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

Cluny loom action

I’ve always loved puzzling out how cloth is made. Especially when there’s mechanical stuff involved. I like figuring out how to set up the loom. And of course, I gravitate to the “lace” weaves like leno.

As I learned more tatting techniques, I was fascinated by using my hands to create cool stuff from thread. I found I was limited by the hands I have. So, when I saw this:

 

available through Handy Hands

I had to investigate. I understand the tradition of the tallies in lace. I like how they add to tatting patterns. I Especially like the thought of using a loom because my hand wasn’t straining to make the element. Here’s what I’ve come up with. 

I’ll be sending this to be “judged” by veteran tatters. Some of those tatters will likely be proficient in bobbin lace tallies. I’ll be really interested to see what they think!

One down, one more to go then some more rings!

Classes begin next Monday!

 I'm ready for the fun! Thank you Lace Museum of Sunnyvale for sponsoring and hosting the classes.

Starting Monday, we will start from the beginning. I know of at least one needle tatter who should be signed up by now. (If you haven’t taken care of that, ahem!) I'll be guiding students through working with shuttle also. By the end of Friday, you will know enough to tat most of the pattern I’ll discuss in the weekend workshop (Sat & Sun morning). My classes are half way down on the Workshop page on the Lace Museum website: https://www.thelacemuseum.org/workshops.html

Here’s a picture of the finished mat sample as a teaser:   

Sample of vintage mat pattern

I will pick up where I left off in July. We only looked at the insert square in July. Now, we’ll look at the edging and briefly touch on finishing. Don’t panic if you weren’t in the July workshop, the insert square is essentially repeated many times in the edging.

See you in class!

Full Speed Ahead! Avast!!! Ye mateys!

 

Fandango by Jane Eborall

I’m back to full speed. I’ve finished the tatting for the mat. I’ve finished a Fandango square to 4 rounds. I think I’ll stop there. I started it thinking I would send it to a yarn shop that wraps a tree. Maybe I will, maybe I won’t.

If you haven’t signed up for the classes on the LaceMuseum’s website, hurry on over:

https://www.thelacemuseum.org/workshops.html

Progress and a milestone

 

Maharajah's Elephant
designed by Mary Long

I completed more of the elephant. The next parts involve couching. I know enough to recognize the technique and the basics of how, but not enough to thread the needle and start stitching. So, I’ve asked for help.

I’ve also completed the second round of the edging. The final bit shouldn’t take long to tat. I know how to do that. Look for the promised picture on Thursday.

Save the Date

October 19,21,23 2020 Beginning tatting offered as a virtual class through the Lace Museum in Sunnyvale, CA

October 24-25, 2020 Tatting workshop focusing on the edging of a vintage mat in the collection of the Lace Museum in Sunnyvale, CA. The workshop will be offered using a virtual classroom.

Details will be posted on the Museum webpage soon!

I’ve been finishing, sorting, organizing, tidying a lot lately. Here’s my version of the Challenge Jon Yusoff created last Spring. I’ll be adding my bits soon.

The tatter's mask

Anyone who has been awake the last six months has adjusted to wearing a mask. Goods friends have provided me with a set of fabric masks. This one is my favorite:

I finally finished a bit of tatting to add to it:

adding beads to negative space

Looking more like a butterfly

a vintage edging in vintage thread

Now to finish something for the other masks.

Just a quick peek

This is my interpretation of the inset on the mat in the Lace Museum collection.

 

We will focus on this motif as a part of the classes offered in a couple of weeks. Registration link will be live next week. Class size is typically limited, but it will be virtual, so who knows how many we can host for tatting fun!

Of vintage and new

Remember this intriguing mat from the Lace Museum collection?

Mat with tatting from the
Lace Museum in Sunnyvale

 My interest was pricked not just by the use of lace with a cloth mat, but by the question of, “could this be tatted by a machine?” Since Santa Clara County has ordered all museums closed, I was not able to examine it in person. The photographs shared were very well done and gave me quite a bit to go on. After hours of searching online, thank you Google Scholar, I concluded that there were patents applied and granted for tatting machines. There is excellent research work out there. More should be done.

I kept going back to the mat. From the photograph, it looked like it was tatted with only chains, no rings. How would I choose to tat it? I sent emails, studied the photo, made notes, picked up my shuttles and created a sample. The staff at the Lace Museum in Sunnyvale is interested in offering a class to recreate this piece. So, I’ve been creating the written pattern with diagrams, tatting samples, and pulling together a kit list for them. Target date is in July. Anyone interested in joining the fun?

Details

We’ve found the parts of the organ that still aren’t working. We’re taking a break before puzzling through that. You see….much like looking at a vintage tatting pattern the schematics are not 100% accurate. That means you can’t be 100% that a specific part is toast. And these were manufactured in the 80’s. So, yeah….lots of trial and error. 

Think of working a New York Times crossword puzzle originally published in the late 50’s where the numbering of the clues does not match up with the numbering in the puzzle. And did I mention you’re working with a soldering iron on a printed circuit board that was assembled in a specific order that doesn’t match the order in the schematics that makes removing one transistor quite difficult and tricky? Yeah…..lots of walks by the Bay.

In the meantime, I’m working on the earrings. I changed the thread I’m using for the curled rings. It’s much easier to execute the final join to curl, but I would like the rings to lay closer to the beads, so may need to cut and snip and re-tat. I plan on wearing these a lot, so it's worth the 2 hours to re-tat. We’ll see…..

Insertion strip turned

Remember this project?

Well, I finally have reached the top of the second strip of the Rosette Insertion pattern on page 15. Now it’s time to tat down the other side.

In the second photo you can see the paperclip. Necessary to use for the lock join to the core thread. That’s because I chose to simply tat the “pattern” I came up with for the point in reverse. Easier on the brain than trying to figure out the way to tat it all back side or something!

Clipped the Climbing out

I’m always interested in finding ways to avoid hiding ends by climbing out from one round to another. 

As I finished Round 3 of the bun holder, I carefully worked a split chain and started on what I thought would work for row 4. I decided it didn’t work. 

So, out came the scissors and the split chain disappeared (After the sun came out the next day!) And ends to hide……

I think my idea will work, but I want to measure to make sure the row will lay flat and not cup or ruffle. When I figure it out, I'll let you know.

On to Row 4

Spencer doily Row 3 finished

It’s taken a month or so, but I’m finally to row 4 of the Pearl Bun Holder.

I’m using the same center as this one, and adding fresh water pearls. After sorting through my thread stash, I settled on using Gutermann 40 weight cotton sewing thread wound with Sulky Metallic in Prism White.

Insertion turned

Remember this project? I’ve reached the end of the strip that will sit at the neckline. The Tatting Study Group members brainstormed several options. I settled on this one:

Now to tat down the side returning to the beginning point, then to tat the second insertion, carefully take the machine lace off and finally sew my tatting on. Whew! Who knew what the scope of the project was? Certainly not me!

But I’d do it again!! I love having tatting on my outfits.

Back to Sonata

The final piece is coming along. I can’t say well.....just coming along. I find working in black size 80 thread is tough. The best part: it doesn’t show dirt and dust. Size 80. It's just tough for me to work with. I didn’t get a knot firmly tied in round 2 of the edging. That resulted in a chain coming loose. I think I have that corrected with some Fray-Check. Not my preference, but I’m running out of time! I realized while out on a walk Saturday that I did not correctly load the beads for round 4. Black thread is tough. One bead in each repeat (of the size 15 beads on the size 80 thread) should be a bead join, not a bead picot. Nothin’ for it but to take all those itty-bitty beads off and rethread them. Sigh! I think I’m ready to finish round 3 now. I hope I have enough thread on the shuttle…..

Progress with crotat Carmel doily

Here’s my progress on figuring out this doily:

I’ve noticed some fundamental design differences between the two doilies I’ve attempted using Cro-tatting techniques:

The doily in pastels fills every chain with some crochet edging stitches. The doily in white/cream leaves the chains bare. I may have also misinterpreted the cream section. It’s just too difficult to tell. The tatter in me thinks this section may just be picots between every stitch then crochet into the picots to create the chain effect. 

Mmmmmmm must experiment some more. 

Anyone else game? A normal crochet hook can work, but the tool I'm using has a smaller hook section. Tatting thread is easier to draw through the stitches to close rings than crochet cotton. It’s a pleasant puzzle to work.

Sun, what sun???

I took time yesterday for reflecting. Since the fog stayed around well into the afternoon, we didn’t have much to see for the solar eclipse. It did get quiet. And a bit darker for a few minutes. So, we experienced the event, just didn’t see much. Ah well, even if I’m not seeing as often the sunrise show, and the white deer is no longer walking through the neighborhood, our resident yard cat is still coming around for scritches.

Most of my tatting time was spent putting things away. I gathered up the patterns I used for the Fair items. I like to have patterns on hand when I demonstrate. I’ve realized that I am drawn to tatting designs that are as intriguing in the written form as they are in thread. Most of the patterns I use by other designers are readily available on the web or in book form. I usually make a copy that I can mark up with my notes; like what thread I’m using and how much I wind onto the shuttles, what beads I pick, what size picot I use, and any resources I use for tricks and tips. If I’m really going to meet my goals for tatting, I have to keep as good records as I do for music.

The rest of the week I’ll be working on music catching up. I need to work on the harpsichord and plan practice for the sub jobs I’ve committed to. I’d also like to update my material for all things organ in the Monterey/Carmel area. Plenty to do. After a walk to the library and maybe a treat.

Fair entry progress

I hit a milestone yesterday:

I feel a great sense of accomplishment. When I started this project , I wanted to explore the idea of the close rows and see how firm a fabric the pattern produced.

I have learned a great deal:

By connected the ring to rings, the fabric is stronger and less lacy.

Vintage thread really isn’t worth working with except for trials you throw away.

It will be a great decoration for our new, old house.

It’s boring doing the same ring/chain combination a thousand times…..or so.

It’s a great start for a pattern of an organ case.

It got too big to keep clean.

I can’t wait to use this concept in other patterns!

But first, I need to tat stars and sew them on. Picture after the Fair closes.

Rest and filing

I have my design trials in mind. Whew! I think I’ll let them percolate for a day. Today will be a good day to practice at the organ. I took a moment the other day to organize my photos from Jan 2017. I hadn’t shared this one of the flag: 

Coming together!

25 Motifs in 2016

I did it!! This one completes the Challenge:

Hen N Chicks square by Rachael Mohler

I completed 25 motifs in 2016. I know many, many other tatters have tatted that much in 12 months. I probably have in quite a few years in the past. But, this year I kept track. I thought it would help me keep track of projects for the house, help grow the studio, and generally keep me focused and motivated. Well, it did!!

Thank you Sharon for maintaining the blog. I know how much work you’ve set for yourself. Yes, I know technology makes a lot of the task easier, but you still have to sit and the computer, look at the screen, edit the post, and then make sure it’s all the way you want it to be. Thank you!

And so, here’s my 2016 25 motif Challenge list:

1: Design # 10 Ball Cover by Nadine Nunnelley

2: Cross by Melanie Cervi

3: Wild Rose by Nellie Hall Youngburg

4: TIAS 2016 (Bunny) by Jane Eborall

5: Snowman by Melanie Cervi

6: Julehjerter by Anne Bruvold

7: Heart basket using Julehjerter by Anne Bruvold

8: Edging by Nellie Hall Youngburg

9: Celtic Knot Butterfly by Rozella F. Linden

10: Tatted Scarf Square from a Workbasket magazine c. mid1970’s

11: Celtic Picot Mat by Jennifer Williams

12: Curled Ring Earring by Muskaan

13: Tatted Triangle Motif by Frauberger updated byJennifer Williams

14: Rainbow Bright Earrings by Renee Campbell

15: Long Picot Earrings by Nina Libin

16: Lanyard using Necklace by Nina Libin

17: Bead Cap Earrings by Melanie Cervi (no picture….it went poof after the gift was wrapped and given)

18: Edging based on several vintage patterns

19: Window Decoration II by Jan Stawasz

20: Motif from Hector Earrings by Nina Libin (no picture....I had one, but now....poof!)

21: Dainty Tatted Trim by Anna J. Johnson

22: Insertion based on Hen N Chicks

23: Daisy Medallion updated by Ruth Perry

24: Tatted Tablecloth Square from Workbasket c. 1974

25: Hen N Chicks Square by Rachael Mohler (see picture above in this post)

There! If anyone has questions or comments or would like more info, I’ll be back to check after a walk on the beach! If you're curious what else I've tatted lately, have a look at the Board I have on the other blog I maintain.