Hedgehog

Well BC3 fails again!!!  He forgot to add the poodle doodle to the doodle page on the web site.  Not only THAT but he forgot to add it to Pinterest too.  I'm seriously thinking of giving him the sack!!!!!!   So I've taken matters into my own hands and have added them myself!!!

After the mouse invasion I simply HAD to make a hedgehog. 

Again this is from Randy and Gary's book which can be found here.

I found exactly the right thread (Lizbeth variegated) to make this little critter. He's now joined the mice and caterpillars in a box but not 'quite' in the cupboard. Nick wants me to put them all in a line chasing each other on top of the television but I want to make one more of another variety before I put them out as dust catchers!!!

Three motifs joined.

Now the 'improved' (or rather, original way Dora intended) joining method is looking a whole lot better. 

I've added my interpretation of Dora's joins to the top of the blog post in her 'section'. I just hope that they are understandable and would (as usual) appreciate any feedback either good (if any!!) or bad (as expected!!).

A poodle doodle

Now for another doodle!!! This time it was a request by another tatter who wanted a little poodle - maybe for earrings.

The smaller the design the harder it is to get it to look as if it's what it's supposed to be - if you follow!!! This little guy (or gal, of course) took quite a few attempts but I had wonderful feedback from Lina. 

I've added this to the doodle page and it can be found here.

More Leftovers

So this is what happened to the leftover leftovers!!!

The top picture is what I now have left after using the leftover leftovers. It's around 2" by 4" so I doubt that even BC3 could make anything out of that!!!

I've made two poke proof pouches!! Do you remember when I made them before with the magic (but secret) part which stops the hooks poking through? No? Well here's the link.

So now I'm fully equipped to go travelling again with my tatting. Where shall I go to? I have a venue in mind!!!

Leftovers!

Do you remember this post? Well I had some fabric leftover so I decided to make a pouch for carrying projects around in.

I often have a smaller project that doesn't need a whole tote bag so decided that this would be a 'good idea'. I've used wadding/batting inside and it's fully lined too.

BUT I still have a strip left of around a metre by four inches!!! Another idea is brewing so WATCH THIS SPACE!!!

I'm also pleased to report that BC3 managed to remember to put the tankard link on my Pinterest board too!!!  Result!!!!

Then there were two!

Well the first join is done and I think this time I've really 'got it'!!!! If you look back at this post you'll see that it's a lot bulkier and sort of detracts from the flow of the design.  A non tatter probably wouldn't notice but an old age tatter like me does!!!!

I will get a pdf file put up with the 'translation' of this join in my Dora Young notes when I get roundtoit!!!!  I need to be sure I've got it right first so will try it on a few more motif joins.

Anybody want to join me?

For a pint?

I'd completely forgotten I'd done this little pattern until somebody reminded me last week!!! This was an 'emergency' design done for Georgia and Palmetto Tatters last year.

Somebody ought to sit down and go through my computer and find all the 'not quite finished' patterns on there!!! Oh, maybe I should do it!!!! I know there are several more somewhere so be prepared for a few more pages over the next week or two as I carry on hunting!!!

Anyway, here's the pattern which I've put on the doodles page. You won't get a hangover if you make it - I promise!!!! Even if you don't ever drink you can make it without fear of addiction. 

Actually, are there people 'out there' who don't drink?!?!?!?

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!!!