Runner Finally Finished

In 2015 and 2016 I was making a lot of edgings and runners. A few days ago I found one of those edgings pinned to a runner hiding in a drawer. I remember this runner and the edgings, I just didn't remember that I hadn't finished it. I thought now was a good time to do that.

The first side went smooth, fitting the edge the way it should, the way it had been pinned to the material for more than 10 years. 

Then I started on the second edge. I found a mistake that might be the reason I didn't finish this.

The edging is obviously missing something, like the last clover. I must have been in a hurry to finish, or maybe just tired. It wasn't that hard to fix, just untat that last chain and open the last ring and add more thread. Then redo the ring and chain and finish with the clover. 

Ta-da! The end looks much better now!

It was then the next issue was discovered. Not noticing the mistake back in the day, I had pinned it out as if it should go all the way across the end of the material even though it was one clover short, stretching it to make it fit. A good guess this was what kept me from finishing sewing the edging on. With the clover added the edging was now a bit too long, as the thread had been stretched out. 

Have you ever had this problem? I had to think about it a bit to come up with a way to make it fit. My solution was to soak it in very hot water then dry it with a hot hair dryer to shrink it. It helped. I still had to sew it down carefully, but it doesn't stick over the edge!

As I worked with this, I remembered the reason I was never in a hurry to finish it. You can probably tell that the edges aren't exactly straight. I liked the material but found when I went to cut it out that the pattern on the material wasn't straight with the thread of the material. I had to play with the layout to get it cut and have it look right. Then I had issues with sewing straight lines for the edges. I decided this edging would be mine, whenever it was completed. 

Now, after 10 years, it is done. It will look good on my table. And I will probably be the only one to notice that there are issues with it. If anyone does notice, I'll bet they won't say anything, LOL.

The pattern for Emma is on My Patterns page. There is a note on it, under the picture, that the stitch count in a couple of places was changed but I didn't get a new picture with the change. 

It took me 10 years to complete this UFO. Not quite the longest I've ever had, but close. How long has it taken you to complete a UFO?

"Normal people...believe that if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Engineers believe that if it ain't broke, it doesn't have enough features yet."  

Scott Adams

'Tis the Season

It was snowing little bitty flakes, the ground mostly bare, with snow showing on sidewalks and few other places when I started this post. It was cold and the wind blowing a bit, so I stayed inside to have coffee and tat.

Coffee and tatting

The tatting should be of Christmas things, don't you think? If you haven't already decorated for Christmas, you should start it now. Or at least decorate for Advent if you'd rather. I haven't even started! I've thought about it, but that's as far as I've gotten. I finally decided on a Christmas ornament for this year, but the going is not as smooth as I had hoped it would be. I keep finding problems with it. I made an edging for a Christmas runner as an alternative to working on the ornament.

Edging for a Red Truck runner

I found this runner a few years ago at a Dollar Tree in the more expensive aisle, for five dollars. I've been decorating with red trucks for a couple of years and thought this would be a fun addition to my house. I finally got it out this year. The middle of the edging is my Karmyn Edging then adjusted to be my vision of an edging for this runner. I see I didn't get the ends to lay flat, but I'll fix that. I had wanted the edging to be white-ish (to match the runner) or red, but the only color in size 3 from Lizbeth that I had was 703 River Blue Med.  The runner is made of tapestry material, and I didn't want to take up too much time on it as it's for me. My time should be spent on tatting the Christmas ornaments I plan to give this year, right?  Tatting this did get me more into the Christmas tatting spirit.

There was some non-Christmas tatting done. We had another funeral at our church, so I needed another cross. I made another modified Medallion Cross bookmark.

Modified Medallion Cross Bookmark

It has been so busy lately, and most likely to continue that way, that I have not written out the pattern yet. I don't think it will take long, I just need the time. Or to be more organized.

Are you tatting something special for the Christmas season?

"Yesterday's the past, tomorrow's the future, but today is a gift. That's why it's called the present."

Bil Keane

Kamryn Edging

A little more than two years ago Dana Morse contacted me. She was looking for the 'perfect' edging and found my 'Kamryn' edging and thought it might be the one. She asked if I would share the pattern. I hadn't written it out yet, but she inspired me to do so. After a bit of work, I finished writing out Kamryn.

Kamryn Edging from 2023

I had originally made Kamryn in December 2015 for a runner I was making for a craft show. This shows you how slow I can be writing out patterns!

Kamryn Edging from 2015

About a week ago Dana emailed me again to show me her finished edging. She had made it as mental therapy during the hours she waited while her mom had chemotherapy last year. It kept both of them talking and thinking about their quilting retreat dream house. It came out beautifully!

It looks amazing on this quilted window treatment! 

Dana changed the pattern up a bit so it worked better for her. Looks good to me!

The Lizbeth size 20 Honey Drizzle that she made it in look amazing with the quilt. Love it!

This is hung in their quilting retreat dream house, which has been open since February. The Quilted Bee Retreat House is in Hammond, Louisiana. If you would like to know more about it check out their Facebook page, where Dana gives a virtual walk-through of the house. It looks very inviting, and I'm not even a quilter!

For those who would like to try Kamryn, I've added it to the My Patterns page.

I'm still having trouble with the vector program I use for writing out patterns, but I have been getting a little bit done, a little bit at a time. I'll take what I can get.

"Don't let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use."

 Earl Nightingale

Old Edging and a DAL Snowflake

A few days ago I received an email asking if I had written out the pattern for an edging I made years ago. I hadn’t yet, but it seemed totally doable. It is a simple edging so it wouldn’t take long to write it out.

Kamryn Edging

This edging is Kamryn, which I designed and made in 2015. When I made it back then, I had material picked out to go with it for a table runner. That changed by the time it was finished and ready to be sewn on, which you can read about in the blog post of December 4, 2015. This time I didn’t have colors picked out to make it in so I used thread I had conveniently close by. This was Lizbeth #671 Christmas Red and #650 Denim Blue Lt, both are size 20.

Thank you to Dana Morse for liking it and asking about the pattern. She also test-tatted it for me when I finished it, which was a great help. Thanks, Dana! For those that are interested in the pattern, the link is on the My Patterns page.

In the middle of May, Muskaan of T.I.P.S. Around the Home started a Design Along (DAL) for a Celtic snowflake. She made the first two rounds and furnished the pattern for them. The idea is to design rounds three, and four if you want, to finish it. I decided to join her challenge.

DAL Celtic Snowflake

You can find the pattern for the first two rounds on Muskaan’s blog and her Facebook page. My pattern is jotted down on the pictures I put on Facebook. I’ll be writing my two rounds out better – eventually. She shared the snowflakes of everyone that joined the DAL on her blog. It’s amazing a different all the snowflakes came out when they all started with the same two first rounds.

This was a lot of fun to do. My rounds were not exactly Celtic, but round four did overlap with round three. This is going to make writing out the pattern a bit challenging. As Muskaan started this with just a shuttle and ball I kept to that, even though I usually tat with two shuttles so I can go in any direction the pattern takes me. In this snowflake, I utilized SCMRs (self-closing mock rings) to make the pattern do what I wanted. I used two colors so the different elements of the pattern can be seen. I used Lizbeth #650 Denim Blue Lt and #628 Salmon Med, both are size 20.

Now that I have a simple pattern done, I’m hoping to get back to writing out more of my patterns. Looking back at my blog I see that I am way behind on getting them written out. It’s amazing how time flies when you’re having fun.

Something new I’m trying is a YouTube channel. I’ve been thinking about it for a while but have been hesitant to start. Where to start? What do you talk about? Then I saw The ShuttleSmith, Karen Bovard-Sayer, introducing her channel on YouTube, and the idea of TattingTube. I think the idea of an easy way to keep tatting channels together is a good one. So I’ve started my channel, Wanda’s Knotty Thoughts, and joined her idea of TattingTube. I invite you to check it out.

“Design is thinking made visual.” Saul Bass

Thanksgiving

Can you believe Thanksgiving day has passed? It came and went so fast! We still have one Thanksgiving family gathering today, but I’ve put away my fall decorations and started on my Christmas decorating.

Table ready for the family on Thanksgiving

This year we had a bit of rescheduling for some of the family get-togethers, so for Thanksgiving day we only had our daughters and their families and my mother over for lunch. We finalized the menu through texts a week ago. The meal was terrific, with minimal issues, as nothing burned and there was space for everyone at the table. We did add an extra table to the one in the picture so we could seat everyone, but no one was cramped. The weather in the afternoon was cool but sunny, so we ended up outside. Then we played a game before they all had to go home. There were a bunch of pictures taken!

I have been working on the edging for a Christmas table runner that I had been asked to do last year (!). She didn’t need it until this year, so I had plenty of time to get it done. Or so you’d think. I couldn’t make up my mind about the edging! I thought about it and tried several different things over the last several months, trying to come up with something I was happy about. I like the look of the edging I came up with, but I need to tweak it a bit more before I’ll be happy with the pattern.

Candy cane Christmas runner

The lady that requested the runner showed me another Christmas runner she had and her tree skirt so I had an idea of what type of fabric to use, and I still had a hard time choosing it. There were so many beautiful fabrics to choose from at Jo-Ann’s! And I needed to buy more than I usually do as she wanted a longer runner than I ordinarily make. The tatted edging also needed to be a bit wider than I have made in the past, another challenge.

In so many ways the tatting is the easy part. I rarely sew, which means it takes longer than I expect it to. And then I have to stitch the edging to the runner – on both ends! But the final result is worth it.

Now I’ll be working on perfecting that edging, as well as working on Christmas ornaments. I’ve had a hard time the last month or so not getting sidetracked from the edging by all the ideas I’ve had for other Christmas things. Now if I can just remember all those ideas!

About the September Angel pattern I have spoken about, there has been another delay. I had the whole thing written out but needed to make a correction. I printed it out to test tat it and noted the corrections that needed to be done. For an unknown reason, my computer shut down. When I went back to the pattern half of it was gone! Not sure what the glitch was, but thank goodness I have the printed version. Now I just need to re-write the parts that disappeared.

“The memories we make with our family is everything.” – Candace Cameron Bure.

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

Birthday Table Runner

I mentioned in my last blog post about making a table runner for my daughter’s birthday. I didn’t get it done in time for the 4th of July or her birthday, but I thought I would have it done by now. But, no, I don’t. It is taking longer than expected, but not because I didn’t have the edgings done. It got a lot more complicated.

Colors and material for edging

I found this cute patriotic material at JoAnn’s in June. My daughter usually decorates for the different holidays and I thought she’d like it. Then I had to see if I had thread that would work with it. Christmas-y red wouldn’t work, and I didn’t think that white would work well, either. I had these colors on hand, and think they will work as an edging. They won’t be laying on top of the material, just hanging off the edge.

Birthday runner edging start

I started with the red, Lizbeth 673 Terra Cotta in size 10. The first two rows came out more open than I expected, so I added the blue, Lizbeth 656 Wedgewood Dark in size 20. That was interesting, adding it to the middle of the two completed rows. It came out okay. Then a row of Lizbeth 602 Natural in size 10. I thought I was done.

Then I looked at the length of the material I planned on using, a full two yards, 72 inches. With a half inch hem on each end it would have a finished length of 71 inches. Maybe the edging was a little short? So I added a row, which didn’t add a lot of length but gave a more finished look (?) to it.

Birthday runner edging finished

Yay! Ready to sew up the material and add the edging.

Then I confirmed the length of her table. 70 inches. Hmm. I’m not liking how the finished runner would end up laying on the table.

My daughter and I are discussing what we want to do now. Options would be: 1) cut the material short and make a shorter runner with all of it on the table, or 2) make an insert to lengthen it so the ends hang off the edges of the table. We’ve come up with an idea, now to play with it and see where we end.

Now that more tatting is in the forecast, I needed to order more threads. I’m almost out of the Terra Cotta and I don’t have the Wedgewood in size 10, which I’m thinking I’ll need. I had a bit of a panic when I went to order these at Handy Hands and found out the Terra Cotta in size 10 was out of stock. Luckily, Tatting Corner still had some. Yay!

At the rate I’m going, my daughter will be getting it for Christmas!

“Energy spent now preparing for tomorrow is sure to bear tasty fruit.” Fortune cookie

Second Edging Complete!

Yes, it’s true. I’ve completed the second china hutch edging AND put it on the shelf!

China hutch 2 shelves done

The top one is the first one, the bottom one is the second. It looks like I should have made one more repeat for the length, but I’m not going back. It doesn’t have as many repeats as the first one due to picot length. The second one is a bit more consistent with the length of the joining picot in the first row. I might be able to adjust the way it lays on the shelf to fit the width a bit better.

Two edgings are done on the china hutch

With the doors closed, the way they are most of the time, you can’t see that the edging does’t quite reach the sides. The first edging needs to be straightened just a bit, LOL! I’ll get to that later.

I am still working on the third shelf edging.

Still working on the third edging

I’m on the second row of it, too. I just keep running into things that need to be done that are more time sensitive than the edging, both tatting related and otherwise.

In the otherwise category, I’ve taken care of a couple of the grandchildren several times that I hadn’t planned on. Whether at their house or our house there are other things to do than tat. My granddaughter likes watching videos that show how to make Barbie accessories, so we’ve made a few of those. Good thing I have a bunch of crafty things handy!

“You don’t have to get things done all the time to be productive.” David Harsanyi

Third edging started

Starting the third shelf edging

I’ve started on the edging for the third shelf of the china hutch! Yippee!

I finished tatting the second shelf edging yesterday and am now blocking it. Then I have to stitch it to the lace to hold it to the shelf. I’m hoping to have it done by the end of the week.

I did a bit of other tatting this weekend or I might have been a bit farther on this edging. That I’m this far after waiting all these years is pretty amazing. From where I sit typing this post I’m looking right at the china hutch with it’s one edging done. It is inspiring me to continue as nothing else could do.

“Indeed it is better to postpone, lest either we complete too little by hurrying, or wander too long in completing it.”

Tertullian

Changing Crosses

I’ve been very busy the last two weeks, sometimes even with tatting! Every time I try to sit down to post, other, more pressing things came up. But I’m back today 🙂

I am still working on my shelf edging. It is about 3/4 of the way complete and it’s a convenient project to take in the car. If I didn’t have other projects to do, as well.

Still working on the edging for the 2nd shelf

A friend of mine got married last weekend. Of course, I had to tat something, which was a cross bookmark in her wedding colors. I thought it turned out well. I didn’t realize that I hadn’t taken a picture of the finished cross until the day after I gave it to her. If she puts it in her Bible I might be able to take a picture one Sunday when I see her at church. If I remember! I used Lizbeth #632 Purple Medium. For the tassel, I added several strands of #605 Silver, both in size 20.

April’s Cross in one of the bride’s colors

When deciding which cross to tat I first looked through ones that I had completed. I found several that I had done and either made changes or mistakes. I suppose that is determined by how they come out, right? If the change looks good, yay! If it doesn’t, then oops, don’t do that.

Several tatted crosses I found with changes

The white cross on the left is a doodle, so I can’t say it’s had changes made, but does it work?? The purple one is Milan with a mistake/change at the top, not sure I like it. The blue cross is April’s Cross with a few changes at the end of the arms, which I did purposely and I like the change. The multi-colored cross is January Cross without split rings.

January Cross 2019 ver 2

One cross that I purposely made changes to was ‘January Cross 2019’. A tatter contacted me about the pattern, wondering if it could be done without split rings. I thought about it and came up with version 2, changing the split rings to rings and chains. It changes up the look only slightly. I posted about the original version last year. Both versions can be found on My Patterns page.

This coming weekend is Independence Day here in the USA. I usually come up with some kind of patriotic tatting. I haven’t done that this year – yet. Another project to delay the edging. Well, the edging has been on the back burner for years, what’s another couple of days?

“Change, like sunshine, can be a friend or a foe, a blessing or a curse, a dawn or a dusk.” William Arthur Ward

“William Arthur Ward Quotes.” BrainyQuote.com. BrainyMedia Inc, 2020. 30 June 2020. https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/william_arthur_ward_190444

One Edging Done

I’ve started tatting on the second of three edgings I need for my china hutch. The first one has been attached to the ribbon and put up in the hutch.

Tatting and lace for my china hutch

I found this lace ribbon at a local second-hand shop some time ago, buying it not because I had a specific use for it at the time, but because I might find something to use it for later. This ribbon will be mostly hidden when it’s on the shelf. The pattern on the edge of it made it easy to stitch the tatting to.

My china hutch before adding the edging

This is my china hutch with my collections of china and random other items. My grandpa used this up until he died 30 some years ago. I’ve been using it ever since. I think the shelves are original and are a bit bowed. I’m cautious about putting too much weight on them. An antique for sure, though it was never a high-end piece of furniture.

Tatted edging attached to the first shelf

This looks good. A little wavy, maybe, but I’m happy with it. Originally I had wanted a more scalloped edging, but I can live with this.

China hutch with first edging attached.

This gives me incentive to finish the other two edgings!

The china hutch with the doors closed

The edging shows up nicely even with the doors closed. The edging pattern is my design. I don’t know if there is a similar pattern out there somewhere but I was not following someone else’s idea when I tatted it.

The weather is hot here in the center of the USA, higher than average. This is keeping me inside looking out the window instead of being outside. A good excuse to tat more, right?

“Remember that the most valuable antiques are dear old friends.”

H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

“H. Jackson Brown, Jr. Quotes.” BrainyQuote.com. BrainyMedia Inc, 2020. 16 June 2020. https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/h_jackson_brown_jr_124509

China Hutch Edging

Surprise! I’m back! I know, it’s been a long time since I posted last. I haven’t been tatting much and I got out of the habit of blogging about it when I do.

Something I’ve thought about doing for a long time is making edgings for the shelves in my china hutch, which belonged to my grandparents. I acquired it about 30 years ago after my grandfather died. After thinking about all these years I finally started.

Edging for shelves in my china hutch

This is made in Lizbeth #603 Ecru in size 10. It would be wonderful to make it in a smaller thread, size 20 at least, but I would like to finish it in my lifetime. Doing edging for three shelves in a smaller thread would take much longer, with a higher likelihood of my putting it down and not finishing it.

The first edging is done. This is a simple pattern in two rows that goes quickly, the total length 32″ and 1 3/4″ deep. The plan is to attach it to a wide ribbon with the ribbon laying on the shelf with the tatting hanging over the edge. I finished blocking it but still have to trim the thread ends. Sewing it to the ribbon hasn’t happened yet, but I have started tatting for the second shelf. Maybe I can get that done this weekend.

“Decorate your home. It gives the illusion that your life is more interesting than it really is.“

Charles M. Schulz

https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/charles_m_schulz_137425?src=t_home

3 Color Edging Pattern

I finally have the pattern for the 3 Color Edging done! I had a bit of trouble with my drawing program, it kept shutting down in the middle of things.  But I persevered! Check out My Patterns page for the pattern.

To change or not to change

While writing out the 3 Color Edging pattern I was trying to decide if I liked the stitch count or not. Did I like the way the chains looked or would they be better a little different?  Hmm.

To test out the written pattern and sample different chain lengths, I tatted another edging. It looks good enough on this container but to the well-trained eye, every few repeats is a little different.

3 color edging in pink, purple and white

After all this work, I’m leaving the stitch count in the pattern the way I tatted it originally. Anyone working it can change it up however they would like 🙂 Look for the pattern on My Patterns page soon!

I have been tatting more recently than I had for a while. Besides this edging, I made a cross for a gift that I am extremely happy with, but haven’t taken any pictures yet. I’ve even jotted down the pattern – on paper – which is surprising for me. One step closer to writing it up to share.

We have had a lot of things going on here, unexpected and expected, which has kept me busy. I keep telling myself I need to post more and keep finding reasons that I ‘m too busy to. I think some of it is habit – I’ve gotten out of it.  Here’s to changing my habit!

“Creative thinking inspires ideas. Ideas inspire change.” Barbara Januszkiewicz  brainythoughts.com

Three Color Edging

I try to tat something special every year for our Independence Day on July 4. This year I didn’t even think about it until the very end of June. I debated about making an ice drop of some sort, but only for a short time. Then I thought about using beads. I rounded up blue beads and loaded my shuttles, one with red thread, the other with white.

That design lasted for two rings, then I decided it was a bad idea. I unloaded all the beads I had put on the shuttles and re-wound them with the red and white threads. I was ready to try something else.

Concepts kept percolating in my head but nothing solidified. Then I woke up July 4th with a notion that I was confident would work, though it would require another shuttle with a ball.

Start of the 3 color edging

The idea came together nicely.  Elements I had to refine were the lengths of the chains and getting them to work together. Then keeping all the threads untangled!

The purpose of the edging was to go around a glass yogurt jar I had. These jars are much too nice to put in the recycle bin when emptied of their yummy-ness. I had decorated one a short time ago using a similar edging, but it was done with only two shuttles. This would be a bit different.

Yogurt jar waiting for tatting

I was using the same count in the clover as I had last time but adding another ring in-between clovers. As this made the edging longer, instead of being at the top of the jar it fits at the bottom of the jar.

3 color edging on a jar

My decision to decorate this jar was not done solely to put it on my blog. We were invited to spend the evening at our daughter’s house to enjoy the holiday with her family and I wanted to take a hostess gift. Something in-line with the celebration but nothing too big.

3 color edging on a candy jar

Adding soft peppermint candies to the jar finished off the gift. The edging is tight enough on the jar to stay on but loose enough to take off if the jar needs washing.  I am very pleased with how it turned out.

I am working on the pattern for this. Look for it soon on my Patterns page.

“Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.” Mark Twain                              brainyquote.com

Disclaimer: The jars are from Yoplait French Style Yogurt “oui”. I have not received any type of compensation for mentioning it.

DVD Appreciation Day

Do you know about DVD Appreciation Day?

What is that you say? Da Vinci Disorder Awareness Day.

Why would anyone have an appreciation day for a disorder?

According to Craftree member wodentoad:

“For those who don’t know, DVD awareness day is a wholly made up “disorder” which celebrates Leonardo Da Vinci who was a true Renaissance man. He spoke several languages, painted, invented many things in many different disciplines, learned about medicine, and even music composition. He was also a man who rarely finished work because like most men of the time he believed that the learning and designing was “gentleman’s work” while the actual finishing of projects was for laborers.”

Doesn’t this sound like crafters who start projects in any variety of mediums, all excited about the enterprise, but get distracted before it’s done and move on to another fun and exciting crafting adventure? Well, it sounds like me.

DVD Appreciation Day is celebrated on April 15, Da Vinci’s birthday. This year it was on a Sunday, a Sunday I didn’t even have to work! I was able to do some tatting, mostly emptying thread from some of my shuttles.

Weekend tatting results

I made the small four ring crosses with the idea of making earrings. After I had done a few I started thinking how to put them together.  I started an experiment to find out. It came together very well.

Believe it or not, I finished my little experiment Monday.

Results of weekend tatting

I say finished, but is it? What do I do with this little ring? Put it on material for a coaster? Fill in the center, add to the outside?

Maybe I’ll finish it by the next DVD Awareness Day.

Craftree.com is a craft forum for the fiber arts. Membership is free, you just have to create an account.

“Art is never finished, only abandoned. Leonardo da Vinci” 
brainyquote.com

Magnifier Case

December just flew by! We were so busy with family, work, and church I had to make choices of what things were done and what was left undone or to do later. I have some things to blog about they are some of those things to do later.

I did get some tatting done, including several Ice Drops (to be blogged about later). A last minute gift that I tatted was for our pastor’s wife, who has a lot of trouble with her eyes. I had been thinking of getting a magnifying glass for her for a while, but I wanted one that was easy to use and portable. I found one at Hobby Lobby a few days before Christmas that was almost exactly what I had envisioned. It just needed some way to be carried that kept it nice and was easy to access.

Magnifier and case with tatting

The felt and thread I already had at home. I design tatting but I’m not as well versed in designing with material but I was able to come up with a case made out of the felt. Of course, it couldn’t be left plain. Lizbeth Caribbean worked well with the purple felt. The tatting on it looks simple but I had to make it hard – the edging has rings on the other side, like the gem in an Ice Drop.

The entire case and tatting were done Christmas eve day/evening. You can’t make a case for something you don’t have or I would have started much earlier! I thought about attaching the tatting with fabric glue but decided that as much use as it might have, sewing was a better option. The purple paracord I had left over from my Tat Days costume worked well for the lanyard part.

Magnifier case with tatted edging

I’m happy to say that the recipient loved both the magnifier and the case. It will come in handy at church but also for things like reading labels at the store and menus in restaurants.

I’m hoping to blog a bit more frequently than I have been lately. I not only have been tatting some but also taking a few pictures. Maybe not everything, but most.

Here’s to a new year with lots of time for tatting! And taking pictures. And blogging. 🙂

“The beauty of handmade is in the imperfections. Anything perfect is machine made.”   craftprofessional.com

 

Butterfly Edging

There are a lot of tatting projects that I need to get done now that I’m back from Palmettos Tat Days.  I knew about them before I went to Georgia but didn’t have time to do them, so it was rush, rush, rush when I got back. I did get two of my projects done, two more to go before the end of October.

Tatted Butterfly Edged Doily

One project I finished was an edged doily. Our church participates in an auction to raise money for a local retirement home, which is supposed to be a ‘basket’ of items that we donate. This year, it’s not a basket at all, but several items of a theme that we’ll bundle together. I try to include something tatted every year, and this year I planned a doily with a tatted edging.

Tatted Butterfly Edging looks like Mary Konior’s pattern

Our theme this year is butterflies, so I envisioned a doily with a tatted edging of butterflies. I had an idea of what I wanted and got started without a pattern. While on Craftree I found an edging that was exactly what I wanted: Mary Konior’s Butterflies from her book “A Pattern Book of Tatting.” I don’t have the book and I don’t know the stitch count of her pattern as I made it before I saw a picture of it. As it is so close to her pattern if you want to make it, check out her book.

I loved the butterflies but thought the edging needed to be a bit wider, so I added another row. The result is more suitable to what I planned for the doily.

Tatted Butterfly Edging with a second row

At this point, I didn’t have a center for the doily, I made the edging first 🙂  I had time to tat but not the time to cut and sew the doily center. With the edging done I had to figure out a way to get the center the size needed and found a paper plate worked out nicely. I miscalculated a bit by not making the seam a tad bit wider (making the doily diameter smaller), but it still came out okay. Finished size with edging is about nine and a half inches across.

Tatted Butterfly Edging sewn on

These are the items we put together for our auction ‘basket.’ We had members of our congregation add the butterflies to the grapevine cross.

Auction items

This is one project down out of four that I want to have done before the end of October. I have one other completed that I’ll post about later. Now on to the next!

“The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough.” Rabindranath Tagore     https://brainyquote.com