Monday, February 22, 2021

Feels Like Spring


 It doesn't really feel like spring outside but it does when I look at my tatting! I looked into my thread box, saw these two colors together and got inspired. Unfortunately the green is size 50 and the pink variegated is size 30! But I liked the combo enough to go ahead with it despite the very noticeable size difference and I think I got away with it. I did have to alter the stitch counts in the center of the round motif, and it still ruffled slightly. Worth it. The round motif is from Blomqvist and Persson's Tatting Patterns and Designs. Absolutely my favorite pattern from that book and one I keep coming back to. It makes a good snowflake but I love it in colors too. I'm not sure who to credit the bookmark pattern to. It's a classic pattern that I used to use a lot for making cross bookmarks, but this time I didn't feel like making a cross so I just made it as a basic strip shape. The tassel is an easy finish that I use as a clever excuse to not sew in any of the ends. 

Friday, February 19, 2021

Some Late Valentines

 I don't always tat hearts in February but this year I got in the mood and produced really a surprising amount of them:


I did some classic free patterns: two of Rosemarie Peel's heart, and Sweetheart by Birgit Phelps. Then I made two of Frivole's Heart Within. I bought this pattern quite a while ago but hadn't picked it up to actually tat yet. (This is what I mean when I say I don't always tat hearts.) I'm definitely a fan! It was fun to tat and I think it produces a nice-looking heart. I'll definitely return to it. Then the last one in this picture is the Peacock Heart, which I believe is also Birgit Phelps.


These hearts are from an unnamed pattern by Maimai Kaito, who is on YouTube and Instagram. I was not aware of her before finding this heart but she has some really good patterns. She presents them in video format, and I don't usually like getting info from videos. It doesn't work for my brain. However, I was able to take a screenshot when she showed the diagram, and I tatted it that way. It's a great little heart and I made several.