Tat Along - Tischband #3

Here it is. The flowers all have leaves now. I used a smaller center picot this time and the result was much better. I think this one is the best one yet. I've really enjoyed this challenge. I'm likely to use Ruth's gorgeous leaves again. It is a great design.

I'm already well into another project--some ideas I've wanted to develop for my Etsy shop for quite a while. I was able to get a little tatting done during my lunch break today which helped me make a good start. I'll tell you all about it when I've gotten a bit more done.

Spring is in the air

The weather here in Arkansas has been warm and lovely. This weekend was to be devoted to filing our income taxes, but I spent the day updating my Etsy shop instead--much more enjoyable. I decided to have a one week sale at Etsy, marking some of my prices down by 15 to 25 percent. Meanwhile I'm working on some new ideas as I finish up the Tischband.

Tat Along, Try #2

Here is my second effort at the Tischband by Ruth Scharf which is the focus of the Tat Along. I kept my tatted chains much looser this time which made for a longer leaf. I also added a large picot to the base of the first leaf for joining the remaining ones. As you can see from the picture, it didn't need to be as large as I made it, but this did work well for me. I'm about to start my third effort. The recipient will get to decide whether it will be the triangle shape of my first effort or the square of my second effort. The flowers are already completed and I'm starting the leaves. I confess I would have trouble choosing. I really like both. The triangle one serves as a coaster on my desk at work and I really enjoy seeing it there every day.

Tat along progress

Looser chain stitches and the center large picot are working well so far.

TIAS completed and Tat Along 2 Progress

TIAS complete! I managed to finish my TIAS goat Sunday afternoon. Here he is! Thank you, Jane.

Tat Along Progress:  I also started another set of leaves with less tension in the chains and the additional 2-2 on that final round. The first leaf did come out longer than those in my first Tat Along. I'm just now nearing the end of leaf #2 so it is too soon to tell how it is going to turn out. I'll keep you posted.

The triangle Tat Along went with me to work today and has a place on my office desk. I keep a clear insulated cup on my desk to encourage me to drink lots of water and the Tat Along is now its official coaster. Since the cup doesn't sweat, I don't really need a coaster. My desk just NEEDED the tatting. You tatters will understand completely, I know.

Have a great week, everyone.

Tat Along - one complete

I finished the first of my efforts at the Tat Along Project. This is the one with the Flora #213 flowers. The thread looks purple in some light, rather blue in others. I ran into the same problem that many others did as I was tatting the leaves and adding the flowers. I haven't read enough of the other blog posts about it to know how others have resolved the issue. I had already decided that if I saw the same spacing issue developing for me, I would rearrange the elements into a triangle--leaves to the center, flowers to the outside. Here is what it looks like. I confess I flipped the final flower motif before making the final join, but this one is for me and I will enjoy using it anyway. It will sit on my desk at work. (By the way, the dark spots are just water. It wasn't quite dry, but I wanted to get this post done before other events of the day crowded it out of my priority list.)

Let me say that I love the two motifs, leaf and flower, that Ruth Scharf designed for this pattern. The flower was quick and easy to tat. While the leaf pattern was a bit harder because of the need to pay close attention to stitch counts as you went, it was still a pleasure to tat and looks terrific. I will definitely use it again. In fact, I have two more sets of blooms that need leaves!

The problem seems to me to be where the leaves join to each other. If I understand Ruth's instructions correctly, they are to join at the base. Adding a large picot to the base of the first leaf that could be used to join the remaining leaves might help, but, because of the shape of my leaves, I would have exposed picot thread between the leaves. I'm thinking that with the next effort I might add another 2-2 to that last round to let me move the larger parts of the leaf further from the join. I'll make that first leaf's picot larger to accommodate the joining of the other leaves. I'm also going to try to keep my joins looser. The leaves in Ruth's picture look longer and much less dense than mine.

I'm going to try to finish my TIAS this afternoon before I start my next effort at the Tat Along. I saw that goats are still arriving so I don't feel quite so bad about finishing late.

Happy Tatting, Everyone. Thanks for reading my ramblings.

Beginner edging pattern

I meant to share this with you beginner tatters several weeks ago, but it slipped my mind. Seeing Mary Ann's tatted crystal bracelet today reminded me. This tatter has shared a simple edging pattern which she used to decorate a hanky. Check out Mary Ann's blog.

Tat Along Progress and Tatter Needs Test Tatters

First, let me share a request for test tatters that I came across today. Jessica needs test tatters for a chocker that is completed in one pass. Drop in here to volunteer. It sounds interesting. While I'm having trouble finding enough time to finish the projects I've already got going, I look forward to seeing some of the tatted samples. It looks like it will be a lovely piece to tat and to wear.

While waiting for the leaf pattern to post for the Tat Along project, I tatted up three different sets of rosettes--purple, red, and a lovely variegated color. The tatting of the rosettes went very fast. Not so the leaves! I've finished only one leaf! I love the pattern, but I have to pay close attention to it as I work. Maybe after I've done a few it will come easier. I noticed that some of the other participants have had problems getting the pieces to fit together properly to produce a flat piece of lace.  Now that I've caught up reading your blogs, I'll go start leaf #2.

My deepest sympathies to Gina's family and friends.

My heart feels heavy with sorrow. Gina Brummett has touched the lives of so many of us--encouraging, teaching, inspiring. There are tributes to her on many of the tatting blogs this week. We shall all miss her tremendously.

Tat Along progress

Four flowers are ready for leaves. See my previous post for links to the Tat Along.

Our home is beleaguered by illness and things are very busy at the office. I really want to rest and tat today, but energy and motivation seem low, so I decided to read about tatting in hopes that inspiration would come. The first blog I visited today was Umi & Tsuri and there was the inspiration I needed. I'm reading no further for now. I'm going to load my shuttle and start the TatAlong before I can talk myself out of it. Happy tatting, everyone.

TIAS Day 5

I seem to have misplaced the shuttles I began the TIAS with, so I started over. Here is my Day 5. I think the part we just finished must be an arm or a snout. Jane has already made an elephant pattern, so that is unlikely to be it. How about an anteater?

Day 1:  What can it be?

TIAS Day 1

I've joined Jane Eborall's latest Tat-It-And-See-It event. I just grabbed a couple of shuttles with thread already on them so I could jump right in. One thread turned out to be a perle cotton and the other a cordonette cotton, but who cares. The Day 1 picture is on its way to the blog from my phone.  Thanks so much, Jane!

Remembrance Hearts Revisited

Several years ago, some of us designed small hearts which were tatted up in quantity to be shared with the family members of the victims of the 9/11 terrorist act in America. I decided to revisit the design and adapted the pattern to make a couple of different pairs of earrings for the upcoming Valentine's Day.

Diagramming Tatting Patterns

I found a patch that fixed the issue I had with Inkscape 48.2. I created the wreath diagram again using a polar grid as a guide for ring placement. I think the pattern looks much better. Perhaps I'll get some tatting done tomorrow (hmm, or is it today already?) My day was filled with researching the software issue and cleaning up my kitchen. Plumbing issues left me without a dishwasher or kitchen sink for three days. It feels wonderful to have a clean kitchen again.

My progress with EazyDraw has been very slow. Gina S. discovered that Inkscape is now available for the Mac so I downloaded it. In less than an hour I had a ring only wreath pattern diagrammed. It isn't perfect, but at least it is done and I learned a few things doing it. I couldn't get Inkscape to give me a polar grid which would have helped. It requires a software fix with which I need help or advice. I've contacted my favorite computer forum for advice and await the results. I think it would also work better to place a circle behind each round of rings to simulate the connecting picots. I want to fix the software glitch  before I try anything else, though.

I'm spending this special holiday with people who brighten my life. I'll take along some tatting, but I'm unlikely to get any done. I will do lots of singing, eating, and laughing though.

Still no pictures for the blog, but I've done a little tatting. I spent my first few days off getting some shopping done. I've pulled out my tatting only one afternoon, but the result is a new use for one of my old designs. The only hint you get at the moment is that it contains some lovely red beads. My plans for this next week include lots of tatting and designing time as well as more time working with EazyDraw.

I hope each of you finds some time this week to enjoy those activities and people who brighten your lives.

The past few weeks have been busy and I've moved from a temporary hire to an official part of the staff at work. The end of a school semester also offered me opportunities to do a bit of tutoring: statistics and the use of SPSS (statistical analysis software) and writing in the American Psychological Association format. I've managed to squeeze in some Christmas shopping, too. Do I sound like I'm making excuses for the lack of tatting in this blog? I am. (GRIN)

I've been learning more about my drawing program, thanks to Susan Fuller's online class. I've also got a few new designs in my head that need to get out. My plans for the holidays include many hours for both of these projects.

Latest tatting inspiration

Are you familiar with some of the tatting that is being done with Trapilho yarn? Anne Bruvold posted a link within one of the forums at Intatters that took me to the website of Liv Øyen Strind http://nupereller.no/ where I saw some huge pieces of tatting composed of a small number of very simple motifs. I suddenly envisioned tatted doormats, table runners, bathroom rugs, etc. throughout my house. Anne then shared a link to a YouTube video of herself tatting with this yarn. Now I really must find some Trapilho yarn.