February Tatting

You know how life keeps happening? You go about your normal business and other things sidetrack you. Recently a young relative went through a sad event and I’m planning a sympathy package to send them as we are too far away to visit. We’ve also been invited to a wedding of some friends, which means a gift is needed. Emotional opposite ends of the happiness spectrum, right? It’s amazing how tatting can fit into both gifts.

I usually make cross bookmarks for sympathy gifts. My “Graduation Cross Bookmark” is simple and quick but still looks good. I started with that, then had an idea.

                                          Green Graduation cross with edging

Lime Green (Lizbeth #679) isn’t usually a color I think of for a sympathy gift, but it was on my shuttles from a different project. Though the green was size 20 I didn’t have any size 20 handy that looked even close to good with it, so I used a size 10 in Ocean Teal Dark (Lizbeth #65). I played around with stitch counts and developed this edging around the cross. I liked it, so I made one in the colors I had wanted to make it in.

                                             Blue Graduation cross with edging

The center of this cross is Country Turquoise Lt (Lizbeth #660) (I think! – I lost the label) in size 20, and the outside is River Blue Dark (Lizbeth #709) in size 10. I finished the edging, cut and hid the ends, and THEN noticed I goofed on the last chain. I’m pretty confident I can fix it without much trouble, but, we’ll see. I think it looks good otherwise.

I had to think a bit to come up with a wedding gift. Then I remembered that a while ago the bride and I were looking at tatting online when she saw one of the doves from Frivolite con sabor and loved it, so I purchased the “Dove of Peace” pattern. I have completed one dove and plan to make another, then frame them to give as a wedding gift.

                                           ‘Dove of Peace’ by Frivolite con sabor

This is a lovely pattern, and not hard to do, I just had to pay attention! This will be a lovely gift! The pattern is on Frivolite con sabor’s Etsy shop.

At the beginning of February, it occurred to me that Valentine’s Day was coming up. I didn’t know what I wanted to do for Valentine’s Day, but I wanted to do something, so I started making several of my “January Heart”. I added them to a can for a touch of room decor, but what else to do? I thought it would be fun to have a pin to wear.

                                                       “January Heart” pin

These hearts were tatted and then joined together with a bit of thread. You can see how fancy this pin ended up with that bare safety pin. LOL! It goes on and off of my shirt or jacket easily! I might make it a bit fancier for next year, but it worked for now.

Besides all this tatting, I’m staying on task writing out several patterns. I’m working on how to diagram a particular tatting technique. It’s quite challenging but also rewarding. I’m almost done with one, yay! 😊

“To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides.” David Viscott

Graduation Cross Bookmark

I visited my daughter and her children this last weekend.  It was a lot of fun to spend time with them, but small children make tatting just a little hard.  They like to sit on laps and "help" with whatever you are doing.   In fact, my grandson wanted to know what I was doing with my "boat" :-) So, though I did get a small amount of tatting done it's not ready to share yet.

Graduation Cross Bookmark  based on an old pattern

Something that I have been working on at home is writing up some of my patterns.  This is another cross bookmark I made up a few years ago in the normal way that I come up with most patterns: I needed something for - you guessed it - a graduation gift.

I made this one with Lizbeth #115 "Springtime" size 20. It measures 3 inches long by 2 inches wide.  The center has one split ring then climbs out with a false picot and another split ring, the rest is just rings and chains.  If someone couldn't do split rings it would be easy enough to make the center as a separate piece then do the outside.  The basics of this cross I know is one of those patterns that most of us stumble to on our own, but I haven't seen a center done quite like this so I've added it to the pattern page.
(It will be up later)

I'm hoping to have something more to show next week.  So far I've had to un-do, re-tat, cut off, and start over several times. I've got the idea in my head, just having a little trouble translating it to thread.

"Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me...Anything can happen, child. Anything can be." 
Shel Silverstein

http://thinkexist.com

Split RIng Cross Modifications and Mistakes

 I usually keep a few tatted crosses on hand for different occasions, like weddings, graduations, and funerals but my stash is low. About the time I was debating what crosses to tat I learned of the death of one of the members of our church. I had to quit procrastinating and make one. I decided to do my Split Ring Cross, but with a few modifications. 

Split Ring Cross

I changed the stitch and picot count on all the arms, lengthening them a bit. On this one I left off the long picot at the top and bottom to add the tassel to the rings instead of the picots. I like the overall look more than on the original pattern. 

This is actually the second cross I made. I made a bit of an oops on the first one. 

First cross

This cross is mostly the original pattern, except the long arm has one section with more picots. But it also has a mistake at the bottom, one of the rings is too small. It may or may not be all that noticeable, but I see it. This cross will be used in my Bible, but I won't be giving it away.

When I started on the second cross I had already decided that I'd lengthen the arms with a few more picots. I like the dimensions better.

Both crosses

Which one do you like better?

I'm not sure how I like it with the tassels added to the top and bottom rings without use of the picots. If I do it that way, I may have to make that ring bigger. Maybe.

Split Ring Cross finished

I give crosses to families that have lost loved ones as a way to acknowledge their grief and show my sympathy in times when I rarely have the right words. I pray that in some small way it helps them remember their loved one. 

 

I still need to make a few more crosses to have on hand. It is getting close to graduation time, though I'm not sure I know anyone graduating this year. Better to be safe than sorry. The crosses might not be this pattern, I haven't decided yet. 

I wasn't going to tat around any eggs for Easter this year, but that may change. I've been presented with a new challenge. We'll see how it goes.

"There is no pain so great as the memory of joy in present grief." 

Aeschylus 

The Busy Month of May

May is jam-packed with events and special days, with several birthdays, graduations, and programs, as well as Mother’s Day.  Just signing cards takes a lengthy amount of time. Especially when I have to add tatting to each and every one 🙂

One of the graduates mentioned the Easter Cross I made would look good as a bookmark. Who am I to argue?

Easter Cross made as a bookmark

I have noticed that purple is a favorite color, so I made one in Lizbeth #641, Lilac Dark, in size 20. Other than a bit of trouble closing the large Self-Closing Mock Ring at the bottom it came out well. The recipient loved it!

Graduates card and Easter Cross as a bookmark

I’m very proud of my daughter for graduating college!

We have also attended a play, a concert, a soccer game, and a birthday lunch in the last twelve days. Considering both my husband and I work full time with a lot of overtime, we have been kept exceedingly busy. And May is not over yet!

I still have a couple of graduation gifts to finish. Both graduates live some distance away so cards will have to be mailed. Isn’t it great that tatting can fit so nicely inside cards?

“too busy” is a myth. People make time for things that are really important to them.” Mandy Hale   The Awesome Quotes

Christmas Bells

 While I have been busy with vacation Bible school issues, my sister, Elaine, has been tatting for Christmas. You know how it is, if you are making Christmas ornaments or gifts, you have to start way early to get them done in time. My sister has been looking over patterns to use for her ornaments for several months already. She decided to use my Christmas Bell pattern for some of them. (I'm very flattered).

Check out these cute bells! She added charms that reflect the interest of the different recipients instead of jingle bells. I love how they look with the charms. 

Elaine has also been trying out my Christmas Ornament 2023, which incorporates charms or beads, too. We have been searching through our beads to see what we have between us that she might like to use. The ones she has shown me look great.

Elaine has had time to tat, I've been too busy to do much. After the vacation Bible school - which went great! - I've had other things I have been busy with, keeping me from doing much tatting. I did take the time out to tat a cross for a friend of mine whose father died a couple of weeks ago. Some things are important enough you just take the time to do.

I made my Graduation Cross again. I like the look and it's easy to do. 

I'm now doing post-vbs work - making sure all the thank-you notes are written, organizing all the receipts, figuring out what to keep and what to get rid of by recycling or donating, and cleaning up the mess I left of my desk. I'll be sharing pictures soon. Not of the mess, of the vbs decorations, lol!

"In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable."    Dwight D. Eisenhower

The Season For Crosses

Spring is definitely the season for crosses, Mother's Day and graduations being the main two, and there seems to be a lot of birthdays as well. Cross bookmarks in cards is my go-to answer for small gifts that are easily given in cards for whatever event they are needed. 

Cards and Crosses

This year our church has seven high schoolers graduating from three different area high schools. The small crosses I've been tatting lately made excellent small gifts for them. I had eight made thinking this was enough for my mom for Mother's Day and the grads. But Thursday I realized I wanted to give my sister, daughters, and nieces each one for Mother's Day as well. I had enough for that, but not enough left to give to the graduates on Sunday morning. So I had to get busy and make more. 

Mother's Cross

My mother was thrilled to see that the cross I gave her was a match for the card. This was a happy coincident, that I had a cross made that went so well with a card I picked up a after tatting it. The other's also liked their crosses. 

Graduation crosses

I was able to tat enough crosses for all the graduates as well by finishing the last one Sunday morning before leaving for church. As usual, the hardest part was hiding the ends. No matter the method, it isn't as fun as the actual tatting. 

Others that received crosses in the last two weeks were a woman who was confirmed in our church, and the daughter of a friend of ours who died; our families attended the same church for many years. 

I think I've made 16 or 17 crosses in the last month, and I've given them all away. I had better start making more, they seem to be going fast. 

Happy Mother's Day to all of you! I hope all of you have had a marvelous day!

"A mother's arms are made of tenderness and children sleep soundly in them."      Victor Hugo

More Bookmarks Needed

The last few weeks have seen several losses of family or friends, though none close to me. Our pastor lost his father and my mother lost a close friend, both to illness. For such occasions, I give cross bookmarks with sympathy cards. I found that I am out of any bookmarks and in need of making more.

Cross bookmark for our pastor

I chose Lizbeth thread ‘Caribbean’ in size 20 to make the bookmark I’m giving to our pastor. It’s a beautiful color that doesn’t seem too bright to give for a solemn occasion. I used my Graduation Bookmark pattern, which is based on a traditional cross pattern. I haven’t made one for my mom yet, but that’s next.

As the name implies, I also use this pattern for graduations. I have a couple of those coming up, so I need to make several more. Let’s see if I make them in this pattern or something else.

I’ve been tatting more than this, just nothing quite ready to show yet. I did take some pictures the other morning when we had a bit of fog.

Fog at sunrise

Tractor in fog

Sometimes there are beautiful views in places we see every day.

2024, A New Year

2024 is here, and it has been cold! And snowy! We’ve had more snow this winter than we’ve had in the entire two previous winters. Now, like most of the country, it is very cold! The thermometer reads 1º F but the windchill is currently -22º F. I think I’ll stay inside. I am glad that my dog doesn’t mind the cold.

Bonnie in the snow

Bonnie is a Corgi/Border Collie mix. She’s a bit taller than a Pembroke Corgi but still has pretty short legs. Getting around in the snow has been a bit of a challenge. She likes it, though.

While staying in the house, I’ve gotten quite a bit of tatting done. I’m working on a couple of patterns I submitted to Lisa Adams at Tatting Corner for her Tat Days in July. They are coming along nicely.

I’ve also been working on writing out the pattern for a square I did back in 2018. It’s been test-tatted but I haven’t quite finished the corrections yet.

Jubilee Square

The previously unnamed square is now Jubilee Square. When joined to other squares it makes a lovely mat. That will also be on the published pattern.

There are several January birthdays that I wanted to recognize with a gift, so made them cross bookmarks. The pattern for the Graduation Bookmark is on ‘My Patterns’ page.

Three Graduation Bookmarks

I’ve also been working on improving my tatting. I recently purchased a Clover Picot Comb so I can make even picots, especially long ones. I’m enjoying this gauge better than I have any other gauge I’ve tried. It’s actually kind of fun. Not that I’ll use it all the time, but when a gauge is needed, this will be my choice.

Using a picot comb

I’ve also been playing with different tatting techniques. Natalie Rogers, on her Tat Your Own Adventures FaceBook page, has put out a tatting-related Bingo game with a PICOT card (instead of BINGO). There are several techniques on it that I have done before but could stand to review and practice. There are also a few that I’ve not done, including the Vapour (or vapor) stitch. I am so glad there are YouTube videos!

Vapour stitch practice

Trying new stitches opens up possibilities for pattern ideas. Thanks, Natalie, for the game!

(There are no links in this post, I receive nothing for mentioning products or services.)

I would have had this post done yesterday but I was way-laid by a book I started. I have to limit the books I read as I have a hard time putting them down until they are finished. Maybe it would be different if they were studious type books, of history, or of learning, but I mostly read stories that entertain me. Which isn’t bad, unless I don’t put them down. The worst of it is that reading a book keeps me from tatting. I do have audiobooks, but there is nothing quite like words on a page.

Do you have tatting plans for the new year? Any books you want to read?

“When you lose yourself in a book the hours grow wings and fly.”— Chloe Thurlow

Pizzaz Tatting

Grape Pizzaz anyway.

Tatted cross in Grape Pizzaz

I spent most of Tuesday in a waiting room while my mother underwent a medical procedure.  It was supposed to be at 9:30 A.M. but of course they want the patient there early.  I arrived at 8:30 A.M, a little late to see her as they took her to the back at 8:00 A.M.

And then we waited.  And waited.  And waited.  They finally started the procedure at 12:10 P.M.

Then we waited some more while the procedure was done.  Which took two hours.

Then we waited some more while she was in recovery.

I have been making a few bookmarks to refill my gift supply.  Most recently it has been the Graduation bookmark in Lizbeth Grape Pizzaz size 20.  I’d finished one in it and begun another.  This thread is what I had in my purse Tuesday morning.  The only thread I had in my purse.

Two tatted crosses in Grape Pizzaz

Finishing the cross was the first thing I tatted in the waiting room.  I could have done another one – or two, or three – during the wait but I chose to do other things.

Waiting room tatting

Tatting around the button was because, um, I had the button.  The butterflies and flowers as small things I make when there isn’t much thread left on the shuttles.  I use these on letters and notes to brighten them up 🙂  A clear glass gem from the bottom of my tatting bag became an Ice Drop.  Thanks to Diane for having the information on her blog to refresh my memory on how to make them!

I took quite a few breaks from tatting during the waiting for lack of a strategy for the day.  If I’d had a large project with me a lot could have been accomplished.  Alas, I didn’t have much of a plan for tatting, so was unprepared.  How odd of me.  This was not a surprise procedure, I should have had a better plan.

The good news is my mother is doing well.  She’ll have to take things easy for a while, but she is at home where she can be comfortable.

I have found several UFOs I should work on.  I’ve also started a list of things I want to tat.  Hmm, which will it be?

“Don’t wait for the perfect moment.  Take the moment and make it perfect!”

Tatting Tea Tuesday May 18, 2010

This Tatting Tea Tuesday finds the doily not done yet but progress is being made, the third round is well on it's way to being done. The red chain of the second round did not look quite right so it was removed (before it got too far) and it is now all in the Western Sunset. No picture today but done or not done I'll try for one by next week.

A high school graduation snuck up on me without me getting anything done for it. So there was a break in working on the doily to work on a pendant for the graduate.

This is basically the same pendant I've made before with a couple of minor adjustments for the cross and using a jump ring instead of ribbon through the top ring. The beads are glass silver beads and they are very shiny! It made it hard to get a good picture. Originally there was going to be silver thread in with the blue, but that didn't happen as you can see. Maybe for another time. This is made in Manuela size 20 in color 019; the beads are 10/0 glass. The cross was something I picked up at Wal-mart because it looked like it would be good for something like this.

Another niece is getting promoted from eighth grade to high school tonight - they didn't tell me until Sunday! - which we will have to miss due to having to go to work. I haven't decided if she gets a pendant, too, or if it will be a phone fob or something like that. As it has to be mailed and is already late a little extra time getting it just right is important. One way or another it's to go out in the mail today or tomorrow at the latest.

Enjoy some tea and take time for a little tatting!

Random Tatting

Yes, it has been several weeks since I posted – again! Just when I think I’m getting into a schedule, life happens and everything changes. Then I get out of the habit and I don’t get around to it. I’m sorry, I’ll try to do better!

I have been doing some tatting. I added a bit more to my purse.

Added tatting on my purse

I thought it needed a bit more than what I started with. This vertical strip I put in stiffener before sewing it onto the bag. Now I have something to compare with the method I used with the others. I’ve had several nice comments about my purse since I put it on. 😊 I think I have the stitch count figured out for the square, now on to writing it out.

On the way to making the square, I also made a round medallion.

7 pointed medallion

It’s kind of a snowflake but it looks a bit off. I think it would look better if I’d made it with six or eight points instead of the seven that I did. To me, this looks a bit wonky, not just because it is blocked badly. I’ll probably go back and play with it another time.

We’ve had a temporary pastor for our church for the last several months. We said a fond farewell to him this last Sunday as our new pastor will be here this weekend. I added a cross bookmark to his card.

Graduation bookmark

For some reason, I kept breaking the thread while making this. I think it came out okay in the end.

I have a whole list of items I want to tat but am finding myself not getting to them. I need to knuckle down and get started but my mind keeps going in random directions, not accomplishing much at all. Hopefully, I’ll soon become more focused.

“Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.” Greg Anderson