Twin Doilies

In January, I sat with my father-in-law as his body slowly shut down. Tatting has helped me through many stressful events, and it didn't let me down that week. I finished the first doily during those days and nights. In the time between his passing and the funeral, I started the second one, I really didn't want "twins" but was limited by having only the one pattern and one ball of thread with me. I finished the other one in February during Oklahoma's "Blizzard of 2011." The pattern is Beatrice, by Iris Niebach from the book Tatted Doilies. The doily is finished in one round. The thread is Lizbeth, size 20, color 131.

Christmas Ornaments 2010

I made these ornaments as Christmas presents for my nieces/nephews and great-nieces. There were 7 more of them, but they have gone merrily on to their destinations. They have silver beads and jingle bells added to them. I started adding the jingle bells directily, as the motifs were worked. However, I discovered that with a small twist of the jingle bell, the jingle bell cut directly through the thread. After that, I started adding the jingle bells to jump rings, that were added after the motifs were worked. Because my ornaments were 1/4 of an inch larger than the 2 inch called for in the pattern, I added 4 ds to each of the large joining rings. These were all worked in Lizbeth, size 20 thread. They are from the pattern, "Jeanette" from the book "12 Ornaments of Christmas" by Ginny Weathers.

"Maria" Bookmark

This is a bookmark that I made for my friend, Mary. Mary is fighting a rare type of cancer, and is to travel to M. D. Anderson in Houston this week to discuss her treatment. Mary is a Christian and would love for you to join me in praying for her. I'd already picked this pattern to make for her, but knew it was the right choice when I saw the name "Maria"...it is from the book Tatted Bookmarks and is by Lene Bjorn. It is done in white, Lizbeth size 20.

More Tatted Buttons

What do I do when I learn a new tatting technique, or a really neat pattern? Put it on a t-shirt, of course. These buttons were done in Lizbeth, size 20, color #100. I was told this was a Workbasket pattern, but wasn't told which issue.

I'm acquiring quite a wardrobe of tatted decorated t-shirts!

Covered Button, Lace Embrace 2010

It has been quite awhile since my last post...I finished all twenty-two of my mystery tatted _____ to put in Christmas cards at church. Then I started covering Christmas ornaments with tatting to give to family at Christmas.

Three weeks ago TATTING INJURY! I poked the eye end of a needle into my index finger while sewing in an thread end. Within 48 hours, it was infected to an area just smaller than 1 inch by 3/4 of an inch. It had to be lanced and drained. No tatting for the last three weeks, the finger was too sensitive. Can you go into tatting withdrawal? Today was my first day without a bandaid....and I stuck a crochet hook into it again! The Dr. warned that because of all the antibiotic resistant germs out there that all wounds need extra care....so be careful out there!

I attended the Oklahoma Lace Guild's Lace Embrace today in Bartlesville. (Would you believe I forgot my tatted nametag--July 22 post.) I had a lovely time. The theme of the day was Buttons. The advanced tatting class covered a button with tatting. The pattern was from the Workbasket magazine. The colors on my button are not exactly my first choice, but I really didn't know quite what we were going to do, until we got started.

An interesting thing for me about the theme Buttons. I discovered that my mother, who died when I was 18, as a child had collected buttons. She had rheumatic fever and a congenital heart defect, and had to spend much time in bed, ladies in the town would bring her buttons to keep her occupied. This was the first time, that I had heard this button story...and I had an interesting time going through her collection, that I'd never seen.

My wonderful grandson is walking!

Doilies for Donna and Crystal

I haven't posted in awhile, I've been playing Santa Clause and working on 22 tatted ****** to put in Christmas Cards this year to give out at church. My husband pastors a small So. Baptist church, and we have a really great congregation, that have become more family than anything else. We try to do something each year at Christmas, but this year the budget is really tight, so I'm tatting for everyone.

Since I can't show you yet what I'm working on, I thought I'd share some things that I've done in the past.

This white doily is one that I did for my friend, Donna, as a wedding present, a few years back. It was done in White, DMC Cebelia 20. It is the pattern, Lucky Clover in Tatting Patterns and Designs by Gun Blomqvist and Elwy Persson.

This Blue Variegated doily was one I did for my DIL, Crystal. A "just because I love you" present...It is the pattern Francesca by Iris Niebach. The thread was (I think) Flora, but I'm not sure of the color.

Last but not least, is the Enchanter Heart, that I did for my DS#2's girlfriend. It is by Jon Yusoff. The pattern is available here: http://tatsaway-patterns.blogspot.com/2010/02/enchanter.html. The thread is Lizbeth, #671, size 20.

Pattern--Flower Pins

This is the pattern by Maggie Brown. The flowers are shown on my post "Lace Escape IV --part 2 on July 11"

To get a pdf of the pattern CLICK HERE

Maggie just gave me the numbers at the retreat...this is the first time I've written out a pattern, so let me know of any changes I need to make.

Flower petals and base:

String 98 beads. To make like my original pin that I made at the Lace Escape, String 7 of color A, 7 of color B, 7 of color A, 7 of color B, etc. Most of the other pins that I made, I used a single color.

Ring 1: (Place 7 beads on the back of the hand) 7ds, vsp, 2ds, 1B, 1ds, 1B, 1ds, 1B, 1ds, 1B, 1ds, 1B, 1ds, 1B, 1ds, 1B, 2ds vsp, 7ds, close ring.

Ring cluster: (Place 7 beads on the back of the hand) 1 ds, 7b, 1ds, close ring.

Rings 2-6: (Place 7 beads on the back of the hand) 7ds, + (to last picot made), 2ds, 1B, 1ds, 1B, 1ds, 1B, 1ds, 1B, 1ds, 1B, 1ds, 1B, 1ds, 1B, 2ds, vsp, 7ds, close ring. Follow with a ring cluster.

Ring 7: (Place 7 beads on the back of the hand) 7ds, +, 2ds, 1B, 1ds, 1B, 1ds, 1B, 1ds, 1B, 1ds, 1B, 1ds, 1B, 1ds, 1B, 2ds, + (to first picot on Ring 1), 7ds, close ring. Follow with ring cluster and tie off to the base of Ring 1.

Inner ring cluster. String 18 beads. Ring: 1ds, 3B, 1ds, 3B, 1ds, 3B, 1ds, 3B, 1ds, 3B, 1ds, 3B, 1ds, close ring. Insert in the center of the flower.

Maggie suggests using E6000 glue to attach the flower to a tie tack base. I changed the Ring Cluster to have 9 beads instead of 7 on many of my flowers.

There has been a revision of the pattern made.  It can be seen on this blog here:   http://www.thethreadbears.com/blog/?page_id=285