Still reading

 

Still inspired by my binge watching of Downton Abbey, I spent the last two days reading Lady Catherine, the Earl, and the Real Downton Abbey. This book was just as enjoyable as the first one!

Yes, I did do a little tatting. It's been a while since I've worked on a hanky edging. This one is "Clover" from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior. The thread is hand-dyed size 40 from Yarnplayer, Brilliant Sunset. I think it's gorgeous!

Queen-sized Clover ~ a review

 In my last post, Sharren asked about the Queen-sized Clovers. So, here is my review!

From left to right you see my altered Starlit shuttle from La Cossette, the new Queen-sized shuttle from Clover, and the regular sized shuttle from Clover. Although the Queen-sized Clover is 3" long, it does not feel as big in my hand as the Starlit.

You can see that the Starlit has a much deeper space for thread. The Queen-sized Clover holds twice as much thread as the regular Clover. The Starlit shuttle holds twice as much thread as the Queen-sized Clover. I can wind a full skein of hand-dyed thread on a Starlit. The Queen-sized Clover will only hold half a skein. So, if you're looking for a shuttle that will hold more thread, this could be the answer for you.

I have long been a fan of the pick tip on the Clover. No, it's not a hook, but I do pretty well with it. I find the pick tip on the Starlit to be way too long and useless for the way I tat. I do like La Cossette's adaptation with the hook embedded in the end where the pick tip used to reside. I don't mind the size of the Starlit, but I have read that many of you find it to be way to big for your hand. I totally understand. However, the Starlit was a great improvement for me over the Tatsy, which I still use for big projects.

I think the price of the Queen-sized Clovers is ridiculously high. However, I love the color, the feel, and the pick tip, so I didn't mind indulging this time. Will I buy more? Probably... if they come out with more colors! ;-)

Sulky Blendables #4017 ~ Lime Sherbet

I think of lime as having more green in it. This looks more like the center of a lime than lime sherbet to me, but it still is yummy thread! The shuttle is my new Regency Clover shuttle from LaCossette. I hope she doesn't make any more... I'll be tempted to buy them! ; )

So, another set of Stumpy motifs is in the mail the Chris Hinton at The Shuttle Shop! I'm really looking forward to seeing how these shuttles turn out, especially the Peacock Plume and the Valdani.

Sulky Blendables #4016 ~ Peacock Plume

Oh, how I love this color! I'm thinking of making the Peacock out of it. I wonder if I'm up to the challenge? Maybe I should try it in a thicker thread first. : )

I absolutely love my new shuttle from LaCossette! It's perfect... my favorite color, my favorite inexpensive shuttle, my favorite flower... a shuttle to be used again and again!

Another lovely mail call!

We all love LaCossette's shuttles, don't we? Did you know that she's started offering Clover shuttles? I feel so lucky to have been able to purchase these two. I love blinking shuttles, but LaCossette's are much more refined than mine, and I just had to have a pair. I love the names, too... Rose on Blue and Regency. Maybe I should read some Jane Austen now! ; )

I also "had" to order another Roly Poly Bag and Poke Proof Pouch from Jane Eborall. When my daughter Alison and her family were down visiting a couple of weeks ago, granddaughter Eva decided she wanted to learn how to tat. Eva was really excited to learn that I have a friend in England who enjoys tatting, so I gave her the last set I had purchased from Jane. That's okay, because I really wanted this set as well. : )

Sulky Blendables #4003 ~ Sunset

I love the color of this thread... it reminds me of a Dreamsicle! This is another shuttle decorated by my friend Jenny. I feel so lucky to have such talented friends!

Sulky Blendables #4008 ~ Peach Parfait

I am really enjoying tatting with this wonderful thread! Besides, I've been inspired to tat each color thread with a different shuttle... great way to share my collection! ; )

P.S. ~ the shuttle was decorated by my friend Jenny!

Tatting with Sulky Blendables #4005 ~ Strawberry Daiquiri

A year or two ago, I purchased a plastic case loaded with Sulky Blendables thread at Overstock.com. Why Sulky Blendables? I had received a sample from Georgia Seitz, and I loved it! What I didn't realize when I ordered the thread, was that this is 30 wt. thread, not the 12 wt. that Georgia sent. Not knowing the difference, I tried it out. It was much later that I realized that I was using a much finer thread!

I do enjoy tatting with it. I can untat chains, but I have been unsuccessful with opening rings. Stumpy is the perfect motif for me to use with this thread. It's small, and when I make a mistake, I don't mind cutting the thread and starting over.

The size of these finished motifs is 1 1/4" x 3/4". As you can see, they're much smaller than a Clover shuttle! My friend Jenny decorated the shuttle for me. Isn't it adorable?

You may have guessed... I'm tatting up a set of Stumpy motifs in the Sulky to send off to Chris Hinton at The Shuttle Shop. These will make adorable shuttles!

I've been asked about how the Tatted Shuttles are for tatting. I love them! They hold a tremendous amount of thread. They're wider than any other shuttle I own. I really like the feel, but I don't think you can really go by me. I love every shuttle I own!

One gorgeous hanky!

I think Michelle's Aunt Rose-E would be pleased. I know I am!

Yes, I toyed with the idea of using a pink or blue edging, but I love the way the white edging pulls out the white flowers in the hanky. It's much more noticeable in person than in the photo.

Just don't look too closely... as I was pressing the hanky, I spied a few missed joins. Shhh! If I'm lucky, that blind man on the galloping horse will never notice! ; )

Pattern: "Clover" from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior
Thread: Olympus Special No. 40