Astrid

I'm determined to make use of tatting books that I peruse, but don't seem to use!

This is one pattern repeat of the edging "Astrid" from Tatting Patterns and Designs by Gun Blomqvist and Elwy Persson. The thread is Oren Bayan size 50, color #090. I believe I incorrectly identified this thread as Altin Basak in previous posts. The flat shuttle is another from my Grizzly Mountain Arts collection, and if there's anyone who doesn't own a Clover shuttle, they are a must-have item for any tatting basket, in my humble opinion!

Playing with Krystledawne's threads

I LOVE HDT! ...and honestly, I can't tell you that I prefer one artist's thread over another's. They each have a sense of color that appeals to me in different ways. I've been collecting hand-dyed threads ever since Yarnplayer began experimenting with dyes. LadyShuttleMaker, Tatskool, Bre-Aly, HAJDesigns, and Krystledawne joined in the fun, and I have been in tatting paradise ever since! I'm sure there are many others who hand-dye thread. These are just the ones I have tried, and I love them all!

I'm terrible with tags, but I'm pretty sure this is Earthy Rainbow, size 40 HDT by Krystledawne. This is my all-time favorite pattern, Spinning Wheel glass mat from Tatting with Visual Patterns by Mary Konior. As I mentioned in a previous post, I like to use my Tatsy and Tatsy-sized shuttles for HDT so that I don't have to add thread. I think I own every color of the Tatsy shuttles... I couldn't choose a favorite! The wood shuttle is the first Tatsy-sized shuttle I commissioned from Dave Stanbrough at Grizzly Mountain Arts. I love the feel of a wooden shuttle!


I don't think Krystle named this thread. It's one of her first in size 20. I decided I need to tat patterns from books that I own but have never used, and this was the first one I grabbed off the shelf. This is the wreath pattern from by Tatsy book, Tatting by Carol M. Winandy. This was one of the first tatting books I purchased, and I never tatted anything because the directions were so overwhelming! I can laugh at myself now... the directions are really very easy to follow! The flat shuttle is another from Grizzly Mountain Arts. I know some people don't like these shuttles because the thread is exposed, but I like that I can wind lots of thread, and it's very easy for me to tell how much thread is left. The bobbin shuttle is Zingy from LaCossette. I'm not a big fan of bobbin shuttles, but this one was so pretty, I just had to have it.


The two wreaths at the top of the picture were tatted with the flat shuttle as the ball shuttle on one, and the bobbin shuttle on the other. I like the way the color flows with both of these.

The wreath on the bottom was tatted using the shoelace trick, because I didn't have enough thread left on the bobbin shuttle to complete the motif. I use the shoelace trick when I'm running out of thread, but it's not my favorite technique. I don't think the finished piece looks as nice, and I don't like the way the color flows on this one.

Seahorse Dragon

I love Anne Bruvold's dragon patterns, and I've finally tatted one! This is her Seahorse Dragon (adapted from Debbie Arnold's Seahorse), which is all rings and chains... just my speed!

Once again, I've lost the thread tag, but I believe this is size 20 Tropicana HDT from LadyShuttleMaker. When working with HDT, I've found that I like working with Tatsy or Tatsy-sized shuttles. That way I can wind the whole skein on the two shuttles and not have to figure out how I want to join the new thread to make everything look nice. The only thing I do not like about Tatsy shuttles is the raised lettering, because the thread seems to catch on the letters. So, I am the proud owner of two Tatsy-sized shuttles from Grizzly Mountain Arts.

Dave Stanbrough first designed these for me back when I broke my wrist. Mom was visiting, and we ordered the shuttles for two reasons: 1) Mom was learning to tat, and it was easier for her to work with larger threads and shuttles, and 2) the larger shuttles allowed me to get back to tatting sooner. I found that I could not hold the finer threads in my left hand for several months. These wonderful shuttles helped me keep on tatting! When I realized that these larger shuttles were great for working with HDT, I ordered another. I know they're not for everyone, but I love them!

Tativation, or motivation to tat!

I have been highly motivated to tat... tativated! This is Motif A from "Elegant Tatted Sampler" from the book Tatted Samplers by Karen Lindsay. This is my last piece of tatting using Chris Hinton's Winder Shuttle version 1.2... time to pass it on to the next tatter!

Thread: Altin Basak, size 50, color #090
Finished size: 3" square

Red... Mom's favorite color!

This shades of red thread was calling to me when I was working on my last Dragon Wing Doily. (It really does look like red in person.) I was hoping for more subtle shading, but I've learned that sometimes you really don't know what you'll get until you try it! I was trying pay close attention to the color change when I added more thread, but I didn't get it right, so there's a little puddle of pink. Oh, well! I still think it's pretty! Would you like me to send it to you, Mom?

Pattern: Dragon Wing Doily by Anne Bruvold
Thread: Altin Basak, size 50, color #090
Shuttle: purchased on eBay many years ago... sorry, I can't remember who made it, but I do own three of his shuttles!
Finished size: 4 1/2"

How do you use your tatted pieces?

I've been asked several times about how I'll use my tatting, particularly my Iris Niebach doilies, and my Mary Konior Spinning Wheel glass mats. Iris Niebach doilies line the trays of my shuttle display case that my dad built for me. Spinning Wheel glass mats line the drawers of the shuttle case that my sister Janet gave me for my birthday a couple of years ago. Yes, they're both full, and I either have to stop buying shuttles, or find another display case!

It seems that there's been an animal frenzy on tatting blogs recently, which is wonderful! I'm preparing for a baby shower, and Nancy Tracy's Tatted Snail called to me. I finished the snail a couple of weeks ago, but just stitched it onto the onesie this morning. This is such an easy pattern, and it's appropriate for both boys and girls. It really didn't take long to stitch onto the onesie. Yes, I tacked down each picot. I don't want the new mom to stress out over folded over picots!

It just keeps getting better and better!

Version 1.2 of Chris Hinton's new Winder Shuttle arrived for me to test today, and it is wonderful! I know everyone has a personal preference when it comes to shuttles. I think this one's a gem!

If you'd like a chance to win one, head on over to The Tatting Forums. Chris and Erin will be drawing a name from the list of registered users around 8 p.m. on September 1.

The motif is a section of Carol Lepard's Tatted Clover Bookmark. The thread is Altin Basak, size 50, color #3005.

P.S. - Chris has a video clip of how the shuttle works over at The Tatting Forums. Check it out! (That's an old library phrase, in case you wondered.)