A Very Regal Snowflake

Finally, I will post the snowflake I mentioned in the last post. I just can't get back into tatting and blogging lately. I am feeling better, except that I may have a bit of a cold now. That's according to the doctor I saw earlier this week. I won't go into details (I grossed out a few coworkers already) but I'm learning how gross the human body can be with this "cold". Anyway, I finally have a photo of the snowflake I tatted a few weeks ago. I can't find the other motif I tatted, though I didn't like the colour-it came free with one of the Lizbeth thread holders I bought (love them!!!!). I do plan on retatting the motif and maybe making a bookmark using it.

I know that Isdihara shared her rendition of Frivole's Regal snowflake, so here is mine:

This is a very pretty snowflake. I didn't really follow the pattern per se. Frivole recommend against using split rings to climb from the first round to the second, but I though it would work. I started with a chain and ended with a split ring. I had to unwind each shuttle (easy, since I only use bobbin shuttles) and threaded each thread though the bead. I continued with a chain and ended again with a split ring. I started the third round again with a chain and ended with a split ring. The middle picot on the final split ring is the hanging loop. Maybe not the best place for it, but it works for me. And no ends to hide! Thread stats: I used Lizbeth size 20 in white and used some Czech made fire polished crystal beads. I didn't add any other beads, but I might the next time I make it. 

That's about it for now. I haven't done much of anything lately, but I hope to fix that soon. I have to work for International Tatting Day this year, so I probably won't get much done (I'll try to eat some chocolate though!). We'll see what I can get done next week; my work schedule is kinda wonky because of Easter. I'll leave you with a photo of my brand new crochet hook holder:

Hmmm. If I keep letting it grow longer, I'm going to start losing hooks in there! Till next time.

Quick Post

Sorry, again for the delay in posting. I got hit with the flu again this week, so I haven't gotten to posting (or tatting for that matter) lately. I have a tatted snowflake and a motif that I want to show you but, I can't find them at the moment, so they will have to wait for a few more days. I have more orchid photos to share-I couldn't help myself and bought three more last week. I do hope to have a full post by the end of the weekend.

Before I forget, I finally joined Facebook. I really didn't want to, but had to as I was informed that a user there was using some of my (and other people's) photos from Etsy, and other sites and claiming them as her own. So I had to get mine removed. So I am on Facebook. Feel free to friend me if you want; I will eventually start finding some of you and Friending you. I don't know how active I'll be, but I'll try. I just have to figure out how it all works. Till next time.

Not A Lot Goin' On, Again

Sorry for disappearing, yet again. I was hit with some sort of flu the weekend following my last post. That knocked me down for most of that week. I didn't do anything that week. The following week wasn't much more productive. I worked on some test tatting. I'm not sure I can share, though I didn't do the pieces justice. One required a lot of beads, and I couldn't find a crochet hook fine enough to go through the holes in the beads. I ended up skipping the beads, and left long picots the approximate length of the beads to tat the pattern. It worked, but it isn't as pretty as it should be. Besides the tatting, I have continued with the crochet I mentioned earlier, but I haven't finished anything yet to share. Soon though, hopefully. I will quickly share some weaving I did before I got sick. I've got some more orchid photos too, but I'll leave them until next time.

About three weeks ago, or so, I picked up a Martha Stewart Crafts Knit & Weave Loom Kit from Michaels. I used a 50% off coupon so I got it for about $26; I wouldn't have got it at the full price. This kit does weaving, knitting and double knitting. I have a basic double knitting loom already, and while I may try knitting with this kit, I bought it for the weaving. If you are wondering the kit is made by Lion Brand Yarn and has patterns available on their website. I played around a bit and made a small woven square, then had an idea. The instruction booklet has a pattern for a baby blanket which consists of 3x3 large squares sewn together. I figured I could make a larger "man" sized blanket using the same squares. I think 4x5 squares may work. Each square is 13 inches square (32.5ish cm) so the finished size should be about 52 x 65 inches (130 x 162.5 cm). That should be big enough. I have one square made:

This was made using Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick yarn. I like the way it came out, but I think it took nearly a full ball of yarn to make. I'm not 100% sure if it was a full ball when I started but there isn't much left. I like the yarn (it's a super bulky weight wool acrylic blend that is machine washable and dryable), but what I don't like is that I may potentially need up to 20 balls of yarn (at about $7 each, I think, maybe more). I'll have to watch for sales, and who knows, it may be possible to get more than one square per ball. Even 1 1/2 squares would be more acceptable. We'll see if anything comes from this. I'll provide updates when and if I make any progress.

That's about it for now. I bought a snowflake tatting pattern from an Etsy seller last week that I'd really like to work on. Hopefully I'll get to it tonight and I'll have something tatted to share. Till next time.