Any Takers?

I am serious about whittling down my stash.  So far, it has become very manageable!  These are the threads that my sis used for quilting and I have tried tatting with them, singly and doubled.  I have given them a fair trial.  Though they are not my favourite thread to tat with, I have had success using them.  Not as much body as DMC, but adequate.  I have often tatted with them doubled and that always worked out well.

If you would like one of these spools - and there is a ton on each - tell me and I will send one to you.  The first six people to respond will be sent one and I will try to give you your preference.

I just could not get that variegated green and red to work for the border... So, Randi's thread, dubbed "Randi's Red," and gold Delica beads are it!  I am so happy that my attempts at the other border went abysmally awry!  This one is going to be fantastic!

The DMC is size #80, so it will be slow, but it is a nice pattern to tat.  It is from this book:

a little peek...

Then, I decided to use the pink and green Flora on a design that I really like from this book. I have done half of the pattern and ...ahh... more my style!


(Oh là là ...  Look at those picots!)

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Today was so hot in Toronto; not the best day for a return to the tattoo parlour, but back I went, as I did not like the "poppy seed" black dots at all.  They are the right distance, but they were a tad small and I did not like the black, so:

I Really Cannot Tat Anymore...

WITHOUT BEADS!

#23 Motif Challenge

Miranda's beads were perfect in this motif.

I had lunch with a girlfriend yesterday who appreciates tatting, so I took a few motifs to give her, as I always do.   She did not seem to be as enthusiastic about the pieces and then she spied the above - which was still damp from being subjected that morning to the weighty Criminal Code!

This is the finished motif from yesterday's post, a pattern by Wendy Durell called 4 Ring Snowflake that I found in my collection of "pieces to tat". I like it a  lot and brought it to show my friend.

As I was so enamoured with the design and wanted to test out RandaGray's Flora right away, I did not tat a trial piece - never do - and found the bead-adding a bit onerous with the split rings.  Missed a few additions and am not sure why, so there was some investigative work to do concerning this piece. I really should do a test-run, but am always too impatient. No  discipline for some things!

Also, the results of the tattoo testing are in.  It was definitely a GOOD idea.  The picots are better on the first try and picots are easier to tat and mot=re consistent in size.  I am happy with my decision.

However, I saw my friend's crestfallen expression when I said that this one was MINE!  Oh dear.  You guessed it.  She went home with the new lovely.  How could I refuse?

So, this morning I thought I would repeat the pattern;  I got this far:

It is just no fun for me to tat without the beads. I'm a goner.  I just cannot do it as I get too bored.  I wonder how I am going to fare with that hankie ...all those picots...all those rings...all that bare thread... NO BEADS!

Talking about the hankie, which I tried to begin about four times late last night -  nightmare - I received the red thread from Randi, who thought I might need it for the border.  It was so generous of her to offer, but I certainly was not expecting the package I received in the mail when I arrived home last evening...

It was such a lovely surprise.

Best of all, she included such a thoughtful message. I was touched by her words. I am lucky.

Oh yes, forgot to add that one of the teas enclosed, Twinnings Black Tea Pomegranate Delight, is my new absolute favourite. If you are a tea drinker, you must try it!

Heel And Heal

Winging their way to Mini-Boss...

I compared the picots of the first sock to the ones on the second and I have to say that there is an improvement.  The dots do not cause me  to tat  identical lengths of thread, but merely provide a good, stable guide/marker by which to more easily compare the length of thread I decide on, when tatting the picot.  

Also, I seem to be able to tat faster.  The second sock was done very quickly, and I can only attribute the difference in time to the dots.

I was ready for a fun tat.  So, I teamed up some of the sample thread, #20 Flora that I received from RandaGray, with some pretty, rather large multi-coloured beads that came from Miranda.

This thread is great - almost spongy when tatted up; it has lots of body.  It does split more easily than Lizbeth, but the colours are wonderful. 

Thank you Miranda and RandaGray.  I am enjoying your offerings and will post this piece (which I SHOULD have practiced before I dove in with the best supplies, but I just couldn't wait!)

Not Your Regular Type Of Tat

 Comment by Ladytats to tat-ology:

...before I ever heard of picot guages, I used to figure out the length of thread that I would need to get the picots the right length, and put 2 small dots on my finger as a "measuring stick" to make them more uniform. I mostly "eyeball" them now, but the dots really helped years ago. you do have to use ink that you can't wash off. I used a permanent marker, then washed my hands well to be sure the ink wouldn't come off on the thread. the dots would be there a couple of days.

 Followed by:

...actually I got the idea from a gal on the tatting list I belonged to back in the late 90's online.  she had actually gotten several dots tattooed on her finger as specific measurements.  I just didn't want to go that permanent...

Fox responded:

What a great idea!  Makes me want to tattoo a few on my finger to avoid the ink problem!  Thanks for that.

And then:

Ladytats, As I emailed you - tattoos on the finger? A great idea, I think. I am sorely tempted!

  TaDa!  

Fox Wrote:

I did it!  I hope what I have done works - just three little dots that I measured and re-measured, before I went to the shop.  It took all of about one minute to perform the procedure, and it did not hurt much, but I am now squeamish and keep putting the bandage back on!  I will eventually wash off the excess ink and take a photo so I can post it on tat-ology.  So far, you are the only person other than my sis who knows!  I feel so brave.  Thanks for the tip.  I really wonder if it will make a difference!
Fearless Fox   : ))

Well, Ladytats, our secret is out!  I just hope this little adventure begets success with the shuttles! Thank you for your support and sense of fun!

I have tried the dots out on the second sock edging, and you know I do think the picots are better!  The finger is a wee but sore so I am not tatting as I usually do as I am favouring that finger a bit.  I will report later as it heals completely.

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I am about a quarter through the second sock.  Love the #80 thread with the green beads.   I think these are the cutest ones I have done so far; I think it is because of the finer thread.

#22 Motif Challenge 

Pattern from Tatted Artistry of Teiko Fujito