Goodbye 2020!

Are you ready for 2020 to disappear? I am! We have about five hours to go here in the Chicago area. I will not be staying up until midnight. I haven't done that in years!

I started off the day by adding another Eightsome Reel motif to my doily that may become a tablecloth or curtain. I'm still not sure what I want it to be!

I also worked on button ornaments. I decided to play with some ideas using the December 1 base pattern. I scrapped three or four that I messed up, but I'm happy that I have three to show for my efforts today.

Let's hope 2021 brings happiness and health to all!

Variations

I pulled out a Christmas candy tin today, lined it with felt, and gently tucked away my December button ornaments. I didn't count how many there are, but there are many more than I remembered tatting!

I really like this Lizbeth Seafood Green Lt, and I've decided to decorate a white Christmas tree with ornaments tatted in this color for a local fundraiser, Mean Green Goes Pink. The event is held at the end of October every year, and I'm hoping that things are back to normal so that the big event can take place again. I would love for my donation to be a fully decorated tree!

The button ornament is my design from December 13.

While working on the button, I got to thinking that I might like the pattern as an Ice Drop. The one on the right is the first one I tatted. The chains were a little too short, which caused some cupping. I increased the length of the chains on the left one, but I think they're a little too long. I'm not sure I like this design for an Ice Drop, but these two will still go in my ornament tin. When I decorate the tree, I'll see if these two make the cut!

 

Slow day

 

Today was a slow tatting day, but I don't mind slow days. I have one Ice Drop finished.

I also managed to tat one button ornament. All in all, it was a good day!

Keepin' busy

 

I really managed to pack a lot into today! First I added a motif to my doily that may become a curtain. It will take me a while to decide if I really will tat curtains.

I used up the ball of white thread I was using for my December button ornament challenge. I just happened to have this pretty Lizbeth Seagreen Lt in the basket by my chair, and this little button was in the button box on my table. The button isn't quite 1/2". The rings look a little squished, but I still like it.

Of course an Ice Drop was on my must tat list today!

It's been a while since I've worked on my Orenburg warm shawl. It felt good to be knitting again!

My big project of the day was to cut out drama club t-shirts. The plan is to make curtains for daughter Carol's classroom. I was on a roll, so I also fused interfacing to the blocks. The next step will be to measure the windows so that I can determine what size the blocks need to be. After Carol chooses the layout, I'll get busy sewing. I can hardly wait to see how the project turns out!

Big ideas

 

I sometimes get big ideas. My latest big idea is to tat curtains for my bedroom. I'm not sure if it will really happen, but I started today. I'm going to start out with a square of nine motifs. From there I will work on making it a four by four square, then five by five, and so forth. I think I need 20 squares to go across the window, and I haven't figured out how many I need to go down. I don't want to do too much math in one day!

We'll see how far I get. I may just end up with a large square doily!

I also had some fun with button ornaments today. I'm planning on working on these and Ice Drops for next year's Christmas giving and hopefully a craft fair or two!

Button fun

 

I actually finished designing my December button ornaments a few days ago. I wanted to stay in button mode for December, so I chose to tat my December 1 button base using every color button in my little plastic button box.

When I purchased this box of buttons from Amazon about a month ago, it wasn't because I needed buttons. I have several large jars filled with buttons, and I've been sorting through and giving away buttons that I know I'll never use. Several of the colors don't even appeal to me. However, they are all the same size, and they're sorted. 

I don't think I'll tat all 25 button patterns again. Honestly, some of the patterns just don't appeal to me. I think I'll just continue to have some button fun!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! My December tatting challenge has come to an end. Yes, I know there are more days left in December, but this seems like a fitting time to conclude this project. I've had great fun, and I hope that you have found an ornament or two that inspired you to pick up your tatting shuttles or needles.

December 25 Button Ornament

Materials:

7/8" two hole button

size 20 thread

2 shuttles wound continuous thread method

Symbols:

+ join

- joining picot

Round 1:

Ring 4 + 4 - 8, reverse work

Chain 3 - 3 - 3, lock join to picot on ring, reverse work

Repeat around with 5 joins in each hole, for a total of 10 ring/chain combinations.

Round 2:

Chain 3, reverse work

Ring 3 + 3, joining to first picot on chain from previous round, reverse work

Chain 5 - 1, switch shuttles, do not reverse work

Ring 1 + 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1- 1- 1, joining to chain (12 ds, one join, 11 picots),

switch shuttles, do not reverse work

Chain 1 + 5, joining to last picot of previous ring, reverse work

Ring 3 + 3, joining to next picot on previous round, reverse work

Chain 3, lock join between rings of previous round

Repeat around. Cut, tie, and hide ends.

December 24 button ornament

 

My December challenge is winding down! I do have one more for tomorrow. After that, I'm giving my brain a rest!

December 24, 2020

Materials:

7/8" two hole button

size 20 thread

2 shuttles wound continuous thread method

Symbols:

+ join

- joining picot

Round 1:

Ring 4 + 4 - 8, reverse work

Chain 9, lock join to picot on ring, reverse work

Ring 4 + 4 - 8, reverse work

Chain 3 - 3 - 3, lock join to picot on ring, reverse work

Repeat around with 5 joins in each hole, for a total of 10 ring/chain combinations.

Round 2:

Chain 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 (12 ds, 11 picots), lock join between

rings on previous round

Chain 3, lock join to picot on chain of previous round

Chain 3, switch shuttles, do not reverse work

Ring 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 (12 ds, 11 picots), switch shuttles, do not

reverse work

Chain 3, lock join to next picot on chain of previous round

Chain 3, lock join between rings on previous round

Repeat around. Cut, tie, and hide ends.

December 23 button ornament

Tatting with buttons has become quite addictive! I decided that it would be fun to have some scattered on the tree skirt to look like the gnomes have snow for Christmas.

I'm almost finished with my self-imposed button challenge! Once I finish on Christmas day, I plan on tatting some with colors, although I really like the way the white thread shows up on the tree. We'll see if I stick to that plan!

December 23 Button Ornament

Materials:

7/8" two hole button

size 20 thread

2 shuttles wound continuous thread method

Symbols:

+ join

- joining picot

-- decorative picot

--- longer decorative picot

Round 1:

Ring 3 + 3 - 6, reverse work

Chain 7, lock join to picot on ring, reverse work

Repeat around with 6 joins in each hole, for a total of 12 ring/chain combinations.

Round 2:

Chain 2 - 2 - 2 - 2, lock join between rings of previous round

Chain 4 - 4, jock join between next set of rings of previous round

Repeat around.

Round 3:

Chain 3, lock join to first picot on previous round, switch shuttles, do not reverse work

Ring 6 - 3, switch shuttles, do not reverse work

Chain 2, lock join to next picot on previous round, switch shuttles, do not reverse work

Ring 3 + 3 - 1 -- 1 --- 1 -- 1 - 3 - 3, joining to previous ring, switch shuttles, do not 

reverse work

Chain 2, lock join to next picot on previous round, switch shuttles, do not reverse work

Ring 3 + 6, joining to previous ring, switch shuttles, do not reverse work

Chain 3, lock join to space between chains of previous round

Chain 4, lock join to picot on previous round, switch shuttles, do not reverse work

Ring 10, switch shuttles, do not reverse work

Chain 4, lock join to space between chains of previous round

Repeat pattern around. Cut, tie, and hide ends.

December 22 button ornament

 

Mom and I went to daughter Carol's house for lunch yesterday. Carol made a scrumptious cauliflower soup, and we were able to taste test her very first cannolis! They were delicious.

When we returned home, Mom took her afternoon nap and I tatted!

December 22 Button Ornament

Materials:

7/8" two hole button

size 20 thread

2 shuttles wound continuous thread method

Symbols:

+ join

- joining picot

-- decorative picot

Round 1:

Ring 4 + 4 - 8, reverse work

Chain 9, lock join to picot on ring, reverse work

Repeat around with 5 joins in each hole, for a total of 10 ring/chain combinations.

Round 2:

Chain 4, lock join to picot on chain from previous round

Chain 3, switch shuttles, do not reverse work

Ring 3 - 3 -- 3 - 3, switch shuttles, do not reverse work

Chain 3, lock join to next picot on chain from previous round

Chain 4, lock join between rings from previous round

Chain 3, lock join to next picot on chain from previous round

Chain 3, lock join to next picot on chain from previous round

Chain 3, lock join between rings from previous round

Repeat around. Cut, tie, and hide ends.

December 21 button ornament

Today I'm offering two stitch counts for another base pattern. One stitch count will give you ten ring/chain combinations, and the other will give you twelve.

Just think of all the possibilities! 

December 21 Button Ornament Base #4

 

Materials:

7/8" two hole button

size 20 thread

shuttle and ball

Symbols:

+ join

- joining picot

For a 10 ring/chain base:

Round 1:

Ring 4 + 4 - 8, reverse work

Chain 9, lock join to picot on ring, reverse work

Repeat around with 5 joins in each hole, for a total of 10 ring/chain combinations. 

For a 12 ring/chain base:

Round 1:

Ring 3 + 3 - 6, reverse work

Chain 7, lock join to picot on ring, reverse work

Repeat around with 6 joins in each hole, for a total of 12 ring/chain combinations.

December 20 button ornament

As Christmas gets closer, I'm getting more and more excited about my button ornaments!

December 20 Button Ornament

Materials:

7/8" two hole button

size 20 thread

2 shuttles wound continuous thread method

Symbols:

+ join

- joining picot

-- decorative picot

Round 1:

Ring: 5 - 5 + 5 - 5, join to hole in button, reverse work

Chain: 5 - 5, reverse work

*Ring: 5 + 5 + 5 - 5, joining to previous ring and hole in button, reverse work

Chain: 5 - 5**

Continue around from * to ** with six joins in each button hole. This will give you a total

of 12 rings and 12 chains. Lock join final chain to base of first ring.

Round 2:

Chain 6, lock join to picot on chain of previous round

Chain 6 - 6, lock join to next picot on chain of previous round

Chain 6, lock join to base of ring on previous round

Repeat around

Round 3:

Chain 7, lock join to small space in join of previous round

Chain 7, lock join to picot on chain of previous round, do not reverse work, switch 

shuttles

Ring 10, do not reverse work, switch shuttles

Chain 7, locjoin to small space in join of previous round

Chain 7, lock join to small space at base of ring from previous round

Repeat around.

December 19 button ornament

 

It's a good thing I have an outlandish supply of buttons, because I sure am having fun!

December 19 Button Ornament

Materials:

7/8" two hole button

size 20 thread

2 shuttles wound continuous thread method

Symbols:

+ join

- joining picot

-- decorative picot

--- longer decorative picot

Round 1:

Ring: 5 - 5 + 5 - 5, join to hole in button, reverse work

Chain: 5 - 5, reverse work

*Ring: 5 + 5 + 5 - 5, joining to previous ring and hole in button, reverse work

Chain: 5 - 5**

Continue around from * to ** with six joins in each button hole. This will give you a total

of 12 rings and 12 chains. Lock join final chain to base of first ring.

Round 2:

Split ring 10/10, do not reverse work

Chain 6, reverse work

Ring 6 + 6, joining to picot on chain of previous round, reverse work, switch shuttles

Ring 12, don not reverse work, switch shuttles

Chain 6, reverse work

Ring 10 + 10, joining to base of ring on previous round, reverse work

Chain 6, reverse work

Ring 6 + 6, joining to picot on chain of previous round, reverse work, switch shuttles

Ring 6 - 1 -- 1 --- 1 -- 1 - 6, do not reverse work, switch shuttles

Chain 6, reverse work

*Ring 10 + 10, reverse work

Chain 6, reverse work

Ring 6 + 6, joining to picot on chain of previous round, reverse work, switch shuttles

Ring 12, don not reverse work, switch shuttles

Chain 6, reverse work

Ring 10 + 10, joining to base of ring on previous round, reverse work

Chain 6, reverse work

Ring 6 + 6, joining to picot on chain of previous round, reverse work, switch shuttles

Ring 6 - 1 -- 1 --- 1 -- 1 - 6, do not reverse work, switch shuttles

Chain 6, reverse work**

Repeat from * to ** around, joining last chain to top of split ring. Cut, tie, and hide ends.

December 18 Button Ornament

As I go to post a new design, I'm starting to feel like these all look the same. However, when I look at larger pictures, i do see differences. It's getting so close to Christmas. I sure hope I don't run out of ideas!

December 18 Button Ornament

Materials:

7/8" two hole button

size 20 thread

2 shuttles wound continuous thread method

Symbols:

+ join

- joining picot

-- decorative picot

Round 1:

Ring: 5 - 5 + 5 - 5, join to hole in button, reverse work

Chain: 5 - 5, reverse work

*Ring: 5 + 5 + 5 - 5, joining to previous ring and hole in button, reverse work

Chain: 5 - 5**

Continue around from * to ** with six joins in each button hole. This will give you a total

of 12 rings and 12 chains. Lock join final chain to base of first ring.

Round 2:

Chain 2 - 2 - 2 - 2, lock join to picot on chain on previous round

Chain 2 - 2 - 2 - 2, lock join to base of ring on previous round

Chain 6 lock join to picot on next chain on previous round

Chain 6 lock join to base of next ring on previous round

Continue around

Round 3:

Chain 2, lock join to picot

Chain 3, lock join to next picot

Chain 3, lock join to next picot

Chain 2, lock join to top of chain, switch shuttles

Ring 10, switch shuttles

Chain 2, lock join to next picot

Chain 3, lock join to next picot

Chain 3, lock join to next picot

Chain 2, lock join to small space at base of next ring 

Chain 6, lock join to top of next chain, switch shuttles

Ring 10, switch shuttles

Chain 6, lock join to small space at base of next ring

Continue pattern around.