Irresistibly Iris

I LOVE IRIS!

#9 Motif Challenge

My Dirty Little Secret

  #8 Motif Challenge

After all the dragons, the fancy motifs, Clunies, onion rings, the beads and  the fine threads, there is one pattern that has forever stumped me: a little Iris Niebach freebie.  I have tatted it several times before and it looked fine.  I have posted it and given it away as a gift. Only I knew that I did not really know HOW to tat the pattern!

That is correct.  I just followed the directions, and in my own head pretended I really knew what I was doing, knowing deep down I did not!

There are some different directions to do in the pattern and as you all know by now, directions kill me.  Dyslexia Rules!  Also, I do FS/BS tatting and added to the directional challenges, I really was at a loss with this one.

This weekend, because I am practising with the Valdani thread, which I love, by the way, in spite of its thinness, I decided it was time to really understand that pattern as I want to do it with beads and in the red and green Valdani.

I have begun it five times.  I have sweated,  groaned, stomped my feet and used highly unladylike - okay, trucker - talk.  I have yelled at the walls, the ceiling and The Cat, who prayed fervently for a different human and stayed out of my way.  I persevered.  I now totally get the pattern!  I am happy.  The Cat is happy. Peace has returned to my humble abode.



I think this will be fantastic with beads in the red Valdani ( double-stranded, of course).  Stay tuned...

Valdani Blunders & Heartfelt Hats

 

That Valdani thread is THIN!  But I am very drawn to it and like it with the two strands togeter.  Here is the last motif I gave to Sis, also with BIG blunders, as it was tatted so very late at night and also because it was for my sister the Master Quilter.  Of course.  All that sibling stuff....

Remember the hats for the Boys? They love them!!!
They will not take them off!  Liam sleeps in his and Grahamy will not take his off in Nursery School!  Love it!  And I thought they would find them too "wooly" and they would not not like the dragonflies. Yay!

And one for Maeve...

Miniscule But Mighty Midnight Gifties

 

Pattern: Onion Ring by Wally Sosa    Thread: Coron #40 thanks to ♥Suneeti♥

Just look at the ROLL TATTING!  I had my doubts before tackling this, which I completed at work yesterday at lunchtime.  Surprisingly I tatted it in two short sittings, and must say, enjoyed it immensely!  Thanks Wally!

The Chinese Characters mean "Double Happiness".

The Cat's Expression is translated as "Mine."

Sis flew into town yesterday and we have already had an in-depth "projects" show and tell. She is a  noted quilter from Calgary and of course very knowledgeable about thread. She brought me some Vivaldi #35, (That would be VALDANI - THANKS MAUREEN! I am an old flutist.... what can I say!))whatever that means.  It is like a thin #80 so I doubled it in matching sections to be sure the variegated parts were not too uneven. I tatted till two o'clock last night.

Because Sis is interested in how the thread would look,  I have to give her these simple,  little samples (even though I missed a bead in one!) But, I will also give her one of my bigger, more finished pieces...  pride demands it!)

I mean, she gave me a quilt - and actually said to me she expected a tatted gifty in the Valdani by the morning.  A joke to be sure, but I have to reciprocate as tatting is small but mighty!  So, this is what I came up with:

It is still fairly early and I have no work today.  Sis and I are meeting up for dinner and I plan to have another little tatted goody in my new BLUE beads (Sis LOVES beads too!) and the new Vivaldi...

The Cat has issues with today's post?