Here You Go, Vinnie! At Last!

 Vinnie's Spring Doily tatted in Altin Basak #50      #18/25 MC

Tatted in One Round

Anon,

Brain of Tatter

What do you think?  Just like the cerebral muscle, is it not?  Sigh.  Oh Vinnie, I have worked all weekend on this pattern! It IS working - paper clip and all, but it has not been easy!  

 

 The sad part is that I got only this far using that wonderful 'Corsage' thread, and then it was GONE!  I tried so hard to make it last - SLT's galore, which made this dyslexia-challenging pattern murder for me to tat, and in the end, I ran out anyway!  There were about six false starts - no wonder I ran out.

Though the thread is gorgeous, there are many mistakes in it, which I have corrected in the teal one, which is not half as dramatic, even though it is tatted with much more finesse.

You can see the difference in the sizes of the two threads. There are four repeats in the teal and only three in the Corsage. 

The teal one is tatted with #50 Alton Basak, which is really soft and I have never used it much because everything I tatted was so loose and sloppy.

The good news is that this motif feels quite stiff, not floppy; I realize how much my tension has improved since I visited this thread in the past.  Yay!

Hopefully I can get this finished soon, as I am getting the hang of that crazy turn in the chain.  Then what?

Anon

Tatting Zen

Vinnie's Spring Doily 2

 This has been a bit of a challenge, but after a lot of false starts, I think I have it now!

Unfortunately, I have very little of this HDT, Corsage, by Yarnplayer.  Isn't it beautiful? I have had to use a plain colour for one shuttle, because of the fear of running out, and so there are a lot of SLT's and little specks of the light lilac thread show through at most joins.  I think it will all be okay after I block it.  I sure hope so!

Something has shifted in the way and approach I am taking to tatting.  I cannot quite define what it is but I find I am not as stressed as usual, and although everything seems impossibly difficult  these days for no reason  - I seem to be all thumbs - it doesn't bother me as much.  I suppose I am aware that this phase will pass.  I think my muscle memory and my brain are finally getting in sync, somehow.

There is new enjoyment in each individual stitch as I tat and I am really enjoying the process, being not as focused on the end result. I hope this part of the development continues, because it is refreshing compared to the breakneck pace I have had since I started this peculiar pastime.  It probably won't!


BTW, Chiclet of TattingChic  is having a super giveaway to celebrate her two years of blogging.

Anon,

It's All About Karey...

#17 Motif Challenge

After five - FIVE - frustrating starts, I finally got the FIRST CHAIN going the right way.  ..SIGH...  It is difficult up there in my brain, sometimes.  I just could not figure it out.

Anyway, it is three days later, and I am very happy with this heart, which is, of course, Mary Konior's, Queen of Hearts.

The thread?  Karey Solomon's. Got this thread last September in Cambridge, at the Fringe Element Tatters event. 

Yesterday, when I went to my mailbox, I found this:

Karey  had put this in the mail, unbeknownst to me. Talk about synchronicity! See that one on the end?  That is my favourite thread;  the one in my header;  the one that I have run out of.  I am fondling the new skein as I type....

Anon,

Genius or Dyslexia Rules Again?

 

Love this pattern, which I saw originally on Vinnie's and then again Liyarra's site. I could not figure out how to do this in one pass, as Vinnie intends. Tried a few times and ended up there, at the point, not knowing what to do next.

So, I turned the tatting upside down and made a picot on the bottom to later join the not-yet-made-ring, and then up righted the tatting to continue.  You see the result.

Perhaps, I thought, a dimpled ring would have worked, but the joining picot would then be in the wrong place, for it would be upside down.  This was my solution.  I am not sure yet if it will work as I have not got to that place in the pattern.

Am I missing something elementary here?  Overlooked the obvious?  If you can see the problem, do tell! Otherwise, I may have created a lovely new move!  I doubt it, but it is a nice thought!

Karey Solomon's HDT #30

On the bright side, I did manage to tat these little motifs on the weekend.

Patti Duff's Mini Tats in Lizbeth #40     $15 & #16 MC
Square is Georgia Seitz's from  Tatting on the Edge and Beyond

Slowly.  I seem to be at a bit of a tatting impasse - everything is suddenly so difficult!  I hope this bumpiness passes quickly or I WILL have to submit to the dark side!

Anon,

Pop-A-Bobbin Question to Tat-land

Before the question, a comment;  the stars on the Pop-a-Bobbin are not for decoration, but to always know what side the thread is coming from, so the shuttle will be in the correct position. I am easily confused!

The question is: why is the bobbin on my shuttle so difficult to turn?  I cleaned off the inside, which seemed to have collected - what - some varnish? or dirt or something.  That helped a tiny bit.  What can I do to make the bobbin release thread more easily? It is so tight to release right now.  I love this bobbin and want to remedy  this.

Any tatterly thoughts out there?

Anon,

Corrected Version...

Pattern by Irene Woo   'Garden Afternoon'  by Yarnplayer   #14 MC

 That thread sure is pretty.  I keep finding just a little bit more, but now it's gone!

Anon,

Oh-oh.....

A little curiosity; a bit of too much energy; 

a touch of ennui; a smidgeon of ADD,.

and what do you get?

Needle Tatting!

Not bad for the first try, but I don't know how I would ever accomplish this with a needle:

This is shuttle tatted!  
Seems to be some confusion!

 

Pattern by Irene Woo   'Garden Afternoon'  by Yarnplayer   #13

Once again, and true to form, this one is WRONG!  I know what I did, and, of course, I tatted it backwards.  I have started the second one and used a green for the chains - I  had planned  to use the variegated for the chains, but promptly forgot, when I began - and it looks better in all ways than this first try.  I'll post it soon.

Anon,

While Looking for the Next Challenge....

Doing a bunch of small projects, as I search for what to tackle next..... 

© 2001, Avital Pinnick.                                                                         #12

Isn't this a great Lizbeth colour? 
Size #40 - very nice to tat with.

Anon,

Don't Tell The Boss...

                                                                                             #11

She might not be pleased.  You see, this pair is for Mini-Boss, whose ETA is exactly one month today!

Isn't this sweet?  Such a simple pattern for a tiny sock. Actually, these days I find I am preferring the simpler patterns to the more complicated ones.  Just goes to show you...

♥The Boss is enjoying her stash of  tatted-edge socks.♥

 Anon.

The Second Time Around - Success!

                                                                                           #9

This is the second Myra Piper motif.  The first one, I realize had a big mistake and that is why I couldn't get it blocked properly.  I had attached a chain in the wrong place, right at the very start.

That seems to be my routine way of tatting.  I make that initial blunder at the onset, and do not see it till the second time I tat the pattern.

At any rate, this one is correct and it is tatted in my very own HDT!!!  The flowers are done with the lighter dyed version, along with a King Tut quilting thread my sister sent me last year, which is so very thin I never thought I'd use it. It is a purple, lilac and yellow, variegated fibre.

Than you, Jane, for the absolutely brilliant idea of combining threads!

The photo does not show how pretty and heathery the colour is.  I am really thrilled with the results.

~*~

R.I.P.

This is what happens when you go out for coffee and take tatting along and have only one needle with you.  It's inevitable.

I got this needle at a dollar store and have not been able to find another like it.  It is a heavy, big sewing needle with an eye large enough to get a jump ring through.  I have found a replacement, but alas, it is not the same caliber as the old one.

                                                                                        #10
Another of Sherry's notes. Tatted in Yarnplayer's 'Corsage', which is all gone.
Such a pretty thread....

Anon,

Shouldering the Shuttle

A young woman came to see me at work a few days ago and I promised her that I would blog about the reason for her visit.   Her name is Elizabita and she is a tatter.

I owe Elizabita an apology, as I said I would show you her surprise right away, but as you have all heard, that day was a disaster!

What with the failing car, the tickets, the elevator fiasco, I was overloaded and wanted to rant about my misadventures.  This was the farthest thing from my mind.

Now,
I present the surprise.

Isn't this an amazing piece of tattoo artistry?  

 I love tatting   - which you know - and I have a tattoo - which you didn't know - but this is really an example of extreme!  It is quite large and covers about four inches of skin on E's back, between her shoulder-blades,  just under the middle of  her neck.  This is the mark of a truly committed tatter!

Thanks E, for coming in to see me and for sharing your love of tatting and tattoos with me!  I enjoyed your visit and now all of Tat-land who enters here can see your unique and very beautiful symbol of your love for the art of  tatting.

Anon,

'Elevating' the Art of Tatting

 #2 Motif Challenge

Finished this with the last bit of Dr. VTM's thread in green and Karey's variegated HDT.  No more of either.

I had an awful time with this pattern - direction wise.  I realize now, this is the back of the motif, and although the front looks a bit better, it is still really disappointing.  This is one I will do again, because I love the shape.  Very confusing pattern for me.  I cannot remember if Myra Piper's patterns have been difficult for me in the past.  I don't think they are particularly perplexing.

No dinner last night.  Just this boiled up an avocado with a couple of copper pennies! Look what pretty muted pinks I got from 1) the pit and 2) the skin.  I thought the pit would yield yellow, but it produced a paler pinkish tone than the skin did.  I used a dull, beigey-coloured ball of Cébélia, #20.  Maybe white would have been better, but these might be okay mixed with something more vibrant.

The project ended a long and arduous day.

*~*

1) My car failed its emissions test.  This means big bucks out of my pocket, so less thread.  Such a pity.

2) A parking violation.  3) Got home and got stuck in the elevator for over an hour.

4) Made a few advancements with the Celtic tatting while waiting for the elevator guy.

ATTENTION TAT-LAND! 

 The thing to remember about this little episode is to NEVER go ANYWHERE without a SHUTTLE! 

Imagine being stuck alone in that little box, suspended between floors for who knew how long.  Could have been  catastrophic! 

Pop-A-Bobbin worked its magic and I met the rescue team with grace and sang-froid!

 #3,4,5, 6 and 7 of The 25 Motif Challenge

6) Ended on a happy note.
Sherry's pattern, Heather's yarn)

#8 Motif Challenge

 A sample of generosity. Thank you, Heather.

Her colours are terrific.

Anon,

'Tis Bonny At Last!

Looks like a gangster bonnet!

The form I concocted is a holder for paper towels, covered by a couple of sheets of paper towel - not the same shape as a baby's head!  In reality, the shape of the bonnet is just about perfect:

Ahhh, yes, Tatskool, I am moving on!

Anon,

Piecework Publication

 Yup - Is'Dihara is responsible for this:

 March/April Piecework Magazine

Is'Dihara Wrote:

Monday, November 2, 2009
Tatting in PieceWork

If you haven't seen it yet (subscribers already have received their copies), the November/December issue of PieceWork magazine devotes its "Trimmings" section to tatted holiday ornaments.
...
This issue focuses on the Crochet-Lace Challenge winners and contributors, but there is an article on "Pointed Lace in Crochet Tatting" from Weldon's Practical Needlework, Volume 10 and Link Pattern Lace from Weldon's Volume 12.

I do not get any kickbacks or compensation in any way from this magazine. Pure and simple, I am delighted that they have been including more tatting in recent months and want to spread the word.

If you go out to pick up an issue of PieceWork just for the tatting, please let Editor-in-Chief Jeane Hutchins know! She really does value feedback and we're seeing more tatting in this magazine primarily because tatters have asked for it.

I was intrigued, so I followed that advice and got in touch with  Jeanne - and look what happened!  Thanks Is'Dihara!

I have actually posted a small sample of this piece before.  Here is the completed work submitted:

  

Now, the present...

Taking  Tatskool's advice, taking breaks from the bonnet,  I have started a new and FUN motif:

The pattern is by Myra Piper; the green HDT is Krystle's; the variegated HDT is Karey's. This is going to be very pretty IF I have enough of both threads to finish!

Also, I am still struggling with the Celtic Tatting thing.  Ohhh, I find it nearly impossible and I cannot stop trying to "get" this pattern.

 Next post:  THE BONNET!
Anon,