Fair Projects in Process

Last year for the first time, I entered three pieces of tatting in the North Carolina State Fair. I was so excited to learn that two of them won 2nd place ribbons. As part of our local tatting group's mission to promote tatting and keep it in the state fair, I will be entering more pieces this year. The fair is in October so I'm working now on my entries.

I'm planning a pillowcase edging, a handkerchief edging, and edging on a piece of table linen, and a beaded tatted pin. The pin will go in the beaded jewelry category so, as happened last year, my piece will be in competition with every type of beaded jewelry. I don't expect to get a ribbon, but I want to show people that tatting is a viable, beautiful technique for making jewelry.

I've almost finished the pillowcase edging and the linen piece just needs a backing to complete it. I'm waiting on some size 80 gold thread from Handy Hands before I start the hanky edging. Usually, I do my handkerchief edgings in bright colors, but this year I'm going for something elegant.

If I can get myself more organized, I might also try a knitted entry. I have a shawl kit that I might finish in time for the fair.

I'll post photos after I submit the entries in October. In the meantime, I'll post photos of some non-fair projects as I (hopefully) also finish these. Right now I have a knitted blanket and a tatted trivet in the works. Having so many ideas for projects can be both a blessing and a curse!

Off the Shuttle: Another Tatted Boutonniere

My sister-in-law saw me wearing one of the tatted boutonnieres that I made a couple of years ago and since she admired it so much, I told her I would tat one for her. The pattern is "Carnation Boutonniere" from New Things Happen to Tatting, Book 159 (The Spool Cotton Company, 1941). (The pattern was reprinted in The Tatter's Treasure Chest, Dover Publications, 1990.)

She said she likes bright colors so I chose size 20 Lizbeth thread in color 155, "Ocean Sunset." I used a small round purple button to anchor the piece to a felt backing and then sewed on a bar pin on the back side. I'm giving it to her tomorrow and I hope she will like it as much as I enjoyed making it for her.

The earlier boutonnieres I made from this pattern are at http://shoppingmystash.blogspot.com/2013/04/off-shuttle-pink-lavender-tatted.html and http://shoppingmystash.blogspot.com/2013/04/off-shuttle-pink-lavender-tatted.html

Off the Shuttle: Paper Bookmark with Tatted Edging

I have a new toy--a punch that makes lacy bookmarks that I can add tatting to. The punch is a Martha Stewart Crafts double-edge punch called "Doily Lace Trim" that punches a one-inch wide strip. The paper is pink card stock.

The blue thread is size 80 that I had left on the shuttle from another project. The pattern is super simple. All rings are 5 double stitches between picots and the chains are 5 double stitches 1 picot 5 double stitches.

I think I'm going to have a lot of fun cleaning off more shuttles to make more bookmarks.