The Tatted End

...end of the year tat, that is.

With one misplaced bead. Natch! Can you spot it?

A completely appropriate finish to 2011!

Pattern from DMC, Festival Tatting

Thread: Zwicky silk from Krystle

Delica Beads from Tatting Fool

Last Call For Socks, 2011

Konior Kaleidoscope

How lucky I am - must be the double yolks - to have received a sample of rainbow HDT from Jess to play with over the holidays.  

I looked for suitable patterns and came up with a couple from a Mary Konior book. 

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These little motifs are just that - LITTLE! The second one is about an inch across, maybe a bit more and the first a wee bit larger.

There was just enough of some old Majestic #80 green left to use for the second shuttle...  Cute, huh? 

Then, a brief excursion into rolled stitches, which I have not practiced in ages. This is a great pattern to play with.

The stitch became easier after about four repeats... You can tell I have relaxed over the holidays - look at all those bare threads!  YIKES!

Thanks, Jess.  I love the feel of the dyed thread - so substantial, even though I think this was #80.

Prior to 2012 - Prissy

This frothy, little number almost ended up in the trash, as I could not figure out the instructions, but could not bear to toss away what little I had tatted. I had wanted to tackle it all through the year, and so finally got down to it.

There may very well be a few mistakes in the instructions, so I tatted this the way that worked for me, after many tries at the directions as they are written.

Once again, my bullish nature ran roughshod over frustration, and you see the result.  I am glad I am stubborn; sometimes there is an unexpected beautiful result that originated with ferociously obsessive wilfulness!

There are actually three different beads in the piece, but you can barely see the small, clear, slightly violet-tinged ones that link the rings that join the onion rings. There are JK's instead of rings at the top and I used #30 Cébélia thread.

Really, I am not one for these frilly-for-the bride sort of designs, but it is good for me to tat one from time to time for practice and a good challenge.

Now for a good yoke - 

of them in fact!  Have you ever had THIS happen to you!  I was amazed when I cracked my dinner into the pan!