Irons in the Fire

It has been a busy week in my lil' corner of Tatland.

The 8 students at my beginning tatting class received kits with 3 samples of Lizbeth thread size 20, 2 shuttles (one Clover post and one German Aero bobbin), picot gauge, extra bobbin, corsage pin and a few other goodies.

All of them left the two-hour class having successfully made "the flip" and having tatted chains. A few of them completed their first 10-stitch ring. Three came back Saturday morning for some extra help after having frustrating experiences with stitches that stubbornly refused to flip.

This coming Thursday (July 7th) I hope they all return to learn picots, joins and combining rings and chains. They will also leave with a simple butterfly pattern and a few beginner patterns to try out their skills. (If they haven't already started their butterflies in class.)

Moving right along...

Remember this? I began Mindy Al-Aaraji's Clover Motif ©2003 on June 14 and have completed Round 1. (The Irish Crochet center was made by my sister Igoya.)

Golly, that white thread scans poorly, even with a pale fabric behind it. All threads are Lizbeth 20. (Christmas Green #638, Mint Light #689 and Snow White #601) What a high contrast piece!

In 2009, Martha Ess and Tatting Chic worked out a way to hide the color change in a Single Shuttle Split Ring. It was the perfect technique to use for a multi-color Round 1. Martha cleverly suggested adding the 4th shuttle to place the color exactly where I wanted it.

Please note, to tat Round 1 in one color requires only 2 shuttles wound CTM. To tat it in two colors, 3 shuttles are needed (but the split rings will be two colors). To get those split rings all one color required a 4th shuttle.

(Fox, see how my split rings are all wonky in this piece? They should be more even, but I am still quite thrilled with this effort.)

Martha, thank you for working out the 4th shuttle color option! And Jane, thank you for loaning your Brain Cell #3 to the task as well as preparing the SSSR Double Core tutorial. I couldn't have tatted Round 1 without you both. I love this technique!

Speaking of split rings, this 8/8 split ring chain is tatted in Lizbeth 40 Raspberry Frappé. It is a foundation chain for a ring trim braid that will be 36 inches (91.4 cm) long. The original necklace designed by Jane in South Africa is the pattern for a lanyard I hope to complete before Palmetto Tat Days 2011.

FYI, the shuttles are 2 1/2-inch Buffalo Horn Tatting Shuttles sold by LACIS.

This foundation chain is a perfect "on the go" tat. No pattern needed. And tatting a ring here and there really helps keep me from getting bored. The cell phone photo doesn't do these dreamy, creamy colors justice. They're perfect for a hot summer day!

Are you tatting this weekend? Whatever your plans, I hope you take time to create something beautiful. See you on Tuesday!