xmas, angels and friends

The following xmas' scene has been made with the help of my friend "Dalì L'Artista" (the lady that decorates the shuttles that are in my photos).

She suggested how to set the scene and I found the perfect way to show my tiny tatted balls and the snowflakes tatted with the silk (https://ninettacaruso.blogspot.com/search/label/silk+snowflake).

(Update: read this post too: https://ninettacaruso.blogspot.com/2019/11/tatting-sphere.html )

(Update: here is a short video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1W9G5ltCDNtjIOpGIAijbI1W9UDu2fR8X/view ) 

Then, in the next picture, there's "Another Christmas Angel", I'm not joking, that's its name!
Pattern is by Jennifer Williams. I tatted it because friends of the Italian group in Facebook chose it among others by J.Williams and I helped with the translation and the instructions.

Pattern is here: https://www.cariad-tatting.com/christmas-patterns

It is a gift for my mum, she loves it! We put a small light under the dress. I tatted it with silver embroidery thread DMC E168 (polyester skein). For the head, I tatted one ball with white DMC Diamant D5200.
Pattern for the ball is one of mine (https://flic.kr/p/2hN8Y28)

There are beads, too. For sleeves and dress I used bugle beads 2mm, then for wings I used silver transparent rocailles 15/0, and for the head dress 2 rocailles 15/0 and one swarovski 2mm. I haven't stiffened it, since the polyester is firm enough and it stands alone without any wooden shape. Also, the ball (head) is empty.

About the snowflakes I've been tatting, I've exchanged some other messages with Sue Hanson. She is really helpful and a sweet lady! She found another snowflake with block tatting. She rescued it with the wayback machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20050403221520/http://www.tattings.com/snow2/
So, I already updated the list in previous post.
Here it is:

Direct link to the pattern by Carol Rasor: https://web.archive.org/web/20050215131532/http://www.tattings.com/snow2/snow2_12.shtml

The site went down after that Ron Solomon, the owner, went tatting with the Angels and nobody else stepped in. All snowflakes are by different designers, they are all worth a try, all original and it would be a great loss for the "Tatternet" community if they will disappear. I would like to make a plea to all tatters, if someone can suggest a virtual place for saving all those patterns. I would suggest Craftree...

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and today I like leaving you with a phrase about friendship:

"...A faithful friend is a sure shelter, whoever finds one has found a rare treasure. A faithful friend is something beyond price, there is no measuring his worth. A faithful friend is the elixir of life..." (source: The Bible,Ecclesiasticus)

Ciao,
Ninetta

E-learning

I'm learning a lot from this project. I committed myself to tat a dozen of snowflakes that contain block tatting.

Those in pictures are the last three I've tatted.

The first thing that I learnt is that very few designers have used block tatting in snowflakes, and you can count on one hand those who posted for free.

The second thing that I learnt (actually I confirmed my view) is that block tatting is an advanced technique. You always need to tweak it a bit, depending on the pattern, whether you are literally following designer's instructions or whether you want to tat it in the way 'you think' it's better for you.

This is the updated list of free online snowflakes that I've found till now:

1)pattern by Jane Eborall: http://janeeborall.freeservers.com/MotifCatherine.pdf

2) pattern by Sue Hanson: https://www.georgiaseitz.com/classes2/blocktat/hanson.html
3) Pattern by Bettina Lauth:  https://www.georgiaseitz.com/classes2/bettinaflake.html 

4) pattern by Adelheid Dangela: https://www.georgiaseitz.com/2013/adelheiddangleberlinflake.pdf

5)pattern by Roger L. aka Freedman: https://craftree.com/patterns/5001

6) pattern by me, my "fior di filet" snowflake, here: https://flic.kr/p/2hR6LeP
7) pattern by Jennifer Williams ("star using block tatting"): https://www.cariad-tatting.com/
8) pattern by Ben Fikkert: http://bentats.nl/Carrevlok.html
9) pattern by Jane Eborall: http://janeeborall.freeservers.com/Coriolis.pdf
10) pattern by Jane Eborall (block centre): http://janeeborall.freeservers.com/Snow3in2013.pdf (***)
11) pattern by Jane Eborall: http://janeeborall.freeservers.com/MotifWhirlygig.pdf (***)

Those with the (***) are two patterns where Jane Eborall uses the "new to me" technique of block tatting done with lock stitches chains, she has a technique page here:
http://janeeborall.freeservers.com/LockChainBlock.pdf
That is very intriguing, for sure I want to try it soon. Every Jane Eborall's pattern is an enjoyable learning experience, I'd rather say E-learning 😉!

UPDATE:
12) pattern by Carol Rasor: https://web.archive.org/web/20050215131532/http://www.tattings.com/snow2/snow2_12.shtml

Ciao,
Ninetta

spotted white

These two snowflakes are designed by Jane Eborall and Sue Hanson

Thread is dmc cordonett special B5200, size 80.
White thread is beautiful for this subject, but it gets dirty very easily, even if I try to keep it clean washing my hands often.

It was my intention to tat more snowflakes with block tatting in them, at least a dozen, but this time Mr.Google gave me a poor help, bringing me back only these two.

Then I remembered that in Craftree there's a wonderful patterns' library, and I found another one, that I will tat soon.

But my goal will be hardly reached.

Luckily I received a sweet message from Sue Hanson, she is so kind, she spotted other free snowflakes' patterns with block tatting in them, that I'm going to tat soon. There aren't many snowflakes that have block tatting, some of these are in books and then not free.

This is the very short list of free online snowflakes that I have in this moment:

1)Jane Eborall's "Catherine wheel motif", pdf is in her page (among a storm of other snowflakes) here: http://www.janeeborall.freeservers.com/MotifsSnowflakes.htm

2) https://www.georgiaseitz.com/classes2/blocktat/hanson.html

3) https://www.georgiaseitz.com/classes2/bettinaflake.html

4) https://www.georgiaseitz.com/2013/adelheiddangleberlinflake.pdf

5)https://craftree.com/patterns/5001

6) my "fior di filet" snowflake, pattern is here: https://flic.kr/p/2hR6LeP

UPDATE: sorry, I forgot to add in the list that one designed by Jennifer Williams, you can find the pattern in her site, that is https://www.cariad-tatting.com/

Ciao,
Ninetta

days of december

These are Eight and Ninth of December, snowflakes' patterns by Lene Bjørn:

Thread is DMC Cordonett Special B5200, size 80.

In both cases there's block tatting and that is the main reason I wanted to tat them. The other reason is because I've bought 12 wooden frames, to make little xmas gifts.

At a first reading, the drawings were pretty clear, but then, with shuttles "in action", I realised that photos and diagrams are facing different direction, that caused me a little confusion...

... and that is the reason why the "8th of December" is not a faithful reproduction of the original. Anyway, I tatted the two rounds continuously.
All in all, that is a lesson for me as someone who presumes to draw patterns for others, I think till now I didn't pay much attention to keep consistent drawings and photos.

I would love making more snowflakes that have block tatting. If you please, in case you know any other free pattern, I will be happy to tat it, ❄❄❄ possibly 🤞 within these days of December ❄❄❄
I've found one by Jane Eborall and another by Sue Hanson, I will share my white versions next week.

Ciao,
Ninetta

fior di filet - pattern for a snowflake

"Fior" is the contraction of the word "fiore", that in Italian means flower.
Pattern is in Flickr : https://flic.kr/p/2hR6LeP

There are two rounds, worked continuously without cutting the  thread after the first round. 

I used Jane Eborall's method to join rows of block tatting, you find all links and a video in previous blog post.

I switched shuttles after the first ring (I put a "swirl" in the drawing in that point), but I didn't reverse work, I continued with flipped stitches in the normal way. I was uncertain if I should write DNRW but at the end I decided to let the tatter choose her favourite way). I didn't reversed work because I wanted my tatting front side, both rings and block tatting.  But that is my personal choice. 

I tatted all the first round from the front, in counterclockwise direction, taking advantage of the fact that I learned to tat also in "direct tatting", that is how they call the method in which (without changing the position of your hands) you tat unflipped stitches, like when you tat the second side of split rings "the dead spider way". It is very useful, I think, because it speeds up the tatting a lot. 

After the round with block tatting, I didn't reverse work passing to the second round, my shuttles were already in position to start the outer round with the chain, but I changed the direction of my tatting, going clockwise. Where the swirls are in second round, you can choose to switch shuttles, instead I just changed to direct tatting. If you like, you can tat that chain all the same direction, it will look like a flower's petal.

I should thank Muskaan, she was so kind to test tat the pattern (she suggested the idea of the flower petal), her help has been precious. I learned that whatever direction you take, the journey and who walks with you are what matter. Happy tatting 🥰🥰🥰

❄❄❄❄❄

I also wanted to blog about two other snowflakes I've just tatted, patterns are by Lene Bjorn, 8th & 9th of December, but that is for the next week!
❄❄❄❄❄

Ciao,

Ninetta 

oops a snowflake

I've brushed up on my block tatting. That happened because I found that my printed copy of Jane Eborall's drawing was not up to date with the last one in her site. My copy was from 2007, while that online in her site is from 2013. That's my fault, of course. I follow her blog and I know well that she often updates her patterns and technique's pdf, that is a wonderful thing, at least if only all her students paid attention, oops, um...

I noticed that many tatters join rows of block tatting in a way similar to that explained in Julie Patterson's drawing (2006): https://www.georgiaseitz.com/2012/blockpatterson.jpg
Me too, I use that. But sometime other ways are more useful or convenient, like the one I used in an edging, to have blocks in one colour and rings in another, it is showed here: https://www.georgiaseitz.com/2012/ninettecarusopattern.motif.5.jpg

So, when I remembered my printed copy of the drawing by Jane Eborall (2007, amended in 2013: https://janeeborall.freeservers.com/BlockTattingEasy.pdf ), I had to try it again, to better look at the final result, comparing the two joining methods.

That is a great method of joining, I like it a lot and it also inspired me to offer you a new video.

Sorry dears, this time I wrote the video text in Italian. Another news is that I added an audio (music) to the video, please forgive me if you don't like it.

This is the link to the video in YouTube:
https://youtu.be/oxGV7b3xK20

On the left the J.Patterson's way of joining rows, on the right J.Eborall's.

❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄ 

Christmas is coming fast, I had started tatting snowflake earlier this year but life (and tatting distractions) happens and now I have to catch up.

The one in the first picture from up top is a pattern of mine, modified from a square to a six pointed motif. The squared design is "fior di filèt", if you like the snowflake version I could share this pattern, too.

Thread is DMC Cordonnet Special B5200, size 80.
((((UPDATE: Pattern is in Flickr))))

The second snowflake I've tatted this week is designed by Jennifer Williams, you can find the pattern in her site, that is https://www.cariad-tatting.com/

Ciao,
Ninetta

distractions

Last week I was almost ready to play on another pattern of mine, a new lanyard, that I hope to share soon, oh well... if I don't get distracted again!

The first distraction came from Muskaan. I really enjoyed tatting her pattern! It was fun, like a tat-along, because she engaged me and Anita Spotz Barry in modifying the original 8 arms pattern to obtain a snowflake. She called it "mutant snowflake", read the full story in her blog https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com

(Update:
Direct link to Muskaan's post
https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2019/09/the-jinx-of-13.html)

Thread is size 80 Dmc Special Dentelles, colours numbers are 740(orange) and 90(multicoloured yellow).

The next distraction came from the local association which I belong to. From the 26th to 29th of September it is our patron saint's festival. We joined other associations (musicians, poets, comedians) and worked in public, with our bobbin laces, netting, macrame and tatting, free teaching for curious passers-by. That was the original plan... but another Great Incredible Distraction came to the event in my city, interrupting her short holiday in Rome!! 😱😱😱 Wow! I still can't believe that Karen Cabrera was here, even if for few moments!! I'm extremely bad at speaking in English, but she is sweet and she's also learning Italian (lucky me 😅). 💓Thank you Karen for this unbelievable nice surprise! 😍You made my... year!😍

- (Picture courtesy by Karen, uploaded from FB) -

 

The last two distractions of the week are 2 new purchases. A book: "Illusion of 3-D in Split Ring Tatting", by Karen Bovard, and two shuttles decorated by "Dalì L'artista", her name is Lina and has a profile in Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/people/Dali-Lartista/100010034103450). She doesn't decorates many shuttles, only few each time, but she's nice and always try and satisfy who asks for them.

I will soon try something from the book.

Ciao,
Ninetta

all in all it's just another

...flake in the snow 🙂

Can I call it "the equilateral snowflake"?

Bugle beads are 9mm and 2mm long, all were strung and it is only one round.

I need at least another week to write the pattern.

Green thread is Penny 30 from Edda Guastalla's shop ("Fili & Gioielli a chiacchierino" in Facebook).
White thread is size 50 DMC Cordonnet Special, color B5200.

Can you spot the treble tatting stitches? 🥰

❆❅❄❆❅❄❆❅❄❆❅❄

Useful links (some snowflakes' free patterns, I know this list can be longer!):

• Sharon Briggs' (december 2018): https://sharonstattedlace.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-results-are-in.html
• Compilation by Georgia Seitz at BellaOnline: https://www.bellaonline.com/subjects/429.asp
• Robin Perfetti's Free Patterns: https://tattingbythebay.blogspot.com/p/free-patterns.html 
• Jennifer Williams' (lately, she moved to a new site): https://www.cariad-tatting.com/christmas-patterns
• Muskaan's (she has a section in her patterns' page, named "Snowflakes", just scroll down): https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/p/patterns-designs.html
• Tat-a-Renda: Free Patterns - Snowflakes: https://tatsaway.blogspot.com/p/snowflakes.html 
• Teri Dusenbury's: https://teridusenburystattletales.blogspot.com

My patterns (six pointed motifs):

• Sharon: https://flic.kr/p/aJKrM4
• Sbrilluccicante: https://ninettacaruso.blogspot.com/2016/12/sbrilluccicante.html
• Radiant: https://ninettacaruso.blogspot.com/2017/09/radiant.html
• Old-fashioned with treble tatting: https://ninettacaruso.blogspot.com/2019/01/visual-patterns-for-little-motifs-with.html
• Only stitches' count on a picture: https://ninettacaruso.blogspot.com/2017/01/hopes.html

Ciao,
Ninetta

UPDATE: Pattern is in Flickr:

sizing snowflakes

That's not about melting real snowflakes, till they reach the right size, even if that can sound like a solution!

I need more snowflakes, a little bird told me "25", wonder why! But the real problem is finding the right size to fit in a dollhouse!

Even that one looks a wee bit out of proportion!

Maybe, could it work like a suncatcher instead?
🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔
The maximum size, I think, should be 1cm.
But those tiny tiny snowflakes are so lovely that I cannot stop myself tatting after the first round, then I have to go and finish them, eventually they can find another "home"!

Thread is twisted silk, produced by "Tecnoseta srl".

❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄

In the next picture, motifs are near an euro cent, all tatted following Sharon Briggs' patterns, you can find her links collected in this post in her blog:
http://sharonstattedlace.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-results-are-in.html

Then, there's the Paisley snowflake by Muskaan (I've talked about it in a previous post); the little one on the left is the same centre and then I added a simple round with rings equal to her second round and chains are 6-6-6, that is really good sized for a xmas tree for the dollhouse. I can use that pattern in more colours.

But first, going to try more snowflakes' patterns, there are many very generous tatters that have shared their own patterns, both in books and for free, it's a snowstorm out there!

In next post, I will share a list of links for free snowflakes' patterns and - maybe, maybe... - a new pattern from my side that you all can size out...
🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

Ciao,
Ninetta

cachemire

It isn't a typo! That's how "paisley" translates in Italian, the words make weird journeys around the world and this one came into Italian from French during the Napoleonic era (according to Treccani online), after the shawls with the characteristic pattern, made with the light and soft wool imported from Kashmir, in India.

From India comes the pattern too, it's designed by Muskaan, you can read about it here:
https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2019/06/25-snowflake-challenge.html

Thread is twisted silk, produced by "Tecnoseta srl". There's a sewing pin near my tatting:

It's a pity that those Josephin Rings don't show well, it was tricky tatting. In fact, the first two ones are two mishaps. Then, from the third on, I  discovered that it closes better with another thread as an helper, that is a short thread folded in half and passed through the ring before pulling the ring's thread.

I thought I could have used that snowflake for my dollhouse, but now I realised that it's big! In the scale 1:12, it cannot be used as a little doily either, because the pattern has a lot of open space... I should find another home for it!

Ciao,
Ninetta

radiant

When working with bugle beads, a very important thing  to remember is to look carefully at edges and discard broken beads, the sharp edge can break the thread. In that unfortunate case, a radiant tatting day could turn to autumn...

Bugle beads for this pattern are 6mm. Thread is Finca light gold (Hilo Metalizado, 1000mts, Presencia Hilaturas), double strand, 35% Polyester and 65% Viscose. I wound together two strands in two shuttles CTM. Thirty-six bugle beads have been loaded in one shuttle, the centre starts with the other shuttle without beads, then I climbed up with a split ring and the shuttle with beads is used as the core thread.

Pattern:
Centre:  Ring 4-4 repeat five times, SR 4/4
Round1: (mock picot) 1ds, slide one BugleBead from the core shuttle, 1ds, lock join, repeat six times
Round2: 2ds, BugleBead, 2ds, lock join, repeat six times
Round3: 3ds, BugleBead, 3ds, lock join, repeat six times
Round4: 4ds, BugleBead, 4ds, lock join, repeat six times
Round5: 5ds, BugleBead, 5ds, lock join, repeat six times
Round6: 6ds, BugleBead, 6ds, lock join, repeat six times
Round7:
climb up with a SR:8/8, *[Chain 8-8, Ring 8+8 (join over the lock join of round6), Chain 8-8; Ring 8+8 (join same place of previous ring)]repeat five times from *, then Chain 8-8, Ring 8+8 (join same place of first split ring), Split chain 8/8 (joining the start of first chain of this round)
Round8:
climb up with a SR:6-6, *[Chain 12ds, lock join to picot in chain of previous round7(chain aligned with beads), 12ds; Ring 6+6 (join to picot in chain between rings of previous round7 ), Chain 16ds; Ring 6+6 (join same place of previous ring)]repeat five times from *, then Chain 12ds, lock join to picot in chain of previous round7(chain aligned with beads), 12ds; Ring 6+6 (join to picot in chain between rings of previous round7 ), Chain 16ds, tie and cut.

❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄

What do you call them? Wheels or snowflakes?

In Italian bugle-beads are called "baguette" or "tubicini".

Ciao,
Ninetta
P.S. Eye-candy: there's a page for Palmetto's Tat Days 2013, with a beautiful collection of tatting (but without patterns), one of those is a bird, the beak is made with two bugle beads, that's clever isn't it? here's the link:
http://palmettotatters.org/events/TatDays2013/ClassProjectPictures.shtml#Kaye

Related posts

 all posts with label "bugle-beads"

another snowflake with bugle beads

I'm still playing with bugle beads, here is another motif, its size is like a little coaster:

Bugles for this pattern are 4mm. I also tatted another one with longer beads(light blue) and last round cups a little:

It's nice even without the last 2 rounds:

and here it is the stitches' count, mainly for me so I don't forget 😊 Two shuttles CTM. Twelve beads are used in the centre and loaded in one shuttle, then the second shuttle is loaded with 66 beads and used (core thread) from the second round on. First round in centre is a flower with rings, then I climbed up with a split ring, then each round climbed up with a sort of split chain, as showed in the previously shared video (see post sbrilluccicante).

Ciao,
Ninetta
Related posts:

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hopes

and there's still time

sbrilluccicante 

irregular geometry

ideas from scraps

I'm sorry I've been neglecting my blog, lately. Before I start talking about scraps, here it is the measure - as promised - of the doily I've just finished:

and that is the same doily and Wiosna2016 side by side, just for get the idea of the size.

I've something else that came again in the spotlight this week, that is about the snowflake with bugle beads "sbrilluccicante", it has just been shared in the Online Tatting Class, with a video-tutorial, too.  Thank you so much to Georgia Seitz and all. Have you heard that they are collecting donations via yotube videos? Read more on their website: http://www.georgiaseitz.com/2017/2017index.html .
I'd like sharing with you two versions, the first has longer beads than in the first one, so I had to add ds in the outer round:

The second one is with 2 colors' beads, one shuttle was loaded with one color, the second shuttle was loaded with the second color:

Long post, I see.
Let's go on, please.

I started the edging that had been on my to-do-list for ages: that one that is at page 8 in fig. 23 in Priscilla #1, I'm using white dmc size 100 thread.

The book is here: http://www.antiquepatternlibrary.org/pub/PDF/DeWittPriscillaTat1.pdf

I changed the length of bare threads, they are all 0.5cm, also picots are the same size high. It's quite different from the original but I like it this way, more regular.

my plastic gauge

Maybe someone remembers that I tested the wheel motif in October, 3 months ago! please don't ask what happened then, time flies so fast that I can't answer.

Per Priscilla's words: "Make 40 of these wheels for the border, joining them as seen in the illustration." The picture in the pdf is quite blurry, I think. I copied it and played a little with Serif software, and I obtained the pic already shared with you:

Looking at this kind vintage tatting, I can't help myself thinking that "tatting" is a word that also translates with the italian word "brandello", that is something made with shreds, scraps, and this also reminds me of old ladies who can't throw away anything even bits of thread, that couldn't go wasted!

More than a century later from that picture, I tatted 5 wheels to visualise how big the edging is, and I think that 6 wheels in each corner would be good for a rings' pillow. 24 wheels instead of 40, split rings and modern technologies! good enough for me! 😊😊 Motifs are not yet joined, I only put them close each other to see where the joins should be.

But at first glance, it looked crowded, too many picots, my personal taste. I'd rather prefer something quite easy to iron, isn't it?

...those motifs will soon become tatting scarps, but the idea came to me. I'll show you in next post (I hope).

I'll keep my scraps, I always keep them. Since I've had a notebook, it has been stuffed with scraps, then when I think I'm having that "tatter's block", I look into my notebook and there's always something that can be rescued. A lot of ideas comes from scraps.

In the meanwhile, I found that variegated thread, already wound on the shuttle. A bird told me that it can be a butterfly, so it's time to Tat It And See if it flies ...

Ciao,
Ninetta

Related posts:
sbrilluccicante
  spare wheels
  a penny for your thoughts  

hopes

That's the time good resolutions for the new year spread all around, but today I just like posting about hopes of peace. I think that love is important in our lives, but mostly I hope at least the peace for everyone.

Today we celebrate the Befana, the same day of Epiphany that I learnt it is the most ancient Christian feast. The old ugly woman gives gifts to good children and those who didn't behave would have coal instead 😲 (but some pieces of really good black sugar are sold! You sweet tooth may want to google for "sugar coal").

I hope you had relaxing holidays and for those who had to cook/clean/host, I hope you enjoyed your families and friends too. I've been visiting relatives and friends and had few time for tatting. I spent most of the tatting time for playing again with bugle beads, those are more "snowflakes", well they would have been snowflakes if tatted in white!

Ah! One good resolution could be tatting more of these for next year xmas' gifts!

The next one is the adaptation of a squared pattern that is from a booklet "Selezione Tricot - Il Chiacchierino", 1990.

I hope you'll make numbers out in the next picture. I started with the inner row with block tatting, then climbed up to the round with rings and chains, then finished with the row all chains.

I also tatted a pair of big black earring, it is for a gift, pattern and colour was chosen by my friend. Pattern is from the magazine "Il mio chiacchierino" Aprile/Maggio 2014 (patterns are by Daniela Di Marzio and Alda Bonaldi Bodini). I find black very difficult to tat, but I do hope in 2017 to use up the big cone that I bought!

But first, I should finish the Falbalà doily and start the Priscilla edging. I hope so.

Ciao,
Ninetta
P.S. I nearly forgot to say thank you to Karen who just put a video about those curled inside rings: Lesson 165 - Curled-in rings. Thank you sweet Karen! My original post is here: http://ninettacaruso.blogspot.com/2016/01/a-curled-inside-ring.html

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and there's still time

sbrilluccicante