some catchup

This has been a very cold winter. 
My office at work has a huge north facing window - it used to be a school.  The chill coming off the window even if I am dressed warm enough, has bothered my hands.  So there has been not too much tatting this winter.

I did get a few things done.

This is Frivole's Snowflake Celeste. 

Last November I shared the start the Clover Leaf Doily by Linda Davies. The links to her patterns are in the right hand column of her blog.

Looks great here doesn't it. Well, This is what it looked like when I finished the 2nd round .

I pulled and pulled the joins, but the picots are just too small.  So, I will have to start over.

I did a bit more on the sock machine as well.

I made my first pair of socks. 

The weather has suddenly gotten much warmer.  A couple weeks ago we are still having temps below zero and not just at night.  Now today it was 58 F and sunny.  Still very windy.  but the snow is disappearing and the ground is starting to dry out. 
I think spring might actually get here.

Have a good day tomorrow and count your blessings.

quicky post

just a couple of things

Size 40 Olympus in red and size 40 Flora in green,  The Olympus is a larger 40 than the Flora

Size 40 Lizbeth with DMC metalic blending filament.

I have a 2014 payroll seminar to attend tomorrow. Oh so much fun as I have to leave home at 7:30 am to get there.  But it means I get to have supper with my son as he lives in that city.  And in the evening I will be able to meet a gal with some sock machines and I will get to play a bit and check out the different kinds. 

have a wonderful day.

catch up post 1

I haven't shown much tatting lately.  And I have been tatting.

This is tatting that I did last year for Christmas.  I have not posted it before, it is one of the things I will be posting as catchup posts.  I did mention these snowflakes last fall.  These are the first 3 posts if you click on Doodad in my label cloud.

These are tatted in Lizbeth size 40 with a silver blending filament.

I actually haven't finished tatting all of last years snowflakes yet.  A very kind lady ordered 12 snowflakes from me, but was willing to wait until this year for the last 6 of them.  As long as I get them done before Christmas, I should be good.  I did about 36 snowflakes.  these represent most of the patterns that I used.

Here are a few hanging on a Charlie Brown style Christmas Tree

The walls behind the tree are nearly white and they flakes didn't show up well, I grabbed a flannel sheet out of the laundry basket and didn't realize that the wrinkles would show so badly... opps.

There will be more catch up as time goes by. 

Filament comparison

I had mentioned in my previous post that I likely wouldn't post much until after Christmas, but realized that I hadn't shown a comparison of all the different filaments that I had gotten for the snowflakes.

I have now tatted the same snowflake pattern in each of the 3 styles of metallic and want to show you the differences.  I used Lizbeth white in size 40 for each of these.

I thought the scan would show the differences a bit more, but if they are laid one on top of the other, the smallest is the #4 Very Fine Braid and the largest is the #8 Fine Braid.  The size of the snowflake made with the DMC is between the 2.
If I figured correctly before, using  the #4 with the Lizbeth is about a size 20, and I thought the #8 worked up as about a size 15, the DMC is somewhere between.

The color is different too as you can see in the scan above.

I pulled small snips off each so you can see the differences a bit more.

left to right......         #4                     ........DMC                            ...........#8

I like the way the Kreinick tats up, it is more like thread.  The DMC is stiffer and composed of 3 twisted strands, that want to separate at the cut end.   I think I will be ordering more of the #4, and maybe another spool of the DMC but not the #8 it is too large.

The snowflake made with the #8 isn't finished because I ran out of the filament.  There are only 10meters of braid on the small spools.  This was the amount left after tatting the snowflake in the post below.  With the #4, I made the snowflake in the post below and the 1 here.  So I got 2 out of the 11 meter spool.  There are 40 meters on the spool of DMC.

Happy Tatting.

2 & 3 and things I learned

Here are 2 more Snowflakes I was able to tat today.

and there are several things I learned doing it too.

Both of these snowflakes are made from the same pattern, they have the same stitch counts.  The pattern is Glittery Snowflake by Vida Sunderman from her pattern book, Tatted Snowflakes.

1. The same thread as yesterday's flake,  Lizbeth size 40 white and Kreinik Very Fine Braid size 4 in silver.  but I didn't follow the pattern exactly as I turned the chains the wrong way,  the stitches face out instead of in. What can I say? I was watching the Vikings win again, my attention was a bit distracted.  I didn't realize I had turned the chains inside out until several points had been done, so decided to finish it the way it was.  This was the end of the spool of size 4 Kreinik Very Fine Braid.

2. The white thread is the same, but the silver is Kreinik Fine Braid size 8 also in Silver.  It is a larger braid then the size 4. Combined with the Lizbeth they come closer to about a size 15 thread I think.  This Snowflake is larger, but I did get the pattern turned correctly so the points are more defined.

I like the size 4 braid better of the two.  I will have to get more of that. But it will take a lot to do all the snowflakes I was planning on with I can only get 2 out of each spool.   I do have some DMC metallic thread that is 3stranded and will be using that to compare as well before I decide exactly what I want.  I will have to do that soon as I ordered the Kreinik from Handy Hands. and will want to order more just as soon as the Aerlite shuttles are ready.

as far as the pattern goes, I think I like both of them.

Hope you had a great tatting weekend.
nearly midnight, time for bed.

first one

This is the first of many, possibly 3 dozen, we will see.

This is a doodad snowflake, the pattern is one of Diane's at  Lace Lovin Librarian. 

I blended Lizbeth size 40 white with Kreinik Metallics Very fine Braid size #4 in silver. The 2 threads together are about a size 20.
The doodad is from Fire Mountain Gems #H20-4335FX it is a small crystal in the center for added sparkle.

I hope you are having a very good weekend.

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.

Thanks Veterans

I'm at work, so sneaking the time to post this.


I tatted this last night while watching the pressure canner as it canned the stew meat from the 2 deer.  got 5 qrts.

Looking for some feedback on a set of earrings.

point to point this is 1"

 The scan isn't the greatest, it is off white with pearl beads and of course the background on the scanner is white, so had to lay my sweater over it. Also the bead in the center caused the blurring in the center as it raised the tatting above the bed.

The thread is antique Clark's big ball Size 50 and the beads are Mill Hill Antique glass in a pearl finish. The bead in the center is a bicone.

The pattern is Elizabeth Zipay's Tiny Tatted Snowflakes that I bought in her Etsy shop.

The thread is a 3 cord, and I think it is too flimsy. Also for a size 50 it seems to tat closer to a size 70-80, which I am going to try next as it might be crisper and hold it's shape better.  Obviously my technique leaves a bit to be desired, the rings and chains are not as close together as they should be.

what do you think?  leave out the center clear glass bicone?  (I don't have any bigger pearls in the off white color.)      Use picots and  less beads on the points? 

thanks for any ideas you can give me.

some tatting to share ~ updated

I have some tatting to share
the first is a pair of earrings that I made. based on a pair that I received many years ago in an exchange.  I no longer remember who I received the originals from.  They were made in size 80 thread with very small beads.  I love them and wear them quite often.
these are made with size 40 thread so that I could use some small pearls that I had on hand.  Size 80 thread would have been too small.  The thread is DMC Cordennet Special.  I tatted these this past Sunday evening.

they measure just over 1" long as they are now

I still have much to learn about taking pictures with my new camera.  the focus still isn't what I would like for close up .

the second bit of tatting that I want to show you I finished Sunday afternoon during the Vikings/Carolina game. (Yeah Vikings!)

The thread is Marilee Rockley's Green & Gold HDT in size 40.  The pattern is Tatted Winter Star by Susanne Schwenke.  The pattern is available at Interweave.  This is of course in the colors of the Green Bay Packers football team as it is going to my best friend B who grew up in WI and roots for them.

I tatted this without doing a cut and tie.  I used a Split Chain and Split Ring to move from the 1st round to the 2nd round.  If anyone needs help with that, please let me know, and I can give you the directions.

you should have heard us the week before. we were at her house, she was yelling at the Packers and I was yelling at the Vikings.  One of her grandkids was there and exclaimed.  "This house is too noisy, it hurts my ears."  we had to laugh.

I have more tatting that I have been working on, but they are Christmas presents, and I know that some of the intended recipients occasionally read this blog, so can't show you what I am working on at this time.

Snowflake post plus temporis

well, one more time, let's try this again.
This is the Snowflake I tried to post before, so here we go....

This is Sharon Briggs Merry Christmas Snowflake
I used Cebelia size 10 in white.  this is the same thread that I used for  the Christmas Tree in the post below.  The snowflake will go on the tree at the assisted living center where the tree is also headed.

yeah!! so far so good.

I have started chorus practice for the Christmas Cantata.  in our area, anyone who thinks they can sing is invited to join the Area Wide Chorus.  we only get together for a Christmas Cantata.  This year's is Night of the Father's Love and of course what is a Christmas performance without Handel's The Hallelujah Chorus. We do 4 performances the beginning of December. We usually get about 40 or so from sopranos to bases.

gotta get at my Christmas present tatting.

latin   plus temporis = one more time

Tatting Guinness Record

I participated in the Palmetto Tatter's quest to get in the Guinness World Record books for the most tatters at one time tatting the same pattern.
I was able to finish 3 of the snowflakes and I sang along with the rest of the group.
They documented 127 tatters gathered in the room or connected through online chat/social stream.
Thanks ladies for the fun.  hope we get accepted.

my snowflakes

just finished

I am going to post 2 items that I finished tonight.

 This is Wally Sosa's Super Bowl Snowflake.
I used size 20, but different brands and you can see the result,  they aren't the same.  The yellow is Manuela and the green is Flora.  It looks to me as if the Manuela is a "softer" thread and the stitches "squish" more and allowed me to pull the SCMRs tighter.  The Flora seems "crisper" and I couldn't make the chains match so they don't lay smoothly along the SCMRs.

I haven't blocked it yet, so hope it will look better, but I don't think it will be enough.  It was meant as the hostess gift for the neighbors who had us over for the big game last Sunday.  They served prime rib and since it was the gentleman's birthday, we had cake and ice cream too.  They are originally from WI so wanted to do it in the Packer colors.  I didn't get it started until after halftime, so didn't finish before the game ended.

Life interfered, but I was able to finish the TIAS tonight.  It is an airplane as so many guessed.  I resisted that for most of the steps, because I was used to Jane designing "critters" and it just seemed so obviously an airplane, that it just couldn't be one.    Oh well, I had a lot of fun tatting this,  I may have to do it again, (several times) I have 4 grandsons, and I think they might all like one.






I won't have any tatting to post until I get the reticule done.  I have about 3/4 of the last row done which turns out to be the old standard Hen and chicks edging, and the lining to sew.  I am hoping to be able to send it to the recipient in Monday's mail. 

a bit of tatting

Here is day 9 of Jane's TIAS.  I did this tonight.

I also did some more work on the reticule.   There are only 11 more Hen & Chick repeats on the last row at the top of the beading rows.  So, I may get the tatting done this weekend.  Then I need to make the lining. 
I do have a small hmmmm, what to do with the ends of the draw strings. 

I made them with my Lucet, but the ends need to be finished.  Do I just add a small tassel to each end?  Do I do a tatted motif?  and if so what?  hhhhmmmm..  I am not posting any more pictures of the reticule until it is finished. 

One more thing I have on my tatting agenda this weekend is the SuperBowl Snowflake that Georgia Seitz offers each year.  I will be watching the superbowl with company, so don't know if I will get the snowflake done or not.  Click here for the pattern by Wally Sosa.  Wally does excellent work.  this is a very pretty snowflake.  I will have to  choose my  colors carefully.

# 5 on the list

this is #5 for this 25 motif challenge. It is tatted in Manuela size 20 color # 210 and the beads are silver lined clear delicas.
because this is a first, I have named it Incipient Snowflake.

I am rather proud of this as it is the first design that I drew out with software before tatting and it worked. well mostly. It cupped a bit but then that was to my advantage as I am actually aiming for an ornament drape instead of a flat snowflake, but with blocking it does lay flat. Since this was a trial, I didn't put as many beads on it as I will for a drape. I have found some changes that I want to make and have designed a second one. that I think will do more for what I need it for.
I will be putting this pattern on my patterns blog possibly tonight.

#4 motif of the 25motif challenge

I have #4 of my 3rd motif challenge finished.

it is another snowflake trial in my quest for this year's ornament drape. the thread is Size 20 Lizbeth in springtime again. It seems kinda funny to be tatting snowflakes in august and september using a thread colorway titled springtime.

The pattern is by Terri Dusenbury available on esnips.

I think I have some ideas that I will put together for what I want, but may do a few more trials before I am satisfied.

#3 for 25 motif challenge

Wow, some many comments on my 100th post give away. This is great.

I'm in the process of testing various patterns to determine the ornament drape for this year's Christmas presents.
below is Lenore English's Snowflake #1 from 1999 It was published in the book Tatting Online edited by Georgia Seitz. It was done in size 20 lizbeth thread in the colorway Springtime. ( the label is missing so don't know the color number)


It would work for me with a few modifications, and I may end up with this as my starting point, but in the mean time, I am trying another pattern to see what strikes my fancy.

I like doing ornament drapes versus ornament covers, because they are easier (I am essentially lazy) and if one of the kids drops the ornament and it breaks, all you have to do is put the drape on another one. (I'm thrifty too)

This is #3 for my 3rd 25 Motif Challenge. It turns out I do about 2 challenges a year.

This past weekend was so nice. Almost felt like Indian Summer. I was at my daughters 95 miles away. They are re-doing their basement so they have a couple more bedrooms. They have a small house with only 2 bedrooms originally but 3 kids.
I am so blessed in my kids and their spouses. They rally around each other and between 2 weekends nearly all the family showed up at one time or another to help out. This spirit of cooperation has worked before. The sons in law trade work at one another's places, go hunting together, enjoy getting together at family events. None of them knew each other before marrying my daughters. All good people. one daughter and her fiance drove 3+hours to come help. Another is expecting a baby any day, but came an hour & a half along with her husband. Our son came both weekends to help. I had a wonderful visit and helped with the grandkids. there were 7 grandkids between the ages of 9 mos and 8 yrs for a while. Took them all on a walk to 2 different parks to play and keep them out of the guys way.

DH would have been there too, but is trying to get the wheat combined.

Are you ready?

Are you done guessing yet?

Here is what I did with my snowflakes. I used them to drape clear glass ornaments. They reminded me of a beaded lampshade from the Victorian era

I did 12 of them, of course, I only took pictures of one, and almost didn't get that, as I got them wrapped and ready to give away as I finished them. Each of them was done in a different thread color and different color beads so that no 2 of them were alike. I couldn't post them before as my children received some of them. Although, my one daughter hasn't received hers yet, as I won't see her until Easter.

the project that I am working on tonight is below.

I bought this brown slouch hat from www.duluthtrading.com for my trip to South Carolina. It came with the green embroidery on the right side of the brim. I couldn't let it just be plain, so am adding tatted flowers to the embroidery. I will show you the finished project as soon as it is done.