Motifs 18 to 24 -- Snowflakes

You would think from this blog lately that there hasn't been much tatting going on. Actually, I have been hard at work making ornaments to give the girls at work. This is a group of Jane Eborall's Sequin Snowflakes. All those messy strings are the hanging loops sticking in all directions. I personally prefer the second, heavily beaded version off the pattern, but I needed the simpler version to get it done in time. Jane has so many great tips for adding beads as you go, which allows for maximum creativity with minimum premeditation, which is great for working at home. For this project, I strung all the beads ahead of time, so I could slip a couple shuttles in my pocket and I was all set to tat on the bus, during my coffee break, and any spare moment.





This one is Mike Meloy's snowflake. This is a quite nice one round snowflake - it works up fairly quickly, but has plenty of visual interest. In size 20 thread, it fits the bangle bracelets. Maybe a good idea for next year's giveaway.

If anyone thinks showing this many motifs all at once is a thinly veiled attempt to cover up the fact I missed my year's deadline for the challenge, all I can say is "Shhh!" Just one more...

Meet Danny

Remember my post about the package from Ireland? Pamela hastened to tell me that it wasn't a wait-till-Christmas-Day type package. Luckily, the post was running ahead of schedule, so there was still plenty of oxygen left, and tragedy was averted.

This is Danny, one of Pamela's magic creations. I wish you could see all the details and the tiny stitches. And there was a skein of Rainbow Bright too. I am so lucky.

Danny has been exploring his new digs, with much head-shaking at the dust and clutter. Here he is, climbing in the closet shelves. Is he looking for a storage place for his thread, or hoping to add to his own stash? I think I had better keep an eye on him.

Time Out For Crochet--Polar Bear

I enjoy lurking at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/amigurumi. Today's post is a thank you and Merry Christmas for those nice folks there (and anyone else who crochets).

Polar Bear
Copyright 2008, Martha Ess, revised 12/10/2011
You may make copies for yourself and a few friends, you may make, give, or sell the item, but you may not reprint or repost the pattern elsewhere without permission.

Materials: worsted weight yarn, white and small amount black, fiberfill, size G hook. (optional red yarn and white pom-pom for trim)

Size: 5 1/2” long, 3 ½” high

Body: Do not join at ends of rounds, work continuously, marking ends of rounds. The eyes are French knots, easiest to work a little while after the ears have been made. Stuff with fiberfill as the opening grows smaller.

With Black yarn
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic circle (or ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook) (6 sc)
Change to White yarn
Rnd 2: [2 sc in sc, sc in next sc] 3 times (9 sc)
Rnd 3: [2 sc in sc, sc in next 2 sc] 3 times (12 sc)
Rnd 4: [2 sc in sc, sc in next 3 sc] 3 times (15 sc)
Rnd 5: sc in each sc (15 sc)
Rnd 6: 2 sc in sc, sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc, 4 dc in front loop of next sc (ear made), sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc, 4 dc in front loop of next sc, sc in next 2 sc (16 sc and 2 ears)
Rnd 7: sc in each sc and sc in unused back loops behind the ears (18 sc)
Rnd 8: [2 sc in sc, sc in next 5 sc] 3 times (21 sc)
Rnd 9: sc in each sc (21 sc)
Rnd 10: [2 sc in sc, sc in next 6 sc] 3 times (24 sc)
Rnd 11: sc in each sc (24 sc)
Rnd 12: [2 sc in sc, sc in next 7 sc] 3 times (27 sc)
Rnd 13: sc in each sc (27 sc)
Rnd 14: [2 sc in sc, sc in next 8 sc] 3 times (30 sc)
Rnd 15: sc in each sc (30 sc)
Rnd 16: [2 sc in sc, sc in next 9 sc] 3 times (33 sc)
Rnd 17: sc in each sc (33 sc)
Rnd 18: [2 sc in sc, sc in next 10 sc] 3 times (36 sc)
Rnd 19: sc in each sc (36 sc)
Rnd 20: [2 sc in sc, sc in next 11 sc] 3 times (39 sc)
Rnd 21: sc in each sc (39 sc)
Rnd 22: [2 sc in sc, sc in next 12 sc] 3 times (42 sc).
Rnd 23: sc in each sc (42 sc)
Rnd 24: [decrease, sc in next 5 sc] 6 times (36 sc)
Rnd 25: [decrease, sc in next 4 sc] 6 times (30 sc)
Rnd 26: [decrease, sc in next 3 sc] 6 times (24 sc)
Rnd 27: [decrease, sc in next 2 sc] 6 times (18 sc)
Rnd 28: [decrease, sc in next sc] 6 times (12 sc)
Rnd 29: decrease 6 times, sl st in 1st stitch and end off, leaving a few inches of thread. Sew closed.

Front legs: with White yarn(make 2)
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic circle (or ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook) (6 sc)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each sc (12 sc)
Rnd 3: [2 sc in sc, sc in next sc] 6 times (18 sc)
Rnd 4: sc in next 4 sc, ch 8. (Hold the leg so that you are in position to work into the beginning of the round, with the right side still facing you. The chain 8 forms a loop which begins the bottom part of the leg.)
Rnd 5: sc in the 4 sc of Rnd 4 and in each ch (12 sc)
Rnd 6 - 7: sc in each sc for 2 rounds (12 sc)
Rnd 8: working in back loops, decrease 6 times, sl st in 1st stitch and end off, leaving a few inches of thread. Sew closed.


Beginning of Round 5 of Front Leg


Completed Front Leg. The large round upper sections of the legs are sewn to the body to form shoulders and hips.

Rear legs: with White yarn(make 2)
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic circle (or ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook) (6 sc)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each sc (12 sc)
Rnd 3: [2 sc in sc, sc in next sc] 6 times (18 sc)
Rnd 4: [2 sc in sc, sc in next 2 sc] 6 times (24 sc)
Rnd 5: sc in next 6 sc, ch 12 (Hold the leg so that you are in position to work into the beginning of the round, with the right side still facing you. The chain 12 forms a loop which begins the bottom part of the leg.)

Rnd 6: sc in the 6 sc of Rnd 5 and in each ch (18 sc)
Rnd 7: sc in each sc (18 sc)
Rnd 8: working in back loops, [decrease, sc in next sc] 6 times (12 sc)
Rnd 9: decrease 6 times, sl st in 1st stitch and end off, leaving a few inches of thread. Sew closed

Tail: with White yarn
Row 1: Ch 3, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, ch 1, turn
Row 2: Sc in each sc, ch 1, turn
Row 3: Decrease, ch 1, turn
Row 4: sc in sc. End off.

Sew legs to body using whip stitch and stuffing lightly as you go. It is easiest to sew the upper flat parts first. Sew tail to behind.



More views to aid placing pieces:







Optional accessories: (If making for toy for small child, omit accessories, or sew on securely.)

Scarf:
With Red yarn
Row 1: Ch 4, dc in 3rd ch from hook, dc in next ch, turn
Row 2-22: Ch 3, dc in next 2 dc. End off. Make fringe with white yarn.



Hat:
With Red yarn
Row 1: Ch 12, sl st to 1st ch
Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in each ch, sl st to top of Ch 3 (12 dc)
Row 3: Ch 3, [decrease, dc in next dc] 3 times, decrease, sl st to top of Ch 3 (8 dc)
Row 4: Ch 3, dc in dc, decrease, dc in next 2 dc, decrease, sl st to top of Ch 3 (6 dc)
Row 5: Ch 3, decrease, dc in dc, decrease, sl st to top of Ch 3, end off.
With White yarn, turn over, work in unused loops of Row 1 chains:
Ch 3, dc in same ch, [dc in next ch, 2 dc in next ch] 5 times, dc in next ch, sl st to top of Ch 3, end off. Fold white row upward. Sew white pom-pom to point of hat.

Thankful for Gifts, Part 4

A surprise has arrived all the way from County Cork, Ireland. Oooooh, what can it be?

Pamela has also enclosed a pretty card bearing one of her Tumbling Snowflakes, worked in her own Rainbow Bright hand dyed thread. This thread is just as gorgeous in person as you would expect it to be from the many pictures of it I have seen.

A special thank you to Pamela.

Thankful for Gifts, Part 3

These date back to the Palmetto convention in early September, and I apologize to the givers for not showing them off earlier. This is a butterfly given to me by Sherry Townsend. The pattern is from Tatted Animals by Inga Madsen, but Sherry has worked some of her special magic, experimenting with some two thread techniques. The scan doesn't do justice to the beads, which are very delicate and sparkly.





The Palmetto guild treat their teachers like royalty. Lori Dunlap made bags for all the teachers with a heart motif, and heart edging all around. I was amazed with all the work she did. The bag is like a handkerchief bag, but larger. Pictured alongside are just a couple of the many other gifts.

Update: this pattern is Regal Heart from Tatting Hearts by Teri Dusenbury. I didn't recognize it at first, but I should have. Both of the pattern books mentioned here are excellent. How many times have you bought a book for just one pattern? I have worked quite a few patterns from both of these, making them well worth having.

Thankful for Gifts, Part 2

Here are two lovely Romanian Point Lace teapots from Gina Brummett. This form of lace combines needle lace and a crocheted braid. Though her nickname is the "Tatting Goddess", she is a lady of many talents and also makes other forms of lace, crochets, sews, paints, etc.

Some more goodies.

I actually tatted something that wasn't ugly this week, but Shh!! it's a secret.

Thankful for gifts, Part 1

I don't have any new tatting to show, since lately all I have are really ugly rough drafts, so I thought I would share some of the beautiful things I have been fortunate enough to receive.

These are two turtles by Tatbit Teri Dusenbury. This is exquisite, meticulous work with all these tiny beads placed so perfectly. Please visit her blog, here.

She is planning a new e-book of heart patterns, which I am very excited about. Her book, Tatting Hearts, from Dover Books was very influential for me, since I think it was my first "modern" pattern book, as compared to the reprints of earlier works which were all I had before. This book also introduced me to the split ring, which was a huge,revolutionary concept for me.