Knotting Progress

Y19 UFO Project is continuing to move along.

Round 13 of 17 completed

Renulek 2016 WIOSNA 

Round 2 of 5 completed and round 3 just inches from being done.

Chiacchierino Concentric Doily

Unending Doily in progress

circumference about 4 inches 

Lastly, a picture of the Renulek 2016 WIOSNA I made for my daughter for Christmas. Note I omitted the last round. 

Renulek 2016 WIOSNA (round 17 omitted)

in Lizbeth size 20 

UFO progress and Unending Doily

I’m happy to report further progress on my unfinished projects. 

Rounds 11 and 12 (of 17) are complete. 

Renulek WIOSNA 2016

DMC size 80

My sandwich bag of shuttles and bobbins with leftover threads from finished projects needed clearing. Inspired by Madhur Dadlani’s Unending Doily, I’ve kept the thread sizes sorted into separate bags hoping to start an “unending” doily of my own. Here is my start. 

,

Rings of 2-1-1-1-1-2

I chose to use rings with lots of picots because I felt it would be more forgiving in allowing me numerous places to join and filling any gaps that might develop. Rings are joined to adjacent rings at the first and last picots but joining to the previous round is more free-form. 

Resolutions old and new

I think any resolution worth making is worth renewing as needed. If I find myself sidetracked as so often happens, my desire is to pick up where I left off and keep on going. I don't have to wait until the beginning of the next new year to get back on track, but New Year's Day is a good time to reassess, to review how I've done and what I yet want to do. I may decide that some goals just aren't as important to me as I thought they would be, while I may need to renew my commitment to others. The goal is progress rather than perfection. The only one of these goals that is relevant to this blog is my Y18 UFO Project.

See pages 36-37 of Tatting With Visual Patterns by Mary Konior

Size 20 Lizbeth threads

Completed during 2018

I’ve decided to abandon the filet tatting project for now. I thank Mandatory for showing me the possibilities of this technique though. At some point I would like to collect her notes from Craftree for later exploration. I’m also abandoning the Starflakes with blending filament. I really don’t like the yellow thread I was using for this project. 

Here is what remains in the UFO bin:

• Dillman cluny motif
• Hollander Christmas camels
• Needle tatted bookmark (one of my old designs)
• Ankle bracelet (my design)
• Baby booties (design in progress)
• Tatted bags needing linings (I’m a major procrastinator when I have to pull out a sewing needle.)
• Chiacchierino Concentric Doily
• Renulek WIOSNA 2016 in multiple colors of size 80 thread
• Several Valeire Square projects (centers tatted)

Having just finished a Renulek WIOSNA doily in size 20 for one of my daughters, I have felt inspired to work on my size 80 version again. I finished round 10 and I’m halfway around with round 11. Perhaps I will have some photos for my next post.

So the Y18 UFO Project has been modified and updated to become my Y19 UFO Project. And it feels so good to be tatting and blogging again.

Happy tatting,

Happy New Year

I hope all of my tatting friends are continuing to find joy in making their knots. I got some work done on my UFOs in the last few months of the year. I need to do some blocking before they are ready to be seen.

I tatted Wanda Salman's Morgan Mouse for my Christmas tree thinking the children would enjoy looking for it each time they came over during the holidays. The 3-year old thought of it every time she came.

size 20, Manuela thread from my stash

Jingle Bell Snowflake (from Tatted Snowflakes by Vida Sunderman, published by Dover) was my ornament gift to others this year. I use size 20 thread to tat more than a dozen of them. My oldest daughter also received a large doily, tatted in Lizbeth size 20. I used Renulek's Wiosna 2016, omitting round 17. The pattern is available through Renulek's blog or her Etsy shop. It's finished diameter is 22 inches. I've discovered it's very important to check to see if you actually have a picture when using my new iPhone XR. If I move from the photographed object too quickly, I don't get a photo. Of course, I didn't realize what had happened until I started looking for the image for this post and all of the tatting has moved on to new homes. I apologize for the lack of pictures.

I finished the year by working on some new Grandmommy/Granddaughter aprons.  It's time for the 3-year old to move from our toddler bibs to an apron when we are cooking together. This is the first of them. I chose to do only one in her size until she could try it on. It will work, but I'll modify the design for a larger fit at the neckline before cutting out the next two.

Happy tatting, everyone, and may your new year be full of blessings.

Runner Edging Completed and Attached

Finally another UFO has been finished. It doesn't look at all like it started as the recipient requested a change in the edging and how it was to be mounted. I confess that the new design was quicker and easier, but it has still taken me most of the year to get it done. The sewing required to attach an edging is the part of a project I tend to dread. Rather than let it hang over me, I took most of the day after I completed the last ring to get it done. Now I get to enjoy the wonderful feeling a project truly finished.

At this rate I will start the new year with a shorter list of UFOs, but I'll still be carrying over a number of them. I don't despair though. Progress is still progress.

Keep tatting, everyone. Your work reminds me how much I enjoy this art, too, and helps to keep me motivated.

Sewing instead of tatting

For so many reasons, I've found it difficult to get ant tatting done. My only craft project of any kind has been sewing bibs. This were made by my third design. Each design filled a specific need as my family developed.

The first design (about 30 years ago) had a pocket that worked great to collect all of that food that falls to the lap of little ones when they start trying to feed themselves. The second design was adapted to catch or hold the finger foods of snacking toddlers on the move. My most recent design of about a year ago was developed for the toddler who loves to be putting hands and other small things in pockets. I'm already thinking about design number four as the latest toddler heads toward preschool age.

Making this latest batch of bibs has been a walk down memory lane for me. And aren't those fabrics beautiful?! I felt like a child in a candy store as I picked out the supplies.

I hope to have tatting to share in the near future. Meanwhile, I give thanks for all of the blessings I experience every day in getting to watch the next generation grow up.

Happy tatting!

Found it!

I'm so excited! Do you remember my search a few months ago for a particular raspberry pattern. I tatted a sample of it many years ago, but couldn't find it anywhere. Well, I found it.

Tatted Raspberry Edging by Kim Goetz

published in Flower & Garden in 1996

Tatted in Finca 16, the raspberries are 1 inch tall.

Now if I could just remember why I was looking for it...

Happy tatting!

Y18 UFO Project Update #3

Flowerpiece (in progress)

Tatting with Visual Patterns

by Mary Konior

pgs 36-27

I've only been able to tat a little on the go, so I haven't worked on the 'monster edging' project. Instead I started the final round of Flowerpiece. Because I chose to use the variegated thread for both the rings and chains of this round, I can use some split rings to move from medallion to medallion and tat the round continuously. 

Making progress, slowly but surely.

Happy tatting!

Y18 UFO Project update #2: progress

Diane's colorful versions of the Concentric Doily has been my inspiration for tatting my own, but somehow I started thinking that I had to have a variegated thread in the mix. That's probably because that's the way I did my first. If I told you that this is my third year to commit to "tatting from my stash" you would understand my dilemma when I found none of my variegated threads look good with this red! I was ready to call this one done as a bookmark.

However, as I was reviewing Diane's lovely doilies in preparation to adding a link in this post, I realized that I CAN finish it. I will use solid colors! (Don't laugh at me. Sometimes my thinking processes are a bit sluggish, I know. LOL) Result? This one is NOT finished as I shall continue to turn it into a doily.

I've also completed the second set of chain rounds on Flowerpiece by Mary Konior (pages 36-37 of Tatting with Visual Patterns). I'm ready to start the final round of 12 joining motifs.

No new pictures of this one, but I'm one repeat (about an inch of tatting) from completing one long side of the 'monster edging project' (Konior's Clover from the same book). I've been working on this edging off and on since October 2017. There are 54 repeats in one long side. I'm enjoying this edging now that I finally noticed some details in the repeats that have meant I no longer have to refer to the diagram two or three times in each repeat. There is a running theme here, I know. Those of you newer to tatting who still find that you must refer to your diagrams frequently should take note. I've been tatting about 25 years and it took me about 40 repeats in this edging before I 'figured it out.' And it really isn't a complicated pattern. 

Thank you all for sticking with me as I work my way through my UFOs. Sharing them with you like this helps me to stay focused. I hope that some of you find some encouragement from my ramblings as well.

Happy tatting!

Y18 UFO Project update - 1 down, 14 to go

I promised an update on the 'monster' doily edging, so here it is.

Mary Konior's Clover

from pg 36-37 of Tatting with Visual Patterns

size 80 thread

I can't remember when I started this one--October or November? I do remember telling my sister that it might be ready by Christmas 2018. My last post contained a closeup of the edging (bottom right corner of the collage). It really is a beautiful edging made of rings and chains. As you can see, I'm about 3/4 of the way down the first long side.

But this one is finished!

Ann Bruvald's 

Minidrager English Dragon

Flora size 20 thread

It was wingless, but now it can fly. I had to tat a dandelion blossom for her.

Let me tell you about her resting place. My mom sewed this up for me. It is a little larger than a placemat, white on one side and this lovely floral design on the other. It protects my clothing from getting caught in my tatting hook, it keeps items from rolling around the table, and it also works great for quickly gathering everything up so I can handle something else. I just use the side up that provides the best contrast to the threads I'm working with. It gets used a lot!

Now I return to the monster edging for a few more repeats before bed.

Happy tatting!

Y18 Tatted UFOs Project

It was time to commit or to discard. As I went through all of the bags and baskets where I commonly put unfinished projects, I asked myself, "Do I want to finish this?" Anything that didn't pass the test has been trashed or saved as a visual aid. Threads and shuttles have been returned to their storage bins. Fifteen projects made it into this project board. Five of them are my own designs in various stages of completion.

I'm committed to finishing some, if not all, of these this year. Some can be completed without a great deal of effort, while others could take weeks or months. I'm also sure I won't be able to resist the urge to tat up some other projects now and then, but I want to keep coming back to this group.

So help me stay focused! Don't be reluctant to ask me now and then how the Y18 UFO Project is progressing. I can report that I added about 3 inches to the Konior Clover edging today (bottom right corner). This is the runner edging you've seen me refer to as the 'monster edging.' I'm too far along with the size 80 thread to turn back.

Happy tatting!

Stars in Stars Ice Drop pattern shared

The Stars in Stars Ice Drop pattern has been posted on the My Tatting Patterns page of this blog, but I also add it here for your convenience. Just click on the image to be taken to the pdf. It's written with pictures rather than diagrammed as I don't have time to do the diagrams right now.

This pattern has not been test tatted. If you spot any errors, please let me know.

Tatting as 2017 comes to an end, Part 2

Diane couldn't possibly anticipate the abounding fascination we tatters would have to the reveal of her Ice Drop pattern and tutorial. There is even a Facebook group especially devoted to the craze and it is appropriately named Ice Drop Addicts. 

I've been affected by it, too. Denise Wessman sent me a beautiful one that she had tatted along with a little kit for creating my own.  When I decided I needed one more Christmas ornament to gift this year I was determined it would be a star, and it occurred to me that an Ice Drop star would catch the light beautifully. I looked up to gaze off into the distance thinking about what I might want to do and where I might purchase some of those glass drops when I suddenly noticed that I'm using clear and blue ones to support the artificial flowers in my dining room centerpiece. Now how wonderful is that! Of course I immediately robbed a few from the vase and got to work.

Motif #13 for the 2017 25 Motif Challenge

Stars in Stars Ice Drop 

based upon the original Ice Drop by Diane Cademartori

Size 20 thread

I've provided the link above for Diane's original tatted Ice Drop, but I must also credit the work of Carolyn Craig who describes her idea for the small star joining the rings of the gem setting in her Blue Glass Stars pattern. She shares this pattern in the files of the Ice Drop Addicts Facebook group.

Thank you Diane, Carolyn, and Denise for your inspiration.

While I didn't complete the 25 Motif Challenge this year, I value the encouragement it provided to keep sharing my work. I look forward to starting another challenge for 2018.

Happy New Year!

Tatting as 2017 comes to an end, part 1

I apologize for the delay in updating you on my tatting. Since several of them were Christmas presents, I was busy scrambling to complete them before the big day.

Motifs 12 & 13 of 2017 25 Motif Challenge

2 pillow cases edgings

Variation of Tatted Heart Edging 

Published in Victorian Hearts & Flowers Magazine, 1995

Size 20 Lizbeth thread, Color #147 Red Burst

I bought this issue of the magazine for the heart patterns and this edging. I can't remember exactly which issue it was that year and I kept the patterns and discarded the magazine. I used the hearts patterns numerous times, but this is the first time I worked the edging. It was a happy accident that I omitted the arching chain that should have replaced every other heart in the edging. I was several repeats into the pattern before I realized what I'd done, but I actually liked this so I kept on going. 

I attached the edging as you see in the above picture and I stitched along the edging of the pillowcases as well as over and through the hearts to keep them firmly in place. It was important that they be able to withstand a washer and dryer as I wanted my mother to actually use them rather than keep them boxed up somewhere. I used invisible nylon sewing thread to attach the edging. That stuff is my new best friend. My hand sewing is not as lovely and invisible as it once was and this thread hides itself very nicely.

One more thing I did was to overlap the edges of the lace rather than create a completed circle. Mom had commented on the current inconsistency in the sizes of pillow cases and I wanted to make sure that this lace, which will long outlast these pillow cases, could be removed and applied to another set.

Happy tatting everyone. Watch for Part 2 tomorrow.

Motif 11 of 25: Stiffening the Crown

Motif 11 of 25 in the 25 Motif Challenge of 2017

5 strands of Coats & Clark All Purpose Thread, article 210 color 83B

modified version of "Pinnacles"

Tatting Patterns and Designs, pp 92-94

by Gun Blomqvist & Elwy Persson

I still think I liked this crown best stopping before the final round (see previous post), but we opted to add just one peak of the final round. In this picture you see it upside down over a plastic-wrapped Jif Peanut Butter jar. After a major search of my home, this peanut butter jar was the only thing I could find that was the right size to hold the drying crown.

Working with five strands of this thread wasn't bad. It was also easy to un-tat when I made a mistake. The biggest drawback is the appearance of the picots. They have a sort of feathered look to them that is obvious even in the picture above. 

I hope to provide you a better picture of the finished crown. I wasn't thinking when I let it leave my house after being approved by its recipient. I think she plans to send me a picture of it in its place on the Christmas tree.

Happy tatting!

Crown in Progress

Work in Progress

"Pinnacles" 

Tatting Patterns and Designs

by Gun Blomqvist & Elwy Persson

pages 92-94

This is my first effort at trying to tat anything larger than earrings with multiple strands of sewing thread. This is Coats & Clark All Purpose thread, article 210 Color 83B. It looks a little washed out in this picture, but it is a lovely gold color without being a metallic thread. I'm tatting with five strands to produce a crown approximately 5 inches in diameter. The hardest part about working with this thread is dealing with the all of those ends!

I'm really amazed at how well it looks already. I still have two more motifs in this round and then the final round which provides the peaks. If I were making it for myself, I would be tempted to stop at this round, but I may think differently once I see the final round in place.

Happy tatting!

Note to those of you who have seen a large image overlaying my blog post: I haven't been able to get it to appear for me. You might check to see if you are visiting my blog through an http link or an https link. Try https://www.tatknot.blogspot.com.

Monster Edging Project

You wouldn't think an edging for a table runner would be a monster project, but this one qualifies. It's a simple pattern, Clover by Mary Konior that was published in Tatting With Visual Patterns. The problem? The only thread I could find that matches the fabric in color is some Coats and Clark from my vintage stock, color #61. It is size 70!

It's a project that I can't work on very often or for very long, but it is going to be gorgeous when I finally get it finished. My sister chose the fabric and asked me to tat an edging for it. This is a picture of the sample I tatted for her to pre-approve. I'm actually about 1/8 of the way around the runner now, and I've only been working on it for about 3 months. I told her that she might get to use it at Christmas next year. :D

Muskaan's Quatrefoil Medallions & Hiding Ends Knot Free

After months of seldom posting, it may start to look like I'm tatting up a storm. The truth is that you are seeing the things I've done, or been working on, for many months. This one is about my explorations of muskaan's Quatrefoil Medallions and the knot free hiding of ends that she shared in her August 18 post. You will find the patterns for the various Quatrefoil Medallions on her Tatting Patterns and Designs page under Motifs and Medallions. What I love so much about muskaan's method is the effortless way it cinches the last ring up against the first with no gap at all. You have to look closely to figure out where you began and ended.

Motif #10 of 25 Motif Challenge of 2017

muskaan's Quatrefoil Square Version 1

Motif #11 of 25 Motif Challenge of 2017

muskaan's Quatrefoil Square Version 2

Motif #12 of 25 Motif Challenge of 2017

muskaan's Quatrefoil Square Flower 1

After having such wonderful success with muskaan's method on the first two Quatrefoil squares, I decided to try using it on both ring 1 and ring 2 in Quatrefoil Flower 1. It worked great as expected, giving me a tight fit up against both of the rings and making it even harder to tell where the medallion began and ended. 

Ice Drop & an Act of Kindness

Tatters are wonderful people. You don't have to be involved with the online community long to discover this is true. When I was very ill earlier this year, I received emails and blog messages from a number of fellow tatters. (Many thanks to all of you!) I was really too ill to tat if you can imagine such a thing, and these emails warmed my heart and made me feel still connected.

One of those emails was followed by a care package. Denise Wessman sent me an Ice Drop kit complete with a beautiful sample of one of her latest variations on Diane's, aka Lace-lovin' Librarian, original pattern. As you can see in the image below, it is a warm, beautiful color. It brings a smile to my face every time I look at it, and I've kept it close for months. I've been slow to get back to doing much tatting, but I finally got my first Ice Drop tatted using one of the drops from Denise's care package. I stuck to Diane's original Ice Drop pattern for this first effort, but I'm still toying with some ideas for my next.

As you can see, Denise provided everything I might need.

Thank you, Denise!

Ice Drop

Motif #9 of 25 Motifs Challenge of 2017

size 20 Lizbeth thread

What Have I Missed?

Hello, fellow tatters. I've been out of the loop for the most part since the first of the year. I've missed you all very much, and I'm terribly behind in following all of your creative ideas and techniques.  I'm working my way through your older posts to see some of the wonderful projects you've been working on. I'm also trying to update the Element-al Approach & Techniques documents, but I'm sure to leave something out. I'm adding muskaan's explorations into cluny variations, Diane's Snow Drops, Ninetta's Tuft picots, Usha's Dot Picots, and Carmin's Double Cluny. (Links will be included in the documents when I upload the updates.) Have I missed any other new techniques or applications?

I promise you some images in the next post. :)