Yes, another tatted cross!

On Friday, another one of my colleagues lost a parent, his father. Hopefully, this will be the last tatted cross I "need" for a long time. I think I'm ready for January to be over.

This cross is "Monica" from Tatted Bookmarks - cross-shaped by Lene Bjorn. This is the same thread as the last cross I posted, Parlak Oren Bayan Dantel Ipligi # 063, size 50.

Mary Konior Tatted Cross

Some neighbors of ours are going through a rough patch right now, so I'll be sending this cross their way. The pattern is from Tatting Patterns by Mary Konior. The thread is Parlak Oren Bayan Dantel Ipligi #063, size 50. The cross measures about 3" by 4".

I love the gentle shading of this thread. I think it has a very soothing affect. This is one of the easiest cross patterns I've ever tatted, so I'm sure I'll refer to it again.

In case you were wondering...

...one 50 yard skein of hand-dyed thread will make three tatted crosses.

Pattern: "Christina" from Tatted Bookmarks - cross-shaped by Lene Bjorn

Thread: size 30 "Forest" from Yarnplayer

Addicted!

...to shuttles, hand-dyed thread, and tatting patterns. It's a blessing and a curse! I just can't help myself. When I see a new shuttle posted by Grizzly Mountain Arts, I just have to bid on it! I feel so lucky to have won this spalted maple shuttle. If I would only take the time to learn about my camera, you might be able to get a glimpse of its true beauty! I know flat shuttles don't appeal to everyone, but I love them because they hold so much thread. Since I'm a slow tatter, it really doesn't bother me that I could be tatting faster with a different type of shuttle.

Those of you who have been reading my blog for a while know that when I find I pattern I really like, I'll tat it over and over again. I love this cross, Christina, from Tatted Bookmarks - cross-shaped by Lene Bjorn. Unfortunately, I had the need for another cross. A colleague's mother passed away Friday morning. I know that something as simple as a tatted bookmark can bring great comfort in a time of sorrow.

The thread is Yarnplayer's Forest, size 30. Yes, I am a hand-dyed thread addict. I have enough to last me a long, long time. Yet, when a new color calls to me, I answer. It looks like I'm going to get three crosses out of this one skein. I just may be able to keep one for myself!

Change of focus

I will get back to Jane's T.I.A.S. soon. After all, I don't want to lose my ability to make split rings! However, I needed to take some time to tat some crosses.

Almost two weeks ago, one of my third grade students died from a severe asthma attack. Two days later, my ex-husband passed away after a 10 month battle with pancreatic cancer. Somehow, tatting crosses seemed to be an appropriate task.

Both crosses are from Lene Bjorn's Tatted Bookmarks - cross-shaped. The green one is Christina in Flora #228. The blue one is Maria in Lizbeth #651.

Although I think both crosses are very pretty, I think I'll try both patterns in a smaller thread. Size 20 just seems too big!

Persistance

I took a nap, re-read Jon's split ring directions, watched Melissa's YouTube video, watched Linda's YouTube video, pulled out my copy of The Joy of Split Ring Tatting and re-read those directions, and then...


I did it! It wasn't easy, and Dave looked at me funny a couple of times (I was mumbling a few choice words), but I managed to tat some split rings! I'm too tired to go back to Jane's T.I.A.S. tonight, but maybe tomorrow.

First dropout?

I'm home recovering from a nasty stomach bug (slept for 30 hours!), so I thought I'd give Jane's T.I.A.S. a go. For almost two hours I've been trying to tat a split ring. I did manage one, but I forgot the picot. Maybe I should wait until I'm full recovered. : (