Hand Embroidery

Good morning, dear readers!

 

A friend called and asked if I had some spare embroidery floss, pearl cotton and other hand embroidery supplies I could let her have for a project (she is teaching her after-school group of tween girls how to do simple hand embroidery).  I went into my stashes and pulled lots of thread goodies for her, along with a few hoops, transfers and extra needles.

 

Going through stuff made me itch to do hand embroidery again.  I used to design and embroider my own original pieces, but have put my primary focus on tatting.  While tatting is an all-consuming obsession, I truly love to do other fiber arts as well.  I think I'll sketch out a little something and embroider today.  If it turns out to my satisfaction I'll share an image later.

 

Well, I'm off to sketch on a scrap of linen & gather my threads.  Don't worry- I'll have new tatting goodies to share with you next week!  Have a marvelous weekend full of creativity & until next week~

Happy Tatting!



Tatting Cushion

Good morning, dear readers!

 

I thought I'd share something with you I use in the Atelier.  It is something that is useful, inexpensive and easy to make- a tatting cushion.

 

 

Go to your local discount/dollar store and purchase a package of dining chair pads.  The cheap, flat surface ones. They can be used as is, or you can do what I do- add a contrasting fabric remnant with fusible web.  I have a couple of solid colored cushions that I've added a gingham checked fabric remnant to.  The gingham is useful for pinning and shaping tatting.  It makes a nice blocking grid.  The ties on the cushions can be used to keep up with your scissors, hooks, or other tatting accessories.  I slide my spools of Valdani Luxury Pearl Silk & Pearl Cotton on the ties and knot them to keep the thread handy.

 

 

If you wanted to get really fancy, you could add claw hook findings to secure scissors and such.  Maybe even add a pin cushion with emery in it for cleaning tatting needles.

 

Hope you have enjoyed my "tatting cushion" idea!  I'll be posting more dollar store finds and tatting/needle art related ideas soon.

 

Lily Fey is giving me one of her looks and has huffed twice.  Guess that is the cue to pull on my boots and take her for an outing.  Have a great day and until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!

 

 

 

 



Final Counts for Bracelet

Good morning, dear readers!

Here are the final counts for the bracelet:

 

 

Begin by running needle through 8 seed beads and + to -.

ALL of the chains on this side of the bracelet begin with picking up 1 seed bead with the needle.

CH 11 - (with 3 seed beads) 11 CL + to next - and pull a long length of silk through.  Note that it is easier to use a second needle on the working thread end to help with weaving the chains through.

Repeat these counts 2 more times, weaving as you go,  then

CH 13 - (with 3 seed beads) 13 CL + to next -, weaving as you go.

Continue along length of bracelet until you reach the last 3 Rs.

Repeat the CH 11 counts and finish by running the needle through 8 seed beads.  Tie & add a dot of jeweler's adhesive before cutting.

Add a clasp with jumprings.

 

I did not realize that the clasp I planned to use on this bracelet was damaged.  It does not close and hold securely.  After digging through my findings, I could not find another clasp of similar size- bummer.  All of the other clasps I have are either way too small or too large.  I'll pick up a package of clasps the next time I'm at the craft store and take an image so you can see the final bracelet.

 

Well, I have a fun day planned.  It is time to clean out and defrost the deep freezer.  Oh, joy.  Still, it is a very necessary chore.  Let's hope it goes quickly and I can get back to my tatting.  There are a couple of projects I'm working on, so perhaps I'll have something nice to share soon.  Have a great day & until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!

 

 



Next Step for Bracelet

Good morning!

Yesterday was rather busy, but at least I am somewhat caught up on laundry.  When Jim & Jocie are home, it seems as though the dirty clothes piles heap up.  Oh, well...

 

This is the next step for the bracelet:

 

Just a simple accent round of chains with beads that flow around the previously tatted rings.

 

 

The number of beads you will need to string on the silk depends upon the number of rings and chains you've used for your bracelet foundation.

Run tatting needle through picot of first R.

Add 1 seed bead to needle, then tat as follows:

CH 7 - (with 3 seed beads) 7 CL + to next -, repeat 3 times.

CH 9 - (with 3 seed beads) 9 CL + to next -, continue until coming to last 3 Rs, then

CH 7 - (with 3 seed beads) 7 CL + to last -.

DO NOT TIE & CUT!!!

The continuation of this pattern will be posted tomorrow!

 

 

Hope you are enjoying the bracelet pattern.  I've had a good time playing.

 

I'm  working on cleaning some of my recent acquisitions- getting them ready for embellishment.  The cameos look so much better now that I've cleaned the mountings and the cameos themselves.  Additionally, I've been cleaning up a few vintage brooches and MOP buttons.  After I post all of the parts of the bracelet project, I'll share some new eyecandy with you!

 

My hot cocoa is waiting and I need to clean the Atelier before doing more work.  Have a great day & until Wednesday~

Happy Tatting!

 

 

 

 

 

 



Bracelet Foundation FREE Pattern

Good morning, dear readers!

After an enjoyable holiday, I am back at work in the Atelier.  Several folks have requested a simple bracelet pattern with the interwoven chains and I decided to give it a go.  The following is a basic foundation for a bracelet that can be adjusted for various wrist sizes and incorporates (in subsequent posts) interwoven chains.  I tatted this using Valdani Luxury Pearl Silk in color S39 "Forest Greens" with "rainbow grey" size 11/0 Ornella seed beads with a size 8 tatting needle.

 

 

String 99 seed beads onto silk and tat as follows:

R 5 - 5 - (with 3 seed beds) 5 - 5 CL RW

CH 7 - (with 3 seed beads) 7 CL RW

R 5 + 5 - (with 3 seed beads) 5 - 5 CL RW

CH 7 - (with 3 seed beads) 7 CL RW

R 5 + 5 - (with 3 seed beads) 5 - 5 CL RW

CH 7 - (with 3 seed beads) 7 CL RW

R 7 + 7 - (with 3 seed beads) 7 - 7 CL RW

CH 9 - (with 3 seed beads) 9 CL RW

 

NOTE:  I tatted a total of 11 Rs with the 7 count to get the size that I needed to go around my wrist.  This is where you can adjust the length that you will need.  Be advised, more steps are going to be posted this week.  When lengthening or shortening, keep in mind that another round will be added along with a metal clasp finding.  These are important to keep in mind when adapting this pattern to your specific needs.

 

After tatting the number of 7 count Rs,

CH 7 - (with 3 seed beads) 7 CL RW

and finish with 3 Rs with 5 counts as listed at beginning of pattern.  Tie & cut, hide ends.  Be sure to place a dot of jeweler's adhesive to silk before cutting.

 

 

 

Here is a closer view of the foundation. 

 

Well, I am going to be busy catching up on some household chores today since Jim will be back at work and Jocie, at school.  I'll get the next step on the bracelet ready for posting tomorrow morning.  Have a great day and until tomorrow~

Happy Tatting!

 

 

  

All's Quiet in the Piney Woods

Good morning, dear readers!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving day and are enjoying a quiet, tranquil Friday in the Piney Woods.  Some people love the sales that can be found the day after Thanksgiving, but I prefer to relax and avoid the frenzied craziness.

 

I had intended to post earlier, but we awoke to a light rain.  Jim turned off the alarm and we went back to sleep.  After a hearty breakfast, we went for a stroll in the wet Piney Woods.  Jim checked his game cameras and I took the opportunity to snap a couple of shots of my current tatting projects against the steps of the old home place.

 

 

This is going to be either a pendant or brooch.  I took a small metal component and tatted around it with Valdani Luxury Pearl Silk in S9 (Herb Garden) along with silver lined green Ornella seed beads and cranberry transparent Delica seed beads.  I plan to add a Lotus pearl to the very center and surround it with tatting in more silk- probably a deep red.  Additional tatting will be added to the outer edge to expand the motif.

 

 

This is the very beginning of a bracelet foundation.  It is tatted with Valdani Luxury Pearl Silk in S39 (Forest Greens) with rainbow grey Ornella seed beads.  More rounds and tiny pewter pinecone accents are planned for this piece.  I'm considering posting the pattern for this one next week.  What do you think?

 

Well, I am ready to settle back into my comfy tatting chair.  Have a wonderful weekend and until next week~

Happy Tatting!

 

 

 

 

 

 



Happy Thanksgiving!

Good morning, dear readers!

 

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

 

We will be having a quiet family dinner followed by a movie.  Don't know what we plan to see yet, but so long as we're together, I really don't care.  To those of you who celebrate Thanksgiving- what are you doing today?  I have a couple of pies in the oven this morning and will be cooking turkey, collard greens, homemade rolls, my special mac & cheese, and green bean casserole.

 

After I get the cooking done, I will be putting on my new peridot green sweater with the orange Juliana brooch.  Here is the brooch with tatted accents:

 

 

I had intended to add some rice pearl accents, but did not have enough to go all the way around the brooch.  Still, I think it looks okay.

 

Well, I have LOTS of cooking to do.  May you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving & until Friday~

Happy Tatting!