Anastasia Tatted Bookmark

I guess I'm on a bookmark binge! This is another bookmark by Kersti Anear in Altin Basak #3002, size 50. The tatting is about 6" long. I think I would like this one better in a solid color, the way Kersti tatted it. I did manage to unload another shuttle, though!

Now I'm happy!

Luckily, I can tat this bookmark very quickly. It took me a little over an hour. I can move on to another pattern now that I have tatted this one correctly!

Stumpy Tatted Bookmark by Kersti Anear, Altin Basak #3002, size 50, finished size approximately 5" with fringe

Stumped by Stumpy!

Well, I guess that's a little misleading. I wasn't really stumped by the pattern ~ I'm more stumped by my inability to follow a simple pattern, and by my inability to see a mistake until I am completely finished! Where's the mistake, you ask? Why it sticks out like a sore thumb! I missed a join on the left side!

Luckily, this is a very simple pattern to follow, and I have lots more of this pretty Altin Basak thread (#3002, size 50). The pattern is "Stumpy Tatted Bookmark" by Kersti Anear.

Thank you for the beautiful pattern, Kersti! I will try and follow it correctly next time!

Myra Piper 5 Petal Motif

Isn't this a pretty little motif? I think it would look better in a solid color, maybe even two colors. The design seems a little lost in the color change. Still, I like this one a lot! It's motif No. 12 from Tatting by Myra Piper. The thread is Altin Basak #3002, size 50. The motif measures about 2 1/2" across.

I'll have to play around with this one. I think it would be really pretty as the center of a doily!

Focusing does pay!

I know I've mentioned before that I suffer from what my friend Denise calls "flights of fancy." Denise suffers from this malady as well, which is probably why we're such good friends! But, for the past two weeks I've done my best to stay focused on Stella Alpina, and that focused energy paid off! I'm so happy with the way this little doily (about 7 1/2") turned out! It's from Tatting Fantasia by Iris Niebach. I used Altin Basak size 50, color # 381. I loaded up four of my David Reed Smith shuttles, but only used three of them. Oh, darn! Now I'm going to have to find something to tat with that thread on the fourth shuttle! ; )

This one qualifies for my personal challenge!

Fresh Start

I had to prove to myself that I could start Stella Alpina correctly. So, here it is! I've looked at my tatting and the pattern several times, and I think I finally got it right. I'll quit for tonight and check it again tomorrow before doing any more tatting. This is Altin Basak #381, size 50. I really like working with this color. It's bright and easy on the eyes.

Tatting "Stella Alpina"

I can't help myself. I am addicted to Iris Niebach's designs! I've started "Stella Alpina" from her book Tatting Fantasia. I'm using Altin Basak #3052.

I looked through several of my tatting books trying to decide which pattern to make for my personal challenge. I kept coming back to my Iris Niebach books. I am so tempted to change my challenge to tatting all the designs in one book!

Personal tatting challenge no. 3

I've completed my third personal tatting challenge! This is "Beatrice" from Tatted Doilies by Iris Niebach. I am fascinated by Iris's designs. I love that a complex piece can be completed in one round. Even if I do reach a level of expertise where I feel like I can design, I doubt that I would be able to envision patterns the way Iris does! The thread is Altin Basak #3004, size 50. I used a SewMate shuttle, which I really like. However, when it comes to plastic shuttles, the Clovers are still my favorite.

Oh, dear! I just thought of something... now I'll have to choose a new project!

Beatrice

Yes, I've been tatting! I'm working on "Beatrice" from Tatted Doilies by Iris Niebach. I'm using Altin Basak, size 50, color #3004. It's funny how my attitude toward thread has changed. This used to be one of my treasured balls that I was saving for when I really developed my tatting skills. I think the thread is really pretty, but I chose it as practice thread before turning to my precious HDT!

I don't know what I did with the scanner, but this is one of the clearest scans I've had so far! The colors show a bit brighter than what they actually are, but I like the way the piece looks.

My therapist took range of motion measurements yesterday, and she's very pleased with my progress! I do my exercises faithfully, and I tat a little bit here, a little bit there... you get the idea! It's paying off. I'm very glad I worked with size 3 thread for a while. I now have a much better understanding of how everything goes together. I'm also glad that I'm forced to work on this doily slowly, because my stitches are so much neater than they used to be!

Works in progress

I feel like I haven't accomplished much in the past week, probably because I haven't finished anything! I did work on my new spring purse last weekend. I'm using my size 3 tatting bits to embellish it... I think!

Since I had the Daisy Chain edging down pat, I used up some size 10 in yellow already wound on a shuttle. I now have a pretty good idea of how much tatting I can get with that particular thread and shuttle... always a biggie with me!

Then I got really ambitious and started an Iris Niebach doily in size 50 Altin Basak... a much harder task than I had imagined because of the thread size. It may take me a long time to finish this one! The good news is, I'm really beginning to feel like I can tat again!

Therapy started yesterday... what a relief! I didn't think the insurance company would ever approve it! My doctor wrote instructions to the therapist and included the note "Be gentle!" She was! Jessica gently, but firmly went through the new hand exercises with me (I still have to continue with the old ones), and then she massaged my aching fingers and scar. She really loosened up my fingers! The scar... well, that really hurt, but it was a good hurt, like digging in to a knotted muscle in your back. I'm scheduled for three times a week for three weeks... I'm sure I'll be back to normal (whatever that is) soon!