Finished Pink Squares for the "Tat a Monument in Pink" Project

I have not forgotten that I have a blog, though it may appear so.  Finding time for working on this blog in the midst of a busy schedule is where I have failed.

I regularly write and send out the newsletter for my local Fiber Guild.  That goes out twice a month, a few days before our meetings.  I also take care of emails and the Member Contact list for the guild.

I tat, craft, and occasionally think to myself, "This would be good for the blog."  So there are a number of photos and subjects waiting...

A few weeks ago, I heard about an international project to decorate a Brussels monument with pink tatted squares to bring attention to tatting lace as an art and women's rights all over the world.  It is being organized by Cathy De Greef (Canarithy) to coincide with the World Lace Congress in Brugge in August 2018.  You can read more about it on her website and on Facebook.

I was glad to get my squares finished and mailed off last week!

Patterns Used: 

Square by Cathy De Greef (Canarithy), Posted on her Website and on Facebook

Alternative Brussels Square by Jane McLellan, Posted on her Blog

Another Square by Carollyn Brown, Posted on her Blog

Weldon's Square Medallion, Posted by Milly Suazo on Facebook

Threads Used: 

Lizbeth #20-621 (Dusty Rose Lt.)

Lizbeth #20-145 (Pink Parade)

Lizbeth #20-620 (Azalea Med.)

Lizbeth #20-176 (Pink Blossoms)

Lizbeth #20-700 (English Rose Med.)

HDT by Marilee Rockley, Yarnplayer, Size 20 (Raspberry Sorbet)

Clover Shuttles and

Custom shuttles by Rita at Shuttle By Design 

Painted Quilts and TIAS 2017, Days 4-5

At the January 2017 meeting of the West Alabama Quilters Guild, Dr. Bethany Windham Engle spoke to us about her quilt-inspired paintings.  She brought two of her paintings for us to see.

From a distance, they look like they are made with fabric, much like a traditional quilt.  Up close, it is easy to see that they are in fact painted.  Dr. Engle used acrylic paints to mimic fabrics and pencil drawing for the portrait.

Thanks for sharing your artwork with us, Dr. Engle!

Here is my progress with Jane Eborall's TIAS 2017.  The instructions for Day 4 called for zig zag chains.  I tatted a lock stitch chain first, then realized my mistake when it didn't look quite like the diagram.

I printed Jane's technique pages on Lock Chain and Zig Zag Chains and made samples before continuing with the TIAS.  It was a good challenge. :)

Day 5 was a row of split rings.  Much easier!

'Til next time,

Christine

Kirigami and TIAS 2017, Days 1-3

Happy New Year!  I have lots of things to share with you, and I will start with two ongoing projects.

At the beginning of this year, I purchased a page-a-day style calendar of Kirigami designs.

I have enjoyed folding and cutting out the various motifs.  Below are a few that I have made so far.  I hope to have many other pretty Kirigami as the year goes on. :)

I have also started tatting Jane Eborall's "Tat It and See" project for this year.  The length of the project and the outcome are both a mystery!

Part of the fun is learning new techniques and another part is trying to guess what we are tatting.

On Day 1, it honestly could have been anything!

On Day 2, I thought perhaps it was the beginning of a snowflake.

On Day 3, I was thinking that it is the start of a very fine vase.
(The painting is Flowers in a Vase by Odilon Redon.)

But my husband says it is the Taj Mahal!

'Til next time,
Christine

Election Day Tatting

My husband and I stood in line for about an hour this morning so that we could vote.
I made good use of my time. :)

Tatting Thread Color Samples

I like to have color samples of my tatting threads to help me choose threads for future projects.  I decided to use a rings-only edging pattern for the samples, as it shows the colors the way they come off the ball of thread.  A motif of rings and chains tends to chop up the colors.

I found this pattern on a Russian website through Pinterest.

Here's my version:
R: 2 ± 7 - 2 - 7. RW.  Leave unworked thread space of 3-4 mm.

Repeat R for desired length, joining Ring 3 to Ring 1 and Ring 4 to Ring 2, etc.

When I tat this with Lizbeth size 20, one sample uses about 3 yards 6" of thread.

When I First Learned to Tat

I intend to write a few posts to chronicle some of my past tatting projects.  I hope you won't be bored!

I first learned to tat in 1995.  Below is the box of tatting supplies that I have from that time.  One thing I liked about tatting is that the needed supplies were small and easy to travel with.

Below is the box of tatting that I made in 1995 and 1996.  I had a Coats & Clarks book or two -- not many patterns.  I had four metal shuttles -- one Boye, one Susan Bates, one Justrite, and one without any markings at all.  The Justright shuttle is interesting in that it is a post shuttle and it twists apart so that thread can be wound around the post.  The other three use bobbins.

You may notice dark spots on some of the tatted motifs.  I didn't have the benefit of the fabulous tatting community that exists on the internet today.  Resources and information about tatting were hard to come by.  So I was stumped as to how to handle the thread ends.  

My solution was to knot the ends (probably a square knot) and then dab the knot with Fray Check.  Over time, the Fray Check has yellowed and darkened.

Please learn from my mistake!  My advice is to be very careful about anything that you apply to your tatting, or other creations.  Be sure the product is acid-free and archivally safe.

I enjoyed making these little squares. I made a number of them with J&P Coats Tatting-Crochet thread, color 13-C, which I believe is size 80. But I observed that each one was just under 3/4" square, and it took me about 45 minutes to make.  After awhile, I wanted to make something that progressed more quickly.  

Also, I didn't know what to do with my little squares.  I didn't feel the need for doilies... I thought the squares would be nice sewn onto something, such as a white linen blouse.  But thinking about it was as far as I got.

My tatting was set aside for other crafts.  

(To be continued...)

Completed TIAS 2016

Here is my completed TIAS 2016.  Thanks to Jane for the fun project!

Threads I used:

Rabbit - Lizbeth #20-603, Ecru

Teeth - Lizbeth #20-601, White

Carrots - 3 strands variegated embroidery floss (yellow to orange) with one strand Sulky #40 Rayon, #1065 (orange)

Carrot tops - 2 strands light green embroidery floss with one strand of floss, #91-A, Isle Green

I was inspired by the picture of Brenda's flower basket on Day 11 to make a basket of carrots for my rabbit.  

This way he won't go hungry!

Basket thread - 2 strands DMC embroidery floss #420 (med. brown) with one strand tan floss

I hope to take part in next year's TIAS.  I know it will be another fun bit of tatting. :)

TIAS 2016 - Threads Used