Author: wandasknottythoughts@gmail.com

Small Christmas tree pattern

A few days ago I posted a picture of a small Christmas tree ornament. I was asked if I would share the pattern. Well, here it is! I’ve tried looking it over for mistakes and to make it understandable. Please give it a try, and let me know if you have any questions or if you find a problem.

Two Shuttles
Sht1
R 3-6—6-3. RW
CH 4-3—3-4. DNRW
Clover
Sht2
R 3-3-3-3. R 3 + to 3rd p of prev R 4 –2—2- 4-3. R 3+ to 3rd p of prev R 3-3-3. DNRW
Sht1
CH 4-3—3-4. RW
R 3-6+ to 2nd p of 1st R 6-3 RW
Sht2
R 3-6—6-3. DNRW
Sht1
CH 4-3—3-4. DNRW
Repeat from Clover 2 times except
Top Clover 2nd R 3+ 4 – 2 (very long p) 2- 2 + to very long p 4-3.
Last repeat join CH to base of 1st R. RW
Split R Sht2 9
Sht1 9 close. DNRW
Sht2
R 9-9.
Joint to base of previous R.

Tatting demonstration

Yesterday my husband and I were cleaning before re-arranging the living room when I came across one of my daughter’s old school newspapers from 1993 with my picture in it. My youngest was in second grade that year. Her teacher, Mrs. Val Graber, had the students invite parents or other family members to come in to share their skills and hobbies. My daughter asked me to share tatting with her class. I remember trying to come up with a presentation for 7 & 8 year olds. I talked about the different names tatting goes by in different countries and had them help me try to pronounce them, then shared some of it’s history. We had them sit on the floor close by and I tatted a few rings and chains for them. Each child received a 3″ x 5″ note card with some little bit of tatting on it, a butterfly, a caterpillar, or flowers I had made, the backgrounds made with markers. They were very pleased to get them, as I was very pleased to do them.

This was the first time I had gotten up in front of people to demonstrate or talk about tatting. Since then I have given other demonstrations, most to people of a slightly more advanced age, but all built on the confidence I found in sharing my enthusiasm about tatting with second graders.

Bell pattern

Yesterday I posted the picture of the bell ornament. Today I’m going to add the pattern for it. I’ve not written out patterns that others have had to follow yet, so, please try it if you’d like and let me know if you find any mistakes. Refer to the picture from yesterday if you have any questions. I do make things that have a definate front and back so I don’t know how it will turn out if you don’t do that also. Happy tatting!

Bell Dec2007

2 shuttles

#

Sht1

R 5-5-5-5. RW

Ch 3-2-2-3. RW.

#

Repeat between # 3 times, joining 1st p of each R to 3rd p of prev R.

R 5+5-5-5 to 3rd p of prev R. DNRW

Sht2

Ch 3-2-2-3. RW

R 5+5-5-5 to 3rd p of prev Sht1 Ch. RW

Ch3-2-2-3.RW

R 5+5-5-5 to 3rd p of prev R. RW

Ch 3+2-2-3. DNRW

Sht1

R 5-5-5-5. DNRW

Sht2

Ch 3-2-2-3. RW

R 5+5-5-5 to 3rd p of prev Sht2 R. RW

Ch 3-2-2-3. RW

R 5+5-5-5 to 3rd p of prev R. RW

Ch 3-2-2-3. DNRW

Sht1

R 5-5-5-5. RW

Ch 3+2-2-3 to 3rd p of prev Sht2 R. RW

*

5+5-5-5 to 3rd p of prev R.RW

Ch 3-2-2-3. RW

*

Repeat between * 2 times

R 5+5-5-5. DNRW

Sht2

Ch 3-2-2-3. RW

R 5+ to 3rd p of prev Sht1 Ch 5-5+5 to 1st p of 1st Ch

Ch 3-2-2-3. join to base of 1st R.

Add hanger and jingle bell clapper if desired.

p.s. I’ve added the diagrammed pattern to my sidebar August 2011

25 motif challenge #1 & #2

The last few days I’ve been working on items for Christmas. Or rather, I’ve been arguing with tatting for Christmas. I had several ideas and some didn’t want to work. I spent almost all of Saturday trying to come up with one short edging and one small snowflake. I finally conquered both, basically because I went very simple. But I got done what I wanted. The other snowflakes went much better. The edging hasn’t been added to the hanging yet, so I’ll post it when it’s done.

The snowflakes are done in size 30 DMC Cebelia. The bell is done in size 10 DMC Cebelia. All the patterns are mine – the little one is not very elaborate so I’m sure that others have come up with the same thing.

I’m entering the two large snowflakes in the 25 motif challenge. And the countdown begins…

Shopping

Yesterday I went to a shop in Wichita called ‘Heritage Hut’ where I go to get thread sometimes. It’s a nice place, mostly for weaving, knitting and crochet with lots of unique yarns and has DMC thread in size 80, 8, and almost all the DMC colors of Cebelia size 10,20 and 30. The owner doesn’t tat but she has a woman come in Saturday mornings to give a tatting class, starting with beginners but answering questions from more experienced people as well. It’s a really nice shop. She also has lots of tatting books, that you can actually pick up and look through, or drool over as the case may be. There are also several choices of shuttles, Tatsy, Clover, Boye, Aero, as well as tatting needles, doilies with the holes in the edge for edgings and other miscellaneous supplies.

Most days you are greeted at the door by Big Daddy, a Great Dane. He’s very friendly, comes to see if you would like to give him some attention. He has the run of the shop and will leave you alone when you’re done petting him or you would rather he goes away. Another dog, a half-grown Irish wolf hound puppy, is usually behind the counter because she hasn’t learned how to behave yet. Her name is Maggie. As I like dogs, I get a big kick of going into the shop to see them as well as check out any new stuff that might be there.

Mary, the owner, enjoys seeing what you are working on. I showed her my little doily with beads that I just completed. For not being a tatter she pays attention to the classes enough she had some very good questions about it. It made my day to have a chance to get more thread, share my tatting and visit the dogs.

Colonial lady applique

I have been cleaning out drawers and cabinets lately and found a lot of tatting from years ago. Some of it I shake my head at, amazed at how far I’ve come, and some I look at with a laugh at the things I tried.

I found the lady in a drawer where I put her after she had hung on the wall for awhile. She’s “Colonial Lady Applique” from Aunt Ellen’s Tatting Handbook, originally from Workbasket Vol. 19, August 1954. It’s marked as “challenging”. I knew I could tat pretty well when I completed her! I don’t remember what thread I used but I do know I worked very hard on her because I entered her in the Kansas State Fair in 1990 or ’91 (terrible I don’t remember exactly!). I actually got top blue for her that year. The one and only time I’ve entered at the state fair.

And poor Aunt Ellen’s Handbook! I have made qute a few things out of it and it shows how much I used it. It’s falling apart and has notes in the margins of the items I made. It was given to me by my “other mother”, my mother-in-law, in 1989 – I know because I made a note in the front cover. I rarely even look in it now, but it is responsible for many gifts and happy hours of tatting.

Crochet doily

Rainbow Rose Connie had a challenge to determine if a doily was crochet or tatting (top picture). I thought it was a pretty doily so thought I would try to come up with something close. Mine is made with DMC Cebelia size 20 colors #955 & 992 and 4mm silver beads. It obviously is smaller than the crocheted one, too. I didn’t want to use any larger thread or make the rings any bigger. I like it but there are few things I would definately do differently if I did it again!

Tree motif

I’ve been looking at the 25-motif challenge. Sounds like good incentive to keep doing new or different things, so I thought I’d give it a try. This is something I’ve come up with for Christmas this year to send in Christmas cards. I’m also looking at the possibilities of useing it for doily, using about six for the center and without the ‘trunk’. Maybe in varigated thread…

Tatting in public

A couple of days ago I drove my parents to Wichita so Dad could visit the VA clinic. While waiting for his turn to have blood drawn and what-not I pulled out my tatting, it looked to be a long wait. There was a couple beside me that instantly wondered what I was doing. The gentleman was quite intrigued with it. Another lady across the way had to come over and see what I was doing, also. She knew what it was but had never actually seen anyone do it. We had a nice conversation about tatting. The gentleman commented that he had used the word ‘tat’ in crossword puzzles before but had never known what it was. When they left he thanked me for the knowledge about tatting. I always enjoy meeting people this way.

First post

Well, I’m going to try blogging. I’ve been reading some really great ones and I’m excited to try it myself.
I’m going to start with an old idea, at least in our family. This is a turkey wishbone thimble holder. A great-great aunt of my husband’s had made these, some with tatting and some with crochet. I decided I would give it a try. Unlike my husband’s aunt’s, I sprayed the bone with a sealer before putting the thread on.
My kids liked what it looked like after I was done, but a little unhappy because they never got to break the wishbone at Thanksgiving.