I ended up using two wood skewers taped together to make myself a big enough tatting needle for the yellow t-shirt yarn.
The red t-shirt yarn was even bigger! For that one, I asked my son (who's very good with a whittling knife) to make me a really large needle.
But really I'd like to find a way of making giant tatting with some kind of shuttle rather than a needle. I'm putting some thought into that.
It's rather strange working on that scale... it doesn't really feel like lace-making anymore. Still, it was an interesting experiment. I have more ideas I need to explore. In the photo below, you can just about see the tiny Mirabelle in its "normal" Lizbeth 20 size, next to the yellow one... just to give you an idea of scale.
I've also been making more tatted flower earrings. I find variegated threads look pretty and very effective for flower earrings.
The day at Snowshill Manor was enjoyable (it's a beautiful property and gardens): there were many visitors and I got to chat to a lot of people. It would be lovely to think I may have inspired any new would-be tatters! I now have plenty of earrings and snowflakes left over that will go into my Etsy shop.
Best wishes,
Frivole
What will that wonderful brain of yours come up with next?
ReplyDeleteI can see the genesis of floor rugs or door mats (especially with Celtic tatting) - and washable too! With regards to size - have you thought of looking at some version of a netting '"needle" or "shuttle" - the kind that fisherman (used to?) use? Since a net is knotted, and they needed a lot of twine to make nets, I thought this might be worth exploring,, if you can find or make one big enough... :-D
Great suggestion Megan - thank you! I'll look into that. :-)
DeleteVery interesting. Many years ago I took a book out of the library that had very large tatting in it, huge artworks made, if I remember correctly, with rope. Recycling T-shirts gives an added dimension. Sweet earrings, yes variegated thread works well. Sounds like a wonderful market day.
ReplyDeleteLove the idea of large tatting, but wondering how hard it would be(shuttle tatter here). ;) Looks like you are doing well!! :)
ReplyDeleteLove the earrings!!! So very pretty!!! :)
Hi God's Kid - yes! Not that easy to handle when it's that large! Just about works with a needle but not found/made a shuttle big enough yet! :-)
DeleteI wonder if a knotting shuttle would work for you? I have a large one, the size of a Tatsy shuttle, that Dave Stanbrough made years ago. The shape is the same as a Tatsy, but the tips are open. I also have a Lael Morgan shuttle from the 70s. It's shaped like a Lady Hoare shuttle, but quite large... probably as large as the Tatsy. Perhaps your son could whittle one of those for you.
ReplyDeleteHi Diane, thank you for the suggestions! I'd not realised the difference with a knotting shuttle was that the tips were open. But I need much larger than a Tatsy actually... which means I would also need a bigger left hand! So I'm now looking into making some sort of contraption to tat on really large scale... to be continued! :-)
DeleteWhat about a weaving shuttle or boat shuttle? These seem to be large enough to handle the size material you are working with, but may be on the heavy side for easy handling. (Wood selection - Balsam?) Although, there are more primitive versions that may be more manageable. Oh, the ideas - so fun to play.
ReplyDeleteAnother great suggestion! Thank you Cindy! Funnily enough I was doing demonstration in an old Manor House come museum on Saturday and they had a work room in the loft and I saw one of those weaving shuttles and I had the idea that it might work. I'll look into it! :-)
DeleteActually I have been exploring making yarn out of old t.shirts as a form of re-cycling (up-cycling) but you are very brave to try tatting with the material. My thoughts were crocheting!
ReplyDeleteHi Sally, yes I like the idea of up/re-cycling too and that's why I wanted to try the t-shirt yarn. You are right, it's easier to crochet with than to tat with! It's also too stretchy for my purposes but it would certainly work to make other things with and a great way to use unwanted t-shirts.
DeleteWe tat with all kinds of things. love the flower earrings.
ReplyDeleteIts a very interesting post, usuing material to tat with, certainly makes a large snowflake. Im all for recycling not sure I want to try tatting with material.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your course
I love your flower earrings but I do not see pattern on your blog or Etsy. Do you have a pattern for sale. Have bought other patterns from you. Love the fall leaf. Thank you for tutorial.
ReplyDelete