A Discovery

Last night, I spent several hours searching for a certain recipe to prepare for the church New Year's Eve Potluck tonight. Although I never did find it, I found several other items that had been hiding, some for quite a while.

One of these, was my number 5 tatting needle. After I had lain in bed for over two hours without being able to fall asleep, I decided to get up and TAT. So here is the result -- a medallion in blue crochet cotton #10 using the appropriate needle. (compare to the red medallion below when I used a # 3 needle)

As I plan several more tatting projects, -- including an order -- I will be continuing the 25 motif challenge for another round.

Catching Up

I believe when I stopped blogging in July, I had completed 14 motifs in my 25-motif challenge that was started sometime in October of last year. The two pair of earrings, the butterfly and the dove for the Christmas-in-July exchange, I am counting as four motifs.

I have also tatted four yellow butterflies from Altin Basak #50 thread, a shamrock from Altin Basak #50 green thread and a needle tatted heart at the Cambridge Tat Days when I was learning to needle tat(I do not have a picture).

On a train ride, I tatted a 'bouquet of flowers' for the lady who was my seatmate -- without a pattern, from yellow Altin Basak #50 thread as that was what was on the shuttle that was with me at the time. This then, I consider to be my first official 'design'. As I did not have my camera with me, I have no record of it.

In learning to needle tat, I have completed a blue butterfly in Altin Basak #50 and a red crochet cotton #10 medallion. In learning needle tatting, I have also made a couple of in-progress projects.

So now, I am considering that I have finished the 25-motif challenge.

Finally Back

It is almost four months since I have posted. Much going on. Have only a short time now to blog. I attended the "Fall into Tatting" Tat Days in Cambridge, Ontario, CANADA on the last weekend in September where I met some wonderful people and learned how to needle tat. It is much faster.

Today I will post the pictures of the tatting that I mailed in my parcel for my recipient in the Christmas-in-July tatting exchange in the Yahoo Group, Here-Be-Tatters. Due to complicated mitigating circumstances, I was only able to finish tatting two pairs of earrings, one butterfly and one dove to mail as my tatting component in the package.

I MAY NOT BE ADDING A POST FOR AWHILE

My computer completley died over a week ago even though it is only one and a half years old. The tower will not even turn on.

I thoroughly enjoyed packaging the parcel for the Christmas-in-July exchange in which I participated through the yahoo group, Here-Be-Tatters. I hope my recipient enjoys opening it as much.

The post office said it might take a while to reach its destination.

International Round Robin Complete

Today when I checked the mail, the package from Wales had arrived with all my Christmas ornaments. There are four of us in this beginners' round robin. Joy from Pennsylvania, Aileen from Singapore, Bob from Wales, and I am from London, Ontario, Canada. The pictures are shown in this order. I thoroughly enjoyed participating in this, my first round robin. Aileen graciously accepted the position of supervising our little foursome. Other than problems with the postal system, it worked out very well. I am glad that I tried something new.

'Ring Stitch'

When I was at the lacers' guild meeting this afternoon, I was working with one of the other women there who were tatting. She showed me that she starts each ring with a 'ring stitch' - an extra stitch at the beginning of the ring. From what I understood, she does this to 'open' the ring.

Does anyone else use this technique and if so, can you please explain it further to me. As I was so intent on my own project, I didn't ask to look at her work to see what effect an extra ds in each ring would have.

Motif # 11

Since Aileen has now received her package of 'critters', I can blog about the additional tatting I did for her. When I received her package, there were two different tatted cats in it. So I decided that I would tat each of them a mouse to chase. As the only pattern that I could find was for needletatting, Rita Cochrane translated it for me, and this is what resulted. I had to substitute what I had for the required beads for the noses and since my eyes were the wrong size, I went to my felt material stash and made some.

Playing Games

Joy has invited me to join her in a friendly game of tag. So from her blog at http://joyintatting.blogspot.com, I am responding.

Here are the rules:

1. Link back to the person that tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Share 6 unimportant things about yourself.
4. Tag 4 people at the end of your entry.

About Me.

1. At age of 11, I had saved enough money from picking six-cent a quart strawberries, six-cent a pint raspberries and 15-cent a peck tomatoes to pay for my ballet lessons for one year, the required shoes and clothes and the costumes for the recital at the end of the year.

2. I own seven musical instruments.

3. A year ago, I downsized the clutter in my home by getting rid of 80% of what was in my house. Other people still think the remaining 20% is an overcluttered house.

4. Half of my finished room in the basement is covered in material, the other half in wool and thread.

5. I procrastinate a lot so it took me several days to get around to answering this tag.

6. My two lovely feline lady companions' names are Starlight and Lovely.

The next four people whom I am going to ask to join in this game (isn't it fun?) are the following:

Lily -- http://looplylacer.blogspot.com
Clyde -- http://clydep-themadtatter.blogspot.com
Barbara -- http://barbara-gordon.blogspot.com
Tatting Chic -- http://tattingchic.blogspot.com

BEWARE of this website

All the tatting patterns being sold at
http://www.timelesstattingpatterns.com/ are FREE at
http://www.antiquepatternlibrary.org/

Selling the patterns is NOT illegal. They are public domain books that she has put into an electronic file. What is questionable
is that (1.) she is selling what is actually FREE if you know where to get it and (2.) her gallery suggests that these are the patterns you are getting, which is true in some cases, where what she has taken are pictures of things which others have tatted from the vintage books.

Please be aware that this site is not 'above board' and ignore it.

International Round Robin Tatting Complete

My tatting for the last person for me is now finished. I will take the cross bookmark to my executive meeting of my smocking guild tonight as the guild was very excited at the last meeting of our year to learn that I knew how to tat. Consequently, Rita Cochrane has consented to teach this smocking guild how to needle tat at a workshop.

I have enjoyed being in the international beginner round robin. I look forward to my participation in the summertime Christmas exchange organized by Sue Hanson, list mom for the Yahoo group, Here-Be-Tatters.

On this bookmark, I tatted the tassel, unlike the first one. This pattern is again from Monica Hahn's book, Christmas Angels and other Tatting Patterns. Also, this time, as I am more advanced in my tatting skills, I used Altin Basak 50 thread, where the yellow cross bookmark was tatted in crochet cotton #10.

Graduation Cap

Last Saturday, my nephew, Michael graduated with his first university degree. My sister had purchased a card with a caricature of a graduate on the front and the words "Nice Hat" on the inside. When she told me about this card, I said that there had just been a graduation cap pattern by Mark Meyers and Lauren Snyder posted on the internet and would she like me to tat it for her to insert in her card and continue the funny. She was pleased.

At the ceremony, none of the graduands wore mortarboards. When Michael opened his gifts and cards, my sister told him this would be the only one he would have. He even put it on his head, giving us all a good laugh. (He is six foot, five inches tall) His university's colours are black and gold. As he is continuing on in the fall to study for his master's degree, I have two years to come up with the next graduation idea.

This is my thirteenth motif in the 25-motif challenge so now I am halfway. (October is coming fast)

New Tatter Learned Tonight

Tonight at my needleart sharing group, one young lady needed some tools with which to work, so I asked her if she would like to learn to tat. She was very enthusiastic, and with a post shuttle, was flipping stitches within minutes. She was so enthused that she took tatman's web address to entice her male friend.

She was very interested when I mentioned the Fringe Element Tatters "Fall into Tatting" tat days on the last weekend in September in Cambrdge, Ontario, Canada. (for info fringeelementtatters@execulink.com)

Pay It Forward

Today I received my Pay It Forward package from Joy whose blog is at http://www.joyintatting.blogspot.com She had posted to invite three people to sign up for her to make a gift on the condition that they then would offer the same invitation on their blog. I received a lovely knitted scarf, a Christmas cross-stitched ornament and the above tatted cross. Thank you Joy!!!

Now, for the first three people who comment on my blog that they will participate in this, I will make a needleart gift to be finished within 365 days. If you make comment #1, #2, or #3, please email me at star2lexi4me@yahoo.ca giving me your name and snail mail address so when finished, I can send you your parcel.

The Eastern Star Pin

It was 0245 hours Saturday morning but I finished the Eastern Star pin on time. The recipient, Ginger, was very pleased with it and it was shown to many guests at her reception. Rita Cochrane had sold me all but the yellow thread on Wednesday night (I had purchased the yellow earlier) so I actually started tatting on the star at 1730 hours, Thursday evening. When I emailed Rita a scan of the finished star, she commented that she was very impressed with the evenness of my picots. Thank you, Rita.

If anyone is interested in the pattern for this Eastern Star, here is the address: http://www.logicaldatasys.com/tatting/Tatted%20Eastern%20Star.pdf I used Altin Basak 50 thread as that is the smallest tatting thread that I have learned to use so far. The sample in the pattern is done with size 80 thread but that challenge still lies ahead for me.

One of my accomplishments with this motif was in being able to use the picot gauge horizontally. This is motif #12 in my 25-motif challenge. I will post motif #11 at a later date.

Double Digits

I have finally reached number ten in my 25-motif challenge. This is the turtle I tatted for Aileen in the international beginners' round robin. It is the pattern, 'Tatty Turtle', designed by Mark Meyers from his website www.tat-man.net. I really wanted to tat two mice for her as her request is animals and there are already two differnet cats in her package but the only pattern I could find at all was a very small one which was needle tatted. (I only tat with a shuttle)

Next Saturday, I am going to a reception for which I would like to tat a star like the yellow one, but this time with each point a different, specific colour. I will receive the necessary thread Wednesday evening before a meeting so will only have Thursday and Friday in which to make the star and sew on the pinback. I am travelling to the reception Saturday morning so will have the two-hour car ride then, in case I need it to finish it and/or sew on the pinback.

Bob's Snowman

I did finish the snowman for Bob for the second stage of the international beginners' round robin, but not on April 1. This is now my ninth motif for the 25-motif challenge. I have two more items to tat for the round robin and then more stars.

April 1, 2008

International Tatting Day, 2008

To all true lacemakers: Enjoy the day!!!

My goal is to tat one snowman with a tatted cord to send to Bob in the international beginners' round robin which now must be mailed by April 6. (the dates were realigned to allow for slow international snail mail)

May all of you enjoy the day set aside to lift up tatters and let me know what you set as a goal for yourself for today and whether it was accomplished. I will post later as to when my snowman was mailed.

Blessings,

Margaret

Motif # 8

My eighth motif is the first item I have made for the international beginners' round robin. This is the first time I have used the scissors to cut out a section. I had spent almost two days trying to complete the fourth point of the star making many time-consuming corrections before I realized that initially I had joined the point to the wrong picot. I have kept the end of the point to use in a different manner. I was following a modification of a pattern from Festive Tatting by DMC which I did in a solid colour rather than each point in a different colour.

My first Motifs

Since this blog is essentially to keep track of my progress in the 25-motif challenge, I am going to try to add photos of the other motifs for which I have pictures available. The dove and butterfly were from the first lesson I took in the online beginners class (first session -- I have taken three sessions of the same set of lessons) and the snowman is the second one I made which I used as the tatting in the Secret Santa Tatting Exchange I was involved in this past Christmas through the Fringe Element Tatters.

First Tatted Heart Finished

I actually finished this heart a couple of weeks ago. Now that I know how to do a lock join and a shoe lace trick (SLT), I can make this pattern and pay my own 'fee' into the Fringe Element Tatters Guild. The yearly admission fee is one tatted heart which a 'tatting buddy' made for me this year as I had too few skills to manage the task.

I waited to work in the ends before I blogged but finally decided to post before the ends were hidden. I plan to sew on a pinback and give this as a gift.

25 Motif Tatting Challenge

I joined the 25 motif tatting challenge in mid-October last year but the blog I was using seems to have disappeared so now I am here. I have completed seven motifs: one dove, two butterflies, three snowmen, and a cross bookmark. The snowman on the left was the first one I tatted and the one on the right was the third, which I made into a pin for my mother for Christmas. The second butterfly I tatted while waiting at the dentist office and gave to the receptionist ( who was very excited about receiving it) and so do not have a picture