Just Some Pictures to Show

On her blog, Gina is showing her progress on Filigree Scroll, from Traditional Tatting Patterns edited by Rita Weiss. She mentions a few problems with the pattern. I made this pattern a few (I'm not sure how long ago) years ago. Here is my version:

I left Gina a comment telling her I made the motif before and offered to show my version. I was sure I did a better job on it. I really did. i even blocked it before posting, but it didn't help that much. I'm not sure exactly what size thread I used. It must be either a size 20 or 30. It is a inexpensive 3 cord crochet cotton. That's the problem! I knew it wasn't me! But seriously, looking at it, it looks like the chains were not tightened enough. I think I will remake the motif sometime. Maybe in some HDT.......

Here is my progress on Day 5 of TIAS 3:

It's looking familiar now. I have a few ideas on what it could be, but I'll keep quiet for a while yet. While looking at Jane's blog, I came across a motif of hers that is suspiciously similar. But I'm not talking. You may notice that the Josephine Knots at the bottom (I think) look different. The one on the left is done the traditional way, the second is done using the Jane's method. The instructions are at the bottom of the page. Mark, AKA TatMan, has posted instructions on making the double stitch in a different way, he calls it a "Dizzy Double Stitch". This is the same thing that Jane is using except it is for both halves of the DS; Jane is using only the second half. It works well, but I need more practice with it. That's all for now.

Test Tatting, TIAS 3, and an Update on "It"

As I mentioned in my last post, I have been doing some test tatting for Linda Davies. Linda asked me nicely to show some of the completed pieces. Here are a few parts of her Gladiolus flower that will appear in her next book.


These are the large and medium petals that will produce, well, large and medium flowers once two sets of petals are made for each flower. You can't tell in the pictures, but I used the same shade of Flora 20 thread (# 225) for both sets of petals and the bud.

These next picture are the Gladiolus bud, large and small calyxes. Isn't Linda great? She thinks of everything when designing a new flower. I should note that I have reduced the image size to protect Linda's design. I'm sure everyone understands.

I am also following Jane's TIAS 3 that is currently running right now. This is my progress up to the end of Day 4.

I didn't scan my progress for Days 1-3. I probably won't scan after every day's progress, though it will depend on the number of parts the pattern is broken down in. At this point I haven't the faintest idea what TIAS 3 will become. And I'm not sure I want to know yet; it's so much fun not knowing what you're tatting.

I'm sure everyone remembers "It", from previous posts. If not here is a reminder:


Well, I spent this afternoon working on "It" and I'm proud to say he's not "It" anymore. I'd like to introduce everyone to "Red" (coming up with names isn't one of my strong skills):

I'm not completely happy with some of his fins, but at least he looks like what he is supposed to. Red is a male Betta (or Siamese Fighting Fish). I'm going to try blocking him to see if I can shape his fins better. I should also note that I forgot to add a bead for Red's eye when I was tatting him, so I added it in with Photoshop. Here's a picture of Red's big brother, Big Red (I told you naming isn't a strong skill of mine):

Big Red is the fish that I based Red on. Please ignore the plastic plants in the background. This picture was taken before I put live plants in the aquarium. Now, I know what you are thinking, when will the pattern be available? To be honest, I don't know. I'm not sure I can reproduce Red's fins. I have been thinking that maybe I will write up the pattern (and modify the diagram) for the body and have everybody free tat the fins like I did. What do you think? I'd love to hear your comments and suggestions. I going to count Red as my motif # 21 in the 25 Motif Challenge. That's all for now.

Introducing ...... A New Tatted Plant Species!

I guess the title tells all. I won't keep you all in suspense any longer. Here it is:

Pretty good, eh? OK, OK. I didn't make this one. This is my personal Venus Fly Trap (actually, there are three in this pot) that my tatted version is based off of. Now here is the one I made:

I call this a "Venus Fly Tat". Pretty clever, if I do say so myself. I will have to make a few more large leaves, then perhaps a couple small, unopened ones. Eventually, I plan on having the pattern available. I'm not sure when; how I did it was probably, um, imaginative. The whole leaf is done continuously, starting at a ring and ending with a split ring. The stem is tatted over doubled wire. I haven't spent as much time on this (and "It") as I would like because I have been test tatting for Linda Davies. More on that another day.

I received my bookmark from my other partner recently. Here is "Louie" (he was named when I got him).

This is from Valerie of Singapore. I wonder if she knows Ellen? Louie is from Diana Steven's book "A Tatted Zoo", done in Flora size 20. Valerie made a few modifications to the pattern.

Here are the bookmarks I made for Valerie and Karin:

The bookmarks are made with LadyShuttleMaker's "Tutti Fruitti" thread in size 20. Karin's bookmark has orange Flora 20 in colour number 224. Valerie's bookmark has red Flora 20 in colour number 221. The pattern is of course Martha Ess's "Maltese Ring Bookmark" from Tat Days 2007. I am happy to report that both Valerie and Karin really liked their bookmarks. I am counting these as motifs # 19 and # 20 in the 25 Motif Challenge. That's all for now.

I've Been Tatting

First off, I want to show a design that I have been thinking about making for awhile now. I won't tell you what it is for a few days yet (I need to make a few more). I'm pretty sure there isn't a tatted version yet.


Hopefully it isn't too obvious what it is. But you're welcome to make guesses it you want (I won't tell what it is but it would be fun to see if anyone can guess). I also have a couple new tatting books. I received Sharon's book "Transitions In Tatting" and Rozella Linden's (AKA Ruth Perry) newest Celtic tatting book "Celtic Tatting: A Design Journey on an Ancient Theme". I have lots of things picked out to make. Now, if only I could find more time (unfortunately I have to work over the upcoming long weekend, so it may be next week before I get more serious tatting done).

I also have Motif # 18 for the 25 Motif Challenge finished.

This is Ruth Perry's Celtic Daffodil. This flower has a total of nine Celtic knots, consisting of two different types. If you are interested in the flower, you can contact Ruth directly (her blog may have contact info, otherwise leave me a comment and I'll send you her email address). I tatted the daffodil in size 20 Flora in colour # 204 (I think). This was given to my Mom for Mother's Day (I remembered to take a picture!).

Oh, I also have an update on "It". I remade It and I am more pleased with how It turned out. I still have more work on it before I will reveal more information about It.

It is still pretty unrecognizable at this point, but once I add some features to It, it will be much easier to identify It. I think that's all for now. Hopefully I will post again in a few days.

A Little Bit of Crochet, Tatting, Designin', and Exchangin'

Judging by the title, you'd think I've been busy. Well, you'd be partially right. I have been working on my crochet afghan since my bookmarks for the exchange were mailed. I promised a photo when I last posted. It wasn't easy, but here is a close up of the afghan:


This image is the best one I could come up with. I think I may have to look into a new digital camera. I'm not sure if I mentioned it earlier, but the afghan is called "Colonial Zig-Zag" by Shirley Brown. I'm using Lion Brand Homespun in, wait for it, Colonial! Yes, the pattern name is correct, I didn't change it. The Homespun yarn is really nice to work with, but it has one drawback, it unravels when cut. So you have to knot the ends when you cut it. I am so glad that I decided not to make a fringe on it. Besides requiring nearly a full skein of yarn (I didn't want to buy more than needed), I personally think fringes are kind of "girly" (sorry ladies, don't throw your tatting shuttles at me, unless they are Aero's!).

I have not done much tatting since finishing my bookmarks for the exchange. I have started a pattern by Ruth Perry, but it won't be done for a few days at least. The main piece of tatting I have been working on is a design I came up with. I really don't want to show it, but I will anyway. I will not, however, tell you what it is supposed to be.

To be honest, "it" would look better if I'd followed the (really nice) diagram I had made. Everything pictured was tatted continuously (which may have been part of the problem). I'll be revisiting this piece again later. I'm sure it will look much better. I have also decided to try one of LadyShuttleMaker's ceramic shuttles. I know, I know. I have mentioned before that I like Aero's and Aero type shuttles, but I keep getting drawn to post type shuttles. Here is my new shuttle:

This is one of Sherry's "Agateware" shuttles. When she first showed it, I knew it HAD to be mine. It is actually not a bad tatting shuttle. I did find that when using fine threads, the shuttle unwinds when let go, but that more of a slight annoyance more than anything.

Finally I have received my bookmark from my first partner Karin from Germany. She sent me a really nice bookmark that she designed herself.

This is a really pretty bookmark. Karin used Coats Eldorado in size 10 colour # 4288. The fringe at the bottom is made from cut really long picots. OK, so fringes aren't always girly. Besides the bookmark Karin sent a cool postcard (as well as something extra).

I've been in a number of exchanges, and this one is certainly one of the best. I sure hope Karin likes the bookmark (and the colours I've used). I'll show the bookmarks I have made once both of my partners have received them. Until next time.