Now, where was I?

Ah, at Tat Days in Cambridge.

It was a busy but very satisfying two days. I'm going to put some pictures up so you can all see the fun we were having. There was very little time to take photos, though.

The first is a general view of one of the classrooms.

Second is a few of the raffle prizes which were amazing.

Third is the youngest tatter there although she doesn't know that's what she's going to be when she grows up!!!

Next is what I considered to be the star item in the auction which was conducted (in the final picture) by Vicky and Randy. The tree was spectacular and has gone to a very good home, I believe.

Then on to

The serious side of the trip!!! Well, with tatters around things can never be 'that' serious!! 

First of all I was taken to Len's Mill which was really close to the hotel where the Fringe was taking place. It was like walking into an Alladin's cave! Quite literally when you went down the stairs!  Here we found the fabric you can see below. Of course I had to buy some!!! We also met other tatters who were on their way to the hotel too - a happy, happy meet up before the event. 

I also found some Miyuki beads which were a very good price.

So after that bit of excitement we (that's Kelly, Vicky and I) headed towards the venue - the Best Western where Tat Days moved into 'setting up' mode. The organisers just swing into the place and it all goes like a smoothly working machine. I'm always amazed at how these things 'just happen' although I do know that there's about 12 months planning that's gone on before.

My first class was the heart which you can see here. I'll upload the pattern within the next week or so. That took care of the afternoon!!! Onto the evening next time I blog!!!

Did you miss me?

Well I've been on my travels again. This year the group to suffer were the Fringe Element in Canada. Well, they did ask me to come back and they should've known better!!!!!

The first few days I stayed with dear Kelly and ACTUALLY got her to try using a shuttle. I'm not going to say this too loud in case she hears me but I must say that I'm sure she'd make an excellent shuttle tatter.  The first photo shows her making out that I'm bullying her but it was her idea to have a go!!!

The second picture is a truly great hanging that she made.  The photo doesn't do it justice.

The last picture is the fire that her hubby (Dennis) set up in the yard one evening.  Very relaxing sitting round a fire pit in the warm (or that should be - hot) weather we had for the whole two weeks I was over in Canada.  In fact we saw rain for a very short time one morning and the temperatures were - well, HOT!

Unbelievable

Because I'm a twit this post didn't go out as it should've.  I was a twit because while I was away I updated my iPad to IOS11 and didn't find out til afterwards that the blog app I use on it didn't work as the developer hasn't updated that.  So, here is a two week old post!!

Now this maybe a long post but I'm sure you'll find it really interesting - just like I did.

Some time ago Liz, who lives in Australia got in touch with me regarding making my seahorses (big and medium sized). This was for an exhibition in Exmouth she was involved with over in Australia. 

Now Liz lives on the opposite side of the country from where this is actually taking place so she will never see the 'real deal' which is a shame. I'm attaching some photos she sent me of the final project but I really, really feel you should follow this link to a time-lapse video which the group in Exmouth did. Here's a link to their Facebook page too and also It's mind blowing and the results are amazing. Another link for you too.

Look out for the whales - they're incredible.

Mrs Odum

Well if you don't know who Mrs Odum is then it's probably because you haven't been tatting for very long!!! 

Well, that's not strictly true cause I don't really know who Mrs Odum was except that she published this pattern in 1929!!! All I know is that I've seen many tatters make her daisy and have long wanted to have a go myself. So I did!!!

Here's a link to the pattern.

Cheryl's bookmarks.

Cheryl got in touch some time ago about the flowery SCMR bookmark I did ages ago. This is the one I'm talking about. Oh, my goodness - when I was looking to put in the link to it I noticed that I did that one 11 years ago!! Doesn't time fly when you're an OG (old git)?

She said she needed a little help with this but actually it turned out to be VERY little. I had a lovely message from her when she sent the picture below and this is what she said.

"Good morning Jane.

I have finished all 6 of the bookmarks. Thank you for your help and for putting this lovely pattern out there for us tatter's!! I received great joy making them and my Aunties will love them!! 

A grateful fellow tatter!!

Hello Jane, here is the blog I copied colors and tail of bookmark from. Tattingand beading.blogspot.com. she mentions the Oklahoma shuttle bugs tatting group!! Your patterns are all over our country and yours how awesome is that!! Your famous!!!"

It's always surprising and a real boost to an OG's moral when people send in pictures of their work. Keeps the aged brain going on new ideas too!!!!

A change of direction

After working Teri's lovely Forever Young pineapple doily I thought I'd try her butterfly which is called Vlinders and which can be found here. 

I LOVE this design and will definitely be making it again. I found it a little challenging in places as Teri's way of notating her work is different to the way my aged brain works.  Next time I do it I'm going to write it down in my 'way' for just me!!!!  That's because I think this is going to become another addiction!!!

Rachel blue green

Well I'm now on my way across the pond to Toronto and have scheduled a few posts so that you don't forget me!!!! 

This is another of Rosemarie Peel's Rachel mats which I finished just before leaving. I have several of these wound onto Ezybobs to take with me as an airport project. Lovely to have something that you know pretty well to do while sitting around. 

I'll try and blog while I'm in Canada but sometimes life is just too interesting and busy when I'm away to do that. However, I'll do my best!!

Of course

I had to make sure that it would 'really' work, didn't I? 

That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it however hard you try to torture me into confessing to anything else!!!!

8 bugles (again) and same stitch count.  Whoooppppeeee!

Back to bugles

I thought about this and decided to give it a whirl!!! 

Eight bugles in this pattern instead of six. It actually works with the same stitch count which I was wondering about. So, I wonder what would happen with 7 or 9 or even 10? Well - I'm not about to find out as I'm doing other things now - probably another Rachel?!?!?

Bags of bags!

Now this is a pile of book bags!!! They're off to Ghana in October for some kiddies in a school there. The charity that our Tuesday morning craft group is doing these for is Compassion Direct.  The children often walk miles to school and have nothing to carry their books in. I hope they like these.

We've also made bunting for a new maternity led unit at the local hospital, fiddle muffs for dementia patients and we are always looking for other projects to take on - particularly 'local to us' ones.

We like to do projects which involve us all with different skill sets. We have knitters, crocheters, sewers, etc.  Others who can't do any or some of these crafts help by cutting fabric, pinning etc.  Of course there's a LOT of chat and tea and coffee too!!

Below are a few of the bags I've sewn and on Saturday I did another 15. We need to get 170 done before October 1st but I'll not be able to do anymore after the weekend as I'm off on my travels.

Yawn, yawn, yawn!

Well I bet that's what people are thinking when they see yet another of these Rachel mats!!!!

I can't help it - I'm just so enjoying tatting for the sake of it. No dithering over stitch counts or how to progress an idea - this is all done for me by Rosemarie Peel and is all based on an easy to remember stitch count and progression. 

Blue earrings

Do you remember these earrings?

Well you should do as they were only yesterday that you saw them!!! 

This is another pair but I didn't 'do' the LBP's on these. I do like a change!!

Again using the SCMR adding the bead to the centre and working down one side of the big bead. You can adjust the SCMR to fit any bead but please remember how many doubles there were in the SCMR so that you get the same number when returning on t'other side with chains!!!! The one on the right has a slightly yellower top ring but that's because I used a lovely variegated thread. I think I'm going to like this pair a LOT!!!

More earrings

Yes even more earrings!!! 

Now these were made using SCMR's and adding the central beads to the core thread before closing. I also added a long beaded picot to the SCMR too. Why? Well just because it seemed like a good idea at the time!!

When I got to the bottom I dangled a bead (that's the silver one) and then worked my way back up the other side with a chain - plus, of course, more long beaded picots. 

Now one thing I must mention here is those SCMR's. I find that the best way to close these is to use this extra step which I've shown here.

Pink earrings

Yes I'm still in 'earring mode' and here's another pair I made last week. 

I showed you the brownish pair here and then I found some really truly bright pink beads in my stash. Those and some Swarovski crystals gave me the 'need' to make this pair!!! I wish that photos would do these justice but they sparkle so much that they dazzle my poor camera.  

The only 'problem' with this pair is that I'm constantly wanting to wear them!!!

A sad Rachel

Now this little mat makes me sad. It's a very pretty one and I used HWT. 

The reason for it making me sad is that this is the last thing I can make with some lovely thread. It's a spool of Perfect Quilter which I was given, many years ago, by Gina Brummett. 

She gave it to me when we spent a day together in Cincinnati. That day was spent with her showing me her beautiful work and folders that she kept. Lovely memories but I'm sorry to see this spool go and so, so sad that Gina died so very young. Miss you, Gina.

I'm hoping to find more Perfect Quilter when I get to Canada - who knows. NOT necessarily this colour but I do love the thread and it goes so well with small sizes of 60, 70 or 80 when making HWT.

Another 'interpretation' of the technique

Well it had to be done!!!! I had to try starting off with the technique before any tatting was done. 

That was part of the excuse - the other part was 'needing' (I lie!) another pair of earrings!!! 

The way I did this was to load the tiny beads that I needed onto the ball thread before doing anything else. I used those on the outside of the second row. Then I added the central beads to the chain thread after leaving around a yard for the shuttle - to tat with. The rest was easy as you'll know if you've had time to try the star I did last week as the threads to form the first chain were at the base of the first set (I used 3 beads for each 'spoke' 1 seed, 1 rice, 1 seed) waiting for me!!!!

One day I'll maybe write this down as a 'pattern' but it's almost too easy to be bothered once the technique has been learned.

Three into one WILL go!

Now this Rachel is a 'three HWT'. 

That means in 'Jane' that I've used three fine threads wound onto the shuttle at once and am working from three spools at once for the chains.  

Well that's not strictly true as I tend to (in this situation) wind the three threads  for the chains onto an Ez-bob.  This saves that stupid situation when (if tatting from 3 spools) you have to heave the aged body out of the chair to go chasing them round the room when they escape.  This is something all spools seem to be programmed to do by some 'artificial intelligence' and with monotonous regularity.

You see it's not only the love of the pattern that keeps me doing this design over and over - it's the love of experimenting with colours. 

I led a deprived (some say depraved!!) childhood when the only colours I could get to tat with were white, ecru and cream. I finally, in my twenties, resorted to silk sewing threads to bring colour into my life so I am eternally grateful for the many varieties we have available now.  Having said that - there's nothing like making your own coloured thread without the mess of dyes, water and rubber gloves!!!  I'll stick to HWT!!!!

Let's try purple!!!!

This time I stuck to the pattern!!! This uses a method of adding a long beaded picot and inserting another one into the first. Well, sort of. I did a technique page here for this method.

I'm soon going to be the person with the most earrings in town unless I start throwing some of the old ones away!! I am re-using the findings, though as they're not being sold or anything. Got to save our poor old planet somehow!!!

It HAD to go!!!

What did? 

That awful flap on the bag!!! I kept looking at it and looking at it and wondering why I didn't like it and then suddenly it dawned on me - it was the flap.

Take another look at it and I'm sure you'll agree.  Here's the link.  

Out came the unpicker and the scissors and away it went!!!! I then added more velcro to the top to keep it closed and now I'm a happy bunny!!!

I'll not be seeing it again until I get to Canada cause it's packed full with all my tatting paraphernalia!!!!  Well, I'll probably have to add more 'tat stuff' to it over the next two weeks - who knows!!!

Mary's snowflakes and maple leaf.

I was delighted when Mary sent in this picture a couple of days ago (Thursday) with her 'take' on the new snowflake pattern. It's always a bit odd when you do a design and part with your 'baby' as you are never sure if anybody really can make it or even if they want to!!!! Thank you, Mary, for letting me know that there's somebody 'out there' who can make this pattern successfully. See what Mary said too as she's started playing with the idea. An 8 pointed snowflake and a maple leaf have already emerged. 

"Just wanted to say thank you for the snowflake pattern. Looked easy tatting wise its the beads that I find a challenge. I've spent a happy afternoon tatting, the first attempt more maple leaf, I got the idea on the second try. I'm on a roll now and can see a few of these on the Christmas tree this year. Is there an easy way to get the bugle beads to stay snugged up, I found that the hard bit.

Best wishes

Mary"

'

Now without bugles!!!

That's what I said - without bugles!!!

Several people have remarked on problems with bugle beads and them cutting the thread.  Since then I've learned to pull them onto picots/thread VERY carefully!!!  

So when I was rummaging around in my beads the other day I came across these beads (see the centres of the two snowflakes below) and decided to try them - they're ¼" too.

I was showing them to Ruth in Canada as we were discussing the technique and she said 'oh, those are rice beads'.  Well, I never knew they had a name!!  Thanks Ruth.  They work really, really well in this snowflake and if you have any ¼" rice beads you can use those instead of bugles.  RESULT!!!!!

Two more

First of all I have number 106 of the TIAS 2017 to show you.  Here's the link and thank you, Claire.

When I get going on something like the snowflake pattern I can always think of other things I can do with it.

I have been reading about people's problems with bugle beads and the fact that they do 'cut' the thread. Now this can, apparently, be down to the fact that cheap bugles aren't finished off as well as 'posh' (read - expensive) ones. I've rarely bought bugle beads so have no experience with the 'sorts' that are 'out there'. However I've only ever had one disaster with broken thread and that was on an occasion when I was trying to hurry things up and I wasn't taking enough care with adding the bead. 

I think, for me, that's how I manage to use them without breakage. I use a .4mm crochet hook to ease the bead onto the doubled thread. Sometimes I use  a needle (beading needle) and sewing thread but not often.

Today I'm showing you two snowflakes - one has a slightly larger bugle bead which I've given advice on at the end of the pattern and the other avoids bugles altogether and uses simply four beads.

Watch this space tomorrow for ANOTHER idea on how to avoid bugle beads!!!!

A new snowflake pattern ready

Well that didn't take long and simply because for once I've made myself sit down and get the whole thing sorted. I usually go wandering off on another idea which means that my broken 'remembering' cell nips in and does it's dastardly work!!

Anyway, here's the link to a very simple little snowflake with 'attitude'.

Oh, the thread is some of Karey Solomon's wonderful HDT.  

Back to my favourite colours

There's something about these two colours together that just make me feel good!!! I'd never have thought of putting them together if it hadn't have been for an 'accidental collision' in my thread sorting a while back!!!

Edit to this post - the colours are both Lizbeth and the numbers are 664 and 691.

Again I've done another Rosemarie Peel Rachel mat. So addicted to this pattern and every time I'm surprised by the star at the end. Little things please little minds!!!

A new snowflake

Well this has been brewing in the raddled old brain for a while. It's really a generic pattern that's been invented a million times before.  BUT not with the bugle beads added in this way!!! 

I have seen bugles added but having read the reports on how it's done I was concerned. The things I've read suggest that the bugles were put onto a measured picot. Now we all know that a 'measured' picot is very hard to do and to get exactly to the designer's measurements. 

So, BC3 got busy and started thinking about it. Surely there must be another way of doing it that doesn't rely on a measured picot. Also the fact that bugle beads do vary in length too - slightly.  There's got to be a 'safer' way of doing it!

So, as you'll remember, I did a technique page on this which is here. I'd added the bugles to a ring on this occasion but obviously they can also be added to a chain too. 

That 'excursion' led to this pattern.  Now all I've got to do is finish the new pattern - picture below.

Another pair!

This time and for a change I thought I'd re-visit this pattern - just to check it out!!!

I've always liked the earrings I made this way and the 'sticky out' parts at the sides do keep their shape. The ones I made years ago have just got scruffy and I'm so, so bored with them too!!!! These are an easy and interesting tat too. Oh, I did actually stick to the pattern too - for once!!!

More books which have to 'go'!!!

I have more books (tatting and crochet) that I picked up for a good price.  If you want them just leave me a comment or email me.  The prices (without postage) are below each picture.  If you're going to the Fringe Element Tat Days in a few weeks time I can bring them with me.

Coats Edgings in Crochet book 772 - price £1.50.

 Coats Time for Tatting - price £2.00

 Coats Crochet Design no. 295 - price £1.00

Gun Blomqvist and Elwy Persson - price £4.50