Complete Re-Think

I was contacted by a lady from a lace group interested in a bookmark I made for an exchange at In Tatters last year.  I had adapted the Quatrain pattern into a bookmark.  This involved repeating the centre motif and then making a border.  This means cutting, tying, hiding ends...  I don't like those jobs!  So it started me thinking about the design and how I could keep the idea of Quatrain but adapt it so that the bookmark could be completed in one pass.

After some trial and error, here is what I've come up with so far.

I'm not completely happy with it yet,

but it's a good start.

Or it's one option.

No. 9 of 25-motif challenge

I even tried Jane Eborall's method of throwing a ring off a ring (thank you Jane, you are wonderful!) to get the small rings in the centre of the design but I felt that was quite an advanced technique which some people would not want to tackle.  I will probably re-visit it though because I liked the look of it.

The samples below show rings thrown off rings in the centre part of the bookmark:

Here is the original bookmark, which I like a lot

but as I said, it does mean making each element separately.

Well, actually you could do two and two, using split rings.

I may also re-do the top bookmark but adding picots in the centre elements to fill the spaces a bit.  I'll also see if I can get a better hang of the thrown rings off rings (TROR?  TRR?) because they would be very useful in some circumstances - including here!

Oh wait, wait, I could also use a mock ring to be able to throw a small ring in the centre...  mmmm.....

... to be continued.

Best wishes,

Bright and Cheerful

When I last visited my Mother-in-law, she had a little doily I made for her on her table and I remembered how much I liked these colours together.  This is Lizbeth Spring Green with Lizbeth Tropical Punch.  The border I chose is similar to the one that was on the original doily but not quite the same as I couldn't remember where I found it the first time.  It's a vintage edging that I've seen in a few different old books.  I modified it just a little to a shape that appealed to me.

No. 8 of 25-motif challenge

Just can't have my hands idle you know... so a couple of hours on the train yesterday plus a couple of hours watching a film with the children on TV tonight and there you have it.  Nearly done.

Best wishes,

Hanky Edging Completed

We spent sometime watching the Jubilee flotilla going down the Thames on TV yesterday, and of course, while I watched, I tatted.  And completed the purple hanky edging.

I'm not normally a massive fan of this type of variegated thread...

(in this case, Altin Basak 50)

but I think it looks alright on this handkerchief

complimenting the corner design quite well.

With elderflower and wisteria from the garden.

Tomorrow we shall be going to London to watch the Queen riding from Westminster to Buckingham palace in her golden carriage and enjoying whatever else is going on during the last day of the Jubilee weekend in the capital.

Best wishes,

Attaching Tatting to Hanky

Maria sent me a message asking how I was attaching the lace in the previous post.  I took some photos for her and then I thought I might as well post them here too... should they be of interest to any others.

I use a hat pin to make the holes but any large, sharp needle would do.

Here is the hole I just made.  I like the holes right on the edge so there
won't be a long line of thread between the hole and the ring.

I'm using 5-5 rings to attach to the hanky.  So here are my first 5 stitches made.

Put your hook through the hole and pull a loop.

Loop pulled through, use it to make a normal join.

Here is the join made.  Complete the remaining stitches of your ring.

The joins are made with the underside facing so that the large rings
face the right side of the hanky (or you could use FSBS tatting of course).
So here it is, from the front.
Two sides done, two to go!





And finally, it's the Jubilee Weekend here in the UK,
so I thought I would honour the Queen with a bit of nail art...
(the flag was painted by my son!)

Have a great weekend everyone!

Best wishes,

Simple, simple.

Inspired by Fox's project, I decided it was time I also tackled a new hanky.  Seems like ages since I made one.  Mother-in-law will be pleased, she needs a new one for her collection.  But for a change from (one of!) my other current project which is the slightly more complicated butterfly doily, I fancied something really simple, with one shuttle only.

Here is what I started:

Ok, started counting again and this is motif 7 of second 25-motif challenge

I'm making holes with a large needle right on the edge of the hanky as I go along and attaching the little rings into the holes.  I don't often attach as I tat, but in this case, I thought it would work well.  I improvised the corner when I got to it and am only eyeballing the distance between the holes.  So, as you can see, this is a really "chilled out" project.  Easy.

Best wishes,

Tat-ilicious Indeed!

I received my first purchase from Jess at Tat-ilicious and I was not disappointed - I love the colour!  I shall be keeping an eye on what else she comes up with...

Earrings tatted in "Chilled", size 20.

Best wishes,

Marie's Marvellous Gift

Yes, the same Marie of Marie Smith's Split Chain Method - now known to me as "The Wonderful Marie"... has sent me something in the post.  And what a beautiful surprise it was!  She had told me of her beaded shuttle bags and shown me some pictures and even explained to me how they are made.  But it's nothing compared to how lovely this little bag is in real life!  It looks and even feels amazing.  This one is tatted in silk and has a gorgeous sheen and soft quality and it looks just incredible with the iridescent beads.  She had previously asked me what colours I like and the little bag is a perfect shade of pale greeny-blue (perhaps it looks more blue in the photos than IRL), just the kind of colour that appeals to me.

I'm totally enamoured with it!

Slightly darker photo with shuttle peaking out of it.

And there are hundreds of beads in this little bag,

there must be hours and hours of work involved.

for such a beautiful gift.

Best wishes,