False starts

Sometimes I can dive right in with a project and all goes well. Other times... hmmm.

I decided to start Ashley's necklace first. I wasn't so sure I'd like tatting with black thread, but so far, so good... with the thread, that is! I eagerly started tatting and quickly realized the rings were going to be too big... snip! I tried another stitch count... still too big... snip! Then I forgot to string beads... snip! I forgot to add the jump ring, but I'm not snipping this time. I'll figure something out.

My friend Kalah sent a picture of a waffle stitch afghan she had made for her grandson, and I knew that was the pattern I wanted for Aidan's afghan. Aidan loves anything soft and squishy, and this pattern fits the bill! I didn't find an actual afghan pattern, just tutorials on how to do the waffle stitch... easy peasy, right? It took me several tries to get a stitch count and hook size I liked for the pattern. Now that I have it all sorted out, I'm on a roll! My goal is to finish this one by Thanksgiving, which will give me plenty of time to make Eva's. Time to crochet! ...or tat!

Choices

Yesterday was so much fun! I took my Swarovski rivolis and my box of Sulky 12 wt thread to school, and the girls made their choices for their necklaces. It took a while, because they kept changing their minds about what they liked. It was like being in a candy shop! The girls' choices...

Ashley

Sydne

Karina

Kylie

Alexa

I am really going to enjoy making these!

To get myself ready for tiny tatting, I finished up an Ice Drop that I had started with Madeira thread over the summer.

I got a bit distracted with bottle caps, and forgot about this until I was straightening up my tatting supplies over the weekend.

All I need to do is add a jump ring and a chain, and I will have a necklace!

I finished Lily's afghan last night. I'm so pleased with the way it turned out!

I've decided on a Waffle Stitch afghan for Aidan. I've now started it five times, changing the width, the yarn, and the hook size. I'm finally happy with my choice, and I plan on getting back to it so that I have time to finish both Aidan's and Eva's in time for Christmas. Luckily, my wrists are holding up!

Another round?

Tatting is on hold as I work on afghans for Christmas presents. Lily's is a nice lap size now, but I really want it to be a little larger. I know I have enough yarn for one pattern repeat, but I'm hoping for two. I do like the way the colors flow with the Mandala yarn!

Have I told you how much I love lighthouses? I just couldn't resist this beauty from Grizzly Mountain Arts! There was another lighthouse shuttle listed, but some lucky shuttle collector snapped it up before I could even see the listing. That's okay. I was able to get one lighthouse to add to my collection, and that makes me happy!

I'm a big fan of Dave's shuttles, and I love his pyrography!

Some of the high school girls are fascinated by Mandy Kerwell-Bez's tatting. Mandy tatted a beautiful necklace for me, and I'm going to try and follow her lead to make necklaces for the girls. It was very difficult to choose Swarovski rivolis for the girls to choose from! I'll be taking these to school tomorrow, along with threads, so that the girls can make their choices. I've already warned them that they probably won't get their necklaces until after the holidays. I have way too much going on right now!