Thoughts on Tatting

I have found several new tatting contacts and friends through the 25 Motif Challenge blog, and found that I had quite a bit in common with Kristen, who has been working on block tatting and rose motifs.  (She also had trouble with a size 80 Lizbeth thread breaking every time she closed a ring.....GRRR!  But I'm off topic...)  So, Kristen, here are my recent pieces using these elements.

This Marguerite motif went blotto on me, so I ended up cutting off the outer petals and stuffing it away to retry later.  I tried a new block method IN the motif--should have practiced on its own before sticking it in the work.  BOO!

Here's a little practice piece (left) using Jane Eborall's block method.  It was easier than the method in the Marguerite book, but again, DON'T try something new in the middle of the work!


On the right, my completed bookmark using the rose and pearl stem from my last post, attached to a gorgeous heart motif I found online by Tina Neudorf.

Another example below (Motif 8 for challenge):

I truly love the cream and red version of the Rose Heart, because to me this heart is the epitome of Victorian elegance, and the cream color is very Victorian to me.  Above, right, this partially complete motif from Anne Orr's No.13 tatting publication circa 1918 also speaks of a bygone era.  The actual publication date is unknown in the sources I checked.  This motif is worked in size 40 Lizbeth, while the Rose Heart is worked in size 8 perle cotton (left) and Red perle cotton and size 40 Lizbeth for the green (bookmark above).  I increased the stitch count in the green to make up for the size difference in the thread.

Kristen, as you can see, I fell in love with the rose motif too!

Motifs 2 through 7

These lovely little earrings are an adaptation of Ruth's heart pattern made in Red Burst size 80 Lizbeth.  This ball was very very frustrating as it broke repeatedly and had little flaws/nubs on it.  I have had no trouble with any .other ball of thread from Handy Hands, but this ball drove me to distraction!  Gorgeous color!

I made the larger set by adding double stitches to the rings with no other changes to them.  I love tatted earrings.  They are lightweight and so fluttery, moving with any slight adjustment of position or the tiniest breeze.  

Made this last year but only just sewed in the ends and stiffened it.  Made in Vineyard Harvest in size 80.  What a lovely seahorse pattern by Debbie Arnold.  A gift for my sister in law.


Below, this lovely little dainty is Celtic Cross by Lindsay Rogers in Tatting Collage.  I added beads for definition and sparkle.  Planning to send to my sister for her Irish/March birthday.  This is Christmas Green Mix size 80 in Lizbeth thread. I enlarged the picture so the beads would show up better, consequently losing definition.  The actual size is about the size of a US dollar coin.

I am counting this as two motifs:  A rose motif and pearl tatting.  I saw the pearl tatting in an old book by Mlle Riego but couldn't figure it out until I looked up a tutorial from Mark the Tat Man.  Have since attached to a larger motif as part of a bookmark.  I think this is medium sage size 40 Lizbeth and size 8 perle cotton, Finca brand, which is a dream to work with.  Gorgeous color and weight/body, but still has give as a perle cotton should.  Preferred to DMC of the same size.

Tatting Sanity: Motif 1 for 2014

I've been BLUE BLUE BLUE the past 2 months.  Winter saps my spirit.  Moody, angry, tired, and mostly sad.  So...lots of tatting.  Crafting is the only thing that keeps me going during winters.  So LOTS of tatting.  :O

Lovely rose motif bobby pin I made for my niece's confirmation.  The center is of Lizbeth Honey Drizzle size 40 with a gold blending filament and Mill Hill beads in honey.  The flower is Lizbeth size 80 Vineyard Harvest.  I sewed the stamens on after finishing the rose and tacking it to the Aida cloth.  

Time for work... more later.

Finished off 2013 25 Motif challenge

I neglected my poor blog and didn't get it updated to show off my last motifs of the year.  I did finish the challenge with many Christmas ornaments and a special gift.

This is the Gladys Angel from the Palmetto Tatters 2012 collection.  It is so beautiful.  Thank you so much for this beautiful piece, Sharren Morgan!  I paid a bit for the collection, but I feel it was worth it to create this special gift for my sister in law's Christmas gift.  In addition, the fee for the pattern supports the lace guild, definitely a worthy cause.  I have also made arrangements to create a second copy of this angel for Brenda Novak's annual diabetes auction, very exciting!

Pictured below, I made 3 of Dale Pomeroy's 2011 snowflake, pattern bought in person from him at a class; 10 of Anne Brunvold's single shuttle split ring Angel with blending filament and beads added to the halo picots; and one of Vida's ornament.  The yellow/gold 5 point star version of Dale's snowflake is made in Honey Drizzle, size 40, Lizbeth thread with a solid blending filament you can sort of see trailing off the edge of the picture (taken of course before the ends were sewn in--lazy!)

From Dale Pomeroy's 2011 Christmas ornament pattern.  

Left, SSSR angel by Anne Bruvold.  Pattern as above, Dale Pomeroy/The Mad Tatter.

Vida Sunderman's Large Crystal Snowflake, Dover Needlework publication.  Gift for coworker.

I consider myself super lucky as I sold my first pieces of tatting this season to a lovely lady at the kids' orthodontist office.  I hope this trend will continue in the new year and pay for my hobbies a bit!

Motifs 14, 15, and 16

For my sister's birthday in March, I usually do something Irish.  A longstanding tradition, maybe a little corny, but I still do it every year.

Here we have this year's gift, the Clover Bookmark by Kelly Luljak in size 10 Lizbeth Christmas Green.  Supposed to be a graduated/tapered point on the bottom as well, but I ran out of thread.  :(  Looks fine with a square bottom, though, I think.

The matching earrings are a simple clover design in size 80 Lizbeth Christmas Green.  I tried them first in the size 10, (see below) but they were a bit BIG.

 Here's another set of the little earrings, my mom's Mother's Day gift, and a bookmark I made based on the pattern in the Handy Hands newsletter.  Horrible picture due to using a low contrast between the bookmark and background, but it's too late to take another picture. Already gifted it.  :)  It was done in Perle Cotton.

I made a pair of earrings based on the bookmark as well.  Maybe I'll have a photo ready for my next post.

Motifs 11, 12 and 13

I love Anne Brunvold's blog!  Here's another selection from her collection of patterns, Christmas Hearts.  She also has some amazing dragons to tat.

I have tatted this in both size 10 Aunt Lydia's and size 10 Lizbeth.  Of course, Lizbeth is much more satisfying and pleasant to use.  The result is a bit smaller than the crochet thread and is far more even.

This is Emma Crew's 34 Hearts available through use of the Wayback Machine internet archive.  She calls it 34 hearts because the pattern is comprised of 33 hearts, and the large heart is the 34th.  

And my nephew's flannel burp cloth, crocheted around the edge in single stitch, then chains and picots in Lizbeth Cream size 10.  I would not do that again--too stiff for a baby.  I think I'd use Perle Cotton.

Motifs 9 and 10

It's been a while, and I've been dropped from the 25 Motif Challenge, but hopefully if I post a bunch, they'll pick me up again. I have been tatting, but it's been one of those years where you just hang onto the knot in your rope for dear life.

At our right, another heart from Learn to Tat by Janette Baker.  This was one of my first attempts at tatting and I didn't know too much about thread.  Aunt Lydia's and DMC Perle Cotton mixed together, but  it turned out all right.

And below, do you recognize this as the Tardis from Dr. Who?  I made this for my daughter while she was in the hospital in February.  (Yes, this is why I dropped out of the 25 challenge--life just plain got in my way.)  I took it to her on visiting day and it was quite a hit!

Completed in size 10 Lizbeth, I believe in Royal Blue.  I did a practice one initially (see the light blue edition).  Pattern is by Anne Brunvold.