Tatting and Teneriffe Lace, But Not Together

I figured I should post about what I've been tatting lately. I don't want anyone to think that I have given up tatting or something. I know a few of you are eyeing my Mary Konior books. You know who you are. I'll try to keep this short and sweet.

I'll start with the Teneriffe Lace first. I haven't done it in a while and figured I should give it another go. To make things interesting, I decided to use some hand dyed Linen thread (henceforth known as HDLT in this and possible future posts). Probably not the best idea, but linen thread would have been commonly used many years ago. Anyway, as Mica mentioned last year, the book I'm using, The Technique of Teneriffe Lace is now in the public domain with permission of the author Alexandra Stillwell. You can find the book here. Here's the motif:

Yeah, the linen thread wasn't a good idea. It was fine until I got to the final round of knotting. Then, as you can see, the thread snapped regularly. Mind you, I was watching Avatar (good movie, but too long for what it was trying accomplish; just bought the Blu-ray version, so I have to watch it again!!) while I was working on this motif, so I wasn't giving the motif my undivided attention. I'm not sure what to do with all those ends, and I don't like putting glue on the knots like the book suggests. I have some matching cotton HDT so I will probably add some tatting to the edge to give me a place to bury the ends. I'll post an update when I do this. Thread stats: Linen HDT (or HDLT, if you prefer) size 30/2 in the Summer Trail colourway by Yarnplayer.

The next motif is the edging I mentioned in my last post. It is from Mary Konior's A Pattern Book of Tatting.

This is Queen's Garter. It's a really nice pattern. I was thinking it would make a good bookmark, but I would join the chains together to make it a bit more stable. I'll have to try that with a heavier thread. Thread stats: Superior Threads Perfect Quilter thread. It is a 17 weight quilting thread that is equivalent to a size 80 tatting thread. The length of tatting is about 6 1/2 inches long and an inch wide.

The final motif is from the same book as the edging above.


This is No, Nay, Never by Mary Konior. I'll admit it, I made a couple mistakes on this one. I forgot to join a couple picots during the first two repeats, but I was using HDT and wasn't cutting anything out to correct it. I'll make it again sometime. Thread stats: HDT size 30 in Cobalt solid by Yarnplayer. I don't remember which colourway this is from. If anyone remembers, I'd love to know.

That's it for now. I am working on some more tatting. I'll post as soon as I can. You probably noticed a difference in my scans above. That is because I bought a new All-in-One printer recently. There was nothing wrong with my old one, besides the $80+ cost for ink cartridges (one black and one colour). Cartridges for my new printer, a Kodak ESP 5250, cost $25 for both black and colour. My new printer also prints borderless photos, which my old HP didn't do very well. I've read mixed reviews on these printers, but so far I'm having no problems (knock on wood). The only thing I don't like about it is the scanner. The scanning technology (CIS, or contact image sensor) used isn't designed for scanning 3D objects. The sensor can only be a few mm away from the object being scanned. However, I've been wanting a stand alone scanner for awhile, for traveling and such, so I probably be buying one in the near future. Hopefully, anyway. Till next time.

Tatting Books! And Chainmaille.

First of all, I want to thank everyone who commented on my last post. I think the general consensus was that the purpose of tatting is 1: to add a touch of beauty in our lives, and 2: therapy/pain relief. I also want to send out a virtual hug to Isdihara. Thanks.

Most of my free time has been taken up by chainmaille. Not really a bad thing since I needed another break from tatting. I remade several bracelets that had sold, and the necklace and bracelet from the custom order. I also made a few more pairs of earrings.















These were made using Anodized Titanium and titanium ear wires. I really like the teal ones on the right. I also want to show you the necklace I had made for the custom order:

The necklace was modified slightly to allow the attachment of a pendant. The pendant above is mine. I actually liked making the necklace. I may have to make another one and list it in my shop (link on the right sidebar).

Finally, the reason I am posting tonight. Today was the first day of the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra's Annual Book Sale. I went right after work, since it takes place in the mall across the street from my workplace. A previous find can be found here. I found a few tatting books.






































Not too bad, if I do say so myself. I already have the book on the bottom left. I bought it since I thought I might host a giveaway sometime. Not right now, but sometime. Anyway, I need a favour from all you in Tatland. The book on the bottom right was missing its cover, as well as a few other pages. I would love it if someone out there knows what the book is called, if you can tell from the page shown. There are no patterns in the book, just lots of photos. I'm pretty sure one can follow the photos to actually tat the items shown. If anyone can help, let me know. I will probably go back to the sale once or twice more before it ends next Saturday. I will share what else I find, if anything.

That's all for now. I have been doing a little tatting lately. I started a simple edging pattern from my newest Mary Konior book. I'll show it when I run out of thread on the shuttle. It's a size 80 thread; it may take awhile. Till next time.

The Purpose of Tatting

There's been some talk of the purpose of tatting. I, for one, wonder why it needs a purpose. I'd like to think of tatting (as well as other laces, that may also lack a purpose) as the candy of the needlework universe. I'm sure you're all aware that candy doesn't fit into any of the four food groups. However, it still exists. Why? Because it tastes good, and (for the most part) looks good too. That is the purpose of tatting. It looks good. It makes other things look good. And, like candy, can make us feel good. And, the act of doing it (um, tatting) can even help ease pain. That was a big one for me when my older sister passed away three and a half years ago; she was 30. It kept me focused during that hard time. I tatted a bunch of small angels; blue in colour (it was her favourite colour), a plastic rhinestone in the colour of her birthstone, and a white ribbon. These were given to my aunts, mother, and grandmother. This is the first time I've mentioned my late sister, and it will probably be the last until such time that I have designed something worthy enough to have her name attached to it.

I just wanted to voice my opinions about this topic. As a community, I believe we are modernizing the art of tatting. New techniques and patterns are continually being created. And we can't forget the new threads we have access to. That includes the HDTs that are being created as well. I'm not sure why some people think that tatting needs to have a purpose. That need seems a bit old fashioned to me. We have lots of stuff in our world that only have a single purpose. What's wrong with that??



PS: I was going to include this rant/opinion voicing in a regular post. It seems better on its own.

Much Ado About Nothing, or My Lack of Progress

I got nothing. I'd love to show you guys something, but I haven't done much. I did some crocheting while I was away. I'm currently working on a chainmaille necklace/chain and matching bracelet right now, which should be done by the end of the week. I don't really feel like tatting right now. I'll pause while you all gasp and scream in horror .......

All done? I've got plenty of thread (well, an adequate supply, at least), lots of patterns/books/etc, and some time, but I just don't feel like tatting. Maybe I need to break out some HDT to spice up my tatting. I dunno. It could be the spring-like weather we're having here. It's been pretty nice for the past few weeks (if you forget the blizzard-like conditions that the city and other parts of the province experienced last week). It's been raining most of the day, so that should help induce plant growth. Stores are starting to sell seeds, bulbs and other garden related stuff. Then again, maybe it was the paper cut I got at work Sunday.....

I won't end this post without having a little tatting content. When I got back from my short break, I found this waiting for me:

Yup, I got the final book needed to complete my collection of Mary Konior books. As with all of Mary's books, this one is full of really pretty patterns. Hopefully, I will get around to tatting something from this book soon.

That's all for now. With any luck, something will be tatted by the time I post again. Till next time.

Easter Tatting, New Maille Earrings

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter. I didn't get as much tatting done as I would have liked. I ended up working on some chainmaille projects for a majority of the weekend. I did, however, manage to make something with tatting on it for Easter.

What I managed to tat is this, a tatted Easter egg:

Or rather, a satin covered Styrofoam egg (purchased from Handy Hands several years ago), with a couple of tatted snowflakes pinned to it. Here is a top view:

This is Snowflake 2 from Festive Snowflakes & Ornaments. And now a bottom view:

This is Snowflake 1, also from Festive Snowflakes & Ornaments. Both snowflakes were tatted using Lizbeth size 20 thread, in colour #129 Purple Splendor. I was hoping to get a second egg done, but I haven't finished it yet. I am going to count this as Motif #23 of my Third 25 Motif Challenge.

Most of my weekend was spent working on some chainmaille projects. I remade my wallet chain using stainless steel. I also remade a few bracelets that had sold. Though, the highlight of my weekend of mailleing are these:

The earrings on the left and bottom right were made using a new anodized (coloured) aluminum colour called "Black Ice". Black Ice is a dark grey colour with a purple tinge to it. It has a very shiny luster. One pair of earrings has a Sterling Silver ring at the base of each earring, and Sterling Silver earwires. The other pair has a Gold Filled ring at the base of each earring with gold plated earwires. The earrings on top right are made of Sterling silver with a Gold filled ring on the base. They also have Sterling silver earwires. All three pairs of earrings are in my Shop, along with the Jens Pind bright aluminum bracelet.

That's all for now. I will be going away for a few days, starting on Wednesday afternoon. There may be a regular post Sunday or Monday, but that will depend on how much tatting I manage to complete while away. Till next time.

International Tatting Day

Happy International Tatting Day!!!!!!

I hope everyone out there managed to get some tatting done today. And had some chocolate while doing their tatting. I've done some tatting today, but not very much. Same with the chocolate.

I am not quite done with my current tatting project to show you yet. However, due to a scheduling error at work (my fault, I didn't get my time off request in early enough) I will be spending the weekend in the city. I plan on tatting all weekend, after work. I do have three days off next week, towards the end, and plan on going away during that time. I hope to have a number of things to show you all either Sunday or Monday.

I will be going back to get a bit more tatting done before bed. Till next time.