Getting Back into the Tatting Swing of Things Again

Here's my 13th motif. I used Roger aka Freedman's Easy Bookmark with Butterfly Top from the Needle Tatting Proboard Forum.

It is needle tatted using Lizbeth #20 thread in the color called Confetti (#105).

Roger's instructions were perfect and it tatted up very quickly. I didn't add any beads this time but if I make it again, I think I will.

Let's see, what's next??

11th Motif - Rosie the Seahorse Dragon

Meet Rosie, the Seahorse Dragon. This is Anne Bruvold's pattern which she taught in a recent online tatting class.

I've hesitated to do any of Anne's dragons because they looked so difficult. But, Anne, thank you so much for the seahorse dragon. The instructions are clear and easy to follow and I really enjoyed creating this piece.

As with other patterns I've done that join two pieces together, I always have to stop and think about what I'm doing. The first time, I usually join things upside down, but that's all part of the learning process.

Rosie's body is needle tatted while her wing is shuttled tatted. There's no particular reason for that; I just wanted to use both methods.

9th Motif - Snowflake #1

I took Lene Bjorn's 24 Snowflakes in Tatting book with me on vacation because I've been anxious to try some of these patterns and because it's time to start thinking about motifs for the holidays.

It was difficult to choose which snowflake to begin with. Of course, I could have just started with the first one, but doesn't everyone do that?

Instead, I began with The Fifth Day of December snowflake and shuttled tatted it while on vacation. I also did some very small motifs like butterflies but I gave them away to anyone who inquired about what I was doing. Clicking on the photo will enlarge it but please don't look too closely :) remember, I was on vacation.

As for doing something new as part of my 25 Motif Challenge, the only thing about this snowflake that was a little challenging was making long, even-tensioned chains.

One of the reasons for choosing this particular snowflake was that each round was repetitive which meant I could put it down and pick it back up later and not lose my place.

8th Motif - Clover Leaf Doily

Yeah, I finally have something to post in my 25 Motif Challenge. It's a Clover Leaf Doily that is about 6-1/2" wide. I found the pattern by Linda S. Davies at www.craftown.com and thought it was beautiful.

It took me quite a bit of time to finish because I was working on some other things at the same time. As you can probably tell from my other posts, I enjoy tatting clovers. I haven't made any doilies before because I thought they would get boring and I would give up on them. However this pattern had interesting rounds and I really enjoyed making it.

 I used Lizbeth #20 thread in a medium green and ecru. If you click on the photo, you'll be able to see more detail.

Let the Tatting Challenge Begin!

Well, I've just joined the 25 Motif Tatting Challenge. What I would like to do is use the 25 motifs to challenge myself to learn new tatting skills.

I began tatting with a shuttle but have since learned how to needle tat. I like both for different reasons and will use both throughout this challenge. I'll try to remember to designate which method was used for each motif.

Here are some ideas of tatting motifs I would like to make during the next 12 months:

• Celtic Pattern
• Edgings/Insertions
• Cluny Leaf
• Block Tatting
• Three-Dimensional Motif
• Vintage Motifs

I have already begun collecting patterns for these items and as soon as the holidays are over (or I finish all of my Christmas gifts, wrapping, and baking), I'll select a pattern and thread and begin tatting.

This is gonna be fun and I can't wait to get started!