Cleaning Up Leftovers

 I'm cleaning up my shuttles, tatting small things to get leftover thread off of them. I rarely measure when I add thread to a shuttle, just add until it's full. I'd rather do this than have to add thread in the middle of a project if I possibly can. This does lead to small amounts left on shuttles when the projects are done. Periodically I try and find small things to tat with the leftovers. 

This snowflake was done in a waiting room while my mother had an appointment. 

Snowflake doodle

When tatting while out and about I expect to find mistakes later. You never know when you will be interrupted, or where in the piece you'll have to stop. If you are fortunate, it will be at a good stopping point. If you're not, you might forget what you were doing when you got interrupted. You can't see it in this not-so-wonderful picture, but the thrown rings are upside down. This isn't a problem unless you do front side-back side tatting - which I do. I'll probably keep this and put it on my Christmas tree next year.

Two-tone doodle

There was still thread on both shuttles when I finished the snowflake, so I tried something else. I can see this as another snowflake, though it will need modification if I don't want to cut and tie every two arms. Maybe ears? Wings? I might give it more thought, I might not.

Key paperclip bookmark

I started this a while back and forgot about it. This paperclip bookmark is a one shuttle with ball pattern. There was still thread on the shuttle when I was done so I'll have to find something else to do with it.

Caribbean paperclip

This paperclip bookmark is made with Lizbeth Caribbean HH20122. I love this color in any size! But this particular ball of thread must be old, because it was awful to work with. Closing rings was mostly impossible if they had more than a few stitches. I finished the project I started with this but wanted something that used more chains than rings. I was watching TV when I tatted this one. There are a lot of boo boos in this, but I will still use it at home. 

Now there more shuttles ready for other projects. I have a list.

What do you do with leftovers?

"The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for thirty years she served the family nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found."

Calvin Trillin