Today I decided to post what I’ve been working on even if I haven’t finished anything lately. I have spent more time on the internet looking at tatting than I have actually tatting. I’m sure some of you tatters can relate.
First I have a doily in progress using size 80 threads. The variegated is Lizbeth in a color called Summer Fun. The solid is just white DMC tatting cotton. I can feel a difference in the threads though and I like the Lizbeth thread better. I also used a shuttle that I didn’t care for very much for the white round. It is a white plastic shuttle with a black plastic bobbin and makes an awful noise when you pull more thread out. It also has an edge around the protruding hook that catches the loop on my hand constantly. I will be going back to my trusty Clover shuttles, thank you very much.
The pattern for this doily is called Gerbera and is not in pdf format. It is just a diagram, but is still very easy to follow. It is recommended for beginners and only requires one shuttle unless you don’t want to tie and cut between rounds. You could just use the ball to tat with though to get from round to round. I’m just cutting and tying at the moment because I wanted to be free of that shuttle.
Gerbera doily in progress
Another piece I started working on is a bookmark in size 20 Lizbeth Spring Garden colorway. I should be finished with this real soon. It is a pattern by Julie Patterson in an ebook called Just Marking Tome. It has lots of split rings. I plan on tatting many more of this designer’s patterns.
Petals bookmark
I have that shuttle. It’s awful!! Once you use it for a while whatever makes the noise wears off, but until then it’s sheer torture. And the other day the crochet hook on the end came off. I was quite displeased. Although now I don’t have to worry about it catching on my tatting.
I didn’t know that it will wear off after a while. Hmm. Maybe I just have to break it in. I just love the little clover shuttles. It feels like I can tat so fast with them.
I’ve used several different shuttles, even some antique bone ones I’ve found on E-bay and in New England antique stores, but the clovers are by far my favorite ones. I sure some of the handmade wooden ones are nice, but I can’t imagine paying that much for a shuttle.
BTW, I LOVE your bookmark. I have Julie Patterson’s Just Marking Tome, but haven’t done that one yet. Yours is so lovely and makes me want to make one!