Another Leaf - Done!

I started and finished this leaf without any posts until now! The JoAnn Shop near my house closed, and I decided to stop by a different fabric store on my way home from M's house last Thursday. I didn't intend to buy anything, but found a pack of John James Petite Tapestry needles. I have only 1 petite needle and decided to create a small stash of petite needles. Just in case. You know the logic.
Then, of course, logic demands that I buy something to go along with the needles. Really, who can spend just $2.25 at a fabric store?

I am not a good shopper, I never buy unless it's on my list. But that day I broke my rule when I found Sulky Blendables thread. I know, you quilters, you've known about Blendables thread forever. But I didn't, and I am delighted to see such wonderful, subtle colors in thread.
This leaf is done in Sulky Blendables Forest Floor, 12 wt. I wasn't sure of the size, and 12 wt is heavier than #80 tatting thread. I got used to the thread pretty quickly, and I love the colors! It reminds me of pearl cotton, and when I took it off the pattern, there was a little twist to the leaf. I pinned it out and lightly sprayed it with starch, now it lays flat.
What did I learn from this leaf? I didn't pay attention when I was doing my topstitching, and the last two veins are upside down. I think they should face down, not up. I know what I did, and will remember to take some time to think things through more carefully. I don't care for the patterns I chose for the leaf, and I'll think about it and try again. It looks good, but I think it could be better.
On the plus side, my top stitching is looking better and better. I had fun with the new thread, and I'm going to use 30wt Blendables for my next project - Pattern #5 from the Guild of Needle Lace Basic Instruction Book.

My Heart is Blue

Here's a blue heart, done with the same pattern as the white one. I plan to take this one to our lace group's Heart Exchange in February. I will sew it to the fabric, which is why I left my threads long.
What did I learn from this project? Well, I used the same pattern from the white heart. I had no problems couching the thread, I used the same holes and my pattern didn't fall apart. I had a problem when I did my topstitching, and didn't realize it until I was removing my couching threads.

In several places I put my thread through the pattern and into the base, and it was tricky to get them separated. My holes were enlarged because I had used the pattern a second time, and my needle dipped into the base fabric while I was diving under the cordonnet.

Now I know. If I want to use my paper pattern a second time, I should probably use heavier paper. Computer paper patterns are fine for one use, but not two. No sense being that frugal.
This heart is about 2" across, and I used #80 DMC tatting thread, color 798. I drew the little heart myself, and I'm really pleased with the way it worked out.
I have some new thread for my next project, and can't wait to show it off!

Little White Heart is Done!

My little scissors will serve as a reality check for this project.

I also used my camera instead of the scanner, hoping to get a picture that is a bit more flattering. The light from the scanner can be harsh, and every little imperfection shows clearly.

This picture is from the scanner, before I removed my couching threads. Now I have to decide if I want to make another one in Gutermann thread or use this one in the exchange. I am very pleased with my topstitching in this project. I can see a few lumps, but I think I am making some progress.

Here are the details: #80 tatting cotton, fillings are Double Brussels and Single Corded Brussels. measures 1 3/4" x 1 3/4" (5x5cm)

Progress on the heart

I filled the inside of the heart with Double Brussels, the outside frame was single corded Brussels. I started on the top stitching last night, and am about halfway around the outer heart.

I HEART Making Lace

My local lace group is having an exchange in February, and the "rules" are to make something with your lace and include a heart. We can add a button or a bead, or make something in a heart shape, it doesn't have to be a lacy heart motif.

Here's my first attempt, a little heart waiting for the center to be filled. I plan to make a needle case and decorate it with this heart. I found a fat quarter that I like, and some Gutermann silk thread to harmonize, if not an exact match. This heart is made with #80 tatting thread. I'll make another in the silk once I see if it works for my project.

Sea Shell is Done!

The sea shell is done, and looks pretty good to me. I like my 4 holes in the tan section, there is one hole in the section to the left, but it got lost.

I guess my tension isn't right, but those tiny spaces are still hard for me to fill properly.



My next project is going to be a quick one, I hope. I have an acquaintance who wants a tatted red hat to wear as a pin on her coat. I found several tatted red hats, but we didn't like them.
I tried to design a tatted one, but just can't make it work. I wanted clean, simple lines and tatted miles and miles of pearl tatting in #80 thread. I quit that project, it was driving me mad.
I would prefer to tat a little 3D hat, and even found a pattern, but she doesn't want that. So I've decided to make a small red hat in needle lace, and then I'll be done with red hats.

I looked at The Red Hat Society, I googled at red hat clip art images, and finally decided on these two hats in profile. I'll make a purple bow and attach that later, and I have pin backs that I can attach. I will have to add some wire to stiffen the edges, too.

Maybe this project won't be a quick as I hope. I plan to make these two, offer one to my mother, and send the other off to my acquaintance. Mom gets first choice, she loves my lace and is an avid Red Hatter.