Wash day

Do you prewash your fabric? I do most of the time. It's something my mom taught me to do, and old habits die hard. 

Here are my goodies from yesterday's shopping spree. The fabric worked out to about $1 per yard. I'm not sure what I'll do with all of it yet, but I'm prepared for lots of Christmas presents!

I think this will be the last of the crocheted scarves for a while. I did enjoy making them, but I much prefer thread crochet to crocheting with yarn. 

I finished another woven scarf today as well. If we get any snow this winter, I know this scarf will keep Dave warm when he's clearing the driveway!

So far, I'm really enjoying tatting the Jan Stawasz doily. It's a pretty straightforward pattern. All I need to do is stay focused!

Calling all Tollway Tatters!

Sue Anna and I have decided that we need to start the new year off right with a Tollway Tatters meeting, so we're planning to get together this Friday, January 2. We'll meet at the Hinsdale Oasis on 294 at 10 a.m.  If you need more info and would like to join us, please email me. We always have a great time!

Today was a very busy day. Dave and I ran errands, got the oil changed on the car, and went out for a wonderful lunch. We also went to Hobby Lobby where Dave found ornaments 80% off, and I found Christmas fabric 66% off. Despite all this, I did manage to get a little done on the Jan Stawasz doily. 

I also managed to finish another scarf. I don't mind saying that scarves are much more fun when there are no deadlines involved!

And it begins...

I really planned to start the so-called "Monster Doily" by Jan Stawasz on January 1, the perfect time for new beginnings. However, now that the Christmas bustle has died down, I just couldn't resist getting started. I'm using size 20 Lizbeth, and I'm really interested to see how large it will be. 

The real question is, will I have time to try tatting all the other ideas I have in mind?

Ready at last!

I just finished the fringe on my last two Christmas presents, scarves for two of my granddaughters. Now to get them wrapped and let the holiday fun begin!  I think I'm going to unplug until the new year. 

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Still creating!

This past week was filled with weaving and crocheting. I'm having fun, but I really am itching to tat!

Shhh! Don't tell!

I've accomplished a lot this week... Only four scarves and three pillows to go!

Keeping secrets

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and when I had bits of time here and there, I worked on Christmas presents. I can't show everything as someone in the family might stumble upon this post and guess that a gift is for him/her. 

I've been having loads of fun. Unfortunately, making Christmas presents has left little time for tatting. Once presents are finished (Christmas Eve?), I'm going on a tatting binge!

Lucky number 7!

2 infinity scarves...

plus 5 Christmas stockings...

equals 7 completed projects!

Lucky mail day!

When I went to my mailbox yesterday, I found my newest shuttles from Monica Braxton, engraved with their new laser engraver. I think I love laser engraving!

I also received my magazine with the Jan Stawasz monster doily, which I think I'll start on New Year's Day. 

I crocheted two headbands/ear warmers this weekend. I'm not thrilled with the way either one turned out, but I'm sure someone will want them. :-)

I've also been working on Christmas stockings this weekend. Soon I'll get back to tatting!

Mesquite

I love the touch of green in this scarf, although I think a touch of blue would be much prettier! ;-)

I used Wool-Ease Thick & Quick in Mesquite. It's 32" x 6". 

Here's you're visual Sue Anna! I still have trouble taking selfies. Maybe it's the iPad. :-)

Scarf instructions

Because I was asked...

One skein of yarn will make one of these scarves. I've tried worsted, two strands of worsted held together, bulky, and super bulky. 

Chain 50 - 60 stitches, depending on the length scarf you want. 

Join to first chain to make a circle. 

Chain 3. Double crochet in same stitch (this helps eliminate the gap that can form when joining the circle).

Double crochet in each stitch around, always starting with a chain 3 and double crochet in the first stitch. (When joining, make sure you skip the chain 3 and join to ththe first double crochet.)

Work in this manner until the scarf is about 6" or your desired width. 

For a double loop scarf, I used one skein of worsted weight and chained 150. I don't have to hook with me, but I think I used a J for worsted weight. 

I hope to see posts of other scarves!

Skinny scarf

I made a scarf out of this beautiful Wool-Ease Chunky the other day, and there was quite a bit left over... enough to make a skinny scarf! This one is 30" x 4" and the color is Willow. I think this will be just the right size to keep the chill off my neck at school on bitterly cold days. 

Just peachy!

I've been busy, just not with tatting other than a few rings and chains here and there... I've been too busy crocheting!

I love this infinity scarf! It's made with Bernat Baby Blanket "Peachy" which is super soft. It measures 26" x 6" making it a wonderful neck warmer for adults or a scarf for kids. 

Making these scarves is like eating popcorn... I just can't stop!

My basket is full!

I don't think I can fit another scarf in my basket, so I think my crocheting binge has come to a stop. I've had so much fun with these, and I know I will have some warm friends and family members this winter. 

Now I'm feeling the urge to tat!

Scarves!

Tatting's on hold, because I've been crocheting scarves!

Mustika

Simple and elegant...

I love this snowflake! This is number 7 from Elegant Tatting Gems by Jon Yusoff. It's just under 5" in size 20 Lizbeth, Arctic Waters. 

#8 is next on the list. It looks like one I'll really enjoy, but I'll have to keep a close eye on the pattern so that I don't mess it up!

Getting ready for winter

I'm on a crochet binge! I just can't help myself. These scarves are so much fun to make, and I'm managing to use up some of my stash!

Galuh

Galuh is the sixth pattern in Jon Yusoff's Elegant Tatting Gems. I had to pay attention to this one because of the shuttle switches, but luckily, Jon's color coded visual pattern helped me keep track of where I was!

Galuh is 4 1/4" across in size 20 Lizbeth, Arctic Waters. 

It's not November yet, but I'm starting to feel the Christmas crunch! Are you?

A new group of tatters

This year's third graders have started asking about tatting. Let the shuttle fun begin!

Cintamani

Isn't it pretty when tatted correctly? I know it was pretty before, and I do appreciate all the ideas for salvaging the snowflake with the missing ring. Never fear! The mis-tatted Cintamani has a loving home!

Again, I used size 20 Lizbeth, Arctic Waters. The finished size is 4 1/2". My craft rings arrived this week. I have some ideas for setting my snowflakes in the rings. I'll be sure to show you the results!

Lest you think I've been a slacker... after all, I have not been blogging much... I'll show you what else I've been working on...

These are infinity scarves I crocheted for my granddaughters. I just chained 40 for the youngest, 45 for the older girls, joined the circle, and double crocheted until I ran out of yarn. I used very soft bulky yarn, so they worked up fairly quickly. I think I'll try for a lacy look with finer yarn next time, and I think I'll make them just a little longer. 

I finished weaving another bag, and I've been practicing making fringe with my new fringe twister from Lacis. I actually ordered it from Amazon, because that's where I found it. I saved a couple of dollars, which means I can buy a little more yarn! ;-)

What's wrong with this picture?

I don't think you even have to look closely to see the big gap where I forgot to tat a very important ring! I have no idea how I did that, but I'm going to blame it on tatting in the car. ;-)

Baiduri

Baiduri was a fun snowflake to tat! I think I should have used longer picots, because when finished there was a lot of cupping. I was able to tame it with my steam iron, but I will use longer picots next time! This is the 4th pattern in Elegant Tatting Gems by Jon Yusoff. 

Again, I used size 20 Lizbeth, Arctic Waters. The finished size is 4 1/2" across. I've ordered some 5" craft rings, and I'm hoping to successfully mount my snowflakes in the rings. I may have to drive to Michigan to get some help from my friend Sue. Road trip!

I finished another scarf this weekend. This one measures 60" after wet finishing, so there was more shrinkage than with the last scarf. Is 60" long enough? Should I make them longer? They're about 10" wide. I'd love to get your feedback!

Almas

I am really enjoying tatting snowflakes again! I can complete one in two or three evenings, and I don't get bored!

This is Almas from Jon Yusoff's Elegant Tatting Gems. I used size 20 Lizbeth, Arctic Waters, and it measures 5" across. Time for another snowflake!

Adan

It took me a couple of days to finish Adan from Jon Yusoff's Elegant Tatting Gems, because I kept making mistakes on the last section. First, I need to remember that with a pattern like this, I need to count the rings on the inside, not the outside, to determine when I'm at the end. Retro-tatting is so time consuming! Second, I need to pay attention to where I'm supposed to join... again, retro-tatting is time consuming!

The finished size is 4 1/2" in size 20 Lizbeth, Arctic Waters. 

One of Dave's customers requested a red and white bag. I found this really cool yarn that is very soft. I really like the way this bag turned out, but more importantly, Dave's customer liked it!

I really am enjoying my loom. This weekend I finished a scarf. I had so much fun, I started another!

Adiratna

Elegant Tatting Gems by Jon Yusoff is one of my favorite tatting books, so opening it up to tat a snowflake was a no-brainer.

Adiratna is the first snowflake in the book. It's one I've tatted many times, and I never get tired of tatting it! It's about 3 3/4" across in size 20 Lizbeth, #185. 

With snow reported in our area this morning... I never saw any, but it was on Facebook, so it must be true ;-)... it seemed that tatting a snowflake was very appropriate!

Much better!

Snowflake 2 from Festive Snowflakes & Ornaments looks so much better when tatted correctly. 

Now I'm in the mood to try another snowflake!

Pffffft!

Finishing my doily left me really excited to start a new project, so I pulled out Festive Tatted Snowflakes & Ornaments edited by Barbara Foster. I skipped Snowflake 1, because I didn't feel like searching for a 2 1/2" satin covered ball. I'm sure I have one, but it's someplace really safe! 

Moving on to Snowflake 2 was a great idea, and I was able to tat it up very quickly. However, I made a mistake on the last spoke of the snowflake, which absolutely ruined it. 

It wasn't worth my time to take out all those rings and chains, so I'll just have to tat another!

At last!

I can't believe how long it's taken me to finish this doily, but it's done and I'm very pleased with it!

Mom's Pink Doily is a free pattern from Nancy Tracy at be-stitched.com. Mine is obviously not pink, but size 20 Lizbeth, Leafy Greens. It's a little over 10" across. 

Daughter Joanne requested this doily at least three years ago. It's really a very simple pattern to follow. I got hung up on round 4 because of all the individual medallions. Once I got into the groove (making sure I joined in the correct spot), I found that round 4 was really very simple. Round 6 just took a long time because it was the last round! ;-)

The hurrier I go...

...the behinder I get! That's the feeling these days, yet somehow I manage to get a few things accomplished. The past week has been filled with activity... Dave's birthday, Aidan's soccer game, the middle school boys' regional baseball game, meetings, weaving, and tatting!

I'm almost halfway around the final round of Mom's Pink Doily by Nancy Tracy. I know that once I'm two-thirds around there will be no stopping me! In the meantime, it's two or three rings here, two or three rings there. Little by little, I'm getting it done!

Lots of rings!

I started round 6 of Mom's Pink Doily by Nancy Tracy on Friday. It has lots of rings!

Ready for another round!

I finished round 5 of Mom's Pink Doily by Nancy Tracy last night, and I'm ready to start round 6. I'll be winding my shuttle before I head off to school this morning. I'm really looking forward to the next round!

Psst! Don't look too closely... as I was tatting round 5, I found a mistake in round 4. There was no way I was going to undo all that work for a little mistake. I'll tell you what... I won't point it out if you won't. :-)

Little by little

I didn't spend as much time tatting last night as I could have. My iPad just kind of jumped into my lap, and I wound up surfing for a while! ;-)

Still, I was able to tat enough that I'm a little past the halfway point. Yay!

Movin' along

I'm pleased with the progress I've made on round 5 of Mom's Pink Doily. It's amazing what can be accomplished by just sitting down and tatting!

Determination!

That's all it took to complete round 4 of Mom's Pink Doily by Nancy Tracy! Of course I also had to neglect a little housework, but that's okay. It will still be there tomorrow. ;-)

Right now the doily is 8" across, with two more rounds to go. I'm using size 20 Lizbeth, Leafy Greens. I'll start round 5 while I'm watching football this afternoon. Right now, the Bears are down by 10, so I need a little distraction!Mom