Circles and Straight Paths

I'm Back -- FINALLY!!!

2009-11-14T18:42:00.000-08:00

After not being able to use my computer at home since early May, I was able to get it going last night. In that time, I have done several pieces of tatting. I did manage to attend one session of the online needle tatting classes by using a computer at the central branch of the city's public library.

In May, I had two items displayed in the same art gallery. The first, a hanging tatted sculpture, was in a show for two weeks while a drawing hung in the second area of the gallery for the second week of the first show. The second photo above shows the three tatted butterflies, all from the pattern, 'Flat Butterfly' from the book "Christmas Angels and other Tatting Patterns" by Monica Hahn. This will be motif #17. The threads are all Altin Basak #50, one green metallic, one yellow, and the middle one a variegated yellow, white, and green.

Prior to that, I participated in the Spring Exchange of the Fringe Element Tatters Guild (who now have their own website -- www.FringeTatters.ca ) and this card (top photo) will be motif #18. It is the same pattern as above, tatted in valdani 12 variegated thread. Then I made a few simple flowers and my own version of grass and came up with 'a spring garden' on the front of the card.

On the holiday weekend in August, I travelled with two of the ladies from the Fringe Element Tatters Guild to Lebanon, Ohio to the home of Ruth Perry for a weekend of tatting and learning new stitches and patterns. On Friday night, I tatted a large ring with 60 balanced double stitches. I have no photos at all for what I tatted on this weekend and since. As this was a completely new idea, and I succeeded, I am considering this motif #19. While there, I started tatting my boa which I completed about three weeks later, and this will be motif #20. It is about five feet in length and looks very much like the dancer's accessory it could be. Also that weekend, I tatted two celtic hearts and these will be motif #21.

As of this year, all my tatting is now done with the needle. I attended the Cambridge Tat Days again this year and at least seven of the approximately 34 attendees were needle tatters. For this event, I entered the competition by decorating the 'napkin holder' which was given to each participant in last year's goody bag. I treated mine as a window box, necessitating me to design some 'dirt' for the bottom inside of the 'holder'. I did this with brown worsted-weight wool and a size #1 wool tatting needle. Then I tatted an orange gerbera daisy following the pattern by Sharon Briggs in her book "Transitions in Tatting -- From Flat to Floral" which I placed on one end of the top attaching it to the dirt with a stem of a chain of balanced-double stitches. I placed another variegated butterfly, in the same colour and pattern as in the sculpture above, on the opposite end of the top of the 'holder'. All around the sides, I sewed on daisies that I had tatted following Sharon's pattern in the above-mentioned book. Around the bottom of the sides, I sewed on clusters of small flowers as suggested in the "Learn Needle Tatting" book by Barbara Foster. On one top corner, I sewed on a celtic flower designed by Ruth Perry. All of the tatting on the top and sides were done in various colours of Altin Basak #50 thread. As this was a considerable amount of work, and many items, some quite complicated, I am considering this piece of work to be four motifs, thus completing my second 25-motif challenge.

While at Tat Days, I completed the two paisleys in one class I attended, entitled 'A Pair of Paisleys' as taught by Kaye Judt. When I arrived home, I tatted the pattern that we had been given at Tat Days by Gina Brummett, 'Beginner's Beaded Brooch' which I gave to my employer's mother for her 87th birthday. It had over 200 seed beads in it and finished, was about two inches in diameter.

I participated in the Fringe Element's Fallowe'en Tatting Exchange by tatting a cat who was trying to be a pumpkin. In other words, I had orange thread but no black. I followed the cat pattern on page 30 of "Tatting Farm Animals" by Handy Hands, Inc..

One of the ladies in the yahoo group, New Shuttles and Needles, made an arrangement with me where I tatted a bookmark, which was 'Filigree Bookmark' by Monica Hahn of her above-mentioned book, and mailed it to her as she had sent me the tatting needles she had won in the silent auction at Palmetto Tat Days and she exclusively shuttle tats.

While at Cambridge tat days, I won three items in the raffles, and two in the live auction. One of these was a huge jar of antique threads which inlcudes a ball of #150 thread made in Paris, France by Cartier-Bresson and a 500 yard-hank of ecru #20 Daisy thread.

I have also started tatting letters from the alphabet and numbers book put out by Handy Hands, Inc.. So far, I have completed 'C' and 'N'. Everything that I have mentioned above has been tatted with Altin Basik #50 thread if not listed differently.

I have recently finished the smocking on my first baby gown for our smocking guild's service project. I plan to tat the trim for this gown. In April, Rita Cochrane, guested at our meeting, teaching the ladies how to needle tat. Two of the ladies have already completed gowns with tatted lace edgings (using smallish threads). I am also participating in a cross-stitch stitch-along at my local thread store.

That just about sums up my tatting endeavours since I last posted.

Daisy

2009-02-04T00:52:00.000-08:00

As I couldn't sleep again tonight, I tatted. This time, I worked on the folded join from the beginner's online class using the tatting needle. The pattern I used is the daisy, found on page 15 of Sharon Briggs' book "Transitions in Tatting: From Flat to Floral". This is motif #16.

Lacers Meeting

2009-01-25T18:02:00.001-08:00

This afternoon I attended the London Lacers meeting. We had six ladies and the hostess. One lady was using 85 pairs of weighted bobbins on her pillow to make a fan, one lady was shuttle tatting, another was using a Tambour-lace technique with African beads, another lady was needle tatting a Celtic Maple Leaf with pattern by Ruth Perry and the other two of us were learning the 'Cloth Stitch' on the learner's pillow with six pairs of continental bobbins. After my turn on the learner's pillow, I finished needle tatting my blue medallion in Altin Basak #50.

When I arrived home, I finished my medallion in worsted weight yarn that I had started the day my wool tatting needles arrived in the mail. These two medallions are motifs #14 and #15.

Hearts Completed and Appreciated

2009-01-23T10:36:00.000-08:00

I needle tatted the heart from Sharon Briggs' book,"Transitions in Tatting, From Flat to Floral" on pages 15 - 16 and this will be motif #2. This heart is the top photo.

My girlfriend is hosting a 75th birthday party for her mother this Sunday. Using the pattern by Ruth Perry from our nametags at the Cambridge (ON) tat day last September, I needle tatted 50 hearts for party favours. Since this was all one pattern, and a relatively simple one, I am considering every 5 hearts as one motif, thus giving me 10 more motifs.

In addition, I tatted three of these hearts and made a type of bouquet with them for her mother. So this will be motif #13.

I started these hearts on Saturday, January 10 and was finished the tatting by Sunday night, January 18. When I delivered them yesterday morning, my girlfriend was extremely pleased and greatly appreciated them and my effort.

A Discovery

2008-12-31T04:04:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-09T22:59:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-09T08:05:00.000-08:00

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

2008-07-25T19:27:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-14T10:24:00.000-07:00

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'

2008-07-06T20:21:00.001-07:00

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

2008-07-04T08:35:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-30T21:04:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-30T14:27:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-25T09:25:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-16T20:47:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-03T20:03:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-28T18:06:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-28T17:48:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-18T14:45:00.001-07:00

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

2008-04-21T10:06:00.001-07:00

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

2008-04-01T04:40:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-14T17:19:00.000-07:00

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

2008-02-17T15:18:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-17T15:09:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-31T13:15:00.000-08:00

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