Happy New Year 2023

Another year of tatting, I can see I get just a little bit better with each year.  I saw my largest improvement when I attended my first conference.  

Thinking of attending one in 2023, I have listed some in the USA below, sadly there is no event planned in Canada.  Perhaps I will see you at one  or two :) 

1. Finger Lakes Tatters -  April 14 - 16, 2023  www.fingerlakestatting.com

2. Camp Wanna Tat  - April 20 - 23, 2023, September 28 - October 1, 2023

Held at the Lutheran Bible Camp located on Flathead Lake near Kalispell, Montana

3. Shuttlebirds -  April 27- 29, 2023   www.shuttlebirds.com 

4. Tatting Corner - July 6 - 8, 2023    

Tat Sea cruise Nov 5 - 12, 2023 www.tattingcorner.com 

5. Palmetto Tatters - August 17-20, 2023

 www.palmettotatters.org

I tatted these flakes using a 6 strand Sandbest thread.  All designs are from Robin Perfetti Four Dozen tatted Snowflakes. 

Robin Perfetti #16

Robin Perfetti #45

Robin Perfetti #35

 

Coasting Along

Just finished up a few more of the  Robin Perfetti coasters, the one above is called Kaleidoscope and the two below are Five Petals Split Rings and Six Petals Split Rings. The patterns are available in her Etsy shop. 

The six coasters used the majority of the Rico Essentials 50g ball. Don't know what else I will make with it but eager to get back to some smaller threads. 

More Coasters

It is still summer here and I am taking advantage of every minute.  I've done up a batch of raspberry jam, a batch of apricot jam and a batch of peach jam. We are eating from the garden now, lettuce and beet tops too.  The potatoes are blooming and I've managed to keep the weeds at bay.

I have tatted more of Robin Perfetti's coasters using the Rico cotton.  This is the Rosette Coaster and I completed it in one round. One thing to remember when doing Robin's pattern is to tighten up your chains. I didn't do this very well in a few spots.

Another hint is to use a reversed stitch (like the second half of a split ring) when you are doing the chains between the rings on the last round. that way you don't have to change shuttles, just pick up the ball thread.

 This next coaster is the Victorian Coaster and I completed this in one round.  One thing to remember about reading this pattern is that the color coding does not refer to the shuttle to use but rather the thread from the shuttle that is making the stitches not the core thread.

The patterns are available from her etsy shop.

Tatted Coasters

Most of the crochet cotton I have is not suitable for tatting. Yes you can tat with it but the rings are a bit tough to close and the soft twist wears as you tat so the finished product looks tired before it is finished. This past week I stopped into a local shop that carries shuttles and thread and the occasional tatting magazine. The bright colors of the Rico Essential Crochet cotton caught my eye and I bought a ball.  

I wound up a few shuttles and tatted the Square Coaster found in Robin Perfetti's  new pdf file "Tatted Coasters" available in her Etsy shop. The pattern pack contains seven patterns with variations. The patterns are clearly diagrammed and written along with color coding for shuttle 1 or shuttle 2 as applicable.

The Square Coaster shown right was done in two rounds, is 4 inches across using size 10 Rico Essentials Fuchsia.  It is the perfect size for a big coffee cup. 

I am currently halfway on Round 13 of the Jan Stawasz Huge Doily

Winter Frost Exchange Flake

This blue flake is on its way to my partner in an exchange organized by the Fringe Element Tatters.  I have been in only one exchange before and for me it worked out. I sent a gift and received a gift. 

But I know that is not always the case.  Sometimes things get in the way and beyond  our best efforts an exchange may not make it to the intended recipient.  I have done my best on this side. I'll let you know when my recipient receives this.

This is Winter Frost by Robin Perfetti.  I was able to be one of her test tatters for this flake and the pattern is for sale at her Etsy store. Tatted in Size 20 with Lizbeth thread Turquoise Lt. number 662. Keep the chains tight and even and you'll have no problems with this flake.

Tina Frauberger Crowns

I have completed the Bookmark of Tina Frauberger Crowns which was revisited and revised by Robin  Perfetti. The original pattern was published in Schiffchenspitze in 1919 and can be downloaded for free from here. Robin has reworked the pattern and provided drawings and sequence and can be found  here.

Thank you Robin for your hard work and sharing.  I used Omega thread size 30 and purposely used two different colors to practice the Catherine Wheel Joins used in this pattern. I don't know why I avoided learning this join for such a long time, you can find instructions  on Jane's blog of techniques.

Below is a row of Tina's crowns done in size 40 and should be sewn on my cap as I completed it quite some time ago.  The crown pattern has been reworked by Frivole and her comments can be found on her blog here.  

These little Tina's Crowns were my first attempt at using two shuttles and throw rings.  It was only with the tips and encouragement from my  online tatting friends that I was able to complete them.  

How blessed we are in the tatting community to have such talented artists.