Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Motif 22 - Itty Bitty Beach Ball

Beach Ball tatted by IsDihara

Can you believe that overnight my corner of Tat Land had a frost and this afternoon the temperature is expected to rise to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (26.67 degrees Celcius)?

Frost in mid-May is freaky in my little corner of Tat Land. As weird weather patterns increasingly become the norm (Two weeks ago an unprecedented 18" (45.72 cm) of snow fell on Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa.) I pine for warmth and sun.

This itty bitty beach ball evokes sun-soaked feelings and playful memories. Sunshine seems to follow beach balls where ever they go, so tat a beach ball if you too are ready for summer sun!

In the photo above the beach ball has been lightly starched to hold its shape and is drying around a ping pong ball. (This is only the second time in my life I have starched a piece of tatting.)

Here is a better photo:

Beach Ball tatted by IsDihara

This beach ball is adapted from a balloon pattern found in the Ring of Tatter's 25th anniversary book (page 42). The balloon has been designed by French tatter Edwige Renaudin. Only slight stitch count modifications were needed to transform a delightful balloon into a playful beach ball. 

Threads used were:

Lizbeth®  20 # Golden Yellow Medium
Lizbeth®  20 #671 Christmas Red
Lizbeth®  20 #652 Royal Blue
Lizbeth®  20 #601 Snow White  (optional)

If your little corner of Tat Land is bouncing like a beach ball between bizarre weather patterns, perhaps you should set your sights on tatting something evocative of fun-filled days.

Wishing you all blissful me time to create something beautiful. See you next Tuesday for more communi-tea!