This is it!

More than 50 years ago, I was given a cross bookmark as a thank you gift. That's when my interest in tatting began. I had never seen tatting before, and I was fascinated! The girl who gave me the bookmark moved shortly after giving it to me, so I was never able to learn to tat from her. It took me 20 years to learn how to tat.

The Internet gave me the ability to search for the pattern, which turned out to be from Workbasket. I was sorting through some files on my computer last night and found the pattern. Naturally, I had to tat it!

The thread is size 40 Lizbeth # 40-9100, Arctic Evening, one of the new Limited Series threads. I like the thread, but I'm not sure I like it for this pattern. I think this cross is prettier in a solid color, or perhaps something with more subtle color variations.

I also tatted "Christina" from Tatted Bookmarks ~ cross-shaped by Lene Bjorn. The color variations seem to work better with this pattern. However, I think I still prefer solid colors fro cross bookmarks.

I haven't worked tassels for these two yet, and I'm not sure I will. I adore tassels, but I find they sometimes get caught and get pulled out of the book, something I find very frustrating!

How do you feel about tassels on bookmarks?

A jaunty snowflake

I love Robin Perfetti's new book, Four Dozen Tatted Snowflakes, available in her Etsy shop. I started with Snowflake #1 earlier in the week, and today I decided to try the sample pattern at the beginning of the book. I put my tatting down to answer the phone, and I didn't pay attention to where I was in the pattern when I picked my tatting up again. As I was finishing the snowflake, I realized that something wasn't right. Look at that top ring!

I didn't get upset. I started chuckling to myself, because I thought the snowflake looked a bit jaunty. I think this one will go on my tree this year!

I did tat a second one, correctly this time, but it looks like it needs to be blocked. Not a problem, but it's something that can wait until morning!

How far did it go?

I made it my goal to tat up the rest of the green thread today. First, I tatted a Doodle Ice Drop with one picot at each point.

Then, I tatted a Doodle Ice Drop with three picots at each point.

Next, I tatted a Doodle Ice Drop with five picots at each point.

 I also finished another Coronavirus Button Cross. 

Yes, there is still a little bit of thread left, maybe two or three yards. I think I'll just keep it on the shuttle for now. It's hard to say when I might need just a touch of green!

Running out of green?

I'm always amazed at how much thread is left on a ball when I think I'm running low! I hoped I would have enough for a cross and an Ice Drop.

I did! In fact, I had enough for two Ice Drops.

It looks like I'll be able to get quite a bit more out of this ball of thread!

 

Elderberry Jam

Yesterday I tatted a Doodle Ice Drop and most of a cross in size 80. When I got home from school, I found a mistake, so I snipped off the thread and started over. A couple of hours later, I looked at the discarded piece and realized I hadn't made a mistake after all. Too late! Next time I think something needs to be snipped, I'm going to set it aside for a couple of hours just to be sure!

I really wasn't discouraged about working with the size 80 thread, so today I re-tatted Maria from Tatted Bookmarks ~ cross-shaped by Lene Bjorn. I'm so happy I did! I think it looks wonderful in Elderberry Jam, and it matches my personalized shuttle!

Another white day

 

I was in the mood to tat a cross today, and I chose "Maria" from Tatted Bookmarks ~ cross-shaped by Line Bjorn. It's been a while since I've tatted this one, and I forgot how large it is in size 20. I'm thinking of doing another in size 80 for a comparison. 

They were predicting snow flurries this weekend. That didn't happen, but thinking of snow flurries did put me in the mood to start tatting snowflakes! This is Snowflake #1 from Robin Perfetti's new book Four Dozen Tatted Snowflakes, available in her Etsy shop. I'm not sue if I'll get all four dozen tatted by Christmas, but I'm sure going to try!

What would the day be without an Ice Drop? 

Tatting with white

I spent today tatting with white. Of course there was a Doodle Ice Drop in the mix!

I tatted Pink Anchor (obviously not in pin) by Lily Qualls Morales for a friend. Shhh... don't tell anyone I missed a ring and chain. It does look slightly shorter, but I don't think it looks bad.

I ended my day with another Coronavirus Button Cross by Laura Blanton. The button I used is slightly smaller than the recommended size. I just made an easy adjustment between arms with a stitch count of 2-2 rather than 3-3. I think it worked out pretty well!