Jan Stawasz Moje Robotki 8/2007 Huge Doily tat-along Row 8

Just finished Row 8 and this cloth now measures 19.5 inches.  I use a non woven cloth that I store it in, wrapped up, and the cloth is used to put on my lap or the table depending where I am working to keep the tatting clean. 

Not quite halfway through and I have used two balls of 50gr Aida 10. I have been working off the ball for the past two rows, climbed out with a split chain and will continue on to the easy row 9.  It looks ruffled but is actually laying flat.  I will give it a spray and light press once then next row is completed.

New Books

I won, I won, I won. These are my new books, the top two I purchased as a treat for myself just before year end and the bottom Rita Weiss I won.  L... over at Craftree.com  found two copies in her library and collected names of people who wanted one and my name was drawn.  

The Rita Weiss book "Traditional Tatting Patterns" contains pre-published works and contains a pattern I was already working on and another Anne Orr I have always wanted to try.

I encourage all tatters to start a library for technique instruction and practice.  The cost of most books are really minimal and they support the artists.  My tatting library grows each year and gives me inspiration be it new or traditional patterns.

Renulek Wiosna 2015 Row 4

 

I have now completed row four and had to hide the ends 

The pattern is Renulek Wiosna 2015  . She puts up a new row to the pattern every day or so. You can tat along or copy the pattern for future use.  There are a few of us over at Craftree who are doing this together. 

Happy Chinese New Year

Happy New Year to all.  May the year of the Goat bring you good health and prosperity.

Below are some sample Chinese Knots I completed quite some time ago.

Tatting and Chocolate

Nothing says Happy Valentine than Hearts and Chocolate

Heart Designers:

Irene Woo, Jane Eborall, Jan Stawasz, Susan Fuller

Daisy Picots

Yes it is another heart and for the record it won't be the last.  It involves using daisy picots and I used the instructions and pattern provided by Jon Yusoff. Daisy picots are those red ones sitting under the long white ones.  Jon provides both written and pictorial explanations; very easy to understand even for the novice tatter.  Read all instructions to the pattern right to the end and you will not be retrotatting at all.  It starts out like a big mess but organizes itself as it goes on.

The beads I used where a bit too heavy and large for this thread but I have a lot of them so no worries. This is a nice small piece to practice when to add beads and how to tat with them.  There are beads on chains, beads on rings and one spot where there are beads on both core and picot thread. 

One of my fellow tatters Claire has been doing a series of hearts "one heart per month for my mom", I thought that was such a lovely idea.  All my hearts will be done for the memory of my mother. So pleased with how this heart finished up I will be doing a few more as this one has already been given away.

Finally here is a peek of what I have in my tatting case today, I also have a few LARGE projects that I do not travel with. I always seem to have too many works in progress, how many WIP do you have at any one time?

More TIAS 2015

Each Day Jane gave us a few more stitches to complete. Scroll down, what would you have guessed the Tat it and See to be?
You can view the tatting of others using this link to her site.

And Then there were Two

I have now completed row two climbing out with a split chain.  Using split rings and split chains were some of the best and useful techniques I learned while tatting. It seems that every time I find a pattern I want to try I need to learn a new technique. One of my WIP has daisy picots so I am on a learning curve with these.

The pattern is Renulek Wiosna 2015  . She puts up a new row to the pattern every day or so. You can tat along or copy the pattern for future use.  There are a few of us over at Craftree who are doing this together.  I have climbed out of row  two above with a split chain and on to row three.

Trying a new thread....Sulky

As long as I have empty shuttles I like to try something new.  This is Sulky 12 wt. It seems to be thicker than 80 probably closer to some vintage Star 60 I have.  It is strong and just a little tricky to work with (it does not undo well).  It is good practice for picot length and chain control.  No pressure I am only doing this for fun. 

The pattern is Renulek Wiosna 2015  . She puts up a new row to the pattern every day or so. You can tat along or copy the pattern for future use.  There are a few of us over at Craftree who are doing this together.  I have climbed out of row one above with a split ring and on to row two.