A bit of a detour

 I’m always intrigued by vintage patterns revisited. Muskaan adapted a pattern from a wonderful book written in German published originally in 1920. She added beads which inspired me. Besides, I just received some of the Liz Metallic in Frappe and I had 2 faux pearl drop beads. The second earring should go faster…..should….if I keep my concentration!

Lace Day earring designed by Muskaan

What fun!

This is part of the design idea I’ve had for a while. Not sure how I’ll use it, but it was just so much fun to create! I’m considering tatting a pair of earrings using this idea. But, what colors?

We’re just fine, thanks.

One of the joys of living in California is earthquakes. (Sarcasm intended!) Tuesday about Noon, I felt another one. Usually, I’m moving around when they hit, so I’m never sure and seldom feel them. This one I did feel the shakin’. 

Two jolts: as though someone smacked the house. No damage. The cats didn’t even stir off the chairs. Just lifted their heads, looked around, and stretched back asleep. If you’re curious, you can see the data on the USGS website, or any of the major schools in the area like Cal Poly or Berkeley. I’m sure some of my neighbors were reminded to look over their emergency supplies. That’s not a bad thing!

Giggly earrings

In all honesty, our house stands to be damaged more by wildfires than by earthquakes. And that’s only if there’s a really hot, fast moving fire that starts in the gulch the next block over. So, I and my shuttles and organ are pretty safe.

Here’s a picture of the jewelry I’ve been working on from Ninetta’s post.

I’ve been making careful notes, so I should be able to retat if asked…..should…. 🤭

Bracelet and Giggly earrings

Ice Drop obsession

No, that’s not me. I’ve got the obsession about the organ, remember?

I did promise to post a photo of the Basic Ice Drop I’ll be teaching to members of the local chapter of the Embroiders Guild. The thread is size 10 Lizbeth and the ice drop really is black.

I’m looking forward to the project.

Of beads and thread for insertions

Here’s my choice for thread and beads for the insertion to go on the shirt:

The thread is Herbal Garden Lizbeth in size 40 with 4 colors of size 15 glass beads. If I tat two strips for the full length of the panel, I’ll need 50 inches. That’s a lotta of thread (I’m estimating 25 yards on the shuttle alone with more needed for the ball.)and beads (I estimate 1000). But, I got enough!

That pattern from Monday class is still floating around in my brain. Wouldn’t it look great mounted to hang in a window as a sun catcher? Or maybe as a tree skirt in fun colors! Tamie seemed really taken with that idea. I plan to cheer her on! I’m sad to miss class the next 2 weeks. Tamie will be helping with the teaching as Georgia will be healing from getting a new knee. I’ll be thinking of you both!

Mlle Riego insertion sample

Recently, the Online Tatting Class discussed a pattern from a book credited to Mlle Riego (pub. 1866) available through the Antique PatternLibrary. I disciplined myself to not start on this as I have a monster doily in progress.

This article on the pattern collection shows 3 edgings that caught my eye. I worked the middle one in Lizbeth Summer Fun. Maybe the choice was influenced, just a teeny bit, by the glorious summery weather we’ve had the last few weeks. It’s not quite long enough to be a bracelet, but could be lengthened. I’ve never liked wearing anything on my wrists, so bracelets never tempt me. Even so, I’m tempted to tat one up for the class and maybe for Bookmark.

The interest in the insertion is entirely selfish. You see, I have a shirt in linen that has a decoration sewn on that is not linen, kinda tacky lookin’ if you ask me. It’s already starting to unravel and look even tackier. Nothing for it but to tat an insertion to replace it. With beads of course. Now to choose the thread and beads….

Reorganization .... or not!

I have a terrible time motivating myself to organize. I can sort incoming mail, do the tasks associated, including filing or shredding, but I find all kinds of creative pursuits when it’s time to organize my studio space. Each piece of manuscript or book leads me to a keyboard. Each box of thread or yarn leads me to a shuttle. I do fairly well at keeping the areas I touch each day tidy. Really!...... So, my goal of posting about my organization of the studio is well, lacking subject material.

On a brighter note, I’ve had good progress with the edging in mint thread. I think I can say I’ve mastered adding thread to a simple ring pattern when needle tatting.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I enjoy truly international Holidays a great deal. It’s fun to celebrate something that crosses borders and is significant in more than one culture. Especially if it involves gift giving, spreading joy and love, and general wonderful time with family and friends.

This year, it’s my pleasure to share with all a wonderful new pattern by Muskaan:

Block Heart Bracelet designed by Muskaan

I tried this out using both needle and shuttle with Lizbeth size 20. I think it will work with either tool just fine! I prefer shuttle, mostly because I felt clumsy using the needle, dropping it to pick up the other needle, and finding out where the first needle landed when I crossed my legs. No blood, but it interrupted my concentration, which of course opened the gates for an error. Just me trying to keep sane.

I so enjoy all my International tatting friends! Please take a moment to visit their blogs and leave them a comment. I’m going right now to thank both Georgia for sharing the pattern and Muskaan for creating the pattern!

Springtime is turning to summer

I finished another pair of earrings. I’ve always gravitated to pastel colors. When this mint color showed up on the Pantone list, I found myself smiling. Then, Barb at Handy Hands offered thread in a mint color. Then life intervened and I’m just getting to playing with it.

Long Picot Earrings designed by Nina Libin

The pattern was simple once you got the thread set up. You don’t even need a shuttle; or a needle really. I tatted the first earring using just my fingers. For the second ring, I used a Single Shuttle Split Ring. That way I could hide both ends securely. The only problem with that is the space created between the rings. I found they began to twist. Then I decided that’s not really a problem. Thank you Nina Libin for creating such a simple, elegant pattern!

the second corner

Today is a bit of Where’s Waldo……

I am working my way through this antique pattern. Thank you Jennifer Williams for getting it into more modern notation and Jane Eborall and Jennifer Williams for the diagram. I have been working on this as time allows, so progress has been slow. What attracted me to the pattern is the outside to the inside working order. First, you tat these triangles for the corners, then a couple of small trefoils, then the ending that joins the corners together, then the bit that fills in the center.

So, what ya need to find? My mistake in the second triangle. Of course I know it’s the second corner I made, the first one I looked at the pattern constantly. I tend to trust my memory too much on the second go at a pattern. Sigh.

And yes, I didn’t discover it until after I’d joined 3 of the 4 joins in the pattern. Sigh.

corner of Frauberger triangle pattern

I’m really liking this thread color combination. I normally do not wear fall colors, but the earth tones in this thread I like. It’s Herbal Garden (Lizbeth) from Handy Hands.

Of Spring and bunnies

My thoughts are on spring today. Last night a storm blew in and gave us some rain. We needed it! Unfortunately, the timing may not be great for the fruit trees. I hope the bees had a chance and the fruit has set. We’ll see in a few months.

Ruth's Tatted Easter Bunny

Currently, the non-fruiting plum outside my window is in bloom. The blossoms look so bright! And the pink matches the thread I used to try out Ruth’s Tatted Easter Bunny.

I had great fun and plan to do a chocolate version with the Fudge thread from Handy Hands. Now to get out to the garden to weed now that the soil is moistened up!

TIAS 2013 finished

I have finished this year’s game!

TIAS 2013 by Jane Eborall

A lovely pattern. I’m not sure the dull colors in Lizbeth Herbal Garden work well for it. I think the next pram created will be in colors better fitting a nursery. Now I’m off to finish other WIP.

Indecently, for those that catch how awkward the final section of the pattern looks, you’re correct, I didn’t follow the directions. For some reason I thought I could work on the last little bit while in the car. I had copied what I thought were the pertinent directions. Upon return to the computer, I discovered that I had NOT followed the pattern at all. With scissors, I corrected some and with a creative SSSR or two and a split chain, I think I’ve recovered. Sigh.

Thank you to Jane for yet another fun way to start the year!!

Day 9 of TIAS in Herbal Garden

Today is Day 9 of TIAS 2013. Here’s what I have.

TIAS 2013 day 9

I really like working with this thread. The colors are easy on my eyes. I like each one as its own color. And they are working well with the colors I have requests for. I think this could be my favorite for now. It will be replacing Carribean. I think.

another class

I enjoyed teaching last night. My 2 students are experienced in sewing, knitting, crochet, and all things thread. I marvel at how quickly the students gain the concept of the DS with the waist band and legs; how quickly they can execute a weaver’s knot to understand the pop of a knot transferring from one thread to another. It’s amazing how much they enjoy twirling the noise maker when we confirm they got the flip!! I enjoy it all!!

In case you’re wondering what method I teach, I let the student take the lead. If they innately pinch with their thumb and middle finger, I fly with that. If they innately pinch with their thumb and second finger, I fly with that. If they feed the shuttle through like a needle, we fly with that and wrap the shuttle thread around similar to the reverse riego. If they wrap their brain around the slip and slide, we fly with that. You’d think there were lots of wings flapping in my classroom, but, no…..just the mantra, “The knot doesn’t care how you make it, just that you tat!” And lots of noise you might hear only on New Year’s. How sad to only hear it once a year! It’s such a joyous sound. WHEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The only bleak spot in the evening was the realization that the store has sold all the better Lizbeth thread and all copies of Learn To Tat and so we’re reduced to the 3 ply crochet cotton that raises blood pressure and the patterns that I hand out in class. Thank heaven we have great resources on-line!! Thank you to all who share on websites and blogs!

Liebert bookmark or a difference in picots

I am drawn consistently to older things with the idea to use them in new ways. I improvise at the organ keyboard, but only enjoy it when I’m using an ancient idea like a chant line. I shop at resale stores, but usually only buy things that are terribly practical that I reuse in ways the marketing folks weren’t thinking of when the product or clothing was new. So it goes in my tatting life.

Tatting is made one DS (double stitch) at a time. Not a lot of room for innovation and creativity; or so some think. There haven’t been a lot of patterns published over the years; more was published for crochet and knitting techniques. Taking what has survived and figuring out how to make it anew is intriguing to me.

Georgia Seitz has led us in such an activity with a book she found recently: Emmy Liebert project  . She has been focusing on translating from Fraktur into English using modern tatting techniques and terms. She asked for and received help from many experienced tatters. Recently, we looked at a specific pattern for an edging with points (see Nov. 21 class). I am always on the lookout for bookmark patterns, so I was definitely interested. Especially after seeing Dagmar’s example.

http://www.georgiaseitz.com/public/emmyliebert/eldesignsbk1fig80.html

 After completing a few UF’s (unfinished projects), I began on this one. Well, I needed some refining of my technique to make this one work!

Here’s a picture of my first sample:

Emmy Leibert bookmark sample

After making careful notes on the pattern including rewriting it all twice, I came up with this bookmark.

Emmy Leibert bookmark in Vineyard Harvest

I rather like it better. I don’t think it will be going to my friend who works as a hospital chaplain quite yet. I’d like to use it as an example of why being careful of picot sizes can be important.

TIAS Day 4

Well, as you may know if you’ve been reading here, I’m playing in Jane’s TIAS. It’s great fun to see what whimsy she cooks up for us during the dreary days of winter. She may feel she gets the most fun. She’s probably correct! It’s fun for me to have a window on the tatting lives of so many people around the world. I feel like I have a silly grin on my face frequently (Good thing my teen is not around when I’m reading the posts!) somewhat like my Great Aunt when she used the telephone.

Our weather this morning is rather dreary. Much like England I suspect. We’ve been hoping for a bit of rain, though. That will mean snow for the mountains and skiers and a lower water bill for us. And that means more money to put towards concerts and thread!

Without further ado, here’s a scan of my Day 4 TIAS. I started out using this pink thread to gain more experience with Cebelia. I think I still prefer Lizbeth, but am getting my sea legs with this softer thread.