Playing around

I couldn't decide what I wanted to do today, so I just played around.

I started out look through Tatted Crosses by Sharon Briggs. There are so many pretty patterns in this book! All of the patterns are designed to be tatted with size 80 thread, but I wanted to practice with size 20 first.

This is the center os Sharon's Rose Cross in size 20 Lizbeth, Azalea Lt. I can tell that this cross would be gigantic in size 20. Just the center measures 2" across. I'm glad I practiced this rose motif in size 20 first. It was good practice in tatting chains in a consistent length.

Next, I pulled out this tatting magazine from 1944. Did you notice the price?

The very first pattern was one I wanted to try. It's #8894. I'm using Coats and Clark's size 70, color #8.

It's been a while since I've tatted with thread this fine. It was surprisingly easy!

Of course I had to finish the day with an Ice Drop!

Tatted flower bookmark

My apologies to Sharon Briggs... I did not follow her directions carefully, so I did not practice using a paperclip to make a beginning picot. In fact, since I didn't read the directions until after I finished the bookmark (I just looked at the diagram), I really didn't make this the way Sharon intended at all! I will do it again, following Sharon's written directions, so that I can learn something new! I also changed the end of the bookmark... I don't make very nice tassels, so I tatted a little motif instead.

This is "Flower Bookmark" from Transitions in Tatting from Flat to Floral by Sharon Briggs. I highly recommend this book. Sharon has written wonderful directions and helps the tatter move smoothly from very simple tatted pieces to more complex pieces. No, I haven't tatted them all, but I can tell from reading the book that this is true!

The thread is "Meadow" colorway from Bre-Aly Threads, size 20. Isn't it strange that the photographed color looks so different from the scanned color? Pay attention to the photo for a better idea of the true color! I used one of my old-faithful Clover shuttles. Oooh... another piece completed for my personal challenge! Yipee!

Transitions in Tatting

It's here! I just got home from a day out and about, and when I opened my mailbox, I found Sharon Briggs's book Transitions in Tatting from Flat to Floral. I'm so excited! I've only had time to quickly flip through it, but I can tell I will enjoy it thoroughly! There are beautiful pictures, both color and black and white, detailed technique descriptions, and fabulous patterns! Thank you, Sharon!