Here's How I Did It

Here is how I made those flower petals. This is the method I worked out. Someone else may know a better way.

First, wrap the thread around your hand, but instead of bringing it into the pinch as for a ring, bring the thread over the index finger and then into the pinch. This is the color that will show on the outer part of the petals. I used two shuttles, but perhaps this one could actually be a ball thread. You will hold this thread in place while weaving the other shuttle around it, so it feels a little like a cluny. Perhaps you could make a loom to hold the thread just like you do to avoid those cluny hand cramps.

Next, with the other shuttle, make an unflipped stitch around the left thread. (I had to make a few repeats before I could get a good photo.) If you are trying for one-sided/front-sided tatting appearance, make the halves of the stitch in reverse order.

Then make an unflipped stitch around the right thread.

Repeat back and forth, with the first stitches very close together, and then leaving more thread between sides as the V shape widens.

Once you have made enough repeats back and forth, end with a stitch on the left side. (Yes, that's an uneven number of stitches, but it works easier for me to start on the left.) Tension the stitiches so that they lie close together, and then begin making regular flipped stitches for the chain across the top of the petal.

Once you have enough stitches, tug this shuttle to tension the chain, then take the work off your hand and pull on the other shuttle to close the loop.

Then make one more stitch to bring the core thread down to the base of the petal. With the blue and gold threads, I had switched shuttles to make this stitch and with the pink and purple I did not. I'm not sure which way is best, though you would need to do it the second way if you were using a ball thread instead of two shuttles.

Techniques & Flowers

I think this little flower is the same technique that Gina showed on her blog yesterday.

At the Palmetto Tat Days last month, Riet had a pattern sheet in Danish showing this and sort of challenged me to figure it out. Well, I love a challenge. Below are a few single petals I worked that day as practice.

I meant to go back and do some more sometime, but forgot about it until I saw Gina's post. Then I just had to try it again and worked the little motif above. I'll tell you how soon, but not enough time right now.



Here is a similar effect, but totally different technique. This is the flower from Erin's Herringbone Hookup class, also at Palmetto last month.

And while I'm thinking of it, this is the project from Riet's Palmetto Night Owl class. The pattern was designed for an earring, but I used a larger thread to make it a Christmas ornament instead. By the way, this was a great technique. I already know how to get this effect with reverse work, shoe lace tie and switch shuttles, but Riet's way does the same thing so much faster without having to do all those things. I even finished this project that night.

I can claim Erin's flower and Riet's motif as challenge entries 8 & 9. (I'm restricting my challenge count this time to patterns by other people.)

Motif Seven - Vicki's Ruffled Heart

Believe it or not, I do actually produce a piece of tatting now and then...

I have admired Vicki Clarke's Ruffled Heart ever since I first saw it on her blog. The ruffled chain, a mixture of half and whole stitches, fascinates me, and may be one of those rare brand new ideas in tatting. Once Palmetto Tat Days were over, I finally had some time for some recreational tatting, so this was the first thing I did. The one above is made in size 40 Lizbeth thread, which Handy Hands generously donated for everyone's goody bag at Palmetto. I can agree with every one else that this is a very nice thread to work with. (The heart's a little lopsided, maybe because people kept on asking me questions while I was trying to count stitches.)



I liked it so well, I made it again, this time with Shuttle Lab Trends HDT, another gift at Palmetto. They sell it by the ball in the vending room there, but I don't know where else you can buy it. Another nice thread, and lovely colors.

This is the same heart again, this one made for me by Tatting Chic, using a Yarnplayer HDT.


And here is another gift, a Jane Eborall pattern made by Sherry Townsend. I think this is a Lizbeth thread. Don't the beads go well with the thread?




BTW, over the next weeks (months?) I will trying to sell assorted knit, crochet, cross stitch, quilting, etc books and magazines on ebay. Some of mine, some of my mom's. It's been a long time since I sold on ebay, so I'm having an uphill battle re-learning how. My seller name is esstats.

I've Been to the Fair

I didn't make my goal to enter something in the state fair, but I did enter in the county fair for the first time. Every year the internet tatting community encourages everyone to get tatting in the public eye in their area, so I finally did.

In my age division, there is only one actual tatting category "Item decorated with tatting", so I chose also "Bag, needlework", "Needlework, other", and "Christmas tree ornament". I didn't know what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised to come away with a handful of blue ribbons.

This was my ornament made from a pattern by Terry McGuffin.

My tatted handkerchief from a vintage pattern made with size 100 cotton.

A mixture of tatting, crochet, and vintage turtle braid from a pattern reprinted in "Old Time Crochet" magazine some years ago.

My own large motif/small doily butterfly combining tatting and hairpin lace.

I was glad to see one other tatting entry, an edged tablecloth by a lady in the senior division.

I felt a little guilty taking all those prizes with next to no competition. On the other hand, my greedy side was counting off all the categories I could enter next time....

While I had some time to waste until I could collect my pieces, I wandered through the rest of the pavilion. The table setting competion included a children's division.

This one, with real Depression glass dishes, was really sweet and dainty.....

but as the mother of all boys, I got more of a kick from this one:

Pics from Palmetto

I'm sure you have all heard by now what a great success the Palmetto convention was last week. (Of course, it is always great there.)

Here are a handful of pictures:

There are no scheduled events on Thursday (except for a teachers's meeting), but many arrive then to be ready for a full day Friday.

Hanging out in the common area Thursday. Just sitting around is one of my favorite things there. Great for visiting, looking at each other's stuff, and sharing techniques.

More sitting and sharing Thursday.

Leprechaun reunion!

Vending opens Thursday as well. Tatting heaven!

Friday begins with the Trade-a-Tip session, with several folks sharing ideas with the crowd.

More sharing time in the common area.

After the Friday afternoon classes comes a Fun-and-Games session and the speed tatting contest.

The banquet is Friday night.

Entertainment at the banquet is provided by Georgia holding an auction. Once you've seen one of these, you will never forget it.

After the banquet comes the Night Owl session. This begins with Riet teaching a pattern. We tat as long as we can and then stay on talking once we are too tired to tat. Here are the last to leave after everyone else has finally given up and gone to their rooms.

Saturday has a full day of classes, beginning with the Early Birds at 6:00 am. (That's the one event I don't get to.) The classrooms are nice, with lots of room on the tables.

Saturday night has another informal get-together, this time working on cards and sachet bags for a fund raiser, and another chance for socializing.

Last ones out Saturday night -- or was it Sunday morning by then?

Sunday morning there is breakfast and one more round of hugs and good byes. Sorry, no pictures that day.

Leprechaun Reunion at Palmetto

See it all at the Leprechaun's blog.

Too tired to tat

Lately I've been too busy to blog and too tired to tat. I just hope I can get ready for Palmetto in time.

Thank you to everyone who expressed condolences. I am still trying to get back on track after two deaths in the family.

Last week I did find time to tat this little cross bookmark for a special thankyou for someone. The pattern is from Mary Konior's Tatting with Visual Patterns. It is made in two rounds and works up quickly. I will count it in my current 25 Motif Challenge, though I forget what number I'm up to on this third time around.

I also recently took off a few hours to go downtown for a free concert in the park featuring the Carolina Chocolate Drops. I really enjoyed that and it was so nice to get away and relax a little.