Off the Shuttles: My First Ice Drop

Now that Christmas gifts have been given and opened, I had time to make my first ice drop. It's a really quick and easy pattern.  I just find it somewhat awkward tatting the last part of the last ring while holding onto the glass gem at the same time. I definitely have to work on not twisting my stitches at the last join. 

When Hobby Lobby opens tomorrow, I'll have to get some 1/8" ribbon and some other gem colors.  I've been wondering if the ice drop would have the same effect if were tatted in coordinating colors instead of white.  I may try that on the next one.

The step by step tutorial can be found here: 
https://lacelovinlibrarian.blogspot.com/2016/11/step-by-step.html

Off the Shuttles: The Holy Family

This was made from a purchased pattern.  It's The Holy Family, designed by Edda Guastalla.  It's an easy pattern.  The hardest part is placement.

It was tatted with Lizbeth size 20 in white.  It's sewn onto blue velvet and mounted into a 16" x 20" wooden frame.  It's a Christmas gift for a friend.

Off the Embroidery Machine - Bloodhound Pillow

I made this pillow for my oldest daughter for Christmas.  It's 16"x16" not including the 2.5" ruffle.  The fabric has small paw prints in white, tan, and brown on a black background.

Off the Shuttles: Tassel Angel

My first tassel angel.  The pattern is in the booklet, "Big Book of Tatting". It is such a fast and easy pattern.  Best of all, no sewing required, glue only. While I was putting on the wings and the halo, I left the plastic sleeve on the tassel so it wouldn't get messed up.  The pattern called for size 20 thread.  When I make the next one out of white, I think I'll make the halo gold color. 

I used Altin Basak white and silver thread which is U.S. size 30 (European size 50).  The wings may have been a bit bigger if I had used the normal size 20 but I don't have any metallic thread in size 20. I wanted the metallic so color from the Christmas tree lights would bounce off it.

The tassel was manufactured by Wright and I purchased it from Joann Fabrics.  It's 3.5" (88.9mm) long.  I purchased some colored tassels from Hobby Lobby. I'm anxious to see how the tassel angel looks in color.

This is a gift for a friend's daughter. 

The photo on the left is the front of the angel.  The other photo is of the back showing the wings.

Off the Shuttles: Ornament #3

I haven't decided what I'm going to do with this one yet.  I may hang it on my own tree.

The size of this ball is 3" instead of the 2 1/2" balls that I used previously.  Thankfully I only have 1 or 2 balls that are 3".

I'm not totally happy with it because I'd like the tatting to cover more of the ball.  The tatting only goes to the center of the ball.  I may move the tatting onto a smaller ball but I'll let it sit for a few days and see how I feel about it then. 

There are very tiny pins and very small pearl beads at every picot, join and reverse work junction. I used Lizbeth sized 10 in white.  I'm not a fan of size 10 thread.  It just doesn't look lacey to me.

The pattern is Snowflake #4 in the Barbara Foster book, Festive Snowflakes and Ornaments.  The book showcases the snowflake on a 2 1/2" ball.

Off the Shuttle: Emma's Ornament

Since this is her last year of high school, I thought it best to make one in her school's colors - orange and green.  I used straight pins with orange balls at the end and green sequins.  The photo makes the balls look much bigger than they actually are.

The pattern is Grace's Snowflake.  I tatted the snowflake in size 10 Lizbeth thread, #695 Bright Orange.

Off the Shuttle: Megan's Ornament

Since my granddaughter started high school this year, I decided to make her an ornament in her school colors - purple and white.   I attached the snowflake with a straight pin going through a purple bead and large purple sequin.  I also used white beaded straight pins through small purple sequins.

I found the pattern on a French blog: http://www.tibilisfil.com/pages/Explications_modeles_frivolite-2827789.html.

Off the Shuttles: Projects from Tat Days 2016

I'm a little late getting this posted.  The first item is a name tag.  The class was called Stellar Keepsake Pendant taught by Anita Barry.  The one I made at Tat Days was in Rainbow Taffy.  I made another one in Lizbeth Caribean, size 20. 

Another class was covering a cabone ring.  The class was called Ring of Flowers and taught by Paige Deputy.  I had attempted covering a cabone ring before but was not comfortable with the technique nor could I put it down because I got confused on the rhythm of making the double stitches.  Thanks to this class, I can now put it down if needed.  I used Lizbeth Autumn Spice, size 20.

I'm still working on the Interlaced Motif.  That's one that takes concentration.

Apparently this year I was to work on my split ring because 2 of my classes used that - Stellar Keepsake Pendant and Love 2 Tat.

As usual had a great time and can't wait for next year.  Meanwhile I have the Florida Tat Days in January to tide me over until September.

Off the Shuttle: Starlight Doily

I finally finished Starlight Doily #7688 and can be found on page 15 in Paragon Tatting Book 1.  A reprint of the pattern is located on page 7 in The Tatter's Treasure Chest.  I used Lizbeth #153 Rainbow Taffy and #604 Black. 

I will probably make this again but I'll use a different variegated color.  I'll also block it as I go from row to row.  I think that will make it easier to do the final blocking.

Off the Machine: Embroidered Shorts & Phone Charger Station

I forgot to post about these shorts when I finished them.  I finished them at the beginning of June.  I wore them at this month's Tat and Chat.

The back pockets:

The front pockets:

At the machine embroidery workshop today, we made a cell phone charger station.  The grommet is plastic so I don't have to worry about getting electrocuted.  I probably won't use it for that purpose. I'm not sure what I'm going to use if for yet.

Off the Machine: Clear Vinyl Bag

At this month's machine embroidery workshop we made a clear vinyl bag.  It was done completely in the machine.  It's 5" x 9-1/2". Basically the size of a pencil case.

I still have to pop out the top corners.  It was easy to do and didn't take very long to make.  I'll have to resize the bag in my software so I can make it on my machine.  I'm pleased with it.

Off the Needles: Scrubbie

When I was in Hobby Lobby a few weeks ago, I noticed this yarn called Red Heart Scrubby.  I bought a skein to try.  It has a rubbery plastic feel to it.  I held together 1 thread of Scrubby in color Ocean and 1 thread of Crafter's Secret Cotton in brown variegated.  I used size 8 knitting needles and it finished at 5".  It only took a few hours.  It's very stretchy.  I like my scrubbies to be smaller so I want to make another one that finishes at about 3".  I may also use a smaller size needle so it's more solid.

Strawberry Festival 2016

The Cobweb Doily won another blue ribbon.  This time at the Florida Strawberry Festival.  I'm really excited about it.  I didn't expect to win blue ribbons.  Pressure's on for next year, that's for sure.

State Fair 2016

I'm so excited.  My cobweb doily was awarded 1st place at this year's State Fair.

I want to thank my friend, Joanne Wagner, for putting it in the picture frame and taking it to the fair for me.

Off the Shuttles: Sand Dollar

This past weekend was the Sunshine State Tat Days.  The theme this year was Pirates.  Ruth Perry taught this class Saturday morning. As usual, my first attempt was a disaster. This is my second attempt. Once I understand the pattern, it was relatively easy.

Off the Shuttles: Ring Around the Ring

I took a break from the proficiency program assignments to make this little motif.  It's a vintage edging pattern that was made into a ring.  I used Lizbeth #121 marble and white in size 20.  It's a lot smaller than the photo indicates.  It's only 2" across.  The pattern can be found here:  http://tinyurl.com/j9algbv .  The coloration didn't exactly turn out as I had envisioned.  It will still look pretty hanging on a Christmas tree.

It's pretty easy and doesn't take a lot of thinking.  I'll probably make it as an edging for a hankie. 

Update 1-28-2016:  The pattern for the ring can also be found in The DMC Book of Charted Tatting Designs by Kirstine Nickolajsen & Inge Lise Nikolajsen on page 12.  It's simply called No. 2: Round Motif. The book is still available through Amazon and second hand online book sellers.