Monday, March 31, 2008

Round Robin and 25 Motif Challenge - #10




I'm into double digits for the challenge - whoo hoo! This little tree is from a pattern in A New Twist on Tatting by Catherine Austin and is tatted with size 30 Omega thread. I like the patterns in this book because they have that vintage feeling to them. I think I am actually starting to find my style, at least for now.
I can also see this pattern done in a solid green with beads scattered here and there and a star bead on the top chain. That might make a cute tree ornament.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

25 Motif Challenge - #9



It's a couple days late for Easter, but I finished another egg. This pattern is called "The Tat Chat Egg" by Pat Greninger, published in Tatting Online: The Official 1999 Tat_Chat Pattern Book edited by Georgia Seitz (I told you my Dad had lots of books!). I used size 30 thread and a sparkle egg from the local craft store.

Doily Progress



Finally! I've made it around the doily. This round gave me quite a bit of trouble, but I won. There are just two more rounds in the pattern, so I'm getting there.

Saturday, March 22, 2008

25 Motif Challenge - #8



Just in time for Easter, I've completed this egg with size 30 Omega thread from a pattern in Tatting: It's Not Just Doilies Anymore! by Georgia Seitz. You can't tell from the photo, but the motif on top is a little butterfly.

Friday, March 21, 2008

Pay It Forward

My Pay it Forward Pledge
“I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people* who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.”


*if you are comment #1, #2, or #3 for this post, please send an E-mail to me (hobbit68@aol.com) with the subject heading of "PIF Exchange" and give me your name and snail mail address so I can send your gift

TIAS2 & Motif #7



Here is my tulip from LoveTatting's Tat it and See project. I'm not sure I love it in white, but that's what I get for being cautious in the beginning.

Friday, March 14, 2008

Happy Spring! (and 25 motif challenge - #6)



The design idea came from an old Workbasket magazine, and the butterfly is Jane Eborall's "Very Small Butterfly."

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

25 Motif Challenge - #5



Well, it's been a little while since I've posted. I've been tatting, but not finishing anything until today. The doily is coming along slowly; it keeps getting pushed aside for other projects.


This wreath ornament is the end result of almost a week of frustration. It is for a round robin, and I had a snowflake about 2/3 finished when I ran out of metallic thread. Then I restarted with plain white and gave up after 3 tries because I just kept bungling it. All in all, I've learned some new things and am pleased with what I have completed.


The pattern is an adaptation of the medallions in Tatting Alaskan Style by Georgia Seitz. The thread is size 20, another orphan ball from Dad's stash (note to self - mark all thread balls when removing the wrapper for future generations of tatters!).


Sunday, March 2, 2008

25 Motif Challenge - #3 and #4



Here we have "Briar Fragment" by Mary Konior with an added snowflake pendant and "Daisy Heart" from the Workbasket published book called Tatting Patterns. I am really enjoying each new little project and am learning something new every time.


An update on the doily situation - I decided to eliminate the bare threads by just repeating the second round that has the thread covered with a chain. I am using a lighter shade of rose in a finer thread for those chains, so there is still some textural contrast. When I make it around, I'll post an updated pic.

Saturday, March 1, 2008

Doily Problems

I finished the previous round and began the next, which is done with just a shuttle. It is a ring connected to an existing picot, leave 1/2 inch of bare thread, then another ring with one picot. Simple enough, right? I am having a terrible time getting that 1/2 inch consistently. I started with a measurement on my finger, then switched to a small rectangular keychain that is 1/2 inch across. I've cut it off and started over twice.

Additionally, I have trouble remembering which way to orient the work because the bare thread twists so easily. Eventually, I quit for the evening and did a small motif which I'll post in the next day or so when I decide on the finishing touches.