5 Tatted Ice Cream Cones

This is a pattern that I enjoy tatting. I load the ice cream thread with 14 to 16 beads for the square, placing 8 of those on the shuttle. I load 16 to 20 for the outer round with 8 of those again on the shuttle. I then place them randomly as I tat. I used size 20 thread for the ice cream--DMC Cecelia white and brown, Manuela pink. The cones were tatted with some Altin Basak size 50 that I had on hand. In spite of the size 50 on the label, I find this thread to be somewhere between DMC Cecelia size 20 and 30 in size.

Oops! Can't salvage this one.

When I use the Magic Thread trick to hide ends, I usually wait until I've joined at least one more round before I snip the ends. This time I slipped into production mode to make several Valeire Square Ice Cream Cones and didn't give it a thought as I did the finishing of all of the first rounds before starting the second ones. You guessed it. On number 5, the ends came loose as I was working round 2. My nimble-fingered daughter tried to salvage it by making a knot with those tiny ends, but instead we managed to pull another double stitch off. Maybe this will help me remember in future to wait until the project is finished, or at least until another round or two has been added, before I snip those ends.

New Pattern & Challenge

It's up! Georgia has posted the challenge and the instructions. I can hardly wait to see what changes and designs result from this. So go tat one of Anna Valeire's squares and make yourself some calorie free ice cream.