I am not giving up on this bookmark... I know its a mistake... but I dont think anyone else would... I think... then comes in the perfectionist ..... SO All this work and its going to end up trashed... DARN IT!! When will I learn!!!!!

:emoji-E528:

First version finished

Linda S Davies — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 12:37:43 GMT

Here is the finished result of the first attempt.
Now that it is done I can see where there are too many stitches to allow it to lie flat. Even with wetting, blocking and pressing it does not sit well.
I am really looking forward to getting it right as I think it will then be a pretty doily.
I have used split chains and split rings to climb out of each row and therefore there is only one cut and hide ends at the very end!
Thank you to all who have suggested a name for this doily.

Good Morning!

Isabel — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 08:28:05 GMT

On my way to an other near city, Malm�. Autumn it's here and the rain too.:emoji-E030:
In Malm� city it's a very big store with hobby supplies, like: thread, wool, and the universal netting fork:emoji-E030:
Here in the only store which I can find a Universal netting fork, to tatting with a hairpin lace technic and a tatting shuttle. I saw, here in the tatting group, that some of the pattern in a magazine of the group a motiv which they use this netting fork and tatting. I'll try this weekend.
I found this old little motiv,in the last sunday's market, it's only 10x10cm. and it's very old. Only 5 swedish crown/1/2 Euro, halv american dollar, I payed for it, wonderful What do you think? :sunnysmile:
I have tatted the same motiv in my own way. I put beads and I tatted 11 rings, in the second round and I have tatted with split ring in join round and with two shuttles..
Outside in the garden!:emoji-E030: This motiv it's only 6x6cm. The thread it's nr. 20.:emoji-E030::emoji-E030:
Thank you for reading and I wish all of you a happy tatting weekend!:emoji-E030::emoji-E030::emoji-E030:

This past Sunday

crazytatter — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 02:33:21 GMT

I went to my first Golden Gate Lacers meeting and met PattyD and 4 others ladies at Jan's Art Studio in Fremont, CA. It was a sunny afternoon spent with a group of very friend and helpful ladies. Patty gave us the tatting class, took us through how to wind a shuttle properly, showing us the mystery of magic thread, how to do reverse work, and finally cleared my suspicion about whether I am doing SLT all along and not knowing that is what it is all about.

The meeting was from 1:30 pm to 5:30 pm and the time sure flies, we ate and tatted and ate some more and tatted some more then it was time to leave. I am looking forward to the next meeting in November.

twisted wrist

dianeposton — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 15:53:45 GMT

I twisted my wrist two weeks ago and haven't been able to tat......going to try later today and see how it goes, really miss it!http://www.intatters.com/images/smil...emoji-E023.png

Jumping in for the first time

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 17:46:51 GMT

I just joined this website, so I thought I'd introduce myself. I am always glad to find others who tat because it is becoming more and more scarce. I have been tatting for about 30 years, though I have gone through long periods where I haven't tatted at all. I was fortunate enough to have a college teacher who included it in her creative stitchery class. I fell in love with it from the moment I saw it. Over the years, I have done mostly doilies. I haven't ventured out very far into the world of creating patterns, but I did tat a baby bonnet for a friend who wanted a specific style and had to piece different edging patterns together to do it. When I figure out how to post a pic here, I will try to get that one in. I've made doilies for my mom, mother-in-law, and each of my sisters and sisters-in-law. A few aunts have requested and I've made doilies for them as well as a few favored friends. I love fine handwork and also crochet. I am also a calligrapher and hope to learn to draw and paint someday.
Jetraven

Where did all my needles go?????????????

rain — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 15:11:23 GMT

Ok Im both a shuttle and needle tatter, I started out with needles and then wanted to learn the shuttle way, so lately its been all shuttle. But I found this quick project that I wanted to do, to make a bookmark (if anyone reads my blog on here when Im not to lazy to post something to it... I need to make 60... I have 15 lol) any who... I go looking for my needles and for some reason I want to use size 50 omega.. yeah Im not to good with it just yet Im used to bigger sizes... so anyways I cant find my needles!!! I have all the big ones but my size 7 & 8s have wondered off :emoji-E023:... IT all comes from my daughter! She is 11 and every once in awhile she will try to tat. But never puts it back!!!!! I guess I should be happy since she does want to learn but geez why does she have to loose my stuff in the process??
I have tried to teach her to shuttle tat (was trying last night) but she didnt like the feel of the thread in her hands? I cant explain it better then that, She kinda got the flip, but she wants to stick to the needles. I wonder if there is a better way to get her comfy with the thread or maybe I shouldnt push it just let her learn with the needles (if she would only return everything.....) She can now make small butterflies and Im proud of her. :emoji-E002:
Ok so the cross stitch sampler got pushed to the background again .. after I took all the threads out and started again I realized with the fabric that its on the hoop I have is way way way to small and only distorts the fabby so I have to get a bigger hoop (I love using Q-snaps for my projects gonna invest in a bigger one soon) so once I get that Ill be going to finish that one. I picked up the tiger one Im working on (see why I only have 15 bookmarks done???) but Im not feeling it just yet lol ione day it will be completed.
In the tatting world , I have half a bookmark in 2 shuttles, and thread wound in 2 more for another one. I still need to put that last round of the amusement doily on one I started earlier this year... and I need to put some letters on a hanky Im making for a dear friend.
Ah so many things to complete and with a 3yr old during the day then the older 2 later (which amounts to 3, 3yr olds) plus trying to hustle people into buying AVON, I dont have enough time to complete anything!!!! :wacko:
Not to mention I am taking the online tatting courses (somehow) and trying to learn the split ring and cluny ahhhh so much to learn and do and so little :emoji-E027::emoji-E021:

Ok I like the smilies in here lol :emoji-E522::emoji-E523::emoji-E527::emoji-E531::emoji-E521: they are so cute! ok ok back to life.....

Shameless plug time....
(Hey gotta pay for those missing needles somehow!)

~Nikki~
www.youravon.com/nicoleburt
Free shipping to anywhere in the USA.. just ask me for the code!

View While Tatting

Antiquarian — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 19:28:19 GMT

I was tatting all morning while it rained, but snapped this picture out my front door in a small break in the storm and in my tatting.

We come from all different places and I'd love to see where others live.

How to tell the difference between Japanese Delicas and other seed beads.

celticflame99 — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 17:31:37 GMT

Originally Posted by celticflame99

Delicas are japanese seed beads, they are prescisely made, and are very consistent in size and shape. they then to be tubeular, and can have sharp edges. The process for making them involves a long glass tube being broken in very specific intervals to create the individual beads. The advantages of them are that they do not need much culling, or sorting for size, they are extremely consistent in size, and they are perfect because of that for applications such as bead weaving, peyote stitch, and very symetrical projects. They also come in hundreds, if not thousands of colors, textures, finishes, shapes, sizes, and what not. Common sizes are 15, 13, 11. The disadvantages are that they are more expensive, harder to find, and can over time cut the medium used to string them. They appear to be tiny symetrical tubes.Attachment 7453 Attachment 7454

A regular seed bead is made in a similar way. Many are made in the Czech republic now days. Glass tubes cut at certain points. However, the cutting process is not nearly as precise as with delicas. These seed beads require heating after cutting, in which the sharp edges melt down slightly, so as not to cut the person using the beads in their art. This is why these beads look rounded, blob like, or more spherical than delicas. You will need to cull out bad beads with this type. Up to 30% of these beads can be un-useable, melted closed, severely malformed etc. I do this when I first buy a baggie or tube. I bring them home, and sort out obvious deformed beads. Then, immediately before use, I lay them out on a piece of velvet, and select for size, color, etc. These beads can be bought in baggies or pre-strung. You will have less culling to do if you can buy pre-strung. Some advantages are rounded edges, less expensive, will not cut your threading medium, many colors, finishes, etc, and have more available sizes. Common easily found sizes are 15, 13, 11, 8 and 6. Disadvantages are not as consistent and symetrical, lots of culling needed, bead weaving and peyote stitch can be uneven and lumpy when using this type, some beads can be signifigantly larger than others, leading to a lumpy look in long strung strands. Attachment 7450 Attachment 7451 Attachment 7452

The pictures attached hopefully help understand my points.

I prefer non-delicas in any project that doesn't have bead weaving in it. If you want delicas, look for "japanese" and "delica" on the label, and look in specialty bead stores. Michaels, hobby lobby, and joannes tend not to carry delicas.

Brittany

New doily trials and tribulations!

Linda S Davies — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 18:09:02 GMT

I have decided to take a break from working on my latest book, Tatted Flowers From Bulbs. I had not picked up a tatting shuttle since before Howard and Charlie's wedding on 4th September, until last Saturday.
I loaded two shuttles, had no idea where they were going to take me, but this is the result so far!

I like the design, but the stitch count is not right yet. I will complete this one as it is and then do another edited version.
I have no idea how I am going to write this pattern out, as I have made the outside row really complicated. I shall have to ask Clyde to test tat it for me and give me his opinion on how to simplify it!
I also need some suggestions on a name for it?

I love This Thought

Antiquarian — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 17:05:34 GMT

Originally Posted by PattyD

The knot does not care how it is made.

I read this and just loved it. It's the kind of things I would hang in my studio as a reminder that some hoity toity persons "right way" of doing something should have no bearing on my creativity. :emoji-E011:

Thursday's tatting :)

Isabel — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 07:55:32 GMT

:yes:This friday morning it's fabulous. The sun shines, and my thursday's tatting like to be between the Sunflower:emoji-E030:. The temperature it's only 8 C. here in the south of Scandinavia. The autumn it's here and I love it.:emoji-E030:
This Motif with Cluny leaves it a Sue Hanson's version. I love the motif and I'm going to tatting more ot this beautiful Cluny Leaves. I have learned to tatting clunies from a polish webside. Not so easy, and of course an arduos work, but after a couple of clunies you can tatted it without problem.
This is an other tatted cap to one of my many dolls I have :emoji-E030:
Enjoy this weekend ! More cluny leaves, I must tatting this weekend :emoji-E030:
Isa

My last tatting: A Christmas bell!

Isabel — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 13:44:33 GMT

This Christmas bell it's a pattern I get in the last tatting meeting. It's a pattern from two of the members of the grup: Connie Maymann and Lisbeth Johansson.
It's was a lite difficult for me to tatted this bell but, I have fun during the tattig work. :emoji-E030:
The original pattern hasn't the cappler and it has only pearls in the inferior part of the bell. I tatted the cappler with 40 zig-zag stiched and finally I introduced 8 cristal pearls in the last ring.:emoji-E030:.I have tatted in two days because I began an other tatting. :emoji-E030:
Have a wonderful day and a better day tomorrow:emoji-E030:

ISA

Learn something new each day! ~ �Cada d�a se aprende algo nuevo!

soyloquesoy — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 02:31:25 GMT

I had looked at discussions of people learning cluny leaves for quite a while. And last Monday I just decided to give them a try - I got some no. 5 cotton perl�, and followed the instructions linked - after some tries, I was going!

No pattern, just a long succession of clunies and split rings - I found adding the split rings helped me a lot - so the new cluny did not "mix" with the one before.

And one things leads to another, I wanted to try "hanging clunies" - the explanation on the nov. 2006 entry in that blog was just totally clear, and I managed to make some fun doodles with the last of the thread in my shuttles.

Here is a close up!

Beginnings and Endings

wmstem — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 17:43:56 GMT

Well, Madhur was kind enough to remind me to post the doily I donated to the Historical Society. The pattern was from the Butterick's Tatting & Netting 1896
book which can be found at:
http://www.georgiaseitz.com/public/publicindex.html
It is only 6 years older than the building the Historical Society is in so I figured it would be period appropriate.

Tonight, I begin the 3 classes I'll be teaching during the month of October and November.

I should be tatting

sweetpea1077 — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 17:17:45 GMT

I got "The Big Book of Tatting" from my library, and I'm working on one of the little doilies listed on the first page. I have a co worker who is retiring in December (she's put in 40 years of service) and I really want to tat something for her as a gift. December seems to be far off, but when it comes to making gifts, it's not all that far away.

So, I am working on this doily, but I am thinking I am going to make her a bookmark or two as she is an avid reader. (How can you not be after working 40 years with a library system.) So, I'm going to try out both and see which I will give. Possibly one of each. :sunnysmile:

Lovely weekend!

Isabel — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 12:23:36 GMT

This lovely wood shuttle I get in the 10 years celebrations meeting.
All this lovely things in the panel it's some of the pattern tatted during in each meeting in all 10 years.
My things I usually carried with me:smile:when I'm in the tatting meeting
I had a lovely weekend! This last Saturday I was in the 10 years celebrations meeting with the group I'm a member. The group of Tatting existing since 2000. The meeting was fabulous. We have fun and we get a very beatiful gif, every one get a wood shuttle with a lovely print in it. In one of the side it's 2000-2010 and the other side it's a dubble stich. We have lunch a lovely meet with salad. With the cafe we ate a lovely piece of cake, home maked by one of the member from the group of tatting.
We get three patterns to tatting in that day. Many surprise during the meeting. Some lottery and other impressions from the begining of the group. All of the member from the begining were there. We were there from 10 o'clock until 3.30 in the afternoon.
Isa

Attached Thumbnails

Just need to share.....

Susan B T — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 21:20:33 GMT

Been on the phone to my younger brother, he live 2000 miles away from me. He has just finished chemo and radiation for stage 2 Pancreatic Cancer. He has just passed the 9 month mark. It was a shock to all of us, there is no history of cancer in our family. Our older brother lives only 15 or so miles from him. That has been a help for him and a comfort for me.
He is doing very well and hopes to return to work in 3 weeks.

Thanks for letting me vent and please offer a prayer to who ever you pray to for is recovery.

Looking for other tatters in the East Bay vicinity

nobodyinparticular10 — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 01:04:07 GMT

Hi. I live in the east bay area of San Francisco and would like to meet up with other tatters, as well as those who aren't as local.

I'm currently in another group but that's mostly knitting and crocheting. Because the meeting is in Oakland I usually don't go, but wish I could.

I learned tattting with a shuttle when I was just a girl, but forgot about it and now want to relearn it but also do needle tatting.

I will add more to this blog soon. I'm on a public computer and it's pretty darn chilly in here for some reason.:emoji-E030:

I'll be scarce for a while

PattyD — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 20:36:28 GMT

Well, we have decided to move and that means I'll be up to my elbows in all the zillion things that have to be done. I'll probably be pretty scarce around here until the dust settles, but I will be back.
I hope to have time to peek in now an again, but won't be posting much.

Pendant!

Isabel — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 14:43:35 GMT

This pendant I have tatted yesterday in the afternoon! I have two more to finish today.
Today i have made a deep cleaning in my tatting threads and shuttles.:emoji-E523:
I have to many cristal pearls and I must do somethings with those pearls.
Here my pendant!
Thanks to all tatting friends and have a beautiful Autum to all in this north of the planet and a wonderfull Spring in the other south part of the Mother Earth.
Isa

My last bead tatting***

Isabel — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 16:41:03 GMT

I have a little vacations from my tatting. This weekend I have celebrated :smile: (special food), the independece day of Chile. I usually baked a speciall chilean food for those days, called "Empanadas". My husband and my son liked those, very much and they eated all my "Empanadas". I have baked about 40:smile: I filled some of them only with cheese, and other with only onions, and the rest with meat and onions....(fried in olive oil )
Yesterday afternoon I tried to tatted with beads again. I tell you all thats it's very dificult to began to tatted with beads, but I liked very much.
This is a pendant. This is the result after I began a pattern, but as usually me I finished in different way than the pattern sorry but it's my way to finished a work :blush:
A pair of earings I have tatted too.... This is my own design:biggrin:.
This pair of earings it's my own design and it have two Freshwater Pearl and cristal pearls.
I think I must prepar some more tatted Christmas motiv. I'm looking after some 3d angels. :smile:
Have a wonderful autum :smile: every one who has one. And the otherone who live in the other part of the world : have a beautiful Spring:smile:

Colorful Celtic Curly Wreath

soyloquesoy — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 12:43:51 GMT

Remember my first Celtic Curly Wreath? I did it again!
�Recuerdan mi primer Celtic Curly Wreath? �Lo hice de nuevo!

My chain tension is not really consistent yet, but I am really pleased with the result anyway :happy:. I loaded just enough thread into two shuttles and tatted them normally - I could not find my flow in direct tatting :ermm:. I unwound the working shuttle to pass the chain through the previous SSSR and then tied it again to make the new SSSR - and then unwound it again to use it in the double thread, as shown in this video. (Thanks AnneB!)

No tengo una tensi�n muy pareja en las cadenas todav�a, pero me gusta mucho el resutlado de todos modos :happy:. Lo hice poniendo sufieciente hilo en dos navetas, y haciendo las cadenas del modo normal - no encontraba buen ritmo al haceralas sin transferir los nudos :ermm:. Para pasar la cadena por el anillo dividido anterior, sacaba el hilo de la naveta y despu�s lo volv�a a atar - y volv�a a desatarlo para hacer los �ltimos puntos del anillo la naveta en el doblez del hilo, como se ve en este video. (�Gracias AnneB!)

June Giveaway (in September!) ~ Regalo de Junio (�en Septiembre!)

soyloquesoy — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 22:06:04 GMT

The intatters forum had a giveaway last (Northern) summer, with a draw among those who participated a lot. I was one of them :innocent:, and lucky to win a prize! I was starting to worry that it might have got lost in the mail, but here it is! :flowers:

En el foro intatters hubo un sortea de regalos entreo los que m�s participaron en el mes de Junio. Yo fui uno de ellos :innocent:, y tuve mucha suerte y gan� un premio! Y aunque ya me tem�a que se hubiera perdido en el correo, ac� est�! :flowers:

Here are a couple of pictures, thanks again Kersti for organizing this, and for the lovely prizes!

Ac� muestro unas fotitos, gracias de nuevo a Kersti por organizar esto y por los premios hermosos!

One step forward, two steps back

Imoshen — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 07:39:29 GMT

I got almost all of my projects done for the fair, which starts this Tuesday. The only official tatting didn't get finished. I was on a roll working on my El Dorado doily, when I had to stop and take my son to the doctor. He fell and hurt himself being an active child and after 4 sets of X-rays, turns out he fractured his collarbone. So no way to meet that deadline, I had to comfort him because the only pain killer doctors recommend has been recalled. All others are too strong and can't be prescribed.:sad:
He seems to be okay for the most part, except that it's noticable that he's 'babying' his injured side. We're avoiding telling my Mother-in-law anything because last time she pushed my buttons so bad....enough said. I was tempted to treat him on whatever he wanted as a distraction, but I can't let him turn into a faker, as my husband put it, to get what he wants. He's shown signs of it prior to this incident.
So this Tuesday will probably be the only time we visit the fair, I think it will be too much for both of us.:blush: I'm anxious to see how my work stood up to the competition.

Not sure what I'm doing, but...

jamlover — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 17:08:56 GMT

I guess I am making a first blog post.

I clicked on blog and read all the way back to January 2010. [Some people have nothing pushing to do with their time] Meaning me of course. Besides, this is retirement isn't it!!

Anyway, I selected 3 more must try projects and read a little about a lot of you. Interesting stuff. [My it's almost time to eat again and the morning is gone.]

But aside from doing the laundry and cooking when the urge strikes me, isn't tatting the most important thing to include in my life everyday?? :smile::happy:thmbup::thmbup::wink:

Inventititve...thanks rhett and link

shannon_in_love — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 05:54:21 GMT

In tatting we need to be inventitive (yes i mean what i am saying...not inventive)... anyway. I ran into a snag while tatting a crown. I mean by all means its not as awesome as i thought but... here was my way to try to stiffen my tatted crown...
I tried really hard. And would you believe it, i tatted an awesome bell and did not take pictures... here's my white one
i made a black one in less than half the time with a needle...astonished...then i did a few ring designs...if someone already did these then i am sorry, i just went with my head, whirling and twirling with rings, appeantly i am only able to upload only five pics... i guess i'll post them on my blog later... but BAM
I LOVE BEING INVENTITIVE!

Raining Thursday!!

Isabel — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 11:57:41 GMT

Raining Thursday today here in south of Scandinavia. But the shining sun apperar betwen the clouds and give me a new energy for tatting today too :smile:
Here it's some of my tatted works in the last time

One of my favorites doll with the bag I tatted for her and a little hat.

iThis is the bag I have tatted for my doll
This bag I have tatted for some of my shuttles when I go out for a long trip, but sometimes I have an handkershief which I must tatted all edging around in it... I have more tatted work in my new album :heart:
Thank you for your comments
ISA

Attached Thumbnails

The Love of a Mother

Antiquarian — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 23:46:03 GMT

This last week has been horrible. In a 24 hour period my 2 year old daughter bashed her head against the coffee table - there was blood - went to the Dr. to check on the head and have her yearly shots. Had a bad reaction the the shots including stiff swollen legs (where they gave her the shots), vomiting and a fever. The fever lasted 2 days as a low grade.

What does this have to do with tatting you wonder? Well, at 2 AM her fever was at 103.5 and I was packing to take her to the ER while my sweet husband put 4 oz of ice water in with meds in her tummy - never know the wait time at the ER. I thought, ya, a long wait, I should take something to do. God forbid they have to admit her. So I grabbed my Tatting bag only to find my little Boo had tangled my projects together in a Gordian's Knot...what's a mother to do? Chew through it of course. I grabbed the lest important UFOs and bit through the tread so I could untangle the shuttle and the ball of thread to take with me. At 2 AM you don't think "just take the whole bag" which would have been smart.

In the end her fever broke before we left for the hospital and I still have a knot nest in the bag...but I now know I can chew through it if I have too. :innocent:

Tatting class

sweetpea1077 — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 02:18:31 GMT

I went to the little sewing shop here in the town I live in to talk about signing up for their beginning knitting class that I heard they may be starting. I was told that they were looking for at least 6 people to sign up and she took my name and number as they had 4 (including me) and had a couple people interested.

I then saw some shuttles and we started talking about tatting. She said that they were talking to a few people about having a class for it. I was tickled! I truly hope that someone does decide to teach and they get enough interested to have the class.

:thmbup:

Celtic Curly Wreath

soyloquesoy — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 01:21:39 GMT

A while back, Chari asked for help with this pattern at the intatters forum. Frakira rose to the challenge and made a very clear step-by-step photo tutorial.

I made my piece after looking at the tutorial, but not following it. I am really pleased with the result, and have grand plans for a second one!

My tatted Fan, some of my shuttles and accesories***

Isabel — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 19:18:54 GMT

THis tatted fan I have tatted the last winter and it's was a challenge for me because it's was very difficult for me like a begginer. Differents moment and I put cristal beads too, that, the beads, wasn't in the pattern. I don't remember where in the web took the pattern sorry.
Some of my tatting shuttles. Those in white are old, I founded some in the sunday's market other on the E-bay.
This doll dress, the basket and the hat are my own design.
Some old accesories
Other of my new shuttles and some of the bigger one from Tasty.

ISA

Where is my glue?

crazytatter — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 05:38:23 GMT

That is what I asked my BF. I tatted this beaded flower earring pattern which I decide to use them as necklace for little girls by putting them on chain or string. I needed the glue to stiffen the finish product so that the petals can hold the beads stiffly and not flop around.

His reply was? I donated to good cause. His neighbor kids come by to borrow glue so he saw mine and gave it away thinking since he don't need them no one would. Boy was I steamed but what can I do that happened in July and now it is September. :doh:

Didn't get as far as I thought

sweetpea1077 — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 21:17:31 GMT

I was hoping to start a doily this weekend. (I really want to start working on making them for Christmas gifts) But, I ended up going into work to make up some hours I'll be missing this coming week, staying far to long at my sister's watching a movie, having my nieces' birthday party to go to, and then having to come and do some cleaning in my house because it was horrible!

So since all that happened, my tatting project was put on hold. So for right now, I'll just keep practicing the little things until I have the time to actually sit down and work on a bigger project. Hopefully that will be next weekend.

Oh, and my boyfriend is coming home tomorrow after being gone for 10 days. I'm super excited to see him as it's the longest we've been apart in the 4 and half years we've been dating! :heart:

New pics!

alizandria — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 18:09:44 GMT

I uploaded some new pics today, let me know what you think!

http://www.intatters.com/album.php?u=1820

I can't believe how addicted I am to tatting now! :w00t:

Ready with " Miss Caroline, the Crinoline Belle" in 3 D ;)

Isabel — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 15:40:46 GMT

With my best Sunday's wishes to all tatting friends I show my 3 D doll.
This doll I have founded in Georgia Seitz page with the name "Miss Caroline, the Crinoline Belle" By Martha Ess. I love dolls and I thought how can I tatting a 3 D doll? When I saw this pattern I began to tatting like the original pattern. After I have tatted one side I began to tatting an other one and I joined the two part together in the picots from the chains.
This is from one of the both side.
I tatted a little basket from my own design, I began with the botton of the basket and after one round of rings and chains. This basket have a natural flower from my garden :smile:
The basket

Yesterday I have tatted this BUtterfly from the book Sommerfugle i Orkis by Adelheid Dangela.
I have more pictures in my new album :biggrin:
Thank you all tatted friend and Have a happy day !

Isa

Music please calm my beast

Imoshen — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 23:53:13 GMT

I have my 2 year old pushing on my legs and tugging my arms while the little cake in the oven is squirming and doing it's own pushing and tugging. :huh: Why are they both so hyper at the same time?

I have six days to complete and prepare my entries for the fair. I ran out of white size 30, so I have to wait until Monday to do one entire doily and finish off a fan. The only thing I can work on are my old fashion playing cards, and these wouldn't take more than 2 hours from start to finish. Not to mention I have tons of ends to hide and items that need starching. I feel like I'm wasting tatting time.:ohmy:

I was visiting another forum, this one run by the Shuttle Shop designers and found something wonderful to distract me for a bit. They are making epoxy shuttles that you can put your own tatting into! So after contacting them and getting the necessary info to begin crafting my own shuttles, I went on a search for something small yet worthy of immortalizing in plastic. Okay I'm being a little bit overly dramatic here. But I am trying to find something quickly because I want to recieve the first pair by my birthday next month.:thmbup:

Funny how one little thing can get you excited and that excitement carries over to other things. I now have plenty of motivation to get that tatting done. What I'm lacking is the necessary supplies. I do have to brush up tatting with very fine thread, I'm talking about sewing thread size, er 100..

Tatting Patterns Old & New

tattingfool — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 18:04:03 GMT

When I finished 'Tatting Made Simple' I had a lot of material left over, and more coming in, so I started on another book, which I called 'Tatting Patterns Old & New'. It was a compilation of everything left over from the first book, and included some really interesting patterns for the 1970's.

Contributors included Myra Piper of Olney, IL with two snowflake patterns, Doris Clark of Lakeview, NY with a popular tatted rosary, Ruth Potter of Linden, NJ with two simple but beautiful doilies, and others.

I have made the rosary as a 6" miniature suitable for framing, and regular (about 12") for Christening and First Communion gifts.

Several years ago, a church committee asked if I could make a large rosary and include silk roses in the 'beads'. I have made several, from 3.5' and 6' to 13' around. Pictures of the first, the 3.5' rosary, are posted in my album.

Tatting projects for September.

wmstem — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 17:40:18 GMT

Well, I'm pretty busy for the moment.

I have just completed a cloverleaf doily from the Butterick's Tatting and Netting published in 1896 and available online.

I am working on converting a pattern to utilize split chains and split rings.

I am preparing for a demonstration to be given tomorrow in my town.

And I hope to have 2 or 3 classes to teach in October.

Not to mention participating in online classes in tatting myself.

Self-Publishing BC (Before Computers)

tattingfool — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 17:17:35 GMT

Hard as it is for the younger crowd to imagine, 'personal computers' in the late 1970's were primitive, little more than dedicated word processors with no picture capability. My first 'computer' was a Systel word processor with an electronic typewriter input/output device.

I brought home from work scrap pages of 11"x14" computer paper to type the book on, leaving spaces for photographs to be pasted on. I bought a flat-bed copier and reduced the sheets to 8 1/2" x 11" landscape, took the pages to a copy center, folded, assembled, stapled, and trimmed the finished books.

The first books were pretty rough-looking. I sold them at craft fairs and by mail. Word of mouth was my only advertising, but they sold well.

A major craft store contacted me about selling books to them wholesale. The owner educated me on wholesale prices and shipping charges, and we have had a good relationship for over 30 years.

As technology increased, I produced later editions of this book. Today, I use CorelDraw for the illustrations and a full-blown PC, but I still do my own folding, stapling, and trimming.

Learning to Tat

tattingfool — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 16:50:15 GMT

I taught myself to tat in my teens. My mother had already taught me to knit and crochet (her favorite craft). I was leafing through her collection of old Workbasket Magazines when I came across lesson 2 in tatting. I couldn't find the copy with lesson 1, so I experimented.

I could tell that the stitch was the familiar square knot turned on its side, so I played with un-making the stitch to see how it was made (in reverse).

In short order, I had figured it out and was working patterns from the books. I never found the missing Workbasket, but later books showed that I was not using the 'regular' method of making the stitches. I found my method easier to use - no wrapping the shuttle thread over a pinky.

Skip forward a few years. I was married and visiting my in-laws out of state. One sister-in-law expressed interest in learning to tat, so I started to teach her by my method.

When we returned, I sat down to write a long letter to her with the next steps for her. My husband caught me writing and asked why I didn't just recommend a book to her. I told him the books I saw were very difficult to follow.

That's when he told me that if the existing books were not enough, that I should write my own.

I finished the instruction part of the text, and a girlfriend drew hand positions that I modeled for her. I wrote to a nationally-syndicated newpaper needlework series with an open request for unpublished tatting patterns while I researched some 1900's public domain patterns. Some local people showed me their heirloom patterns, done 2 and 3 generations back.

I made a selection and started putting 'Tatting Made Simple' together.

Wedding

Linda S Davies — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:44:48 GMT

I can't believe that our big day has come and gone in a flash! It was 18 months in the planning and one day in the performance! Never-the-less it was the most beautiful day (including the weather!), everything went according to plan with no major disasters, and a great time was had by all.

I think you will agree that Charlie (short for Charlotte) was a beautiful bride. Her tatted headdress showed up fantastically against her dark hair. Those of you who have followed my blog will know that Charlie has battled breast cancer and the pictures show how much her hair has grown in a short space of time! I think you will also agree that she looks a picture of health now, thanks to modern medicine, and her own inimitable determination to be recovered in time for her wedding day. Her only disappointment was that she could not wear her wedding veil that I had made with the beaded tatted edge, her hair was too short and too fine to hold it in place. I edged it with hens and chicks design, which I had also done on the tiers of the wedding cake to match it.

The caterers had assembled the cake by the time we arrived at the reception. The tiers were supposed to be sitting directly one on top of the other, but as it looked so nice the way they had done it, we left it as it was!

Oh the pain of it all

sweetpea1077 — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 16:59:28 GMT

Monday night I took a tumble down my basement stairs and I've now got the bruises to prove it! :ohmy:

Anyway, I have done any real tatting as of the past few days. I have managed to make several of the medallions from Barbara Fosters learn to needle tat book though. I was thinking of making a doily out of the medallions, but not quite sure on the connecting part. Maybe I'll post that question on the forum boards. :thmbup:

Okay...off to finish my lunch and read a little of my book.

My tatted Ball!

Isabel — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 11:05:36 GMT

This is my tatting during the last days.

I have tatted this ball with rocaille perls. I put inside the ball a balloon and inflated it . I gave a form and after the round form I wished:smile:; I tied the balloon. After that I have brushed, my tatted ball, with transparent glue disolved in water. I leave drying about 12 hours and then I removed the ballon. VOIL� this is the result.:biggrin:
The pattern I began with the center and then like I tatting a bracelet. Then join the chains. :smile::tongue:
Isa

Attached Thumbnails

Bugs

Susan B T — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 20:52:47 GMT

Had a large praying Mathis in my garden.. took his picture. I has almost 5 inches long. He head would follow me around. Put his picture in my album of not tatted stuff.:thmbup:

mini tats mini gift

dianeposton — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 16:50:53 GMT

I am loving Patricial Dufff's book but now that I have about 9 done, I am wondering what to do with them all. I think I'll stiffen them and gift them to my sisiter-in-law. She loves Christmas, like a little kid actually. She will love decorating her mini Christmas tree. If I ligtly spray them with some glitter, they'll be so sweet. I will need to get about a doezen more done, then start on some for myself.

I haven't made any item of size yet but I can now see that it is not such a monumental task, one motif at a time.

There was a break in the hot humid weather, but it's back now. Too hot to be outside, so I guess I"ll just sit and tat!:blush:

looking for alittle compassion:)

lalou — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 16:35:19 GMT

How many times do we tell our children , becareful with that are you'll poke your eye out! (LOL)

Well............

So busy with getting my cakes ready for birthday partys this pass weekend (3 cakes), and trying to get myself ready. I got distracted for a second and when i turned my head back in a flash i poked my eye with a sharp pair of tweezers (or should i say scratched my eye) after the initial shock and pain. ( miserable state to be in) Doc. said about two to three weeks to heal but in the mean time it looks like you are looking through a crystal (with sand in your eye!!)
eye watering and tearing, nose running everyone asking what are you crying about!

So here i sit for the next couple of weeks, no crafts or TATTING what will i ever do!!!!! (listen to that little mommy inside that says, lookout are you'll poke your eye out) lol xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo thanks for listening.

Oh, a blog here

Antiquarian — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 01:03:36 GMT

I didn't realize there was a kind of blog for us to post a way on. I have one on Blogger all about my lace and bookmaking, but I'll take opportunities to note things here.

Lace making this last week:
Finished my first bobbin lace piece and am remaking my pillow - needs more padding I feel. I also had to rescue my tatting threads from my Boo. She decided they needed to be sorted onto the coffee table and there is no force greater than a 2 year old on a mission to sort. :shock:

Hi

Susan B T — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 20:38:00 GMT

Have not posted here... thought I would give it a try....

Love the long weekend... Cleaning house, getting ready to go on vacation.

Completed an UFO...... :thmbup:

Twisted.....

dianeposton — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:27:02 GMT

I am working my way through MiniTats by Patricia Duff and I have come to the inevitble question: How do I get that last join right without twisting or ruining my hard work?? Well, leave it to InTatters. I have found a wealth of information about 'how to' do it correctly. Thank you everyone!

Today it is actually cooler out, I'm off to spend a weekend at a friends' lakehouse. Lots of time for tatting and talking, with a little wine mixed in......:biggrin:

Long weekend

crazytatter — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 01:07:38 GMT

Ah! The long weekend is coming. I hope to get back on tatting the chrysanthemum still. Have started on another project it is a square star. I thought it looked intriguing.

I will also be seeing couple friends in Sept that I have not seen for 22 years. I was thinking if I hurry, I can have some tatting done for them as gifts upon meeting. Of course, I have to decide what I want to do first as I don't want to make it too complicate then I will never get it done in time.

Than of course, there is Yon's snowflake challenge that I want to see if I can come up with something. Even though it seemed everyone may already finished with this challenge, I only discovered it yesterday. So, I am still going to try my hands at designing.

I think I have lots of tatting to do this long weekend. I hope it is fruitful for me with lots of results. :smile:

Old Skills

susanmrichards@talktalk.n — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 01:09:13 GMT

Worked it out today that i'ts over 50 years since a school friend taught me to tat. I did this for a number of years then having run out of ideas on what to make next did nothing for well over 40 years (We had no patterns and just made edgings collars and trims fro, our imaginations) :ermm:
I am overwhelmed by the sheer number of patterns available and will have to find a new storage space for all the books I've bought and all the free patterns I've printed out. The 3D patterns are great andI just want to thank all tatters who have helped me to achieve my ambition to tat these flowers.
When I have finished I will perhaps be proud enough to post some photographs.

mekik oyası-tatting(the first picture has needle work around it)

cemile — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:26:56 GMT

Originally Posted by cemile

Treasures in the Sunday's market*****

Isabel — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:26:50 GMT

I found treasures in the Sunday's market here in the town I live. I must share with you my tatting friends. This fabulous tatted carpet founded in the market. There was a lady who have this carpet and other very old things. I'm took this carpet and the other one in crochet . The lady who sold this, told me that her's grandmother tatted it for about 40 years ago. I paid only 10 swedish crowns about 1 Euro, 1.5 dolar. Really fabulous.
A nearly view of the center...
If I put the carpet in this way I love it:smile:more:heart:
This is the other carpet I found in the market, but this in crochet and it's special because it's also old made about in the 50's by a swedish grandmother. This pattern have the name :"Bohus Stj�rna" "Bohus's Star". Bohus it's a province in the west cost of Sweden, and this star it's a very old pattern.
Here a nearly view. I think if I can tatting a edgning around the carpet. Please can you tatting friends suggest me some ideas... :wink:I'll be very happy, thank you all.
I send you all my best wishes in this beautiful monday.
I have tatted two edgings and you can see those :thmbup:in my new album.:biggrin:

Stitch Markers for knitting ~ Marcadores de puntos para tejer

soyloquesoy — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 22:15:51 GMT

I first saw this in a ravelry project when I was starting to learn. They are other super fun and practical thing to tatt! There is no pattern: just a ring (tatting over the first tail when starting), a single shuttle split ring, and a last single shuttle split ring to hide the last end. Lots of different effects by changing number, placement and length of picots in this last ring, or adding beads to it. The Daisy ones are only slightly more elaborate, I may write up the pattern sometime.

Vi estos marcadores por primera vez en ravelry. Otra cosa super f�cil y pr�ctica para frivolitear! Todos los improvis�. Para las margaritas tengo que pasar en limpio las instrucciones, los dem�s son simplemente un anillo (escondiendo el hilo del principio bajo los nudos al comenzar), un anillo dividido de una sola naveta, y por �ltimo otro anillo dividido de una sola naveta que sirve para esconder el final del hilo. Las variantes est�n en cambair la cantidad y largo de picots, o incorporar mostacillas en el �ltimo anillo.

I sent this as presents to my good knitting friends all over the world. Here is a closer look at them!
Estos los mand� de regalo a mis amigas tejedoras alrededor del mundo. Ac� los pueden ver en detalle!

Time well spent

Imoshen — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 19:51:56 GMT

Hormones are a horrible thing to swing on. I go from chipper to snipper in a blink of an eye. I really do feel bad for my family having to walk on egg-shells not knowing if it's safe to come near me. It's even worse when I watch T.V. I cry alot even during funny moments. Very fraustrating.
So I began my fair tatting a few weeks back. I have a total of 8 entries. They're being listed under different catergories since spacing is limited. I am entering alot of the 'contests' just so I can put more tatting on the shelves. I have three entries that need second or third pieces of tatting to complete it. Those I've kinda be lagging on, since the complimentary pieces can all be done in about 2 days. Except for a soccer ball I have to design still. One of my entries, the cat, my brother was trying to make off with it. :ermm: I told him if it doesn't win a ribbon he can have it ( I frame all my ribbon winners, so far I have two). He thought it was just a practice piece and that I was going to make a 3D kitty. My current project is the El Dorado doily I made early this year that I swore I would never make again. Since i could only have 2 official tatting pieces listed as tatting I decided to showcase it as best as I can. It is a wonderful eye-catching piece.
The only bad thing is that even though I'm at home ALL the time, I don't really have time to tat. My son likes to keep me company by pestering me whenever I pick up my shuttles. I can be laying in bed reading, no problem, on the computer, no problem, but as soon as I get a shuttle in my hand...he's like a barnacle on the bottom of a ship.:happy: It's not as if I can wait for him to nap to tat. He seems to not need to nap during the day anymore. He's up from 8 A.M. until 9 or even 11 P.M. everyday. I don't know where kids get their energy from...it's like they run on solar or kinetic energy. It makes me so jealous sometimes.

Finally!

sweetpea1077 — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 17:14:59 GMT

First off, I got my two books in the mail yesterday. Rebecca Jones' The complete book of tatting and Janet Carrol's Elegant tatting patterns. I am so excited to really get started with my tatting now.

And yes, I finally finished my first piece! It isn't perfect by any means, but it's mine and it's finished! I was going to post a picture of it, but discovered my camera battery is dead so I will get that posted after a while. (The piece I did was the flower pendant that TotusMel posted on the forums. Thanks for that!)

Wedding

Lena Lindstrom — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 17:42:44 GMT

:heart:
Our daughter got married on August 7. A very happy day for all of us!!

I made some tatted decorations and gifts for the guests.
The hearts was made with hand dyed thread that I got in the Christmas exchange from Australia.
Very suitable for the occation.
The gifts were beaded hearts ment to be used as bookmarks. I made all of this needle tatting.
This was the big event this summer and we had lovely weather to go with it:biggrin:
Now I might have more time for tatting and I got some new books in the mail today.
"Tatting jewellery" (Lyn Morton) and "24 Snowflakes in Tatting" (Lene Bjoern). Looking forward to get started.
Hugs Lena

Hot days here in California

crazytatter — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 01:00:05 GMT

The past 3 days has been really hot, hotter than what I am used to anyways. Since I scrapped the doily, I have restarted on it. I made the 10 rings in the middle and I wanted to change color for the rest of the doily so now it is waiting till I can wind the other color I have in mind on to a bobbin/ shuttle.

For exercise, I worked on an edging from the book by Gun Blomqvist and Elwy Persson called Ingeborg. The outcome is not bad. I wondered how does one stop tatting the edging to make sure the ending would help bring out the designated design of the tatted piece. In the end I decide to try a ring and it worked, no chain was left hanging by itself to wreck the overall look of the piece. That made me happy and forgot how hot it was.

I will post my tat later.

:happy:

After the rain ****

Isabel — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:27:59 GMT

:smile:After the rain the sun it's comming, and after two days I have tatted a cuple of things I'm very proud :blush:.
I began to tatted a pattern from a russian bok, it was a little one round motif. But when I finished the first round, I saw it wasn't the same figur like the pattern, at this time I decided to continue but in my own way and the result I will show you here. I don't now if I do wrong when I change the motif/pattern. But it's better for me to continue than to undo the work :wink:.
I tatted a leave from a russian bok too.
Thank you every tattings friends.:smile:
Isa

Throwing this out there

sweetpea1077 — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 12:49:02 GMT

I haven't done any tatting in the past couple days because I just haven't. But then again I haven't done much of anything. I don't know, just been feeling lazy I guess. My boyfriend will be going out of state for about 10 days, so I'll have time to do it then. :innocent:

Still waiting on my book from Amazon. I am hoping it'll come this week. (It's The Complete Book of Tatting: Everything You Wanted to Know but Couldn't Find Out About Shuttle Lace by Rebecca Jones in case you were wondering.)

Speaking of books...I am getting a Kindle (it was shipped yesterday and should be here early next week!) and was wondering if any of you have one and have any tatting books on them?

Okay, need to work. *Sigh* Work is always getting in the way of the fun stuff. :cry:

In the mind of a crafter perfectionists

rain — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:46:16 GMT

:heart: Hello all!

Ok I know I have been gone for a bit... Kids started school back and I have been busy trying to sell AVON. And that isnt working out very well for me just yet but I hope to make something soon!
Other then that my crafting has been non-existent I just have not been feeling "crafty" lately. I havent tatted a thing in at least a month, I guess since my friend who wanted the 60 bookmarks said to take my time on them, I really am taking my time :blush: And all my cross stitch projects are sooo on the back burner that it is just sad ... So yesterday I picked up a cross stitch piece..(here is the perfectionist part)... only this is one that someone gave me that she got from someone else who already started it. Now mind you she warned me before she gave it to me that it had been started already but I thought "hey its already started so it shouldnt take me to long to finish it...." that is until yesterday night.... I finally opened it up and looked at it..... and I thought all cross stitchers were like me... obsessed with the back being as neat as possible. Well this woman was not... it was a wreck! The stitches are wrong wrong wrong... see in cross stitching you would want them to be all nice and neat, so even the instructions say to go and make half of the X first so you would go ////// then back over them with the other half of the X \\\\\\ to get the neat little X ... well there is an exception and that is when using variegated thread because of the color changes and also metallic threads because they are easier to work with that way.... so anywho this thread was neither she made the XXXXX one at a time, Ok so yea I guess I could have dealt with that... BUT I was finishing this my way nice and neat her back would be = = = = = = = which wouldnt be so bad at all mine goes ll ll ll ll ll ll So I could have dealt with it.... BUT she did the whole outline of this pattern then added the stuff in the middle (its a sampler so it has the abc's in it which she almost finished also) so anywho... she used the outline as an anchor for her other threads so instead of ======== she had a mess there are threads everywhere going everywhere jumping from one section to the next! :mad: I tried so so so very hard to look past it but then I just couldnt and I am now cutting out all the work she did :shock: I know sounds so mean, but I am finishing a majority of it and I just cant live with it looking so tacky in the back. How would I explain it if someone saw it??? How would I live with it???? I just cant explain how badly I cant live with the mess of the back of this project..... :blush::whistling::embarrassed: And here I thought this was going to be an easy project to get my creative juices flowing again :thmbdn:

And the sad thing is the only things I am OCD about is my crafts and now AVON lol other then that Im good lol

Also this morning I picked up a shuttle and started working on another bookmark... I think Im up to 12 or 13 of 60 lol..... just a few more to go :lol::rofl:

~Nikki~
www.youravon.com/nicoleburt
Free shipping anywhere in the US for order $30 and up!
(shameless plug...... hehehe)

Do the shuttle...

sweetpea1077 — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 12:52:58 GMT

So last night I tried shuttle tatting, and had no more luck with that than the needle tatting. :doh: The part I really didn't understand was the part about loosening the tension on the left had to transfer the thread properly. I'll have to keep working on that. I was using the Learn to Tat book and DVD by Janette Baker to start, and found it very easy to follow if only my left hand would ease up on that tension. :happy:

I have the book The Complete Book of Tatting: Everything You Wanted to Know but Couldn't Find Out About Shuttle Lace by Rebecca Jones on order and hoping it should be here this week. I AM going to figure this tatting out if it's the last thing I do!

Better get to work. Is it Friday yet? :dothewave:

Tatting meeting!

Isabel — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 18:39:16 GMT

I was in the tatting meeting here in the south of Scania. Here some pictures from today's meeting. We were many of the members and from 10 o'clock, in the morning until 15.00 o'clock in the afternoon we were in one of the Library's room. We pay about 12 Euros when we arrived and this include the breakfast, lunch and the coffe before we leave. We get also 4 pages with patterns and instruccions for the used techniques in those patterns.
This picture show the things we tatted with the metod in the pattern we get.
This are my things on the table..... I only tatted one of the pattern, a bracelet with the split square metod..

Two of the members brought some selling too. Many shuttles, threaths in beautiful colors and many other tatting's accessories.
The techniques metod I learned today was: Split square , blocktatting, split moon...
Just a wonderful day with many tatting's friends and a lot of new experiences.
We have one meeting a month and the next one is in sept. in october we have the 10 years celebrations meeting.
Isa

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Back to the start

crazytatter — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 07:42:44 GMT

Today, I took stock of my chrysanthemum doily tatting. I noticed that I have majorly messed it up I cannot undo it because so much of tatting was done before my discovery, I decide to toss the tatting and start from the beginning. Hopefully I can complete this run without much error. :yuk:

Oh well, practice makes a person improve right!

Road trip.....

dianeposton — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:36:18 GMT

we are off to Tulsa this morning. I am inspired by all of you that can tat in the car and am givig it another try. Five hours just sitting is too long not to tat. I will also take my knitting, I have to finish a layette set for a baby shower next week. Thanks to all that answered my forum question "tatting in the car' and the new one 'tatting while touring'. Great ideas. This site is great! We'll see how much I'll get done and post some pictures of my trip. We are going to visit grandchildren so I am looking forward to lots of fun. One of our stops will be the aquarium, fishies! Sure hope its cooler up therehttp://www.intatters.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

My Tulip from****

Isabel — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 11:26:23 GMT

Today my Tulip, from Linda Davies's pattern is finished.... I love to tatting flowers and this is my second flower I have done. This tulip I'm thinking to put it some tatted leaves in the same way I tatted the Lili before.
This weekend it's a music festival in town and I'll be there for a while, maybe my tatting must wait for a cuple of days :sad:.
I send my best wishes to my tatting friends and all tatting people who are here in this page. Thank you Kersti..... Happy weekend to all of you!!
From Scandinavia
Isa

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More Tatting Ladies in History

LadyCartwright — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 06:27:08 GMT

Here is Anne Countess of Albemarle in 1759:

Nattiers portrait of Marie Adelaide of France knotting:

and Louis Tocqu�: Madame Dang� faisant des noeuds, 1753:

My yesterday's tatting ......

Isabel — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 08:07:15 GMT

This is my name in a new tatted brooch!
I'm ready with the halv of Linda Davies's TUlip. Hope to finish it today :smile:.
Because it's a beautiful day must go out and do something else:tongue:. I will take my tatting in the afternoon:wink:.
I wish you all tatting friends a happy tatting day:thmbup:

Isa

I must have upset a fairy

Green Gal — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 00:38:59 GMT

Yes I am sulking again. Because once again I am NOT going to get to the NSW Guild meeting. THIS time its election day and I was worried about I could vote and get there in time. But not too worry I sorted all my worries out, -- by stuffing up my back again So flat on my back for most of this week.

I'm trying to work out how I seem to attract so much bad luck. Did I have a doozy of a last life or upset some fairy? Or a good old fashion gypsy curse. Has to be something like that.

My Tatting Box

LadyCartwright — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 20:04:49 GMT

Yeah, I like things to be organized...
:innocent:

http://bit.ly/8ZWm6q

Tatting in Art

LadyCartwright — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 19:56:02 GMT

I just tried to compile some painting showing Women knotting or tatting. :blush:
The first and most famous is I think marie Antoinette knotting in 1762, by Jean Etienne Liotard.

Mrs. Pearce, probably tatting, as the shuttle seems smaller.

An American 18th Woman holding her shuttle:

A Girl tatting by Renoir:

Tatting by Whistler 1873:

And probably the most famous tatter ever: Queen Elizabeth of Romania, also known as Carmen Sylva. I actually read the tatting book by Lady Hoare, which was dedicated to the Queen and showed her amazing skills.
Here she is with her Ladies at work:

And with her shuttles:

(she was so beautiful, when she was young. Its so sad she lost her only child...)

Raining day in the south of Scandinavia

Isabel — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 10:05:42 GMT

This brooch I have tatted it for about 4 months ago. I usually wearing when I go to the frivolit�'s meeting. I love it because the first time I saw it wearing in a member I loved it inmediatly and I thougt "I must do it for my self too" I was a beginner at that time, and I haven't the letters and the pattern either. BUt if you want somethig really you can do it everything :smile:. Today I have other letters I found in the market on sunday, and I must tatting another broach with new letters...:wink:
Today it's raining all this morning and I must tatting in the afternoon:smile:.
I'm realy an ADICTED TO TATTING and don't think it's a medice to cure this illness:tongue:.
Yesterday I began to tatting a 3 D Tulip from the Linda Davis book. I hope to finish it soon.

Isa

Can't win them all

sweetpea1077 — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 22:43:00 GMT

I was at the last ring of the flower pendant and screwed something up that wasn't fixable. :cry: Oh well, this is totally a learning process, and I just have to take the good with the bad.

Let the games, er, tatting, begin!

sweetpea1077 — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:17:03 GMT

I've wanted to tat for about a year now, but never put any effort into until now. It is slow going, but I know I'll learn. I'm working on making the pendant that TotusMel put up on youtube. She makes it look so easy, but I still can't get it. I think I'm putting to much into. I just need to let it come on it's own time. :happy:

I put several colors of thread this past weekend at Michaels and have needles from when I first wanted to learn, but wasn't ready. It's really hard to get any kind of tatting stuff around here. The closest place that sells actual tatting supplies is a Nordic Needle store, which is 2 hours away from here.

The only thing I really want now is someone to actually learn with, in person. Having people online to answer questions, give you patterns, ect. is wonderful, but it's nothing like having someone right there to tell you what you're doing wrong, or right.

Okay, I'm going to finish eating lunch and attempt to do the pendant again. I'll get it one of these times, I just know it!:cool:

off to a good start

dianeposton — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 14:52:07 GMT

Just got back from taking Kody for a walk. He is my American Eskimo dog. What he is doing here is Texas, I think he is still trying to figure that out. Fluffy white fur and this heat doesn't mix well but he make the best of it and stays inside on hot days like today. Speaking of white fur, I've noticed that all of my tatting seems to have a fuzzy white appearance to it........his fur is everywhere, no matter how I try to keep it at bay. If there is any in the air, my tatting thread acts like a magnet and just pulls it in. Maybe I could start a new form of tatting, fuzzy flowers??? well, maybe nothttp://www.intatters.com/images/smilies/ermm.gif .......

on another thought, I posted some of my first projects and received several replies, InTatters is great! I also posted a request for napkin ring patterns and lo and behold...I got one of those too! thanks to all....

Tomorrow I have a meeting here at my house so it'll be a busy day, cleaning and cooking then getting paperwork ready for the meeting.....no tatting today until I get all my other work done..better get goinghttp://www.intatters.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

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Another day in paradise......

dianeposton — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 14:07:19 GMT

that's what I say when the temperatures reach over 100 F....:sweatdrop:...it is just too hot outside to get out in the garden so what better excuse to stay inside and tat. !:sweatdrop: I just started tatting about a month ago and am quite proud of my accomplishments so far, check out my avatar. It is called the eternal cross. Today I will be a little productive, plan on paying some bills and gettting my desk cleaned off. Then, tatting awaits.

My husband like that I am tatting now too, I can tat while he watches his favorite, the Texas Rangers baseball games. Usually I go into 'my' room and knit and watch a move, but now I sit in the living room and tat away. The Rangers are doing really good this year so he is happy!

Off to church then the desk and some bills......then tatting!!!!:w00t:

Sunday's wishes!

Isabel — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 12:43:20 GMT

My best Sunday's wishes to all tatting friends in this particulary, exelent website.
I''m going to tell you about my last tatting I'm done under this weekend...
I'm finished the last "dressed" ring and here it is:It's about 10cm. diameter.
I have done this too:This is a broach with a pearl in the middle.

I finished this :I have made it with two shuttles: one with white color and the other one with green..
This broach I have fineshed for a while and I like it very much because it's created by me . I have embroidered the flower with a special technique, call gold embrodery, and after I finished the work with frivolit� around the broach..
At last I like to show you this needles "keeping" I t's my creation to :) It have two sides, if you like to see both I have put in other of my albums.
My husband said it to me yesterday "That I have sitting and tatting all day without to do an other thing and He said that he must tried to tatting and feeling the way I feeling tatting " . BUt I telling you that I have tatted all the afternoon yesterday without doing something else:ohmy:
Thank you for looking.:wink: Have a wonderful sunday's afternoon.
Isa :smile:

Tatting at picnic

stashtamer — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 00:10:23 GMT

Went to a picnic birthday party for a friend. Took along tatting shuttles and a project (also had knitting and some finished work). When I pulled out the tatting, I hear from the other table "you're tatting!" I love when I hear that. Then several other people noticed I was doing "something" and asked what I was doing and what would it be. I'm tatting a simple bookmark, but they didn't care, the ladies were all amazed that I was manipulating thread in that manner. A couple of them said, "I used to crochet". I get tired of explaining how very different tatting is from crochet. There wasn't anyone interested enough for me to pull out the spare shuttles and thread I had with me. I bet if I tat while walking that will keep my hands from turning into sausages. Only one problem, I can do everything except joins just by feel (that includes making picots). I'm training for a 60 mile walk across 3 days (its one of the Susan G Komen 3day for the cure walks). I usually walk with walking poles(sticks) because my hands really do swell up when I walk for more than 15mins if I am NOT using the poles. Some people just train themselves to keep the arms moving, I chose to use the poles. Another good thing about the walking poles is they are an added amount of exercise to the walking - upper body work out. Anyway, I'm tatting pink ribbons and walking and walking. Maybe I can figure out how to tat pink ribbons while walking:biggrin:. I'll get some pics of tatted pink ribbons up later on. It really is a simple thing, but works best with a chain, ring, chain.

Well, I have babbled on long enough and rambled from picnic tatting to breast cancer tatting..... Oh, I'm also going to make a quilt and use tatting as embellishments on it, but I won't tell more about that before I have more of the quilt done.

Friday **

Isabel — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:03:36 GMT

In this Friday I'm going to tatting a new flower and must finish the other crosses I began yesterday... The raining day yesterday gave me a new interesting idea about the flower I want to do it today...
Yesterday I finished a bracelet this one in yellow tread.
Next 21 of August it's a meeting of the group of frivolit� in my area, I'm going to be there. It's from 10 in the morning to 15 afternoon. I'm going to tell all about this meeting after this important event , here.

Today I want to do a ring with this motiv in the middle.. Hope to finalize until tomorrow...
Thanks for all and my best wishes for all tatting friends in this beautiful place.

Isa

Hallelujah

stashtamer — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 20:22:14 GMT

I moved 5yrs ago (almost exactly 5yrs - we slept our first night in this house on Aug 9 2005). At that time, I barely managed to get all of the boxes that contained my fabric and fiber and bead and tool stashes into the 2 rooms that I was allotted in this house (yes 2 rooms). That was about all I could do. I don't know quite why I had such a block about getting fully moved into my space and ready to work. I've done basically no crafting in the past 5yrs. I have dozens (many dozens?) of UFOs (UnFinished Objects) in all the crafting I do. Tatting, quilting, sewing, knitting, and I don't know how much more.... oh, yah, xstitch. There will be a LOT of these UFOs that will never be finished, but there are some that I'm eager to dig out and dust off.

ANYWAY, I dug into one of the last boxes to empty and found my BEADS. I knew they were in there, I just didn't want to deal with them for whatever reason (I still haven't figured out why I was in such a deep rut). So, I found my beads in there, some UFOs, threads, FOs, and other treasures. I'll have to do more searching and sorting and storing, but I found the beads.

All of this getting back into the sewing (I've been making cushions) and tatting started with Knitting. Years ago I gave away my entire yarn stash and knitting needles and all but 2 crochet hooks that were not super tiny (for tatting). So, I get back into my crafting by starting up a craft I had told myself I would never do again.

I am just so glad to be back to my creative self. My hubby is wondering if I am OK, I think I am more OK now than I have been for several years.

Frustrated!!!!!!

LadyDoc — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 16:50:41 GMT

Originally Posted by LadyDoc

Everyone here is SOOOOO nice!!! I am no longer frustrated- rather I am overwhelmed with information and also with a great feeling about the people here!

I am getting back into tatting after the most horrendous year of my life. It feels really good to pick up an old activity and really want to do it again. I don't know how much time I will have as I begin a job at a new school- learning a new culture can be fun but also hard work- but I am sure that at least I will not be as depressed and demoralized as I was for the past few years. Doing something as fun and elegant as tatting will help keep my morale on a higher plane.

I checked out the "upgrade" link just now- wasn't sure what it was, but all this activity this morning had me curious. Happy to say I am now a Premium member of Intatters.

Thanks SOOO much to everyone who posted to me, and to everyone here. I am glad I found you all!

Are you serious it's only been a week? A bit too much info for some..sorry

Imoshen — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 02:59:47 GMT

Since that last post of the baby? Time flies but it seems like it drags too. Went to the doctor's on Monday and got the ultrasound results explained to me. It was a bit confusing at first until my doctor 'dummed it down' for me. I was under the impression I would be able to return to work after this visit. Nope not happening. Basically this is a miracle baby..his term not mine. The baby barely implanted itself before being flushed out of my body. :ohmy: What does this mean? The placenta (it's lifeline) is partially where it normally would be, but mostly on my cervix. So I will not be giving birth naturally, but with a C-section when I start to go into labor. And he doesn't expect me to carry full term. *sigh* But it's not ALL bad news..the baby IS thriving and is at where it should developmentally. And it's also very active, now that I pay attention to the flutters. Plus, now I have months to spend tatting.:tongue: I am on modified bed rest, so I can attend my county fair, with the assistance of a wheelchair of course. I still can't do so many of the normal everyday things, like boring chores :biggrin:, or being on my feet for too long. I suppose there's compromising on some points, but nah, I'll take it in stride and let others take care of me for a change.:innocent: We still don't have a final verdict on the sex of the baby, it so doesn't want to hold still long enough to confirm one way or the other, but I don't mind. I wanted it to be a suprise anyways...

Onward we go! Time to make shuttle music...:flowers:

My summer tatting in Scandinavia.....

Isabel — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 17:56:21 GMT

My summer tatting in Scandinavia.....
This is my first blog here :smile: I hope do it well :tongue:
I have tatting a lot of crosses. I like to do it and I have sold some of them :biggrin:
I have tatting rings in differents types , wide and thin, small and big. But the rings I haven't tatted this summer. Those rings I have made in the last winter....
This summer I have tatted those things: The butterfly it's big and I have the instruccions from Heidi Nakayama, the crosses are made after a pattern of an danish designer Ingrid Kristensen. The broaches are my own design.

Those rings I have made in the last winter and I saw on the web many patterns about this tecnic. I have send after the book of Jon Yousuf and I hope to receive it soon. I like the tecnic of dressed :tongue: rings.

Thank you very much to all tatting friends here :biggrin:
Isa

Covered rings ~ Anillos cubiertos

soyloquesoy — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 23:45:47 GMT

It is great to browse the many instructive, inspiring tatting blogs. It was thus that I found tatting covered plastic rings, and great, clear instructions on how to do them! Thank you Jon Yusoff!

Hay muchos y muy interesantes blogs y p�ginas sobre frivolit�, donde aprender e inspirarse. As� fue como conoc� los anillos cubiertos con frivolit�, y tambien las instrucciones para hacerlos. Gracias a Jon Yusoff por la clar�sima explicaci�n, y a Wally Sosa por la traducci�n!

This is what I have done so far with this technique:

Esto es lo que he hecho hasta ahora usando esta t�cnica:

Earrings - Aros:

Zipper pulls - tiradores para cierres:

A keychain ring - un llavero:

A backpack decoration - Un adorno para mochila:

I am sure I am not done exploring this!

�Estoy segura que no he terminado de explorar esto!

Happy Dances

Josie Passell — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 13:37:12 GMT

:woohoo2::bounce::woohoo2:What a lovely week, not only do I have my Ring of Tatters new book, 30th Anniversary Book of Patterns, but today my path tag arrived. Thank you so much Kersti. My husband's very impressed. It is a lovely way to commemorate a wonderful tatter.

Wedding Celebration Giveaway

Lace-lovin' Librarian — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 10:53:42 GMT

I'm celebrating my daughter Joanne's marriage this past Sunday by giving away a Spinning Wheel glass mat designed by Mary Konior and a Stumpy bookmark designed by Kersti Anear. Both are tatted in HDT by Sherry Pence. If you'd like a chance to win, please visit my blog (lacelovinlibrarian.blogspot.com) and send wedding wishes to the newlyweds. Good luck!

Diane

Say hello

Imoshen — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 06:39:55 GMT

For those who don't read my regular Blogger..
I've been on bedrest for the past month roughly. This baby doesn't seem to want to behave like a normal baby. I've had ultrasounds pretty much every week to see what can be done. Nothing. Resting in bed is the only medicine that can be given at this stage. :ermm: Anyways, four different ultrasounds and no pictures to bring home. At my last visit I had a different tech doing it and she was kind enough to give me a CD of the session. Allow me to introduce Maligo's next sibling...
Even though technically we could've found out if this baby was a boy or girl, baby didn't want to remain still long enough to focus. Yes, the baby is holding it's face as if to tell us 'Enough Already'. :tongue: We have a very active child on our hands.

Amarllyis and Cross Bookmarks

Linda S Davies — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:19:52 GMT

This Amaryllis is the last flower for my latest book Tatted Flowers From Bulbs. I have yet to wire and assemble it, but I think you can see the shape appearing. Amazingly, I designed it very quickly, with only one alteration, from my hospital bed. My brain must have been boosted with the blood transfusion I had following my surgery!LOL

These two bookmarks are the ones that I designed whilst I was in hospital. They are similar....variations on a theme. It was just something to do after I had finished the amrylis flower above. Really good therapy.....when I am concentrating on designing I do not concentrate on pain!

Bookmarks ~ Se�aladores

soyloquesoy — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 02:40:59 GMT

When I was learning to tatt, I read some advice: Practice doing a lot of bookmarks! These are just some of the ones I have made since then. They are fun to do, they make great personal gifts, they can be ready quite soon, and the repeating patterns give a chance to get into a rhythm. :thmbup:

Cuando estaba aprendiendo frivolit�, le� una recomendaci�n: Practicar mucho haciendo se�aladores. Ac� muestro s�lo algunos de los que he hecho desde entonces. Es divertido hacerlos, son regalos muy personales, se completan pronto, y las repeticiones permiten encontrar un ritmo al hacerlos. :thmbup:

Para Cecilia

Para Cristina

Para Adriana

Para M�nica

Welcome! ~ �Bienvenidos!

soyloquesoy — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 12:41:34 GMT

Bienvenidos a mi blog the frivolit�. :happy: Welcome to my tatting blog.

Espero que lo disfruten. I hope you enjoy it.

I'm a Grandma

Josie Passell — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 07:32:42 GMT

:smile:Noah Jack arrived at 5 past 3 this morning, he weighed in at 10 lbs 3 ozs and is 58 cms long. He had to be helped out with forceps and his mum had an epidural. I am looking forward to seeing him later today. WARNING there will be photos

I got my Path Tag!!

Crnp55 — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 22:23:41 GMT

I love it but I have to remind Kersti I have no idea what a Path Tag actually is..Something to do with transit tags? Help me!! I love the design..Nice gift idea for a tatters bag. I think I might put it on my usual tatting carrier I take to work! Can't wait to see next years. Great idea!:thmbup:

GAK! No computer

PattyD — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 05:48:45 GMT

Boo hoo! Computer down and in the shop. Have to use hubby's when it is free. Sigh... Into every life a little rain must fall.

Stuff for new babies.

Judy — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 19:35:21 GMT

Ok, I've avoided this pretty much for 60 years and now I'm trapped.

A good friend has asked me to embellish some things she wants to get for her granddaughter, if she sends them to me first. Ruffles are good in this instance.
Ok I can find mini-tats and edgings and cute motifs. Not a problem. :thmbup:

Now for the tough one. A friend and much younger colleague who works for a charitable organization (read low salary) and is the breadwinner for her family while her husband finishes medical school, is going to have TWINS in December. :shock:(Gender not known) Can you give me some priorities here? She suggested knitting, and I said something about tatted booties, which I have done. Thoughts please... I have a closet full of cotton for quilts, crochet needles and thread, knitting needles and some yarn, and of course tatting needles. I can also sew garments, but I'd prefer not buying any more fabric just to get the soft brushed finish. I've spoken to my knitting/crochet group and a couple of them offered to do a blanket, cap. If I offer to pay, one of them can do professional quality crochet. Don't want to go that route yet.

First time to blog here

Crnp55 — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 19:22:54 GMT

I never think to put a blog entry out from here. Sometimes I am hard pressed to get any computer time. Sitting here contemplating a snowflake from Mark Myers I never tried, A celtic pattern. Had not tatted for a while because had switched to some knitting and spinning.

I miss my shuttles though! Made this a few week ago.aGotta LOVE Iris Niebach for getting your mojo going!!

Glad to be back!!!

rain — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:41:58 GMT

Well I poofed off the face of the internet! My computer went down and for almost a month I had to deal without it... oh how hard it was to do that!!! :furious: Lets see tatting wise I completed a few more bookmarks... The final number that my friend wants is 60 plus 5 extra just in case..... by August... welll That aint happening! :blush: Im having wrist issues my right arm hurts so bad after awhile that I cant tat (needle or shuttle) So I told my friend and she is ok with it said take my time as long as she gets them before school ends next year she is just fine with me taking my time. :smile: In the meantime I have been focusing on selling AVON... which at this rate is going nowhere :shock::sad: I dont know how much longer I will be selling since Im only making ummm $1-12 on each campaign lol oh well was worth a shot right?:smile:
I havent completed anything lately I have tuns of cross-stitching that needs to be done but just dont have the feel for it right now. I am going to finish a hankey I started and hope to be done with it this weekend. Other then that I havent felt very crafty lately :sad: I guess its this heat.. and not having a working air cond. its to hot to want to do anything...... ugh..... ok off to finish something....anything....lol.....

Missing everyone.....

themadtatter — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 11:21:27 GMT

Just an update.....Right now my family and I are going through a major crisis with a discrimination issue with our apartment complex and so you may not see me online very much. Please remember I have not forgotten all of you and you are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Please keep us in your thoughts as this has taken a very serious toll on my health as well.
In the meantime I am still tatting as it is helping me keep my sanity in a world that seems to completely have lost its mind. I will post pictures and some brief updates when I get a rare spare moment.

Thank you all for your understanding.

keeping busy

Green Gal — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 07:13:42 GMT

Well I feel like I have been missing all the action here at Intatters. I have been told not to tat for a while :sad: so have hauled out my knitting again. If nothing else it has given me a few new ideas about how to link knittng and tatting. Unfortunately my knitting stash had shrunk away so my poor little credit card got a bashing at Spotlight. Dang pretty shiny wool things are as bad as pretty shiny cottons.

Jan Stawasz caps

tatknot — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 19:58:28 GMT

I revisited Jan's website today and found myself intrigued by his lovely caps. Did he publish the patterns for any of these? If so, what books, magazines, etc. will I find them in?

My Active Blog

tatknot — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 15:09:25 GMT

Unless I can figure out how to update both blogs at the same time, I'll only update the one I've had the longest. You will find it at: http://tatknot.blogspot.com

From shuttle to needles

PerfectFish — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 05:48:30 GMT

I'm so excited I had to put my work down for a moment and share...

I started out with a needle but quickly got bored and picked up shuttles. Starting with needles really helped me get the basics down before trying to master the flip, but I didn't really think I'd bother with needles again. Then, a few nights ago I read a post about learning shuttle tatting after years of working with needles and I remembered I had that kit...

Anyway, I've been working for about an hour and produced almost an entire bracelet in white...I will post pics tomorrow...

Soooo much fun!

Interesting New Challenge

PattyD — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 22:54:02 GMT

I received the item pictured below yesterday, as it seems my interest in all things "spare and strange" precedes me. My daughter produced this and from somewhere in the dark recesses of my brain came the word "fid". And that's what it is!

It's a tool used in splicing rope, but this one is about the same size as a steel crochet hook. That would be one small rope! My daughter acquired it from a friend who asked that I return the favor and make something pretty for his daughter, who is 11 (going on 23 by all reports!).

So I am thinking on something that might amuse a young girl. Any ideas?

2 Hours in the Kitty E.R.

PattyD — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 03:44:31 GMT

Poor old kitty, being 16 years old and her claws decided to thicken and curve down into her paws. Doc says she'll heal nicely, but we are all worn out.

Edited Iris

Linda S Davies — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 10:13:33 GMT

Following the helpful comments I got from the first Iris post, I have made each petal broader, giving, I think, a more natural shape to the flower.
What do you think? Shall I continue with writing out the pattern?:sad:

A Needle Tatter tries a Shuttle

Judy — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 02:36:02 GMT

Last night, I did it. I opened up that old box that was handed down to me and took out the metal shuttle. After reading all those descriptions, I fearlessly wound the thread around my left hand and swoop up, flip, first half stitch, dive, flip, second half stitch. Then I got out my magnifying glass to see if it really was a double stitch. Yes :biggrin: Ok, now for a second one....as...er..emmm what did I do? I froze. Time to go get the books and look it up. Now most of those instruction books describe a shuttle different from the one I'm looking at.
It says, in almost worn smooth etched letters "Detach-A-Spool". The bobbin spins! The two ends of the shuttle are welded closed. I haven't pried the spool out yet, but the sides of the shuttle seem to flex enough that it should pop out. But, I digress.l..
The tiny thread -- 60? 80? very small. With my eyesight I can't count on being able to count stitches after I make them without a magnifier.
My finger positions are all wrong for building speed, but right now I look at the stitches with soome satisfaction.

Complaint: Why doesn't anyone bother to explain that the stitches are made with the end of the thread. As its used up, the ring of thread around your hand gets smaller; if you don't do the flip right on every half stitch you won't be able to pull the shuttle thread through the stitches and increase the ring around your hand again.

Well, I tried some picots. Had a bit of trouble holding that, but I did get a couple of tiny picots. And then I missed a flip. Egads,... what to do. Ignore it and start over. Haven't done even twenty DS yet, but now I can practice on the plane going back to Wisconsin. I want to try and find another shuttle. I won't have much choice since this was a last minute decision. Way cool, can't wait to show my sister:cool: