Ginny's Star

I've been working away over this last week to make a few of the patterns from the Finger Lakes Tatting Seminar.  I took the clunny star class taught by Cynthia Stevenson and the Celtic Star  with interlocking rings taught by Kelly Dunn.  I taught so didn't get a chance to take one of the longer classes.  I thought the line up was great this year and I wish I was able to take each class.  They were all great patterns and classes.

 For the last week I've been tortured trying to make Ginny's Star Attraction Doily.  There's nothing wrong with the pattern, just me.  Its a great pattern and I loved the finished samples.   Ginny uses doodads in the pattern and I keep adding the darn things facing the wrong side!  Its been taking me a little longer than I thought.  Evil Ginny!

Its taking sooo long!

A few thoughts...

A few weeks ago Diane at Lace-lovin' Librarian did a comparison of the larger tatting shuttles.  I found this comparison really interesting and helpful.   I didn't know that clover had made a larger shuttle and was happy to read about it.   In the past I've used mostly clover shuttles but lately I find larger shuttles more comfortable.  I like the normal clovers because they are small, thin, and easy to move around the thread.   I agree with Diane that there is something about the plastic they use to make the clovers that is more snugly than other shuttles.  Even the imitation clovers don't have the same feel.  Unfortunately, the same thing that makes clovers easy to handle is the same thing that's been irritating my thumb and wrist.  They are so small that gripping them for long tatting sessions is difficult (I know I shouldn't be tatting that long without a break...bad tatter!). 


This tip will have to go...any suggestions?


 I received  a Tatsy shuttle last fall from Kelly Dunn (tatfully yours) after she won a few at the Fringe Elements raffle table.  Since she's a needle tatter she had no use for the Tatsy shuttle.  When I used the Tatsy I was surprised that it was more comfortable to handle than I remembered.   In the past I found them bulky.  Since then I've pulled out a couple of larger shuttle brands I've picked up over the years and enjoyed tatting with them.

Right now, the thicker shuttles are more comfortable in my hands.  This is the complete opposite to about 2 years ago when I found them cumbersome.  I'm planning on picking up a Starlit shuttle this weekend to try out (and maybe a few more).  I'm hoping that I will like the thicker shuttle although I know I will have to do something about that tip.

 I collect shuttles for interest I never expected to use most of them. I guess there's a right time and place for each shuttle.   While I won't be giving away my clovers I'm really thank-full that there's a selection of shuttles out there.   A big thanks to all the people who work to provide choices for tatters.

I forgot to tell you

I forgot to mention that once again the Ottawa Police Force and I are on the outs over a small matter of 87 km/hr.  Yes, I got another speeding ticket.  This really burns my ass since the officer only gave a slow down sign to the cars that just raced past me.  Since those 2 cars suddenly braked I changed lanes and guess what?  Mr Officer pulled me over for a ticket because he figured I was trying to avoid him by changing lanes.   Why would I think he's giving out speeding tickets if the cars that just passed me going much faster didn't get a ticket?  I changed lanes to avoid rear ending another car.

Suffice to say I wasn't very gracious about the whole situation....

Since I was moving along pretty fast I think I'm just going to pay the ticket. 

It'll burn me but I'll pay it.

Don't forget about the homework instructions for my class at the Fingerlakes Tattins semianr.  They can be found here:  http://victats.blogspot.ca/2013/03/homework.html.

Homework!

If anyone out there is planning on taking my class this spring at the Finger Lakes tatting seminar then I have some simple homework for you.  I'm hoping that we'll get a really good start on the class if we do the simple tatting ahead of time.  It will give us lots of time to work out any mistakes or problems that you have with the pattern. 

Northern Star Prep

Materials

size 20 thread in color of choice
1 shuttle, wind 1 yard on shuttle CTM

Terms:

lp- long picot
p- picot
vsp- very small picot

Center Motif  (picture in header of page)

Make 2 motifs, one for the front and one for the back

R1       6 lp  6

C1       6 vsp 6

*R       6 +(lp)  6

  C       6 vsp 6*

repeat from * to * 4 times.  Join to base of R1, cut and hide ends

Now you are ready for my class.  See you in April!

Thread and 3 hours of fun

Unfortunately I left my iphone at home today so no photos.

I was going to share a photo of the brand new ball of thread that my cat tore apart last night.  I'm tempted to try to work out the tangle of purple thread but I keep flashing back to an unsuccessful rescue operation I attempted years ago.  I spent hours trying to save a tangled mess of green tatting thread and I finally gave it up. That was back in the 90s when any thread that was tat-able was precious and worth a fight to the death. These days I can salvage what's left of the ball and order a new ball of purple lizbeth thread for around $5 (not including shipping).   Thank God for Barbara Foster who has saved us from such desperate acts with her Lizbeth thread that is easily purchased from many sources. 

On another note, I am teaching again this year at the Finger lakes tatting seminar.  This time it is a 3 hour tour class that will hopefully result in the attendees going home with something that looks like the star in the header.   No shipwrecks involved although hijinks may ensue... 

Happy Valentine's Day

 I love Valentine's day, partly because its the only time you get away with mixing pink with red.  I love the idea of just going around and exchanging tokens of love and appreciation with friends and family for no particular reason.  I don't see it as a couples day but a day that is romantic for everyone.  A day for friends as well as lovers.   So my gift to you is a fun pattern to make hearts for your screen doors.  I've added the link at the side as Screen Door Hearts.

 

Wishing you love and joy with friends and family.

 

V

Finally!

I finally got a chance to sit down and do a post.  I'm not sure what I've been doing since October but its gone fast.  I had a few moments yesterday and today to sit down and tat a doily I've loved for years.  I've seen the pictures of the doily on the Internet and found it in "Tatting from Burda".  Its the doily with all the block tatted squares.  I wish that I had practiced doing those block tatted squares a little bit first.  They're not as tidy as I would like.   Its a neat pattern because you are crossing previous rounds to join the doily together.   In the picture I've completed the first 3 rounds.