Yes, I Did...

Yes, I did. I bought the antique hanky we've been talking about on Here-Be-Tatters. I just couldn't help myself. I don't know how often this sort of thing comes available, so I didn't want to pass up a chance to own a piece of pre-1850 style tatting. You'll be hearing more about my obsession with antique tatting.

The mailbox also held the current issue of Tatting Times, and it's a really great one. I think I want to make everything in this issue. It starts with a butterfly that really caught my eye, and then there's a really fascinating Lotus Pod pattern. And then a thistle with woven picots on the inside of a Maltese Ring. Looks like I'm not the only one playing with picots.

And to round out an excellent day, I had thought the new book needed one more pattern, and I think the design phase is done. I'll be sure once I've sewn in the ends and blocked it, but I think this will do.

Edging No. 3

"EDGING, No. 3.

This is a strong and useful trimming, and is also extremely pretty, in coloured purse silk, or black as an edging, or to lay on the material intended to be trimmed as a gimp.

In cotton for a coarse and strong trimming, use Messrs. Walter Evans & Co.’s 000 Boar’s Head Cotton. For fine edgings, use 8, 10, or 16. Work from the reel, and fill the shuttle with the same cotton.

Work a straight length the quality you require in double loop, and cut off the threads.

2nd row.—Pass the cotton on the shuttle through the 1st loop * work 1 single, 5 pearl, work 9 double loop, 1 double, insert the crochet needle between the foundation thread, and 1st of double loop, draw the cotton on the shuttle through, drawing the 9 double loops, and 1 double firmly into an oval, pass the shuttle through, work 1 single, 5 pearl, pass the thread on the shuttle through the 6th loop, from 1st, and the shuttle firmly through it. Repeat. Now work on the other side of 1st row, unite the threads at the 1st loop, work 4 double, 1 loop, 4 double, draw the cotton on the shuttle through the foundation thread of the 6th double loop in 1st row, repeat from the beginning. Next row, draw the thread on shuttle through the loop in centre of 4 double on each side in row before, work 5 double loop, repeat. "


From Tatting or Frivolite; 1862, by Mrs. Mee and Miss Austin, page 18.

In the Mail

I've had such lovely things arrive in the mail lately.


First was a little package from Fox from her thread give-away. Not only was there the promised thread, but also a tatted motif and a little bag of findings. The motif is so bright and cheerful. The photo doesn't do justice to the beads.



Next was a package from Marie. The card alone is a nice present, with lots of little tatted bits in lots of different thread. I can tell this took some time.



But even better was the real gift, a Mary Konior doily. How wonderful!



Finally, in a really large envelope, came a gift I gave myself. More on that later.

Thank You

Thank you to all the folks who volunteered for test tatting. I had way more people offer than I needed and choosing just a few was really difficult, especially since so many were good friends. I like to have a mix of my tried-and-true test tatters from previous books plus some new faces who might bring fresh points of view.

Wanted

**I have lots of volunteers now, thank you all.**

Wanted: just a few tatters to test tat for my upcoming book, Playing with Picots. Projects are bookmarks and motifs (snowflakes, hearts, etc). Nothing too big, so hopefully each person can do 2 - 4 patterns. Or as many as you like :)

I am trying a few new things this time. Patterns will list the recommended size picot gauge for those that like to use them. (For really long picots, I could not get along without them myself.) The patterns will also give the estimated amount of thread. Therefore, I would like the testers to work the patterns in size 20 thread with the picot gauge suggested, to make sure I got those things right, as well as the usual finding mistakes in pattern or diagram.

If interested, please leave a comment or email me.

Thanks!