Back to Dora now!!!

More new mermaids arrived yesterday - please say 'hello' to them!!!

As my regular readers are aware I've spent a lot of time working through most of Dora Young's book (All New Knotless Tatting) which Heidi has so wonderfully got re-printed. Copies can be bought from here.

As you know from this post I first met Dora (well, her book) when I was in South Carolina. I did complete seven of the motifs as in that link but was never 'quite' happy with the joins between them. So I've decided to see if I can master them better by having another 'go'.

This time I'm using a size 40 thread. The beauty of this motif is that it's only one ring and then you can work constantly off the ball thread. I must work out how much thread I need to add to the shuttle for each motif but as I never use knots to join there's really not a lot of point for me personally!!!! I don't use the magic thread trick either - before you ask!!!!

Jane K's mouse

Before I start my post today may I suggest you take a trip over to the Tat It And See blog here as I've two more mermaids who want to meet you.

Now you've heard me talk about Jane K and her teardrop beads - well, here's a fantastic idea she's got for using a mouse as a scissor finder!!!! 

This mouse has just the two front legs - he'd be far too long if she'd made the whole mouse. Jane says she's put a bead inside him too just to add a bit of weight. Isn't this a fantastic idea? Here's what Jane says and I'm looking forward to seeing her dragonfly too. Maybe I should put that on my 'to do' list as well?

"Hi Jane E

I saw your beautiful white mouse with the wonderful red eyes.

This is my last mouse. He has only 2 feet, but he has an extra long tail with a ring to attach to my scissors. I find doing the mice relaxing to do but now I'm working on the Houtz dragonfly. Also fun but not yet relaxing 😂

Ttys

Jane K"

Another caterpillar

Having enjoyed the other caterpillar which is here - I wanted to make another!!! 

This time I decided to make it slightly differently. Just because!!!! I think it's the eyes that get me so interested. All down to Jane K giving me some teardrop beads when I was in Canada.  I'll never be able to thank  her enough as they've got me back into the bauble making phase yet again!!!!

After the mice!!

I simply HAD to make a caterpillar!!! I kept looking at the pictures of this in the book and feeling that they didn't do it justice so eventually I had to have a 'go'!!!! 

This time the starting off was a lot easier and I think I'm developing my own way of doing this!!!! Anyway, it keeps me happy and I really like this little guy!!!

Another!

When you've got the hang of bauble tatting these critters are very straightforward to work. BUT the starting off can be a pain as it's so, so fiddly!!! 

You wouldn't believe it but I spent HOURS starting this blue eyed mouse off.  I just couldn't get it right. Sheer persistence and a wealth of patience got me there in the end. 

For those who want a copy of this book I'm pretty sure it's available in most tatting suppliers shops but it can also be found here too.  Straight from the Houtz brothers themselves.

Now, what shall I do next?!??!

Mimi's bookmark

After my success with the Mimi coaster I decided I simply HAD to do her bookmark too. 

Isn't it lovely? Instead of just the one colour as suggested in the pattern, I did manage it in two. 

Took BC3 a bit of working out but it was very simple. I started with a weaver's knot to get the slimmest start possible and then tatted over the two tails whilst making a dead end start with the chain.  Sounds complicated but it wasn't at all.  

Pinterest

Now I do NOT like Pinterest. OK, probably irrational but I've seen whole books still in copyright uploaded to that site - or pins to sites where stolen books can be found.  

I used to have a Pinterest account some years ago because back then it seemed like a 'good idea'. However once I found out the pitfalls I closed the account. Unfortunately I found that most searches I do on Google find Pinterest first and that's really annoying. 

Anyway, I've now realised (yes, it takes time!) that most of the pins on there don't lead to the pattern that you've found during a google search and that's pretty annoying. Time's too short (in my case!) to spend hours finding something that's just not there to be found easily!!

So I've decided for my own benefit and (hopefully) others to upload links to all my patterns on Pinterest. It's taken a good many hours but I'm hoping it'll prove time well spent.

Here's the link to my Pinterest site.

Now as it's a requisite to add a picture to a blog post (so you don't all fall asleep) here's one I made earlier!!!

A mouse has appeared!

When I was sorting out my tatting cupboard I found some teardrop beads that Jane K had given me when I was in Canada. I had put them away really safely which is a BIG mistake!!! 

She gave them to me on my first trip over to that wonderful country so these had been stored safely for over two years. I had admired her little 'Houtz Mouz' (sorry, couldn't resist that bad spelling) and it's eyes particularly. 

So here's my first mouse of this phase of my tatting addiction.

There's something SO relaxing about making these critters and the reaction when you show people is amazing too.  I think there will be more to come so prepare to be inundated with Houtz critters.

Red earrings

I've started going to another group on a Thursday afternoon. Yes, we do have quite a few crafty groups in town it would seem!!!

Last week there was a good turnout of people and amongst them was a lady who liked my tatted earrings. Bless her - she mentioned them on several occasions so, of course, it made sense for me to make her a pair.

Here they are.  I will hopefully see her next week at the craft group.

While I'm thinking about it - I've finally got the pattern up on the website and here is the link.  This is the same pattern that I showed you here and on this page too.  Both variations are on the pattern.

Finally finished it

Well here it is - finally sorted and ready for another whirl round the internet!!! 

Here is the link to the file if you want to have a go at the refurbished pattern!!!

You'll see that today's pictures are of the same bookmark either with or without the tail. I used to like tails but then found I kept catching them on things and yanking the bookmark out of the book so now I prefer them without. Just a 'me' thing, though!!!

Actually I rarely read a print book now as I prefer to read ebooks.  

Two more Flowery bookmarks

Two more of the Flowery bookmarks have been made - just to be sure that we're on the right track for getting this to be a much better pattern to read and execute.

The main problem with this one has been that it does need careful reading. It's just a matter of getting your SLT's and RW's and DNRW's right and then it's very straightforward. 

I'm sure this is going to prove a much easier bookmark (or bracelet) to make.

I'm hoping to get the new version up on my web site tomorrow

Time for another review

This time I'm re-visiting the flowery bookmark that I did in 2006 which is 12 years ago. Just shows I can still do simple sums!!!

Now this has been quite a popular bookmark for the thieves!!! I've seen it appear in quite a few places including one Russian book where they'd taken my pdf file off the internet, whitened out my name and copyright information and published it just like that.

I was pretty upset at the time but could find no way of contacting the publishers and shortly after thought it wasn't worth the effort anyway. So over the past week I've been looking at it again.

Sue (aka Pigmini) has tried it out too and between us we've come up with a better written pattern - I hope!!!

Halfway round - who's kidding?

Well time goes on and I suddenly realised that I'd better give you an update on the diamond star situation!!! 

Here's where I was last time I showed you.

I'm keeping this as an 'out and about' piece of tatting as I know the pattern off by heart and can chat while I tat!!! Well, that's a bit of a lie as I still make mistakes from time to time.

The other evening I thought I was halfway round so decided to stick it under the iron to press it. Surprise, surprise - I'm not halfway round - yet. 

On this round I'm using four different sewing threads - two on each shuttle. I'll take a photo sometime of which ones I'm using. I'm also doing each star the same on this round as I'm pretty sure it'll be the final one as I'll not have enough thread combinations to add another round. Well, we'll see!!!

Another pair!

This is the same pattern as the black/gold pair and the turquoise green ones but this time I've just used the same set of beads on all the 'spokes' to see what they look like.

I'm actually rather pleased with these and they 'sit' well on the aged ears too.

Now to make BC3 get on with the links in the pattern and get it onto the site!!! It all takes time and effort to do that!!!

Oh, NO, not another!

Well Nick did say 'haven't you got enough already'? What am I talking about? Well, bags. 

Everybody but EVERYBODY knows you can never have enough tatting bags to carry stuff around in. Well, I don't think you can!!!

I bought this fabric in Canada on the way to the Fringe Tatting Day last year. It was at a place called Lens Mill which was close by. 

I've been waiting for the weather to warm up a bit so I can get to sew it up. I only bought half a yard so I was limited to what I could make from it. As the tatting print is rather large that also limited me as to what I could do with too. Lately going to several different craft groups I've found I need bags for different projects so a tatting bag was what I decided to make. This time it's padded and the bottom is stiffened so it sits up properly on the table. I'm really pleased with it. 

I've got a little bit of fabric left over so was going to make a purse thing to put the shuttles, scissors, hook etc into but then I remembered I'd got this dear little bag that I was given at the Fringe.  Perfect as I'll be able to find it in the bag with it's gorgeous bright colours.

Just when you thought

this was going to be a mermaid free blog you're going to be WRONG!!!!

First of all - we now have 110 mermaids floating around on the TIAS blog which is great. Still time and room for more if you've got them.

Now today's free pattern is a tiny mermaid. This was done for the Fringe Element calendar back in 2015 or maybe 2016. I can't lay my hands on mine at the moment - time for another tidy up, I fear.

Actually I'll be honest. I was really struggling for an idea for this year's TIAS when I was clicking through the pattern files on my computer and came across the tiny mermaid. I thought 'why not'? Then knew that it wouldn't be big enough to give a proper TIAS run. 

I gave BC3 a ring and he reluctantly came out of hiding to give me a hand. So, now I give you the small mermaid which can be found here.

Another kit

This is another Vicky Clarke kit with a doodad and beads.

This was an easy peasy tat and thoroughly enjoyable. As usual with Vicky's patterns it was really straightforward.

I think I've got one more kit left to do but that will have to wait until I get my latest projects sorted.

New earrings again!!

Having now given the black and gold pair to Sue (Pigmini) I thought I might like a pair for myself after all and I needed to test the pattern once more - that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!!!

So here's what I came up with. I'm working on the pattern page and hope to have it ready really soon.  Of course the big beads could be replaced with just a row of seed beads as long as the length stated on the pattern is achieved. 

Maybe I need one more pair - slightly different.  Watch this space as I hope to have the pattern ready for next week.

White mice!!

Just for a change and because I love making them - here are two more Amigurumi crocheted mice!!! 

Most of my friends think I'm bonkers for doing them but I do love simple quick crochet!!! Unlike tatting which I like to be large projects and challenging too!!!

They came about really because I spotted these the buttons (eyes) in a charity shop. I bought them to make tatbead family members with but that idea hasn't materialised just yet!!!

I'm pretty sure that once Abbi sees them they'll be shortly re-homed!!

I need

New earrings!!! 

I remembered a promise (well, sort of) I made on this blog post about similar earrings that I'd made to those below.

But I seriously don't need a new pair.  I have so many earrings I reckon I could almost wear a different pair each day for about two months!!!  

Anyway I decided to try building a bit on the original idea. As I said in that original post - this technique isn't rocket science but it does lend itself to earrings and jewellery. The technique itself can be found here but meantime I'm working on the pattern page and will get it uploaded soon.

The pattern has been test tatted by Sue (Pigmini) and as I didn't like me (who does!!) in gold and black I've sent them to her!!!!

Another kit that's not really a kit

Another kit - well, this was actually from a handout in Mimi Dillman's class back in whenever at Palmetto Tat Days.

I wasn't a lover of clunies as I'd never really given them any practice but, having found the shuttles that I wound for Mimi's class - with a start on this motif in my blue box of kits I had to have another 'go'. 

I started the original motif in a horrid colour in class because I always reckon that classes are for learning and I really, really needed to learn this technique properly.  Which begs me to say that if you EVER get the chance to take one of Mimi's classes then please do. 

I sat opposite Tim who very kindly gave me a cluny loom which he'd made on his 3D printer and you can see my post about that here. 

That original motif and a few other false starts now live in landfill or recycling somewhere!!!! I eventually got the hang of the cluny thanks to this video and  this page by mimi who I always think of as the Queen of the Clunies!   I then headed for my favourite Lizbeth colour - Rainbow Taffy.  This is the result - SUCCESS at last.

Now I can seriously say I like clunies and will be tackling another of Mimi's designs which is a bookmark.

Another mermaid

A month or so ago I took down the large mermaid from my web site. Had anybody missed her? No!!!!

This was one of the first patterns I put up on the internet and I remember asking around for ideas at the small company I was working for and one of the geeks saying - 'do a mermaid'!!! So that's how she came about.

I decided that it was time to re-visit this design and make it easier to understand and work. IF you ever try it I'm just going to say that the first part (the face) is the hardest but the rest is pretty easy. She's been test tatted by Ruth so I know she's now ready to swim your way again.

So, here's the link to the large mermaid!!!

The mermaid finished

Well the TIAS is over for the last time and I really need to get onto my server and rearrange the url's so that it's easier to find my way around what's on the web page. This means changing the links on the TIAS blog too. A chore which is rather like the dreaded housework and that I put off for ages!!!

Today I'm uploading the TIAS mermaid as a full pattern. This is so people who don't want to follow links and print off numerous pages can have it all in one place. So, here's the link.

Little kits

No, not short for kittens!!!!

Over the years of travelling to America and Canada I've acquired quite a few little kits from people. I've been saving these for a 'rainy day'. Well, that's not true, actually!!! I've been collecting them together in a blue box and have said to myself that I would take them to the craft groups that I go to to make them up.

WRONG!!! Not the best place to try and do new patterns as we're always so busy talking!!! 

After finding the blue box again during a massive tidy up I decided that it was time to start making a few of them up. This was the first one I tried - Vicki's darling little spaceship. Vicki's blog can be found here and there are some sweet little patterns there that she's giving away for free. The spaceship can be found on the Palmetto CD for 2016 and the link to the page where it can be found is here.

I reckon dear Vicki has a devious mind but a stunningly good one for making the cutest little spaceship in just a few minutes. Thank you, Vicki.

Cabochons done and dusted.

Do you remember the cabochons I was playing with? Here is a close up of one of them and here are a few showing fronts and backs.

Well here is what I've done with them. Now I'm not sure if the video will play as I've not tried adding one to the blog before!!!

Anyway I've also finished the pattern and it can be found here. I consider this just the basic pattern as people can 'do what they like' with the outer row/rows. It was the centre and the basic design which took a LOT of time.

Doretha Albee

Well you know my fascination with Dora Young and also Terri Dusenbury's pineapple type designs so it won't come as any surprise to hear that I found this lovely design by Doretha Albee. 

I found this pattern on Georgia Seitz's site. Isn't it lovely? So, of course, I had to give it a whirl while the mermaids were being made worldwide.

It's a pretty straightforward pattern but if you want to know more about Doretha please scroll down to the bottom of the pattern.  

Five fronts and five backs

Five cabochons done. 

I THINK I'm going to make them into a mobile. Have I said that before? I'll do a few more then start a search for a round metal thingie to hang them from. Maybe find an old dilapidated lamp shade in a charity shop - or somewhere. I've done that before and it's much easier to hang things from than using metal strips (recycled metal coat hangers).

The pattern is about ready to put on the web site - I just need time to check it out once more. I MAY have time today but I've got some stuff to do in the house so it'll probably be the weekend before I get the time.

19 diamonds completed

Further progress has been made and now it's time to make a decision. 

To go further or not go further - that is the question!!! 

As you'll see on this round I've alternated red stars and others. I feel as if this mat should have another round but not sure. Time to stand back and think before taking the plunge - if I do!!!

I'm still enjoying this as pure relaxation so to continue sort of makes sense.

I wonder?

I wonder how old this weird safety pin is and what or who would use it?

I was doing yet another tidy up of the tatting cupboard and discovered it lurking in a box. I thought you'd like to see it.

I can't even remember where it came from so no good asking me.  Over to you guys!!!

While the TIAS is going on

While the TIAS is going on I'm working on several other things quietly in the background and when I've got the odd few minutes here and there. 

The diamond project continues but is now becoming a 'take out and about' with me piece. I tend to take it to the craft groups I go to as (believe it or not) I can actually remember the pattern now!!!! That's pretty good considering BC3 is getting on a bit now!!!

I have several patterns that I'm also re-visiting and updating too. I'll be letting you know about those in due course.

Meanwhile I now have 12 star shapes done although that's not quite right as I've done a few more since this photo was taken!!!

Two more cabochons

Slowly working on getting the pattern sorted but every time I get near it I put out another day on the TIAS and that stops everything!!!

Not complaining - just saying!!!!

Another cabochon

This time in a burgundy colour with almost white thread. I'm starting another addiction!!

I hope to work on the pattern and get it finalised over the weekend. That's if the TIAS allows me.

These actually look a lot better in real life than they do on here.  This is scanned which hasn't worked well.  I've done a few more so will take photos in future!