Doily and Shuttles

The Online Tatting Class had a special decoupage shuttle class on August 17.  Had some plain shuttles so I joined the fun.  Fabric, paper and stickers were used along with a little glitter modge podge.   The tigger is for my hubby, the blue and red I may bring to next years Tat Days to sell and the other three are for me.

The doily is done in size 30, thread hand dyed by me.  Pattern is called Tatted Pineapple Doily adapted by Kendra Goodnow.  Handy Hands sells the pattern.  I make a doily for someone every year for about 7-8 years now.  This will be mailed or given at next years Tat Days.

Tat Days 2020

 Another Palmetto Tat Days has come and gone.  Different this year, but the classes were great and fun was had by all.  Want to thank the staff from the Palmetto Tatters Guild, volunteers, teachers and the Georgia Baptist Conference center for hosting this year.  There was plenty of hand sanitizer for all along with masks and face shields.  Classes were small (limited to 8) but social distancing was practiced in each class along with spacing in the great room.  I felt confortable and very safe.  

The conference started with dyeing thread and making Celtic shuttles out of popsicle sticks. Tie dye kits were used for the dye.  Eventhough I have dyed my own thread, I did learn a few tricks to practice.  Lots of laughter especially when we doned our speciality evening wear for dyeing (plastic trash can liners).  

The first picture are my completed projects and test tatting I did for Tat Days.  First year I completed all projects from classes I attended.  The only item not there is a bracelet I made for my granddaughter.  Not able to get a picture before I gave it to her.  There is Triangle Edging, Leaf Motif, Rainbow Pearl Snowflake, Rainbow key ring, the Celtic Shuttles, hand dyed thread and Dangle Earrings.  The shuttle is hand painted and was a teacher gift.  The pineapple is a fingerless glove along with wave bracelet and a tatted show which I had the opportunity to test for Erin Mosely.    The other photo are books I picked up for my growning library.

This year there was a virtual online auction.  It was interesting to guess who was bidding on the offered items.  Was also nice to see tatters from other contries log in and check out the items as well.  Georgia Seitz was on the phone before the live auction.  It was good to hear her voice.  Eventhough she was not there, she certainly was there in spirit and thought of by all. 

Quarantine Doilies

This is the results of mytat-along tatting during our 6-month quarantine.  

Pink Threads that Bind pattern is size 30 knit crosheen and purple/turquoise Harmony is size 20 HDT Carribe from Karey Solomon and Lizbeth turquoise.  Both patterns are from Tat-A-Renda.   Harmony was a little tight towards the end an I realized I can not count on one of the rows.  Decided to improvise as I did not want to retrotat or cut that row out.

The brown is a Square Doily pattern by Toni Storer.  The tat-along was sponsered by Jenni Clark.  Thread is size 20 Cebelia.  This is certainly a different and was pretty easy to tat.  I found it needed quite a bit of pressing as it seemed to cup on me.  Could be the way I tat and tension.  

Square doily has a reserved spot in the house.  Harmony has been claimed by Granddaughter (although she originally claimed the pink).  I will reask when I see her next.

Now onto finishing the monster doily.  There are 3 3/4 rows left.  I have decided I am not going to tat the last row as I can not decide on color to tat it.  

New Tat-along

Tat-a-Renda (find her on Facebook) is hosting a new tat-along. Harmony is the name of the doily. Here is the first 2 rows. Thread is size 20, HDT by Karey Solomon. Granddaughter has already called dibs for this doily!

General Musings

Tat Days is almost here!!!!  Been busy packing up materials for classes I am taking/teaching and vending (small sampling of thread shown here).

This year just has been a whirlwind.  Just don’t know where time has gone.  Hopefully I am going to try and get more organized.  Will see how long it lasts.

Did finish this mat from Mary Konior Tatting with Visual Patterns.  I added a couple of extra motifs to make it a little bigger.

Almost finished with Ivory Lace Tatted Doily from freepatterns.com.  This one will be given away.  This was also the first doily I have done using split chains to go from row to row.  Split chains are now easy peasy!

Still working on my 3-d block tatting project.  Still have my monster doily to finish.  I have know purchased the “Lagniappe” doily pattern (another monster doily project).  Have colors in mind for this but will have to wait until October when I will be able to dye thread.  

Sneak Peek

This little motif is the start of a bigger motif.  It is from Karen Bovard's Illusions of 3-D in Split Ring Tatting.  These split rings are testing my ability to keep the rings a consistant tension.  Thread is hand dyed by me.  I am keeping a little tail for the time being as I am trying a different way to hide the ends.  They will all be cut in the end.

HDT and Motif

After starting this motif by Mary Konior many times, I finally was able to finish a square without it

looking funny.  It is called Masquerade from her book Tatting with Visual Patterns.  I may at some point add to it but for now, it will be set aside as I tackle other projects.

The thread is my latest dyes.  The bright green is called "Key Lime".  It is a request from Tat Days last year.  The other is called GEMS (a mix of Emerald/Jade/Aquamarine/Amethyst).  The picture does not do the color justice.  Both will be available at Tat Days.

HDT and Jewelry

Been a little AWOL.  I have been busy test tatting and finishing up a project for the teachers for Palmetto Tat Days, along with housework and grandkid watching.

All of these projects were tatted using HDT.  The green is called Palmetto.  Pattern:  Newcastle Necklace.  The blue is actually a blue-green called 9K.  Pattern:  Darker is Keyed Up Earrings and the Ligher is Lacy Treasure Pendant.  All these patterns are by Marilee Rockley from her Tatted Jewelry book.  These pieces are for a possible craft show later this year.

The two butterflies are my current colorways just made this past week.  The larger is called AMM-1.  My grand-daughter pick the colors and I dyed the thread.  The little one is called "Spike".

I am planning on having a few of these colors with me at Tat Days this year. 

Playing with Dyes Again

After a few more tries, I think I have come close to obtaining a Clemson Orange.  The ones on the right were my tries 6&7.  I used a different red.  Number 7 was more orange, but not correct.  After doing some more research and tweaking the cmyk formula, I came up with the colors on the left.  I believe the first one on the left is the one I want.

I have looked through the dyed samples I have already done.  I believe I have a Clemson Purple and Garnet done.  I will make better samples and send to someone to verify I have correct colors. 

The photo upper right is me playing with dyes.  The blue-green is a request from my daughter.  I have this and a shade lighter.  The other butterflies is a light muted green and muted blue-violet (photo does not do it justice).  I have dyed some to come to Palmetto Tat Days this year.  The green is hopefully close to a parrot green.  I have not decided if I will dye this one for tat days. 

The lower left is back to working on the Dyer's Dictionary samples.  Love playing and combining colors.  Never know what color will come out.  Pictures in a book are sometimes different shades than what is dyed outcome.  Also, there are other variables (water temp, humidity, operator error...) that come into play as well. 

The doily is from Tat-a-Renda tat-along she hosted (see a previous post).  I decided to finish my doily a few rows short.  Thread is April Showers that I had purchased online several years ago. 

Thread Dyeing

Got ambitious last week and got my dyes out.  Here are the results.

The first set are from The Dyer's Dictionary that I am slowly going through.  I can definitely see uses for some of these colors.  May do a varigated using about 3-4 of these colors.

The red set is my attempt to dye a cmyk color:  Clemson Orange.  The front is using a converted formula that I could find online.  The back is using 1/2 of the fuchsia.  I have done some more research and have learned there are two sets of primary dyes that a couple of dyers use:  an earthly one and a jewel one.  I will do some more experimenting this week and see if I can actually come closer to the orange color I want.

TIAS, Quilt Squares and Brussel Squares

TIAS for 2018 is now finished.  She has been swimming her way across the pond and finally made it into Jane's email basket.  It was another wonderful TIAS.  Thread was my own HDT in Cherry Cola with yellow eyes and Lizbeth pink thread.

I did a few of the Brussel Squares.  I did not send them (missed the deadline).  But I loved the pattern.  Worked them up with bits of pink thread I had on shuttles or left over from previous projects.

I have also been busy finishing up on 6 quilt squares for the 2018 Palmetto Tat Days scholarship.  Had fun deciding what to put on the squares.  Patterns were from Jane Eborall, Georgia Seitz, Sherry Pence, Karey Soloman, Wally Sosa, Martha Ess, Coretta De Loughmiller, Mary Konior and my own design.  If I have forgotten anyone, please forgive me.  I just started tatting away without writing down who was what's design.

I have another request for a couple more lanyards.  Halfway done with one.

Palmetto Tatters is doing a couple craft shows in April.  Would also like to tat a few projects for them to sell.

Also, I did submit and approved to teach a class for this years Palmetto Tat Days to be held in September.

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. 

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.

Still Tatting

Can't believe it has been over a month since I last posted.  My how time is flying.

I am still tatting.  Marilee Rockley's newest book happen to find its way to my house.  The beige piece on the right is the Beatrice necklace.  Will be making the earrings as well.  After this piece, I will work on the Beaded Path necklace and earring set from the same book.  Beads are from Fusion Beads in Seattle Washington.  Thread is Artiste Eggnog from Hobby Lobby.

The Barrett and the other pinky motif are from Tat Days 2016.  Aldebaran Dragonseed Star by Karey Solomon and the 3-D Barrette is by Sherry Pence.  Thread is Lizbeth, HDT by me.

The orange/gold is the Lucky Penny pattern by Carolyn Craig from the Facebook Tatting Groups.  I have 19 made.  My goal is to make approximately 130.  It is for a secret project.  Each one is made with a different color of thread.  It is one way to figure out how many colors I have (and if I need more). 

Who Gives a Hoot

I do.  Actually, used some of my treasure thread I purchased at Goodwill and made a bunch of owls to donate to the Palmetto Tatters Guild.  It was size 10, type unknown.

Been busy with hand dyeing thread again.  These are some beauties that I will bring with me to Tat Days to sell.  Mostly size 10 and 20, 50 yards each.  Lizbeth base.  Have one size 3 and a couple that have 25 yards.   I have another two types drying and will try to post in the next couple of days.  It is not alot.  This year has gotton away from me between babysitting grandkids and having to deal with my aging mother.  Anyway, what ever is left, I will post next week on this blog for anyone wanting to purchase.  

Have a few color variations that I want to dye but no names.  Might have to post the variation requesting names then random select.  Winner will receive a skein free!

Everything is packed.  Tatting bag is loaded with shuttles and thread for my classes.   It will be good to get away, tat, relax, tat, see friends new and previous met.

Tatting and Testing

I was given the opportunity to test tat a couple of patterns for Martha Ess's new book coming later this year.  The block train with windows and the bear will be in this book.  Really enjoyed working on these two patterns.  I am looking forward to the complete book.  I see tatted items on our grandkids clothing!  The train engine, box car and caboose are HDT by me and the coal car is Lizbeth Seafoam.  Bear is Lizbeth Angel Love I believe.

The owl is from last years Tat Days. I have about four more to make.  They will be given to the Palmetto Tatters Guild to hand out at the South Carolina Fair in October.

The butterfly is just left over thread I had on my shuttle.

Here is my edging I decided to make for a couple of pillow cases.  Edging is from Tatting Doilies & Edgings edited by Rita Weiss.  This is one of my first tatting books I purchased way back when I started tatting.  It is Dainty Edging No. 6.  Thread is Lizbeth Summer Fun.

With these tattings, I have completed numbers 9 thru 13 of my motif challenge.

To round out my entry, I have received my Phase II Artisan certification from Tatters Across Time.  I was surprised at how well I did.  I will submit my application for Phase III Master early fall.  I want to play catchup with projects and design for next years Tat Days before concentrating on the final phase.

2015 Fair Entries

Here is this years fair entries:

1) Coffee/brown Grab 'n Go tote bag (pattern by In Color modified to have pockets on the inside)

2) Mock Cluny star with beads (Karey Solomon's pattern from this years Tat Days)

3) A decoupage shuttle using glitter Modge Podge and Olaf stickers

4) A purple beaded necklace (hand dyed thread by me - see previous post on this one)

5 & 6) A purple beaded lanyard - Patti Duff pattern - and a brown doily.  The doily is from the book Tatting with Friends which I won at this years Tat Days auction.  The thread is Perle cotton which was given to me at one of my classes by A.J. (thank you so much).  These two items will have new homes after the fair (more on this with another post later).

With the lanyard and doily, that makes 23 and 24 of my 25 motif challenge.

Grab 'N Go Bags, Necklace, Doily

Finished my first two grab 'n go bags.  The large one has 10 small pockets and the smaller one has 6.  They are drawstring.  The larger one is big enough to put the Monster doily in with room to spare.

The necklace is hdt by me with sparkle beads.  Pattern is called Collana by silfoxestating (FB post Aug/Dec 2014).  Made for my brothers wedding in November.  Now to get the dress made.

The blue doily is something quick that I made to enter in the fair.  Pattern can be found in Tatted Fashion by Teiko Fujito.

The necklace and doily make number 15 and 16 of the 25 motif challenge.

Two weeks before Tat Days.  Wire legs need to be cut for the Tatting Bug class I am teaching.  Need to finish more bags to take with me for vending.  Shuttles need to be wound for the classes I am taking as well as gathering my tatting accessories.  Tags need to be made for the bags and shuttles my husband will be selling.  All this plus watching granddaughter a few days and taking mother to doctor/car dealer for vehicle recall work.  Time flies when having fun!

New Challenge, Cross, Heart and Rosette

Well, I have started my third 25-motif challenge. 

The cross is a Jane Eborall pattern.  I wanted something quick.  It went to an extended family member who has a son in the hospital.  It was tatted in Gold, Lizbeth size 20.

The heart is from an IOLI Bulletin (see March 13 post).  It was tatted in size 10, hand dyed by me.

The rosette was the start of a doily from Tatted Fashion by Teiko Fujito.  I started it last week when my mom was in the hospital.  I messed up so I just quite at the rosette part.  I have started again and it will work better (forgot to put the picots at the end of each chain after joining to previous round).  Anyway, it is tatted in Size 5 Metallic Perle Cotton found at Hobby Lobby.  The doily is project 1 which reminds me of a spider web.  I will tat some spiders for the doily and place it on my front window at Halloween.