Behind

I'm getting behind on a lot of things.  I've been meaning to tat this mystery doily from Georgia Seitz's website along with Kak Jon.  I'd meant to start almost a month ago, but only now managed to get enough momentum to tat.

Here's my first try.  I don't want to use white thread because I already have a plain doily in progress, so I thought working with a strand of gold thread would be fun.  It doesn't look good and it's so stiff I doubt it'll block nicely.

Here's the next try and I think it's a keeper.  It's variegated Anchor pearl cotton.  So far, I like the slight colour changes.  I'll think again after the first round is finished.  If it looks too muddy, I'll give in and switch to white.

Will you be my friend?

I'm a big fan of Klutz books.  Every few months I get some for my kids.  Some books I get more for myself than for them.  I've had the friendship bracelet book for a while and I thought I'd crack it open and make a bracelet for some quick crafty fun.

Instead I couldn't stop and ended up using all the supplies in the kit.  I still can't stop making them, so I've been raiding my thread boxes for even more supplies.

This last one is my favourite (using this pattern).  I've been wearing it on and off for weeks and it always gets compliments.

Around the neck

I've been making things that go around the neck lately.  It's rather strange because they take sooooo long (necks being much bigger around than wrists).  Perhaps I am in a patient mood.

This one is a vintage pattern from an Anne Orr book. There are two little mistakes in there that are driving me nuts.  I may end up making another one in pure white, just to correct the mistakes.  I'm not sure I'll ever feel 'girlish' enough to wear this one.

Here's a little beaded and braided necklace.  This one is light enough I may actually wear it.

What is the plural of Tardis?

It's hard to make just one bookmark. I started making a bookmark for my son's favourite teacher. I tat in public, when I wait for my kids' classes, so I ended up getting requests. Bookmarks are a quick tat, and great for using up stash, so I had a hard time saying no. I've made 6 so far.

From left to right:
Flowering Quatrain, design by Joëlle Paulson
Anastasia bookmark, design by Kersti Anear
Russian bookmark, design by Vilushka
Tardis bookmark, design by Anne Bruvold

Long dress

There's been an awful lot of tatting on the blog.  Want to see something different?  How about the little lady's latest dress?  Here it is; a long dress with three quarter sleeves.

One of these days, I've got to learn how to take better fashion photos...

Buyer beware

I bought these silver seed beads, added some turquoise beads from my stash and made this bracelet.  This is actually one of two.  The second was a gift to a friend.

I didn't realize until later that these are galvanized beads and that they're known to lose their finish.  I tried spraying them with acrylic coating to keep the finish.  My friend (the recipient of the second bracelet) told me that the finish peeled off a bit on hers.  I felt really bad and apologized, but she told me it's OK.  She just takes it off when doing housework so it will last longer.

So I've learned two lessons here.  First, it's nice to have understanding friends.  Second, if I'm going to do more beadwork, I need to learn more about my materials.  Buyer beware.

Tatted edging

The Malaysian Tatter's group has a monthly challenge.  The March challenge was to attach tatting to fabric.  I was feeling very old-fashioned so I made this little lace mat.

The pattern is Edging 15 from Anne Orr's Classic Tatting, done in DMC Cebelia 30.  Here's a closeup.

 

I was feeling too lazy to sew the edging on, so I punched holes along the edge with my sewing machine and a wing needle.  As a result, there are small unused holes along the edge.  It's not perfect, but I think it looks acceptable.  Now I'm itching to make another one with a crochet edging.