This pattern is from Mary's book "Tatting With Visual Patterns". I love this book! I'm so glad Sue H ( moderator of the Here-Be-Tatters group) told us that the book is not out of print, and actually quite easy to find at many tatting suppliers. For the glass mat, I used Altin Basak size 50 thread in colour number 3005. This was my first time using Altin Basak thread. As long as you don't retro-tat very often, the thread holds up reasonably well. I did find the thread a little soft as well, but it is nice to work with.My next motif is one by Ruth Perry. It is her Celtic Angel. I also test tatted it for Ruth.
The pattern is available from Ruth's Celtic Tatting Yahoo group. Or you could email Ruth directly. I used DMC Cordonnet size 20 in white. This was an interesting item to tat. It used a variation on the double stitch called the "Balanced Double Stitch" (BDS). The Celtic knot is a BDS chain or a "BChain" as Ruth calls it. If you want more information about the BDS you can check out the following PDF file at Georgia Seitz's site. The BDS is larger than a regular DS, so you may have to adjust the number of stitches in the chains of the knot. And, as Riet said, you don't have to hide the ends when you are done. Here, I tied them together to make a hanger. Until next time.
Your glass mat is beautiful! That's one of my favorite patterns from Mary's book.
ReplyDeleteI love the Celtic angel! I have the shuttles and thread. I have the Ruth's Celtic pattern books. Maybe it's time for me to take the plunge into Celtic tatting.
Beautiful tatting. I wondered what you had been up to. I find the same things with Altin Basak but it is nice if you are careful.
ReplyDeleteThe blues in your doily match your blog, cute. I really like that angel. You did a nice job.
ReplyDeleteWow, that doily really pops...at first glance I thought it might be "pensacola beach". I love your angel and I have yet to attempt celtic tatting...so much to do....so little time!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the nice comments everyone. I really like this pattern too Diane; I will probably make it again (or maybe try the larger version). I'm still around Laura. Just haven't had much time to tat lately. You're right TattingChic. The blue in the doily does match my blog.
ReplyDeleteThis colour of Altin Basak does resemble your "Pensacola Beach" thread Sherry. I can't wait to make something with Pensacola beach when I get it. I think you'll all enjoy doing Celtic Tatting. It does take some practice getting the knots right, but it is worth it.
Excellent work as usual, Jeff. I too have tried the BDS and found it much easier than I expected. It works well with the very fine threads that I use for some of my flowers.
ReplyDeleteDid you finish the bird of paradise flower? I would have loved to have seen your version of it. It is such an honour to see my work done by others, especially one as talented as you. Thank you
The Konior doily is very pretty. Very well done.
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