Sulky Blendables #4029 ~ Mocha Mauve

School is out for the summer, so I'm hoping I have more time to tat. So far, I've been too busy to spend very much time with my shuttles. I did manage to complete this set of Stumpy motifs for Chris and Erin Hinton. I'm really looking forward to the day when they start posting pictures of their Tatted Shuttles!

This Clover shuttle is another one that I decorated with fabric from Ann. She certainly was generous with her fabrics!

Sulky Blendables #4007 ~ Red Brick

I do like the way this thread looks tatted up! I was reading the information on the color chart that I picked up at The Original Sewing and Quilting Expo, and I learned that the color changes in this thread occur every 2 1/2 - 5". I haven't looked closely to see if the changes are truly random as the information indicates, but I do like the flow!

The shuttle is Blue Diamond from LaCossette. Isn't it pretty? I am finding that these shuttles work best for me when I'm using size 40 thread... is that normal? I wonder if the thread binds up on the bobbin because of the way I'm winding it. Does anyone have any insight? I do love the light weight of these shuttles, and the crochet hook in the end makes joining a breeze!

...and now I have another set of motifs to send off to Chris and Erin Hinton to be made into Tatted Shuttles. I have no idea how long it takes for Chris to make these shuttles, but they do turn out nice and I think they're well worth the wait. I can just imagine people admiring my tatting encased in epoxy 100 years from now! ; )

By the way, I've made the offer before, but everyone may not have seen it. If there are any of these Sulky Blendables threads that you would like to try, please let me know. Send me an email with your mailing information and the colors that appeal to you, and I will be happy to send samples of thread. The 30 wt. Sulky has 500 yards per spool. That's a lot of thread, and I'm pretty sure I won't have time to tat it all!

Sulky Blendables #4004 ~ Golden Flame

I am really enjoying tatting with my Sulky Blendables thread collection! I haven't really done any research into this thread, but I'm assuming that because of its name, it is meant to be used with another thread as an accent. I've been tatting with a single strand, and yes, it is very fine. Honestly, I've been uninspired by some of the threads when looking at them on the spool. However, once I start tatting with them, they seem to come to life!

For me, the Stumpy motif by Kersti Anear is the perfect way to try out all of the different colors. Each motif takes me about an hour to tat. I've been tatting two of each color to send to Chris Hinton at The Shuttle Shop to be made into Tatted Shuttles. I get the joy of tatting with a purpose, and Chris has motifs to practice with so that he can perfect his shuttles... win/win! No, I am not selling these motifs. I am just having fun helping out a very talented shuttle maker. If you are interested in ordering one of Chris's shuttles, all you have to do is go to The Tatting Forums and contact his wife Erin. She can provide you with information on shuttle styles and prices.

Now that I've finished my samples of #4004, I'm really looking forward to trying another color! Yes, I do have TWO fish shuttles from my very talented friend Jenny. Aren't I a lucky girl?

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!

Oliver Twists Colour Wheel

I have now tried out all of the colors I have in Oliver Twists! I think this may be my favorite set of colors. Do I dare order other sets? We'll see!

As before, these Stumpy motifs designed by Kersti Anear are destined to become Tatted Shuttles from Chris Hinton at The Shuttle Shop.

Oh, happy day!

First of all, it was a Monday holiday... thank you Casimir Pulaski! Secondly, the mail lady arrived with goodies!

I love my new Tatted Shuttles from Chris Hinton at The Shuttle Shop! The shuttle on the left is AnneB's design, my tatting, and the center shuttle is Kersti Anear's Stumpy, my tatting. The shuttle on the right is Jane Eborall's tatting... lucky me!

I also received two new shuttles and some HDT from LadyShuttleMaker. I can hardly wait to see if these are musical shuttles!

In another package, there were these two adorable little dishes from Grizzly Mountain Arts. I just love Dave's and Jo's pieces... shuttles, spindles, jewelry, baskets, and lovely little dishes!

Last night I was in the mood to tat with HDT, and the first skein I found was size 30 Nectarine from Yarnplayer. I love the color, but I have to tell you...

after spending so much time tatting with quilting thread, size 30 felt like rope!

Oliver Twists Edinburgh Rock

I finished another set of Stumpy motifs this morning! Stumpy is a wonderful little shuttle-shaped motif by Kersti Anear. It makes a wonderful bookmark, and I think it's great for Chris Hinton's "Tatted Shuttles," which are epoxy shuttles with tatting embedded in them.

I really love working with Oliver Twists, hand-dyed machine thread from the UK. I purchased mine from DS9 Designs. This particular set of threads is called Edinburgh Rock. I think I prefer the colors in the Scottish Heather set, but I'm still pleased with the way these turned out. They'll be off in the mail to Chris to be shuttle-fied tomorrow!

For those of you wondering about the size of the motifs, these are about 1.5 - 2" long, and about 1" wide. I have no idea why one turned out so much smaller than the others, but they're so pretty, I don't care! ; )

Oliver Twists Scottish Heather

At Christmastime I ordered myself a little present, the Scottish Heather collection of Oliver Twists hand-dyed machine thread from DS9 Designs. 

I really didn't know what I wanted to make with these lovely threads, so I just left them sitting out in my sewing room to be admired.

Then, about a week ago, Erin at The Shuttle Shop contacted me about tatting some motifs for some of Chris's "Tatted Shuttles," which are epoxy shuttles with tatting embedded in them. I like using Kersti Anear's "Stumpy" for these shuttles.

I'm very pleased with the way these turned out, although I think a little bit of blocking is in order. : )