Book and button

Last week our library had a book sale which I actually had time to go in and check out, which is dangerous. I like books. I like to browse through books of all sorts, getting lost in all the interesting things they present. It is also very easy to give them a nice new home. My husband was fortunate that I only brought three home with me, for the amazing donation of $5. One of them was a tatting book in very good condition.

This book is edited by Barbara Foster and published by Handy Hands Tatting Publications. It is a reproduction of a 1952 Australian book written by Norma Benporath with a few additions from Barbara.

Except for the later additions the patterns in this book are all written in the long form.

This method of writing out patterns is not used much anymore, for good reason. There are other, easier to read, methods that also take up less space that are used today. I learned to tat reading this kind of pattern but I would probably note down in an easier form any pattern I make from this book.

There are other things in the book, too, like a a short history and a few tips and hints on tatting, tools, and mounting tatting to material, as well as pictures and written directions for tatting. I love reading about this kind of thing. This book had not been used much, which is sad for the library (probably why it was in the sale) but exciting to me, giving me the chance to purchase it.

I have been tatting a bit, mostly around buttons and other small things. I have other projects going on that I’m working on but nothing to show yet. One button that I did yesterday was to wear to my granddaughter’s volleyball match last night. They were having a ‘pink out’ night, their way of supporting breast cancer awareness and support. They had QR codes posted around the gym so you could donate money on-line if you wanted. They encouraged everyone to wear pink, which is great, but I don’t have anything that is pink. I had to make something.

I used Lizbeth #622 Pink Med in size 10 to make these. I added a pin back to the button and wore it on my shirt. I made a second ‘ribbon’ and wore them as earrings. It was fun seeing all the kids at the school in their pink shirts, skirts, and face paint. FYI, my granddaughter’s team won both matches, yay!

My daughter helped me do a bit of Halloween decorating in my yard this year though not in my house. It was a lot of fun but I think I’ll just do Autumn and Thanksgiving decorating inside instead. I can leave it up longer that way. I haven’t done much ‘fall’ tatting but I suppose fall isn’t over yet. Maybe I’ll get a bit of it in before I start the Christmas tatting.

“Books are a uniquely portable magic” Stephen King