My Beginning with Later Update

Tonight I was able to start my Tat-A-Long.

If you haven't caught any other posts about it around the blogosphere, Jon at Tat-a-Renda  was able to get permission to update some long ago patterns by Norma Benporath.  She has been tatting them from the original notations and then is going to post graphic versions.

She posted the first graphic called Lace Mat  and has continued to post some hints and tips in several more posts.

When she posted the graphic pattern, she suggested having a Tat-A-Long.  Many tatters have taken up the challenge.

I finally got caught up on promised items and have been able to start my version.

The thread is hand dyed by Zarina  in Anchor size 50 called Orchid Garden. This thread is so pretty.

I have a solid coordinating thread that I will be adding during some of the rounds. I don't know what the solid color thread is, the label is long gone, but I did the wrap test to check for size and it is close enough that it should work.

If you haven't thought about joining the Tat-A-Long, give it a thought, it isn't too late to start.

Happy Tatting everyone.

Later
This is what I wanted to finish tatting before I could start the above Tat-A-Long.
I was testing the Duchess pattern for Fox.   She has not yet released the pattern, so watch her blog for the release date.

The varigated thread is Lizbeth size 40 in Scottish Thistle # 175
The center is a tatted ring instead of a jewelry finding (doodad or tatament).  It is tatted in DMC Metallic Pearl Size 5 color silver.  I left the tails so I can use them as a hanger.  This may have 8 arms instead of a snowflakes normal 6, but I think it makes a very nice ornament.

hhhmmmmmmm

The poll I posted concerning adding a round to the FireFly doily from a couple posts back closed this past weekend.

There were a total of 12 votes.  6 votes to end the doily as is, and 6 votes to add an additional round.

Thanks for your ideas. 
I will play around with a few designs in graphic software and then make a decision.  Once I have figured out what I will do, I will let you know.

Square Elegance

I have finished Square Elegance by Frivole.
The thread is Lizbeth size 20 in Pink Cocoa

IT'S FINISHED!!!

or is it??????

This is the doily I have been working on using Jess from Tat-ilicious's  FireFly colorway thread in size 40

I have finished the pattern Round Doily.   But is it finished?  I have more of this thread. and am thinking that I maybe I need to add at least 1 more round.

What do you think?  

Should I add another round?

If I add another round, should it have clovers pointing out ~ repeat the second round?

Do you have another idea?

Is the doily finished?

I have not tatted the last chain, because if I add more rounds, I would want to tat a split chain here instead of a regular chain then joining and cutting the thread.

The blocking isn't perfect, I simply flattened it out and steamed it a bit,  I usually wet it and pin it out on a circle template to dry.  It is about 8" dia right now.

  Jess has amazing customer service, I mentioned in a previous blog post that I would need to order more of this thread to finish both this doily and the Star Attraction in Peacock, but would have to wait for her to get home from Tat Days as her shop was closed.  She saw my post and we connected by email and I was able to order directly from her.  She even posted the thread package on her way to Tat Days.  Thanks Jess.

Please let me know what you think.  I have other projects on the burner, so you can take a bit of time to think about it. 

I have added a POLL at the top of the right column.

Come Along on a Tat-Along

Jon over at Tat-A-Renda has posted the first graphic for the Norma Benporath patterns.
Norma's original patterns are available from the Trove website and Jon has their permission to update the patterns in current notation/graphics

This first updated pattern is for the Lace Mat which is the first pattern of Norma's that she had done.
This is Jon's version of the Lace Mat


She has asked if anyone would like to participate in a Tat-Along for this first mat, it is not a hard pattern, nor does it look all that difficult, but it makes a pretty mat/doily.

I am going to join this Tat-Along, how about you?

We will Never Forget

We will never forget those who died, were injured or lost their loved ones.



What those who attacked didn't understand is that adversity doesn't pull us apart, it brings us together and makes us stronger.

more pictures from the weekend

tonight I am going to post some pictures of the other crafts that are demonstrated in the Ladies Building along with tatting.

Weaving round scrap rugs

Weaving on looms

Weaving rectangular scrap rugs

Quilting

Knitting Machine

Brazilian Embroidery

Sewing with a treadle machine & Hardanger

Dyeing yarns with Natural dyes

 The rug hanging behind Marion is her own weaving with her own hand dyed yarns.  It is hanging upside down, but wasn't noticed right away.  The center motif is a butterfly.  The same design is painted on her floor.
The wood cook stove works, and she uses that to cook her dyes,  beets, high bush cranberries, grapes, she uses mordants such as iron rust, copper, and other types of metals.

Spinning,  there were several spinners using varying types of wheels and yarns.

The sewing circle, where several people were doing different types of needlework

Sock knitters or scarves, her machines vary in age from 90 to 110 years old and they still work

The bobbin lacer who shared my booth

a mom and daughter

this is their booth, mom canes and daughter does sampler style cross stitch

That is tonight's tour of the ladies activities. 

I have some pictures of some of the outside displays and will share them another night

Last weekend's tatting demo

This past Labor day weekend, from Friday through Monday, I attended the Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion in Rollag, MN.

it was my joy to be able to sit and tat for all 4 days
Here is a look at our booth, we shared it with a bobbin lacer

Pat, she has been the resident tatter for many years but is thinking of switching to bobbin lace

Lady learning to tat,               me,               Pam the bobbin lacer

The gal in the back had been trying to learn how to tat, we were able to get her flipping the stitch, and doing both rings, chains and joins before she left. We showed the flip to more then 3 doz or so of the people who walked past. I sold several starter kits of a boye shuttle and the Learn to Tat with Lacet booklet. 

another view of me in my prairie dress with pioneer bonnet

The bonnet that I am wearing was made by Karrieann
This year's featured farm equipment brand was International Harvester and the gals in the Ladies activities building were encouraged to wear something in red, or an apron made of fabric that featured that brand.

These are the projects that I worked on over the 4 days.

Easy Doily in FireFly size 40

 you can see the bare thread where I am working a split chain as I climb out to the last round. I have been using Krystle's version for the Lark's Head Picot Join because of the sharply contrasting colors, and am trying to figure out how to do one with the split chain, we will see how that works.

Star Attraction Doily in Peacock and DMC Cordonnet Special both size 40

The Easy doily pattern is available from http://free-tatting.com/?p=12http://free-tatting.com/?p=12
The Star Attraction doily is one of Linda Davies

I was not able to finish either doily as I need more of the FireFly and Peacock threads from Jess and she is attending TAT DAYs this weekend, so will have to wait for her to get back home. The FireFly doily only needs it's last round, and the Peacock I have to pick out the last repeat as there is an extra ring and join that doesn't need to be there, then finish this round and do the last.  It won't take me too much longer once I can get back to it.  Those who have kept track of my blog will recognize this doily as one that I started earlier in the summer.  It got set aside to do other things and I will get it finished one of these days.

I have many more pictures of all the different ladies crafts as well as some of the steam engines that I will share on other occasions.  it is now past midnight and I need to get to bed