New Acquisitions

Here are my newest acquisitions.  No I did not need them but they are so pretty.  The mother-of-pearl is from Rita at Shuttles by Design.  The moon/witch is from Lisa at Tatting Corner.  It was one of those "I saw it and I just had to have it" moments.  Love them both!

Started a new doily as my go to project while working on my proficiency course.  Been attending Georgia's online class on Mondays and Sue's Tatting Design class on Tuesday. 

Since we have rain thanks to Nate today, think I will see what I can come up with for a tatted paperclip pattern for Georgia.  Stay tuned!

Home from Tat Days

Finally catching up on last weekends Tat Days held in Toccoa, GA.  What a wonderful weekend.  Unfortunately, Hurricane Irma hit Florida that weekend.  Thoughts and prayers were with those who were not able to attend.  All in all, it was nice to meet new tatters whom I knew in name only and friends I have met at previous Tat Days.

My major secret project this year was:  tatting 120 lucky pennies.  These were sent to Palmetto Tatters to include in the goodie bags.  No two colors were the same and each had a shiny penny!

I did behave myself this year.  I ordered two books (3-D flowers and the nativity) from Reit prior to Tat Days.  However, I saw the Tatting Online and Beads and Knots.  They somehow jumped into my hands!

I saw the cat shuttle and "I just had to have it". The blue tatting book was given to my by a fellow tatter that happen to have an extra copy.  Lots of nice patterns.  The royal blue shuttle was a shuttle that just happen to jump in my hands also (love blue anyway).  The denim varigated thread was the only thread obtained this year.

I had the opportunity to meet Diane C. aka Lace Lovin Librarian and Wally Sosa.  I was selected to test tat and be class helper to all of Wally Sosa's classes (bottom left - suncatcher, angel, button flower oya igne style, and hybrid tatting bracelet).   I have to admit that I shuttle tatted the hybrid bracelet with split rings originally.  I did learn to needle tat the weekend before Tat Days as hubby watched Georgia Seitz Needle Tatting DVD so I was able to help those in class (the pattern was specifically made for needle tatting with the help of a shuttle).  I came home and got out a needle and redid the bracelet as proof I did the pattern correct.

The early class on Saturday was the Ice Blossom by Karey Solomon and Friday's Fleur-de-lis by Linda Reiff.  The last tatted item in this photo is my cup sleeve from the class I taught.

The final photo was another surprise.  Baby Groot was finished up Wednesday morning prior to leaving.  It is a crochet pattern that I converted to tatting.  This was my first attempt at converting.  I give kudos to those who have converted other patterns.  It is made in three parts.  Each part is a continuous chain and lots of Catherine Wheel Joins.  With the theme of Tat-A-Con, I could not pass at trying my hand at this pattern and showing it as eye candy.  I was very surprised when I went to pick it up that it had won Best of Theme.  I selected one of Rita Richmond - Shuttle by Design - commemorative shuttles.  

Need to start back on the paperclip project I started for the online tatting class - class starts on Monday!!!!  Will be taking some time to catchup on a tat along doily and then finish up on my Proficiency Course.  After that,  might be time to think about next years Tat Days.

Tat Days 2017

Just about all packed.  Finishing up some projects for the silent auction, need to finish a project for show and tell, dye a couple more colors of thread that I will be selling in vending and finish gathering my tatting for classes.  What a crazy year this has been.  Normally, I would be ready to go by now.  But this year, I seem to be running late on everything.  I am hoping to get back to a normal schedule when I return from Tat Days.

Hubby has been watching the Shuttle Tatting and now the Needle Tatting DVD's by Georgia Seitz he won from Tat Days.  He is doing needle tatting along with Georgia and has done a ring with a double picot!.  He says needle tatting is easier than shuttle.  I am glad he is enjoying the art!

I look forward to the weekend as a time to meet up with past friends, friends met online and meeting new friends.  Also look forward to picking up a couple of additional books for my library.

As fall gets closer, online tatting classes will be restarting.  I look forward to attending these each week.  Just seems like I have missed quite a bit this year.

Blog Moderation

I have put my blog on moderation mode for a while.  I had a post that apparently being posted to several blogs about being selected as one of 75 best blogs.  I have since deleted that post.  Just a minor inconvenience but worth it to keep my blog tatting related.

Misc and Adventures in Dye Land

The first photo are two new additions to my library.  Have to wait until later this year to start.  The Tatting a 4 Square Ring has many options.  No diagrams but lots of information for those who like adventure.

The Tatted Quilt Squares was a surprise book from my daughter. 

The four colors of green was done as an adventure.  The far right is from the Tulip Custom Tie Dye kit called "Mint".  There is a booklet that comes with the kit for many custom colors.  A little light for me but a start for future reference when using this kit.  Of course, to start I had to scale down the amount of dye and water.  Also, I noticed there is quite a bit of filler with the Tulip dyes (might be the soda ash).  When using regular fiber reactive dyes with the same amount of dye/water as the Tulip, the color turned out more of a yellow-green instead of a green-blue.

I have been interested in trying to convert Pantone or CMYK colors into colors I can duplicate with the fiber reactive dyes.  I came across a blog called Leigh's Fiber Journal.  She has had adventures in try to come up with dye recipes with computer coding.  She then decided to dabble into CMYK/fiber reactive dyes.  This has been interesting to me from the start.  Well I got to play a little and this is what I came up with.  The color I was trying to duplicate is Pantone 351 Mint.  I think I am pretty close with the second from left (blue holder).  I plan to keep experimenting with another desired color to see if I can duplicate.  Stay tuned for further experiments.

The last photo is a desired color gone experimental.  I had intended this to be more red than greenish, however, I accidently added yellow instead of fuchsia.  The resulting color is interesting.  It is a green but kind of has a slight yellowish background.  Really like this color.  I have make a couple of 50 yard skeins in size 20 that I will be selling at Tat Days. 

Crochet to Tatting

Using a document in the file section of the Facebook tatting group, I am in the process of making a tatting pattern from a crochet pattern.  The original pattern calls for worsted weight yarn.  I am using a size 8 Artiste from Hobby Lobby.  It is giving me the stitch counts I need using the conversion document.  Will need to dye the project when finished as I could only find white thread and I need a brown.  I will post a picture after Tat Days in September as I am bring this project for show and tell.

After this project, I will be able to get back to my paperclip project for the online tat class.

There is a Mistery Doily Test Tat Along being held by Alenalea Tatting.  This past week was the start.    Round 1-3 complete.  Onto Round 4.

Dyed Thread

Here is a pic (not very good as it was taken with tablet) of my recent dyed thread.  The variegated did not turn out as nice as I wanted as I did not saturate fully with dye - just enough to give color.  The rust looking one is a mix of a couple colors I had left over.  Next week I hope to do about 10 more colors,  I hope I will be caught up with this project and then can turn my attention to others and then start dying some thread to bring to tat days.

Tat Days Registration and Thread Colors

First, Tat Days registration has opened.  Lots of nice classes.  Look forward to attending again.

Second, I have found out I have 96 different colors of Size 20 thread.  Not enough different colors to finish my project I have been working on.  So I got out my dyes and proceeded to dye 10 more different colors (10 yards each).  Will post a pic when they have been washed.  I may stop after this and wait until I have a final confirmation of people attending the event.  Finally seeing light at end of tunnel.  I have so many other projects to get going on.

Diamond Snowflake

Here is the finished Diamond Snowflake I wrote about in my last post.  The pattern can be found on my patterns page.  It uses square rings.  There are two versions:  one without beads and one with beads.  After doing both versions, the version without beads seems to create a diamond shape better (my opinion).  Many thanks to Muskaan for testing and submitting suggestions for this pattern. 

My How Time Goes By

I have been very busy with things and time has gotten away from me.  Time to recap the last two months.


First my Lucky Penny project is half way done.  77 of about 150 complete.  It is amazing how much size 20 thread I have accumulated.  I still have not used double colors yet!

Next, Palmetto Tatters Guild have uploaded class teaser pictures for Tat Days 2017.  Lovely projects as always.

The tatted cats are earrings and the tan, red, and blue are necklace/earrings - all not finished.  Had plans to submit these to the Palmetto Tatters Guild for their craft shows in April.  I misplaced the necklace/earring sets.  By the time I found them, it was to late to submit.  They will be finished and brought to Tat Days for their auction.

The snowflakes are my design.  The pattern was not accepted this year for Tat Days.  Muskaan has been kind enough to test and help with quite a few edits/suggestions on this pattern.  It is based on a snowflake I had seen on the Mickey Mouse Club (watching with Granddaughter).  It is made with square rings as the show was focusing on diamond shapes at that time.  Have one more review and then I will forwarding to Georgia Seitz for the online tatting class.  Will post to blog within the next month or so.  I originally used three shuttles; however, I decided to use only two and then a third thread for the diamonds only.  After making the final green one, I decided I had to make one with beads just to see what it looks like.

TIAS 2017 and Heart Paperclip

Well Jane's TIAS is complete for the year.  If you have not joined in, there is plenty of time (no time limit).  You can find the info here.

My lady is going down a ramp (actually joined her head backwards), but she had to be different.  Thread is size 20, hand dyed by me.

I have completed February's paperclip project.  It is a heart.  The patter can be found on Georgia's Online Tatting 2017 index as well as here.  I made sure I the page is on shareable as well as tested the page.  Hopefully no problems.  Onwards to next month.  Thread was Lizbeth size 20.

I was able to play with my dyes this past weekend.  I am slowly going through The Fabric Dyer's Dictionary book.  My goal is to make samples of every single color in the book.  I have also got ideas of other mixes of colors to make as well as start playing with CMYK color mixes.  Now if I can find blocks of time to play.

Fish Paperclip

I have volunteered to a project for Georgia Seitz for the Online Tatting Class.  I will be making a piece of tatting for a paperclip each month.  The first one is located on the top right hand side of the index page.  I have ideas for a few months and Georgia has forwarded a list of ideas as well.  If anyone is interested in assisting with this project for future month(s), let me know.  We will coordinate!  Credit will be given.  Happy Tatting.

Pinkie Pie & Misc

Granddaughter loves My Little Pony especially Pinkie Pie.  Here is a tatted version.  Pattern is from Toys for Tatting by Martha Ess.  I had tatted Granddaughter's name in 2012/2013.  This will be placed in a frame with her name for a wall hanging.  Note:  when I first started the pony, I showed Granddaughter.  Her response was "I don't want a flower", referring to the rear.   The words of a 4-year old.  Thread is Lizbeth Size 20 in Dusty Rose Lt and Azalea Med.

I submitted my application for the Tatters Across Time Proficiency Course, Phase III.  I have been notified I should be receiving my packet this week.  I am going to be concentrating on this course to submit it back in a timely manner.  At least that is the plan right now.  TIAS is in full swing along with a special project I am doing.  Focus, focus, focus.

Applications are being accepted by the Palmetto Tatters Guild for Tat Days 2017 to be held this September. Two patterns are complete.  Just want to retat one and write up the other prior to submittal.  Applications are due mid-February.

TIAS and Tatted Squares

Just a reminder, Jane Eborall will be starting this years Tat It and See (TIAS) this Wednesday!

Since Metro Atlanta is pretty much iced in this weekend (and maybe until Tuesday), I have plenty of time to tat.  I saw a snowflake on The Mickey Mouse Club program (Granddaughter likes watching the program) and thought that would be a great tatted pattern.  The snowflake has diamond shapes in it.  I had seen an article before and after a Google search found it.  The author referenced a book by Anne Dyer To Boldly Go Where No Shuttle Has Gone Before.  Just so happens I was able to pick up that book at Tat Days last year.  Here is my first attempt. I am actually making a star (5 points instate of 6).  Pattern is about half done.  This will be submitted for Tat Days later this year.  Nice technique for making odd shapes.  EDIT:  Star did not work.  Back to drawing board to modify it to a snowflake (6 points).

Just goes to show, you never know when inspiration will come from when looking for items to tat.