Category: cross

Changing Crosses

I’ve been very busy the last two weeks, sometimes even with tatting! Every time I try to sit down to post, other, more pressing things came up. But I’m back today 🙂

I am still working on my shelf edging. It is about 3/4 of the way complete and it’s a convenient project to take in the car. If I didn’t have other projects to do, as well.

2nd shelf china hutch edging on wandasknottythoughts
Still working on the edging for the 2nd shelf

A friend of mine got married last weekend. Of course, I had to tat something, which was a cross bookmark in her wedding colors. I thought it turned out well. I didn’t realize that I hadn’t taken a picture of the finished cross until the day after I gave it to her. If she puts it in her Bible I might be able to take a picture one Sunday when I see her at church. If I remember! I used Lizbeth #632 Purple Medium. For the tassel, I added several strands of #605 Silver, both in size 20.

April's Cross v2 on wandasknottythoughts
April’s Cross in one of the bride’s colors

When deciding which cross to tat I first looked through ones that I had completed. I found several that I had done and either made changes or mistakes. I suppose that is determined by how they come out, right? If the change looks good, yay! If it doesn’t, then oops, don’t do that.

Several tatted crosses with changes on wandasknottythoughts
Several tatted crosses I found with changes

The white cross on the left is a doodle, so I can’t say it’s had changes made, but does it work?? The purple one is Milan with a mistake/change at the top, not sure I like it. The blue cross is April’s Cross with a few changes at the end of the arms, which I did purposely and I like the change. The multi-colored cross is January Cross without split rings.

January Cross 2019 ver 2 on wandasknottythoughts
January Cross 2019 ver 2

One cross that I purposely made changes to was ‘January Cross 2019’. A tatter contacted me about the pattern, wondering if it could be done without split rings. I thought about it and came up with version 2, changing the split rings to rings and chains. It changes up the look only slightly. I posted about the original version last year. Both versions can be found on My Patterns page.

This coming weekend is Independence Day here in the USA. I usually come up with some kind of patriotic tatting. I haven’t done that this year – yet. Another project to delay the edging. Well, the edging has been on the back burner for years, what’s another couple of days?

“Change, like sunshine, can be a friend or a foe, a blessing or a curse, a dawn or a dusk.” William Arthur Ward

“William Arthur Ward Quotes.” BrainyQuote.com. BrainyMedia Inc, 2020. 30 June 2020. https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/william_arthur_ward_190444

Another Cross

Good news! My picture program problem has been resolved. I had to reinstall it, but it now works again. Yay! Now I have to catch up on formatting the pictures I have taken and want to use.

I made several more sunflowers since the last time I posted but not much in the way of pictures of them. Because I gave almost all of them away before I took pictures. I went on a bus trip and tatted six or seven of them and didn’t get much in the way of pictures. I have a few that might work but I have to look through a bunch that I took on the trip. Now that my program is working again maybe I can find a few that will show up well.

Back a while ago, maybe the end of last year, I made a cross that was almost all chains. I made another one very similar a couple of weeks ago and now have the patterns done.

First Cross of Chains on wandasknottythoughtss
First Cross of Chains (ver 1)

It doesn’t look like I took pictures of this when I first made it, but it was in the group picture I took for this years International Tatting Day. It only has the one ring at the center, everything else is regular chains. This is in a Lizbeth thread size 20. Unfortunately, at the moment I can’t find the ball of thread that I made this from so I don’t know the color number. It’s a shade of green is all I’m sure of.

Cross of Chains 2 on wandasknottythoughts
Cross of Chains 2 (ver 2)

This is the second version of Cross of Chains. It is made with Lizbeth size 10 in #646 Purple Iris Light. It is made with two rings and a tighter center.

Surprisingly, I already have the patterns for these done. Okay, they aren’t all that complicated, but it is still unusual for me to have them done already. If anyone is interested in them, please email me for the patterns.

“Virtually nothing is impossible in this world if you just put your mind to it and maintain a positive attitude.” https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/lou_holtz_629632?src=t_positive

January Cross 2019

Have I mentioned that I ordered several of the Lizbeth Metallic threads? Have I mentioned that they are easy to tat with? I have? Oh. Well, here I go again


I’ve used a few but not all of them yet. In ‘December Tatting’ I used Lizbeth Metallic Silver #311 and Turquoise Green #321. In ‘Old Snowflake in New Thread’ I used Antique Gold # 328 and Raspberry Pink #316. Now I’m using Violet #315.

I wasn’t sure what I wanted to tat but I knew I wanted to use the Violet in something not too big that doesn’t take too long to make and nothing too complicated. I like to have bookmarks on hand because they are easy to mail and they work for so many occasions, so this what I set out to do. I like to make crosses, but not the same ones every time. So I made a new one.

January Cross 2019 on wandasknottythoughts
January Cross 2019

I’m amazed at myself – I used this metallic thread to design a new pattern. I didn’t start with a cotton thread of any size, I started with this. The biggest issue I had was trying to count the stitches. The glittery thread makes it a little hard to see the stitches in lamplight.

I was very inspired when I named this cross – January Cross 2019 (LOL!) I guess a name is just a designation to differentiate one like item from another, so it doesn’t have to be poetic, right?

After using the metallic thread I made this pattern in Lizbeth Purple Medium #632 size 20. It came out a bit smaller than the ones in the metallic thread even though Handy Hands claims it is similar is size to size 20. Similar is the keyword.

January Cross 2019 Lizbeth Purple Med #632 on wandasknottythoughts
January Cross 2019 Lizbeth Purple Med #632

I’m happy with this cross. It has four thrown rings and two split rings but still an easy pattern to tat. I’ve written this out. If you are interested in getting the pattern (versions 1 & 2) check them out on the My Patterns page.

“You will enrich your life immeasurably if you approach it with a sense of wonder and discovery, and always challenge yourself to try new things.” Nate Berkus
https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/nate_berkus_612444?src=t_new_things

DVD Appreciation Day

Do you know about DVD Appreciation Day?

What is that you say? Da Vinci Disorder Awareness Day.

Why would anyone have an appreciation day for a disorder?

According to Craftree member wodentoad:

“For those who don’t know, DVD awareness day is a wholly made up “disorder” which celebrates Leonardo Da Vinci who was a true Renaissance man. He spoke several languages, painted, invented many things in many different disciplines, learned about medicine, and even music composition. He was also a man who rarely finished work because like most men of the time he believed that the learning and designing was “gentleman’s work” while the actual finishing of projects was for laborers.”

Doesn’t this sound like crafters who start projects in any variety of mediums, all excited about the enterprise, but get distracted before it’s done and move on to another fun and exciting crafting adventure? Well, it sounds like me.

DVD Appreciation Day is celebrated on April 15, Da Vinci’s birthday. This year it was on a Sunday, a Sunday I didn’t even have to work! I was able to do some tatting, mostly emptying thread from some of my shuttles.

Weekend tatting results on wandasknottythoughts
Weekend tatting results

I made the small four ring crosses with the idea of making earrings. After I had done a few I started thinking how to put them together.  I started an experiment to find out. It came together very well.

Believe it or not, I finished my little experiment Monday.

Ring of crosses Results of weekend tatting on wandasknottythoughts
Results of weekend tatting

I say finished, but is it? What do I do with this little ring? Put it on material for a coaster? Fill in the center, add to the outside?

Maybe I’ll finish it by the next DVD Awareness Day.

Craftree.com is a craft forum for the fiber arts. Membership is free, you just have to create an account.

“Art is never finished, only abandoned. Leonardo da Vinci” 
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Another Simple Easter Cross

I’ve made another Simple Easter Cross with a slight modification. I put a finding in the middle instead of making a ring. I used Lizbeth #187 Green Ice in size 20 for this one.

Simple Easter Cross with a finding in the center on wandasknottythoughts
Simple Easter Cross with a finding in the center

The finding in the center is a bit larger than the tatted ring so there are a few stitch count changes. There was a bit of trial and error to get the right dimensions, which I expected. If you happen to be using thread already on the shuttles that are not wound continuously this is much easier. The large Self-Closing Mock Ring (SCMR) at the bottom can be a bit of a pain, but certainly better than a regular ring!

It came out well. After a few issues!

This isn’t harder than the cross with the tatted ring center. It’s almost exactly the same, you just start with the rings attaching to the center instead of making one and climbing out. But it helps to pay attention to what you are doing. Things go much better that way.

I started this several times. I retro tatted several times because of mistakes, and several times found that I hadn’t made a mistake after all. I also cut it off once or twice because I did make mistakes. I didn’t have this much trouble with the original in the several times I made it.

I like how quickly this tats up – when paying attention! I plan to put ends on the several I’ve made to make them bookmarks. They will be wonderful to have for gifts to be put in cards, for sympathy or congratulations.

I’ve added the pattern for the Simple Easter Cross on my patterns page. This is for the tatted center, not the finding. To use a finding for the center the SCMRs need a few extra stitches.

“Determination will get you through this.” From a fortune cookie.

Happy Easter!

Simple cross for Easter on wandasknottythoughts
Simple cross

I hope you all have had a wonderful and blessed Easter.

This year Easter and International Tatting Day happen to fall on the same day. Which made it a very full day! Church in the morning, big family dinner and visiting in the afternoon, then finally a chance to sit down and tat.

I was trying to make a cross that was quick but simple to tat. I also was trying not to spend too much time on the Internet, which is extremely easy to do. So I fiddled around a bit and came up with this one. It’s made in Lizbeth #620 Azalea Medium size 20.

Now that I have time to put my feet up I’m making a couple more but with findings in the center. I think I can use the same stitch count as I did for this one. We’ll see.

I’m also working on a doily that is currently pinned out. I need it to be flat so I can decide what the next round will look like. It has been quite an interesting project so far. I’ll be sharing it later.

Now, I’m going to get me a warm drink – it’s pretty chilly today – put my feet up and tat. And have some chocolate!

“If you do what you love, it is the best way to relax.” Christian Louboutin                 www.brainyquote.com

 

Two Cross Bookmarks

It seems like a long time since I last posted. Oh, it has been! Every time I tried to sit down to post something more urgent or import came to my attention. If it wasn’t for the family it was for the church. There were grandchildren’s ball games to attend, their concerts to enjoy, a few birthday parties to celebrate, and several activities with the church. All of these events included some length of travel. Unfortunately for my tatting, I was driving instead of a passenger to most of these events, so very little was accomplished.

Sadly, what little tatting I have completed lately has been for funerals; one of my husband’s cousins and the father of a friend of mine passed within a week of each other. Both had been ill for some time so they weren’t surprising, but that doesn’t make them any less hard on the families.

Traditionally, I put a tatted cross bookmark in the sympathy card. I usually have several already made, kept in a drawer to be handy for such occasions. I’m sure I have a couple somewhere, but they are temporarily misplaced. Still, I needed two. One I started on the way to work and finished on the way to the funeral. The other I was actually able to sit down at home and do.

Tatted Cross Bookmark in Autumn Spice size 20 on wandasknottythoughts
Tatted Cross Bookmark in Autumn Spice

This one was finished on the way to the funeral. The best background I had was my leg. It is in Lizbeth size 20 #136 Autumn Spice.

Tatted Cross Bookmark in Vineyard Harvest size 20 on wandasknottythoughts
Tatted Cross Bookmark in Vineyard Harvest

I took the time to tat this one at home. It is in Lizbeth size 20 #131 Vineyard Harvest.

I am now trying to figure out how to I’ll find the time to tat Christmas ornaments. Every year I include them in Christmas cards for family and special friends. I haven’t even started. I haven’t even decided what I’m making yet.

Do you think I could tat them in my sleep?

“Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live.”  Norman Cousins

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Luther’s Rose

October 31 most people think of as Halloween – trick-or-treating, jack-o-lanterns, and scary movies. But it is also the anniversary of the Reformation, a change in religious, political, intellectual and cultural life in 16th-century Europe. It is usually thought of as starting in 1517 when Martin Luther’s 95 Theses was first published.  This year is the 500 anniversary of that event. In Bible study, we’ve been learning about Luther’s life and influence. One of the things I learned about is Luther’s seal, known as Luther’s Rose and how it represents his theology.

Tatted Luther's Rose on wandasknottythoughts
Tatted Luther’s Rose

A few weeks ago while I was talking about something else I had tatted, our pastor had jokingly said something about me tatting Luther’s Rose. That got me thinking about how I could do it. So I made one.

Tatted heart for Luther's Rose on wandasknottythoughts
Tatted heart for Luther’s Rose

The red heart was the first thing I tried. I reviewed other tatted heart patterns and pictures I found on the internet and in my books at home. I put this one together, which is very similar to a couple I saw. It has a few small mistakes but no-one will know except me.

Tatted cross for Luther's Rose on wandasknottythoughts
Tatted cross for Luther’s Rose

I tried several versions of a small black cross before I ended up with this one. The version I thought I was happy with ended up being a bit too small, so I had to enlarge it a bit. This is a very simple pattern that came out well as the center of the Rose.

Tatted rose and outer rings of Luther's Rose on wandasknottythoughts
Tatted rose and outer rings of Luther’s Rose

The white rose was the hardest to come up with – at least to get started. Once I started it just came together. Okay, I just kept increasing each round by two picots :-). There are a few things I would do differently if I made this again, but overall I’m happy it.

The blue round was only having to decide on how many stitches in each chain fit around the rose. Luther’s rose description does not describe having green leaves but I think it helps define the separation of the rose petals.

The first of the gold outer rings was easy, too, again just getting the stitch count to work. The second round was a little trickier. I wanted to use Catherine Wheel joins but I’ve never used them in a project before. YouTube is a wonderful invention! I was able to watch Marilee Rockley do Catherine Wheel joins over and over until I got them right!

After finishing the tatting I needed to mount it. I had a large frame at home that would have worked, then I saw one at the store that would work sooo much better. Or a least looked like it fit the project better anyway. I chose two shades of grey cardstock to display it on, with two layers around the tatting so it didn’t get squashed up against the glass. I don’t have a round stencil that fit around the tatting so I used a cottage cheese container – worked great!

Luther's Rose mounted and framed on wandasknottythoughts
Luther’s Rose mounted and framed

As part of the display, I included the meanings of the theology of the Rose. It came out very well!

At church, we celebrated Reformation today, October 29. I took my finished and framed Luther’s Rose and presented it there. I think it will look great there. My pastor liked it well enough he took my picture.

Finished Luther's Rose at church on wandasknottythoughts
Finished Luther’s Rose at church

I get no compensation for any of the links in this article.

“Known commonly as Luther’s Rose, this symbol was devised as a personal seal by Martin Luther, the father of the Protestant Reformation and founder of the Lutheran Church, to symbolize his personal theological beliefs. It is now generally used to symbolize the Lutheran Church.

Luther describes his emblem:

The first thing expressed in my seal is a cross, black, within the heart, to put me in mind that faith in Christ crucified saves us. “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness.”

Now, although the cross is black, mortified, and intended to cause pain, yet it does not change the color of the heart, does not destroy nature — i.e., does not kill, but keeps alive. “For the just shall live by faith,” — by faith in the Savior.

But this heart is fixed upon the center of a white rose, to show that faith causes joy, consolation and peace. The rose is white, not red, because white is the ideal color of all angels and blessed spirits.

This rose, moreover, is fixed in a sky-colored ground, to denote that such joy of faith in the spirit is but an earnest and beginning of heavenly joy to come, as anticipated and held by hope, though not yet revealed.

And around this ground base is a golden ring, to signify that such bliss in heaven is endless, and more precious than all joys and treasures, since gold is the best and most precious metal. Christ, dear Lord, He will give grace unto eternal life.”

From http://symboldictionary.net/?p=2283

‘Milan’ cross bookmark

I have so many things I would like to be making at the moment that I don’t get any of them started.  To keep from not accomplishing anything I’ve kept on making bookmarks.

"Milan" tatted cross bookmark on wandasknottythoughts
“Milan” tatted cross bookmark

I had a few false starts when making “Milan” cross bookmark.  The first time the long, bottom leg came out great but I hadn’t thought through how to make the ‘arms’.  The second time I finished it but the bottom leg was way too wide.  I’ll keep it for myself – I did put a lot of work into it – but it looks rather odd. (I did not take a picture of it.) I learned a lot from both trials and this is the result.

"Milan" tatted cross bookmark in Lizbeth size 20, #658 on wandasknottythoughts
“Milan” tatted cross bookmark in Lizbeth size 20, #658

When making “Milan” center it doesn’t lay flat but once the arms are made it lays flat with minimal blocking.  Just putting this in a book or putting something heavy on it would straighten it out well.  My problem with it was my chains – I couldn’t keep the tension right.  I am pleased with how this one in Ocean Turquoise Light turned out.

Now if I can only get organized to work on the other things I want to!

“To think too long about doing a thing often becomes its undoing.”  Eva Young

Sympathy bookmark

Tatted cross bookmark to go inside a sympathy card on wandasknottythougths
Tatted cross with sympathy card

I had the occasion to use one of the cross bookmarks I tatted recently.  Sadly it was put in a sympathy card to a friend on the loss of their mother.  This is one reason I keep these bookmarks on hand, to send as a small token of my sympathy to let them know I am thinking of them during their time of grief.

“The people you have in your life grow and occupy space in the tapestry that makes up your life. When they are gone, it makes a hole where they used to be. The memories and love are still there and may always be there. So don’t look at your tapestry as filled with holes- look at it as your own unique lace pattern. The pattern isn’t over, but it is constantly changing. The pain of loss doesn’t ever really go away, but it does lessen over time.”   Unknown