This is it!

More than 50 years ago, I was given a cross bookmark as a thank you gift. That's when my interest in tatting began. I had never seen tatting before, and I was fascinated! The girl who gave me the bookmark moved shortly after giving it to me, so I was never able to learn to tat from her. It took me 20 years to learn how to tat.

The Internet gave me the ability to search for the pattern, which turned out to be from Workbasket. I was sorting through some files on my computer last night and found the pattern. Naturally, I had to tat it!

The thread is size 40 Lizbeth # 40-9100, Arctic Evening, one of the new Limited Series threads. I like the thread, but I'm not sure I like it for this pattern. I think this cross is prettier in a solid color, or perhaps something with more subtle color variations.

I also tatted "Christina" from Tatted Bookmarks ~ cross-shaped by Lene Bjorn. The color variations seem to work better with this pattern. However, I think I still prefer solid colors fro cross bookmarks.

I haven't worked tassels for these two yet, and I'm not sure I will. I adore tassels, but I find they sometimes get caught and get pulled out of the book, something I find very frustrating!

How do you feel about tassels on bookmarks?

A jaunty snowflake

I love Robin Perfetti's new book, Four Dozen Tatted Snowflakes, available in her Etsy shop. I started with Snowflake #1 earlier in the week, and today I decided to try the sample pattern at the beginning of the book. I put my tatting down to answer the phone, and I didn't pay attention to where I was in the pattern when I picked my tatting up again. As I was finishing the snowflake, I realized that something wasn't right. Look at that top ring!

I didn't get upset. I started chuckling to myself, because I thought the snowflake looked a bit jaunty. I think this one will go on my tree this year!

I did tat a second one, correctly this time, but it looks like it needs to be blocked. Not a problem, but it's something that can wait until morning!

How far did it go?

I made it my goal to tat up the rest of the green thread today. First, I tatted a Doodle Ice Drop with one picot at each point.

Then, I tatted a Doodle Ice Drop with three picots at each point.

Next, I tatted a Doodle Ice Drop with five picots at each point.

 I also finished another Coronavirus Button Cross. 

Yes, there is still a little bit of thread left, maybe two or three yards. I think I'll just keep it on the shuttle for now. It's hard to say when I might need just a touch of green!

Running out of green?

I'm always amazed at how much thread is left on a ball when I think I'm running low! I hoped I would have enough for a cross and an Ice Drop.

I did! In fact, I had enough for two Ice Drops.

It looks like I'll be able to get quite a bit more out of this ball of thread!

 

Elderberry Jam

Yesterday I tatted a Doodle Ice Drop and most of a cross in size 80. When I got home from school, I found a mistake, so I snipped off the thread and started over. A couple of hours later, I looked at the discarded piece and realized I hadn't made a mistake after all. Too late! Next time I think something needs to be snipped, I'm going to set it aside for a couple of hours just to be sure!

I really wasn't discouraged about working with the size 80 thread, so today I re-tatted Maria from Tatted Bookmarks ~ cross-shaped by Lene Bjorn. I'm so happy I did! I think it looks wonderful in Elderberry Jam, and it matches my personalized shuttle!

Another white day

 

I was in the mood to tat a cross today, and I chose "Maria" from Tatted Bookmarks ~ cross-shaped by Line Bjorn. It's been a while since I've tatted this one, and I forgot how large it is in size 20. I'm thinking of doing another in size 80 for a comparison. 

They were predicting snow flurries this weekend. That didn't happen, but thinking of snow flurries did put me in the mood to start tatting snowflakes! This is Snowflake #1 from Robin Perfetti's new book Four Dozen Tatted Snowflakes, available in her Etsy shop. I'm not sue if I'll get all four dozen tatted by Christmas, but I'm sure going to try!

What would the day be without an Ice Drop? 

Tatting with white

I spent today tatting with white. Of course there was a Doodle Ice Drop in the mix!

I tatted Pink Anchor (obviously not in pin) by Lily Qualls Morales for a friend. Shhh... don't tell anyone I missed a ring and chain. It does look slightly shorter, but I don't think it looks bad.

I ended my day with another Coronavirus Button Cross by Laura Blanton. The button I used is slightly smaller than the recommended size. I just made an easy adjustment between arms with a stitch count of 2-2 rather than 3-3. I think it worked out pretty well!

 

One more to go

I have one more pattern repeat to go before I start decreasing this first border of my Orenburg warm shawl. 

I'm happy to be building my stash of Ice Drops again. I want to be prepared for Christmas gift giving!

I now have another Coronavirus Button Cross also ready for Christmas. I love sharing my tatting during the holiday season!

A bit sore

I've been a bit sore today, but I guess that's to be expected the day after surgery. Luckily, I had plenty to keep me busy.

I finished another pattern repeat on my Orenburg warm shawl. I now have 9 of 11 repeats finished. Mom finished the 11th repeat of her second border today. I'm sure she will finish the decrease section tomorrow.

Another Doodle Ice Drop is ready for Christmas gift giving.

I also tatted another Coronavirus Button Cross. I think I had a pretty productive day!

Success!

My surgery was a success! We were gone most of the day, 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and I'm tired! I feel great, and I only have two restrictions: no driving for 24 hours, and no strenuous activity for six weeks. I can deal with that!

High hopes

I had high hopes of accomplishing a lot today. I didn't quite meet my goals, but I had fun!

While supervising the kids at school, I finished tatting another Coronavirus Button Cross by Laura Blanton. I had a little bit of thread left on my shuttle, so I decided to see how much I could tat of Mary Konior's Curds & Whey from Tatting with Visual Patterns. I thought I'd only get one pattern repeat, so I was pleased to get two. The shuttle is one of my favorites, a present from my cousin Trish. The shuttle was made and decorated by Rita Richmond of Shuttle by Design.

I now have eight pattern repeats finished on the first border of my Orenburg warm shawl.

Mom is zipping along with her second border. She's well into her eighth pattern repeat. I'm pretty sure she will finish her second border before I finish my first!

Perfect!

Linda Barnes found the pattern I was looking for!

http://www.georgiaseitz.com/2009/lilymoralespinkanchor2.jpg

Lily Qualls Morales designed this beauty, and it is the one I remember seeing. As you can see, it's quite a bit larger than the one I tatted yesterday.

I need to work on my chains, and I missed one of the chain sections at the top. Overall, I am very happy with this pattern. Now I need to find my ball of green thread!

Searching for an anchor

I'm looking for an anchor pattern.

Lisa Adams from Tatting Corner found this one for me: http://frivolenka.blogspot.com/p/predlohy.html

It's a great pattern, and I was able to tat it up pretty quickly, but it's not quite what I'm looking for. I'm looking for something a little more substantial, maybe as long as the shuttle. 

Does anyone remember seeing an anchor pattern other than this one? Have you designed an anchor? I'm sure I've seen one somewhere. The question is, where?

Sticking with a theme

 

Yes, I tatted another Coronavirus Button Cross by Laura Blanton today. I did change to a darker green.

I also tatted another Ice Drop. I know there's not much variety in my tatting, but I'm happy knowing that I'm building my stash for Christmas gift giving!

One more

Today was testing day at school, PSAT and SAT. I really expected to get more tatting done, but I'm still happy with what I accomplished. Today's Coronavirus Button Cross brings me up to six. I'd like to have at least a dozen ready for Christmas presents, which is certainly a goal that can be achieved!

I still had quite a bit of thread on my shuttle, and I could have completed an Ice Drop. Instead, I chose to tat Mary Konior's Curds & Whey from Tatting with Visual Patterns. I really think that if I had to choose just one tatting book to keep, it would be this one. What's your favorite tatting book?

2 + 2 = loads of tatting fun!

Today was a total tatting day. I haven't had one of those in quite a while!

I'm on a roll with Laura Blanton's Coronavirus Button Cross.

And, it feels good to be tatting Ice Drops again.

I enjoyed the first cross so much, I decided to tat another.

The same thing happened with the Ice Drop. Mom asked what I'll be doing with these. I have a feeling they'll end up as Christmas presents!

Monday, Monday

Mom and I had a busy day. We started off with a little housework and some crafting. I sorted through one of my jars of buttons, deciding which ones I realistically might use and baggings up the rest to give away. 

My main reason for sorting through buttons was so that I'd have easy access to the size needed for tatting these crosses. I do like this pattern, Coronavirus Button Cross by Laura Blanton. It takes me about two hours to tat one of these crosses, which is pretty good time.

It's been a while since I've tatted an Ice Drop. It felt good to get back into the Ice Drop groove!

I finished my sixth pattern repeat today. Mom is quickly catching up to me, the difference being that she's on her second border and I'm still on my first. I am enjoying knitting this Orenburg warm shawl!

Relaxing

We had a very relaxing day today. Dave worked on some outdoor projects, while Mom and I enjoyed indoor activities. 

Mom and I both worked on our Orenburg warm shawls today. I finished another pattern repeat, and Mom is zipping along with her second border panel. After making mistakes on three rows, I decided it was time to take a break from knitting.

It's been a long time since I've worked with doodads aka jewelry findings, and I decided today was as good a day as any to get to work. I didn't find the ones I was looking for, but I did find these acrylic flower findings that I had completely forgotten about.

After playing with the flower design, I decided to try the acrylic flower as the center for Laura Blanton's Coronavirus Button Cross. It worked pretty well!

Mom and I finished watching the seven seasons of Endeavour that are available and decided to watch Inspector Morse. I had watched the series a long time ago, so long ago that I really can't remember the plot lines. I've been working on my Granny Stripe afghan while watching the show. The pattern is so simple, I can follow the show and not mess up my project. Tonight I was able to crochet four rows while watching an episode. 

Today was far more productive than I could have imagined!

Four!

I just finished the fourth pattern repeat of my first border! I only have seven repeats to go before I start decreasing.

Mom has finished her first border. It measures 55" on the outside edge. She has already made a good start on the second border, and she's talking about a second shawl! I have a feeling she will finish her second shawl right around the time I finish my first one!