What Have I Been Busy Doing?

Although I've been tatting - what seems like continuously - I have nothing to show for it!!

Some other things have also filled my days...

Pinterest Original

My grandson's

 A)  I made a garage for my grandson's 6th birthday coming at the end of August.  I saw this great idea on Pinterest.  The original design was found on http://diycozyhome.com/toy-car-storage/

The original used toilet paper rolls.  I discovered that many of his little cars wouldn't fit in these.  I used PVC pipe cut into 3 inch segments.  I also put plaster of paris in the bottom of the box so that it would stand upright.

B) I have a little Bible that I carry in my purse.  For a long time, I had a heavy little plastic bag with a snap that something came packaged in that just fit the Bible...but it tore up early this year.  So I desperately needed a cover--things were getting shoved into my purse and messing up the pages of the Bible.  I planned and planned my pattern for a Bible cover out, using graph paper.  Then I cut my fabric!  It was too small!!!!  It turns out my graph paper was 5 square to the inch, and I figured my measurments at four squares to the inch!  Well, at that point it was either start all over, or work with what I had....so I made it fit!  The outside three snaps went on easey-peasey!  I went through over a dozen snaps (and at least an hour and a half of time) before I got the inside three to stay and have the power to snap and unsnap without popping off!  I hand-sewed the whole thing (I'm not sure if that is an excise for how bad it looks, or a brag--because I think it turned out pretty good!)

C) I saw a youtube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zguw7ik6NFw which showed how to make little containers out of pop bottle caps--using duck tape.  Well that got me to thinking...I changed it slightly, making an even smaller container that was glued, not taped.  I started to make enough of these to put in the Oklahoma Lacemakers Guild's goodie bags at their Lace Embrace Day on October 3rd in Bartlesville, Oklahoma (all tatters and the public invited!).  Well, the project snowballed and  I've now made over 300 of these and given them to several tatting guilds to use in their goodie bags to hold beads, safety pins, charms etc..

So many things to craft--so little time!   

Shirt Back--Gideon's Gate Button

My reader's will be glad to read that this is the last post about my shirt--unless I decorate it further!  I'd like to share the other pattern I developed--it is an extremely easy pattern!  To get a printable pdf of this pattern CLICK HERE

Gideon's Gate Button!

(left) Lizbeth, size 20, #155--Ocean Sunset

(right) Lizbeth size 20, #174--Girly Girl

 Gideon’s Gate Button

by Patricia Lyn Cobb

 You will need two tatting shuttles wound CTW and a 5/8 inch 4 hole button.

Picots:     -- Long Picot     - Short Joining + Join

Arrange to work your ends 

(when you are finished) into Ring A.

Ring A   6  --   3   -   3    Close Ring.

Ring B     3  +   3   --   3    Join b1  3  -- 3 -  3   Close   Ring.

Ring C     3  +   3  --  6    Close Ring.

Reverse Work.

Chain 25.

Switch Shuttles.

Ring D              6  --   3   -   3    Close Ring.

Ring E     3  +   3   --   3  --   3  -- 3 -  3   Close Ring.

Ring F     3  +   3  --  6    Close Ring.

Switch shuttles.

Chain 25.

Repeat (Ring A-Ring F 3 times—each time joining into the next button hole) as you continue around the button, finishing and working your ends into the original Ring A.

Finished shirt back:

Shirt Back--Jennifer's Button

I am preparing to post a tutorial on a "Reusable Ribbon Bow"--the pictures are not behaving.  Somehow this "draft" got published in part, and now some people are looking for it.  Sorry--hopefully it is coming soon!  BUT there is a pattern posted at the bottom of this page!!

I looked at many images on "Google Images" and on Pinterest that had no design author credited.  I did not want to copy anyone's designs--but wanted them to "inspire me."  These three designs are my own work, if they are too much like someone else's previous work--please inform me--and I will gladly give that person credit.

(Left) Lizbeth, size 20, # 122 Carribbean


(Both on right) Lizbeth, size 20, # 633- Purple Dark

Then I set about to try to create my own design.  I'd like to thank Sue W. and Sonya L. who first tested this pattern for me.  Jane Eborall gave it a final test, and proofread my pattern and made wonderful suggestions!  

Introducing--Jennifer's Button! done in Lizbeth, size 20, #102 Western Sunset (left) and #141 Purple Twist (Right).  For a printable pdf of this pattern CLICK HERE

Jennifer’s Button         

by Patricia Lyn Cobb

1- ¾ inch 2-hole button

2 shuttles wound CTM (6 yards each)

Round 1

*start

Ring: 10ds attach to button 10ds Cl

Ch:10ds                                                              

Continue joining first six rings to the first button hole and the second six rings to the second button hole until you have 12 chains and 12 rings.  Attach the 12^th chain to the base of the first ring.  Continue to Round 2 -- do not cut and tie.

Round 2

(If you use the magic thread trick, you will want to make arrangements to hide your final ends in this round.)

Chain: 12ds Lj to the base of the next ring of Round 1.  Continue all the way around, lj to the base of each ring.  Finish the round by joining to the base of ring 1.  Continue to Round 3--do not cut and tie.  RW

Round 3

SS

“Mock onion ring” Ring 10ds-10ds Cl, Chain 12ds+12ds. Cl

SS

Chain 15ds.

SS Josephine Knot 15(last half of ds only) SS

Chain 15ds. (skip one section and join to next section of motif.)

Continue all around to the final join above Ring 1.

Cut and hide ends.