Losing track

I've been losing track of time and forgetting to post, but I've been busy!

Twisted headbands for daughter Joanne... Tropical

Dishcloths for daughter Alison

Twisted headbands for a teacher at the high school

More twisted headbands for daughter Joanne... Wildflower

Even more twisted headbands for daughter Joanne... Salt Water Taffy

Chapstick holders made with leftover yarn

Once again, twisted headbands for daughter Joanne... Springtime

I now have 18 headbands finished for Joanne. As of today, she needs 46. I may take a break from making hers and finish up the headbands for the high school boys. I'd really like to have them finished by Halloween. Can I do it? Only time will tell!

Having fun

 

I really am enjoying making donut necklaces! I don't need any more for gift giving right now, but they're easy enough to keep on hand for future use. This donut is a bit thicker than the ones I've been using. It's 3/4" across, and I used size 20 Lizbeth Rainbow Splash.

This donut is thin, but slightly larger at 1". The thread is size 20 Lizbeth Springtime. I guess I'm on a roll for tatting with donuts!

Wednesday?

I just looked at my phone, and I couldn't believe it's Wednesday already! Where does the time go?

I've been busy cutting fabric for face masks. My production isn't great, but if I'm helping even a little, I glad to do my part.

We had a pink moon last night. I've never heard of a pink moon before. It was still too light out for the pink to show well when I took this picture, but by the time it was dark enough clouds had rolled in. I could see a little bit of pink around the edges of the clouds, but I never did see the pink moon in all its glory.

Staying home has caused me to give in to the temptation of online shopping a little more than I normally do. I just couldn't help myself! I guess the only way to avoid buying things is to not go shopping. All of these are from Banyek on Etsy.

I've been playing some more with Lynne Urwin's Lilly's Star. We've been chatting back and forth about different ring configurations. It's really pretty fascinating!

I liked the purple variation so much, I decided to tat it again today. These aren't as quick to tat as my Doodle pattern, but I do love tatting them!

Snow day!

The weather prediction was spot on for a change! Dave read that snow was supposed to start in the afternoon and last through the night, with an accumulation of one to three inches. By late afternoon, we had a beautiful snow-filled yard. The kids didn't mind at all!

The snow has stopped, but we woke up to a winter wonderland. Most of it will melt today. In fact, the snow is already starting to drop off the trees, and it's only 7:15.

The kids and I spent a lot of time playing The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game. It was tough at first. Four-year-olds tend to cry when their acorns are stolen or the wind blows them all back into the tree. The more we play, the better their reactions, so I guess we'll keep on playing!

I did a little organizing in my sewing room, and I do mean little! I became distracted by a long lost knitting project and spent quite a bit of time trying to figure out what pattern I had been using. I finally gave up on that idea and spent a couple of hours looking for a new pattern. I've cast on for a pretty Seashore Kerchief and will probably spend time on it today.

Despite whiling away many hours with board games and Internet searches, I did manage to tat a Doodle Ice Drop in size 20 Lizbeth #115, Springtime. Since I've been decorating keys for the grandchildren, I've fallen behind on my Ice Drops. I not only need to tat Ice Drops, I also needed to show some love for my new Art Deco shuttle from Lorraine Kolasa!

I had enough thread left on the shuttle for three little flowers for Vicki Clarke's A Celebration of a Classic. I plan on tatting little flowers until the stay-at-home order is lifted, and then I'll mail them off. I have 33. My goal was to tat 49, the minimal number needed for the project. I think I'll meet that goal!

Joanne has been crocheting like crazy, and yesterday she finished Janko's Parasaurolphus. Can you tell that he loves it? Look at that death grip! He's been carrying it around by the neck, which is now well-stretched. He doesn't mind. Mommy made it just for him!

Waiting for spring

I know it's about a month before the official start of spring, but I really think the weather is taking a turn toward spring. Yes, we had snow yesterday afternoon... almost two inches... but it was warm enough today, that most of it melted. We're expecting rain for the next few days, so I figure we'll have no white stuff left by the end of the week.

It's going to be a busy week. I know I'm subbing Monday through Thursday, and on Friday daughter Alison is coming for a visit with her kids. I had to get my quality tatting time in today!

I decided it was time to get started with Renulek's 2018 tat-along. Round 1 is done in Lizbeth #115, Springtime. I used one of my new see through shuttles from Japan. This one is a pale lavender color. I like that I can easily see how much thread I have left, and I really like the super sharp tip! I found out about them from my friend Carol. They're available on eBay.

These shuttles are available three to a pack in small and large sizes, similar to Clover shuttles. I think I do prefer the Clovers because of the little grooves over the post. These do feel a little slick. Otherwise, there's not much difference between the two brands.

My day is not complete without an Ice Drop, and there was plenty of thread left on the shuttle. Doesn't this look cheerful?

Round 2 is in Lizbeth #680, Spring Green. The shuttle is from the same pack as the lavender, but as you can see, this one is clear.

Of course, another Ice Drop was needed!

Another shopping day

I really don't enjoy shopping, but I forgot a few things the other day, so I met up with daughter Carol and we went shopping for everything from toothpaste to floor tiles. Of course shopping did not keep me from enjoying some time with my hobbies!

I'm pretty sure it's a given now that I will tat an Ice Drop a day. I have to... I have a lifetime supply of glass gems! This one is in size 20 Lizbeth #115, Springtime.

I'm very happy that I finally figured out how to convert an Inkle loom pattern to one that can be used with a rigid heddle. This pattern is exactly what I was trying to accomplish! Sometimes it takes me a while to understand how something works, and understanding a draft for an Inkle pattern really challenged me!

I'm back to working on my sister-in-law's runner. I do love this pattern, and I'm finding that even thought I haven't worked on it in quite a while, I haven't lost the rhythm of the pattern! In case you've forgotten, this pattern is Eightsome Reel from A Pattern Book of Tatting by Mary Konior.

I hope to stay home tomorrow. I have lots of catching up to do!

Cold and dreary

Today was the perfect day to snuggle up under a blanket with a good book, but I didn't. Instead, I tatted Ice Drops and worked on my band weaving.

I finished this Spring Garden Ice Drop this morning. It's in size 20 Lizbeth #115, Springtime.

I spent most of the day working on my band weaving. I learned a lot today, which is another way of saying I made a lot of mistakes! I truly think it's easier to open a closed ring in size 80 thread than it is to fix a weaving mistake made several rows back. I'm pretty sure I spent more time fixing mistakes than I did actually weaving. Still, I'm pleased with my progress.

It sure was nice to end the day with a familiar pattern! This Ice Drop is in size 20 Lizbeth #124, Spring Garden.

I think I'll spend the rest of this rainy evening with a good book!

More distractions

I woke up this morning with good intentions, but I kept getting distracted!

First, I was ready to warp my box loom. My friend Scott at the hardware store kindly made a heddle stand for me so that I could warp easily. Dave promised to make one for me, but this is the wrong time of year to ask him to do anything, so Scott came to the rescue.

Before I could warp the loom, I needed to wash up the dishes... no biggie. Then I had to choose my threads for warping, so I ventured into the disaster area known as my sewing room. I chose the threads, looked around, and decided I needed to spend a little time cleaning up my mess. The good news is, my sewing cabinet and my Featherweight sewing table are clean, polished, and organized... at least on the outside!

All the fabric that I just had to have is now in baskets instead of plastic bags. I can close the closet doors if I want to. The size 80 tatting thread is now in my apothecary jar instead of hidden away in cardboard boxes. However, when I was finished with all of this, I realized I'd hardly made a dent in the mess, and I was too tired to think about warping my loom!

Luckily, tatting and reading don't take a lot of energy. So, I read some more of Norwegian Pick-up Bandweaving, and I tatted two Ice Drops.

These are in size 20 Lizbeth #115, Springtime. I guess I really did accomplish quite a bit!

Hanky!

I finished my hanky today!

It was really easy to keep track of where to join using safety pins. It took me 35 minutes to pin and attach each side... not bad!

The hanky is from Handy Hands. The thread is size 20 Lizbeth, Springtime #115.

The pattern is Handkerchief Edging No. 6 from The Craft of Tatting by Bessie M. Attenborough.

I single crocheted around the edge of the hanky. I attached the edging on the second round, which was single crochet through the back loop only.

I think it looks pretty on both sides!

Crocheting on the edge

I've done a single crochet around the hanky, and now I'm crocheting in the back loop only and joining the tatted edging. It's slow going, but I do like the look!

Ready to attach!

I finished Edging No. 6 from The Craft of Tatting by Bessie M. Attenborough. Now all I have to do is attach it to the hanky!

Zippin' along!

I've been carrying my hanky edging with me and tatting every chance I get, and it's paying off!

Sunny and cold!

The Tollway Tatters managed to get together today, despite the bitter cold.

This is a really bad picture of daughter Alison, but it's the only one I took of her. She brought her knitting with her, and I am now the proud owner of a new dishcloth!

There were lots of projects going on. I started another Spinning Wheel glass mat today. This one is in size 20 Lizbeth, Falling Leaves, #100.

Marilee brought along lots of samples for upcoming classes she'll be teaching.

Marilee spent most of her time test-tatting a new patter for a class she'll be teaching this summer.

Sue Anna was test-tatting the same pattern for Marilee.

It was kind of fun to listen to the two of them talk about how to make the pattern read better.

Barbara was busy tatting a snowflake.

She's such a talented lady, and she's so much fun to talk to!

Marilee brought along some of her hand-dyed threads. There's nothing like shopping for beautiful HDT in person!

My main achievement today was finishing my Springtime Spinning Wheel glass mat. There was enough thread left on one shuttle to tat a little bookmark. The pattern is Leaf Braid from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior.

It was a very productive day!