Too much fun?

It sure is quiet around here now that our youngest grandchildren have gone home. I miss them already!

My fascination with Dorset ring buttons continues, and part of that fascination is trying out new threads! I've never worked with perle cotton before, but I decided to try it out after a tatting friend suggested it. I found this assortment on Amazon. The price was right and the colors appealed to me.

I'm not sure I would use perle cotton for everyday tatting, but I think it works well with Dorset ring button ornaments.

I think I'm going to have to have a set of these, one in each color!

After I finish my set of 12, I'll have plenty of patterns to try out. My new book by Gina Barrett arrived in today's mail There are 67 identified button patterns in this book and there are instructions for variations. I've also joined the Gina-B Silkworks group on Facebook so that I can learn from others. What fun!

I'm not ignoring my "normal" button ornaments. I'm just adding variety to my day. Could it be that I'm having too much fun? Maybe!

Sunday tatting

Saturday was a day that was too busy for tatting. I spent about a half hour on the Tollway Tatters Zoom meeting, and then the rest of the day was spent doing things with our grandchildren. Sometimes priorities change!

After reading that Dorset buttons were traditionally stitched with linen thread, I decided I needed to give it a try. I love using the linen thread for the button, but I'm not sure I like it for the tatted portion of the ornament The thread is Londonderry Linen #5063 "Dandelion" 50/3.

I decided to try one more ornament in linen thread. I do enjoy using the linen thread for the button, but I think future ornaments will have the tatted element in cotton. Again, I used a 1/2" brass ring, which seems to be the perfect size for my ornaments. The thread is Londonderry Linen #5065 Evergreen 50/3.

School will be back in session in a couple of weeks. I'm not sure what I'll be doing, if anything, but I do know that I need to get serious about sorting through craft supplies. Maybe I'll get started tomorrow!

Improving

I started my day with another Dorset Crosswheel. I feel like I get a little better with each one I make!

I felt it needed a little embellishment, so I added a round of tatting.

I wasn't content until I had turned it into a December 8 button ornament. I love the way it looks!

After several false starts, I finally have a Lychett Basket button that I like. It's not perfect yet, but it is greatly improved!

It seemed appropriate that I end the day with a donut ornament. 

Tomorrow is our Tollway Tatters Zoom meeting. I won't be able to attend for the full time since it's the last day of Joanne's visit. I am looking forward to meeting up with tatting friends, even if it is for just a little while!

Still playing with buttons

 

Last night I decided to give the Lychett Basket pattern another try. I did the casting before heading off to bed. Casting is covering the ring with the blanket stitch. This morning I did the slicking (pushing the bumps formed by the blanket stitch to the back), laying (wrapping the spokes around the ring), and rounding (weaving the pattern. 

Although this looks better than yesterday's attempt, it's far from being acceptable!

Since I wasn't doing very well with the Lychett Basket, I decided to set Dorset buttons aside and work on a button ornament. It's very satisfying to tat a familiar pattern!

I have a little tin that's holding the buttons, donuts, and findings that I plan on using with size 40 Lizbeth #669 Poppy Red. To make things more interesting, I just reach into the tin and pull something out. It helps keep things interesting!

I was going to try another Lychett Basket, but after three false starts I decided to make it into a Dorset Crosswheel. It looks like I need to work on my tension!

Playing with thread

Mom and I went to get our hair cut this morning, and then I spent the rest of the day playing with thread!

My blog posts will probably be pretty boring for a while. I have quite a selection of buttons and donuts that I plan to tat around with size 40 Lizbeth #669 Poppy Red. My December 1 button ornament pattern is pretty simple and tats up quickly, and I want to be sure to have plenty of ornaments for Christmas in the Village!

I plan on having some Dorset Crosswheel centers, so I'll be stitching up some of them as well.

My 5/8" four hole button stash doesn't seem to be getting smaller, even though I feel like I've been going through them like crazy!

It took me a while to figure out the Dorset Crosswheel variation. This was another one of those times when I wondered why I found it so difficult once I was finished!

I gave away most of my 5/8" two hole buttons, but I found some more so I might as well use them!

My final button of the day was supposed to be a Lychett Basket. This looks nothing like the picture on the pattern page! I'll use it as a center for a button ornament, but I know I'll be much happier when I create one that looks like the pattern picture!

Last of the Red Burst

 

I finished my last button ornament in Red Burst this morning.

I had just enough thread left to make a 1/2" Dorset Button.

So, what was I able to tat with one ball of size 40 Lizbeth? There are two cross bookmarks.

There are 55 button ornaments and one Dorset button. I am very happy with how much I was able to tat with one ball of thread!

Now that I've finished with the ball of Red Burst, I've moved on to size 40 Lizbeth #669 Poppy Red. 

I've signed up for a spot at Christmas in the Village. I sure hope these little ornaments sell!

On the weaving front, I passed on one of my looms to my friend Irene's ten-year-old granddaughter. She sews, knits, and crochets. Weaving seemed like a natural hobby. As you can see, she has really taken to it!

My sister came to visit with her grandchildren today. That means that Great-grandma Green was able to spend time with all of her great grandchildren this summer!

Brookfield Zoo

We took the kids to Brookfield Zoo yesterday. We left about 8:30 in the morning and returned home around 4. It was a hot and sunny day, so we were all exhausted by the end of the day. I hadn't been to the zoo in about 30 years. It was pretty much as I remembered it. Some of the areas were closed, and some of the animals just didn't make an appearance. I imagine they didn't like the heat any more than we did!

I snuck in a little time for myself today. This morning I made two Dorset buttons.

This afternoon I tatted a donut ornament. I think I have just enough thread for one more ornament in Red Burst. I've already started it, and I should finish it tomorrow. 

It's taken me a little over two weeks to use up this ball of size 40 Lizbeth. When I finish the last ornament, I'll take a picture of what I've been able to tat from one ball of thread. It's pretty amazing!