Inspired by Jon

I have been admiring Jon's efforts with Norma Benporath's Five Dainty Designs for Tatting. I really didn't think I was up to interpreting old patterns, but I took a look anyway.

I had some of LadyShuttleMaker's "Americana" left on the shuttles, so I decided to give Edging #3 a try. I like the gentle curve of this edging, and I have an idea of how I can use it.

I tatted until one shuttle was empty. I decided to use the remaining thread to tat "Leaf Braid" from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior. I love using this pattern to use up left-over thread! Some day I'll use my bits of Leaf Braid to decorate some CQ blocks... some day!

Averting disaster

Don't look too closely.

Oh, go ahead. Take a peek.

You'd think with all the Spinning Wheel glass mats I've tatted that I'd know how to finish one off!

Well, I goofed. I joined the last chain the the wrong ring, and I didn't notice until I'd hidden the ends and cut the threads. So, I had to cut off the last ring and chain and re-tat. Not a big deal, but I'll be sure to remember next time!

I know it's mostly hidden now, but it's exactly what I needed. I gave away several of my Spinning Wheel glass mats when my youngest daughter's father-in-law was visiting. I think it's appropriate that this Spinning Wheel be in this drawer. These are some of my ceramic shuttles from LadyShuttleMaker. The thread used in this glass mat is LadyShuttleMaker's Americana. I LOVE hand-dyed thread!

Pattern: Spinning Wheel glass mat from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior
Thread: size 20 "Americana" from LadyShuttleMaker
Ceramic shuttles by LadyShuttleMaker

Good news!

Two Starlit shuttles hold one skein of HDT! Yippee!

Can you guess what I'm tatting? It's been a while, but I just gave four of them away, so I really need to tat some more. Yup... my favorite pattern... Mary Konior's Spinning Wheel glass mat!

This is size 20 HDT, but I lost the tag... again! I think this is one of LadyShuttleMaker's threads. I'm proud/ashamed to say that I have so much thread, that without a tag, I am clueless!

While I'm very pleased with the amount of thread these shuttles hold, I am not a fan of the pic, but then I'm not really a fan of any shuttle with a pic. I tend to separate the threads when I'm joining to picots, and I find a crochet hook much easier to use. The pic is similar in size to the old Boye shuttles. It does not come to a sharp point like the Clover or Sew Mate shuttles. The plastic is closer in feel to the Sew Mates. If Handy Hands comes out with the same shuttles without pics, I'm afraid I will be forced to buy every color! : )

I really, really, really like the thread holder! I had forgotten that it came with a ball of size 20 thread, which is inside the holder. There's no choice in color, but who cares? It's a bonus in my mind!

All in all, I'm very happy with my new purchases. Now all I need is a little more time to tat!