Sample, sample, sample......

 That is the mantra I’ve heard. I usually follow it. I mean, you can always use the bits and ends for decorating a card. And when I teach a class, I like to prepare samples to specific points so that I can just pick them up and demonstrate a particular technique or part of the pattern.

So, here are my samples completed from last week’s class: 

I used shuttle to tat 2 of them, and needle to tat the other 2. I have samples in Christmas colors already done, so I just may use these as gifts.

Now, on to the samples for the next class.

More weaving in the heart

I completed more of the Martha Ess Heart pattern:

This is the final round at the point of the heart; from here on out, you work up the side to the top ending at the “cleavage” with a final chain. To complete the pattern, you tat part of a self-closing mock ring, switch to the other color thread, tat part of a second self-closing mock ring, then you weave the shuttles through rings, tat chains and finally close the rings. It sounds complicated and hard to execute. In all sincerity, it was easier to figure out shuttle placement of these few elements than to figure out shuttle placement of the first join of this round.

Funny thing though….I caught almost all of my mistakes in the complicated parts, but as I finished, I noticed that first join does not match the picture. I need to study the pattern, figure out if I really did make a mistake, and then make notes to help the next time around.

Yes, there will be a next time. I’ve had a request to tat this pattern in quilt thread for some earrings.