Sunday knitting

 

I wanted to finish another scarf for my 7th grade girls so that I could start the next one. So, while watching the Chicago Bears win yesterday, I knit! Yes, I did start the next scarf, which I hope to finish this week. Cooler weather should be coming soon, and I'd like these five girls to get the maximum use out of their scarves.

This morning I finished Traditional Clovers from Four Dozen Tatted Bookmarks by Robin Perfetti. I meant to have one less pattern repeat, but I didn't realize I had counted incorrectly until I finished the last clover leaf. So, the end peeks out of the sleeve. I think it will be okay. The thread is size 20 Lizbeth #644 Boysenberry Dk.

My plan is to alternate tatting a Curds & Whey bookmark with one from Robin's book. I don't want to lose my momentum of following the patterns in the book, but I also want to finish tatting bookmarks four our local Daisy troop. I also have three knitting projects and a crochet project going. I need more hours in the day!

Bookmark day

I didn't finish a bookmark yesterday. I forgot to join on the next to the last ring, and it seemed to take forever to open that ring. I worked on it last night and this morning, and then successfully tatted the final two rings.

This is Braid: Five Rings from Robin Perfetti's Four Dozen Tatted Bookmarks. I used size 20 Lizbeth #679 Lime Green. As I'm going through these patterns, I'm realizing that if I had understood math a little better when I was in school, I might have been able to design lots of patterns. Thank goodness there are designers like Robin who experiment and then offer up there designs for the rest of us!

When I became frustrated with trying to open that little ring last night, I shifted to another Curds & Whey bookmark. I then finished it this morning. The thread is size 20 Lizbeth #103 Tutti Fruitti.

Since I'm on a roll with bookmarks, I decided to try out the next Robin Perfetti design, Frills. This is also in size 20 Lizbeth. The color is #107 Tropical Fruit. I think I could have made this one or two pattern repeats longer, so I may try tatting it again. 

We had a wonderful Tollway Tatters meeting this morning. Those of us who weren't fortunate enough to attend Palmetto Tat Days were able to hear about the classes and facility from those who did attend. It would be fun to make it back there. I guess I'll just have to wait and see what the coming year brings.

I think it's time to start another bookmark!

Braid: Four Rings, Alternate Option: No Decorative Picots

 

Today I worked on Braid: Four Rings, Alternate Option: No Decorative Picots from Four Dozen Tatted Bookmarks by Robin Perfetti, tatted in size 20 Lizbeth #679 Lime Green.

I much prefer the simplicity of this design over the version I tatted yesterday. There are times when I really like decorative picots, but not this time.

I really am enjoying going through Robin's book. The bonus is that I will have a nice supply of bookmarks in a short time!

Braid: Four Rings

 

Today I worked on Braid: Four Rings from Robin Perfetti's Four Dozen Tatted Bookmarks. The thread is size 20 Lizbeth #646 Purple Iris Lt. 

Next up is a variation of this pattern without decorative picots. I think I might like that one better!

Braid: Three Rings

 

This was another great bookmark to tat. It looks complicated, but it really is very simple. The thread is size 20 Lizbeth #103 Tutti Fruitti. I'm read to tat another bookmark from Robin Perfetti's Four Dozen Tatted Bookmarks. I love this book!

Braid: Two Rings

Braid: Two Rings from Four Dozen Tatted Bookmarks by Robin Perfetti was a fun tat. I did forget to leave enough bare thread on a few rings, but I think it turned out okay. I used size 20 Lizbeth #127 Butterfly Breeze.

I'm going to have to look for my stash of bookmark sleeves. I think they're a great way to use tatted bookmarks. The tatting stays clean and neat, just the way I like it!

Extended single crochet

Today seems to be a good day for finishing things I've started. This is the third strip for my Mix & Match crocheted afghan. This strip is in extended single crochet. I'm ready to start another strip!

Second finish

 

I finished my second bookmark of the day, Curds & Whey from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konnor. I started this one a few weeks ago, and I decided I should finish it before starting another project. 

It's good to finish projects!

Braid: One Ring

 

This morning I finished Braid: One Ring from Four Dozen Tatted Bookmarks by Robin Perfetti. This was a great pattern for me to start with. I've never been very good working with bare threads in tatting. By the end of the bookmark, I became pretty good at leaving the bare thread the correct length. On to the next bookmark!

Excitement!

 

Robin Perfetti's newest book arrived in the mail today! I started right in with the first bookmark, using my newest shuttle from Middy Clark of The Knotted Vine. Life is good!

Second strip

 

I finished the second strip of my Mix & Match crochet afghan last night. This strip is 30 stitches wide done in back loop only single crochet, 40 inches long. On to the next strip!

Rrrrrip!

 

I was about 3/4 of the way finished with this scarf for one of my 7th grade girls, when I decided to rip out my work. Oh, I noticed that I had made a mistake way back near the beginning. I thought no one would notice... no one but me! I just couldn't take looking at the mistake, so I ripped out about 2/3 of my work.

I had several non-knitters at school say that a 7th grader would never notice. That could be true. However, I'm hoping to encourage these girls to take up some sort of handwork... knitting, crocheting, tatting, weaving, embroidery. If I'm to make something that looks hand-crafted and beautiful, I need to put my best foot forward. I have no regrets when it comes to taking out mistakes. I want to set a good example!

Finishing projects

 

This was a great week for finishing projects. I started this beanie months ago. It sat in a basket by my chair pretty much neglected. The color is unsparing, and it just wasn't a joy to use. Still, I was determined to finish it, and now that it's done I think it looks pretty good.

I finished the second scarf for my 7th grade girls. Yes, I have started the third one.

I had enough of the uninspiring grey yarn left for another beanie. I decided to crochet this one. I still don't like the yarn, but I've used it up! I'm sure someone will like this color, but it sure looks blah to me.

Renulek's Snow Doily is coming along nicely. I just love the way this round is worked!

Weekend work

Mom and I were busy this weekend. Mom has been making blankets on her circular knitting machine, and I have been dabbling.

Mean Green Goes Pink is at the end of October. I finished this granny throw over the weekend as my donation to the fund raiser.

Mom finished this throw, which is super soft and cuddly.

I have a lot of yarn in my stash that doesn't work well with the circular knitting machine, so I'm using this book as inspiration for using up some of my yarn.

The idea presented in the book is to crochet strips that will lie horizontally instead of vertically. The strips can be any width I choose. I'm making them 40" long. My first strip is single crochet with 21 stitches. The second strip is single crochet in back look only with 30 stitches. I plan on making strips in a variety of colors and then I will mix and match them.

Renulek's Snow Doily is coming along well. Round 4 looks complicated, but it's really very simple. I am thoroughly enjoying this pattern!

Snow doily

 

I started Renulek's Snow Doily yesterday. I can't believe I have three rounds done already. This is so much easier than keeping track of where I am in a heart pattern!

School knitting

 

I have about a 25 minute break between the two high school lunches that I supervise, so I've been taking knitting with me for something to do during that time. This scarf pattern is from one of my favorite knitting books, Sequence Knitting by Cecelia Compochiaro. The book is expensive, but it is one of the best investments I've ever made. The pattern is Ruddock, one of my favorites in the book.

Two middle school girls have been asking me about my progress on the scarf on a regular basis. They're fascinated by knitting. I've started another scarf. It's easy to stay motivated with an audience!

Mistakes

 

Don't look too closely. There are two major mistakes that I made in this pattern. First, I missed four double stitches and a picot on the first ring of the first round. Second, I missed a join on the first clover leaf of the second round. Luckily, the mistakes aren't glaringly obvious because of the multi-colored thread. I know I will have to pay much closer attention when I re-tat these patterns in a solid color! The pattern is PDF Hearts Shuttle Tatting by Halyna Tkachuk from Gail Weaver on Etsy.

One thing I really appreciate about these patterns is that they are completely different. I was expecting the same center with different edges. I think these will be okay for our February display, if Denise decides she likes them. I have a feeling, though, that she will prefer them in a solid color. I haven't decided whether to use a soft pink or red. I know Denise would like the pink. What would your choice be?

School spirit

 

Our school colors are green and gold, and I decided to make gnomes for our secretaries and administrators. All are the same, and I think they're adorable!