Tatalong

Back to tatting

2007-08-14T10:21:00.000-07:00

Well this year started off a little rocky for me.... but things have calmed down and I've picked up my shuttle. I made a few snowflakes to get back into it. It's like riding a bike. You don't forget.
Thanks for your emails and prayers.

Back from the Christmas blackout

2007-01-03T05:31:00.000-08:00

Ok, Christmas is a lot of work for women. We all know that but we never just come out and say it. The cooking and the gifts and the extra cleaning is enough to cut into tatting time. We hope to be tatting and posting soon! I've still checked the pages and admired all the beautiful tatting people are doing.
Happy New Year!!!

christmas gift making

2006-11-26T17:47:00.000-08:00

feeling quite a bit better.... normal pain.. but able to get around here's some things destined to be christmas gifts

The split ring earrings and bracelet headed to someone special.

the ecru/white earrings inspired by marilee's lovely creation.
i am polymer clay handicapped though.

They are quick to make up so I have listed the pattern here. You need about 32 seed beads 4 on the shuttle rest on the ball ctm. I used vintage size 20 tatting thread.

Ecru/white earrings
r:10 vsp 10
slide 4 beads down on shuttle 4 on ball
r:8 vlp 8 ch:6 b 6
r:8+8 ch: 6 b6
r:8+8 ch 6 slide down 18 beads 6 ch:6b6
r:8+8 ch: 6 b6 (repeat 2 times)
join to ring
ch:4b4
join to chain and hide thread thru the beads at top of earring.

black earrings & a christmas ornament

2006-11-20T07:28:00.000-08:00

I still can't sit up but thank God I can tat. I feel blessed.

Here's yesterday's earring pattern in black... with 10 beads at the bottom loop.

Santa will be giving these away.

My grandfather, Charlie Perkins, was the king of roses. Literally. He was the president of jackson and perkins.

I was an infant when he passed.

hospital tatting

2006-11-19T08:42:00.000-08:00

It's really hard to tat when you have an iv in your left hand. If i had to do it again I would bring a needle instead of a shuttle. I managed to finish up my second exchange gift and a snowflake. Started on an earring pattern but didn't get it right.
After I came home from hospital I did get it right. I had seen Kim Millars earrings where she draped a long picot to the next ring. Here's my version of what I could remember.

r1:3-3b3b3 slide down 20 beads 3-3
r2:3+3b3 + in between beads 8 and 9 3b3 slide down 8 (or more)beads 3b3 slide down 20 beads 3b3-3
r3:3+3+3b3b3-3
r4:3+3b3b3b-3b3b3b+3

The nice thing about tatting is it's very portable. it managed to distract me pre-op and post op... and my surgeon wants to attend the next class on dec. 8.

88-Bead snowflake snowflake with button center

2006-11-12T07:08:00.000-08:00

I finally finished my first exchange item. Fourth try was a charm. I can't post the picture until she's received it, but here's the pattern

88-Bead snowflake with button center
c. Janet Perkins 2006

I used 20 wt crochet thread and a four-hole button (small). I wound two shuttles with beads using continous thread method.
R: ring SR: split ring Ch:chain SC: split chain
B:bead rw:reverse work
Load 24 seed beads on shuttle 1 and 64 on shuttle two.
round 1
R1:2B-2+(to button)2B-2. rw
**Ch:2B2-2B2 rw
R2:2+2+(to same button hole)2B-2. rw
Ch:2B2-2B2rw.
R3:2+2+(to next button hole)2B-2. rw** (repeat from ** to ** 2 times)
Ch:2B-2B2 rw
R8:2+2+(to button)2+2. rw
SC:2B2/2B2
round 2
SR1: 3B-3/3B-3. rw
***Ch:4BBB4 rw
R2:3+6B-3. rw
Ch:4BBB4 rw
R3:3+3+ (to round 1)B-3. rw*** (repeat from *** to *** 6 times)
Ch:4BBB4 rw
R16:3+6+3. rw
Ch:4BBB4.
Tie and cut.

Learning from my mistakes

2006-11-11T07:09:00.000-08:00

I've been working on an exchange item... and it took me three tries to get round 1 exactly the way i wanted ... I'm still not happy with round 2 although I did learn how to do a split chain with a shuttle. (have always picked up a needle to do this b4).
My tatting is improving. The exchange really motivated me. When I received the most gorgeous earrings imaginable from Carol A. I found I had to improve and learn new beading techniques. I think I mastered them all now... on the picot...over the picot and on the ring. Well maybe not mastered the over the picot one, but can do it.

Tatting up a storm

2006-11-04T14:55:00.000-08:00

Well i don't have any pictures to post today in spite of tatting up a storm. I've been tatting jingly bell earrings. Three pairs for a lady at work. One for my son's "friend." I discovered i should only be putting one bead on the picots, not two.
I'm still hobbling around on crutches, but we've added a cold to my suffering. At least we can tat.
The housework is getting a bit behind. The menu leaves somewhat to be desired. My husband needs help to heat microwave food. (I'm not exaggerating). Men from his culture (Arabian) leave the cooking to the women while they sit around and talk about money. (I lived there in the middle east for two years so I know this from experience). I love my husband's family alot. I wouldn't want to live there again, but I'd like to see his family. They call me from Jordan more than my family in the states does.
It's really cold here. I've always hated the cold.
At least I am not in upstate NY with my famly. It's really severe weather there.
In spite of all I seem to be struggling thru I feel really blessed.

Jingly bell earrings

2006-10-29T10:51:00.000-08:00

jingle bells jingle bells
christmas is on the way
oh what fun it is to tat with jingly bells
every single day!

The bead in the center (end of ring 2) was an accident. I loaded one too many beads onto the ring. Sometimes you stumble onto a good thing. I LIKED it there so you see it in the instructions.

You need two 3/8" gold jingle bells
24 gold seed beeds

Beginners: when you make the ring slide the beads and jingle bell onto the thread for the ring before you make your first double stitch.

Jingly bell earrings
c. 2006 Janet Perkins
B=bead J=jingle bell
R: 5B5B5B5.
R:5+5B5J5B5B5B.
R:5+5B5B5.
R:5B5-5B5.

Enjoy.

Come on baby, let's do the twist!

2006-10-28T13:28:00.000-07:00

Oh ok .. maybe not with THIS sprained ankle!!! It does hurt.
but I still have a smile on the face!

How about a peppermint twist instead!

I figured if MARK could tat a GEISHA then I could do a peppermint candy. (I'm thinking that motif of his will be the standard for awhile to which I, for one, certainly don't measure up to!) My first attempt was trying to do a pearl tatted onion ring. Yup, it was a knotty mess. Second attempt you see here is circular block tatting. I don't recall seeing that in any books, I was just trying to figure out how to make a swirl. I don't know if i will use this or not.

DP snowflake pattern

2006-10-27T15:11:00.000-07:00

Daisy Picot Snowflake with button center
c. 2006 Janet Perkins

Note: if you dont want to use a button in the center you could make a really long picot and join to that. I did that on my second attempt, but I should have decreased the number of ds to 2 between everything. On first round you can do beads instead of picots.

R= ring DPR=daisy picot ring RW= reverse work SS= switch shuttles LJ=lock join Ch=chain
(for a good explanation of daisy picot, see Jane's pattern site or Riet's blog)

Fill one shuttle with red pearl cotton and one with white.
Tie together.... trim
end and tat over ends. (Hope you are smarter than me and tat over the red end with red and the white end with white...oops I won't do that twice).
R:(red) 4-4+to button 4-4. RW
Ch 3
{DPR=1(red) SS 1 (white) SS 1(red) SS 1(white) SS 1 (red) SS 1 (white) SS 1 (red) SS 1 (white) SS 1 (red) SS 1 (white) SS 1 (red). (total of 6 red and 5 white ds) }
Ch3-3 DPR (above) 3 rw
(repeat from beginning 3 times.) Do not cut thread. LJ to base of R1.
3-3 DPR 3-3 + (to picot of round 1) 3-3 DPR 3-3 + (to base of R) (repeat around).

For the hanger I did 40 half stitches SS 40 more half stitches and joined to the base of the R.
(so that half the hanger was white and half was red.)

red and white dp snowflake with button center

2006-10-25T11:53:00.000-07:00

I know you are all busy tatting Carol's angel and Terry's bells, but if anyone wants the pattern, let me know and I'll post it.

donata's sweet heart motif

2006-10-25T08:28:00.000-07:00

When I first saw Donata's sweet heart motif, I thought it was really elegant; thanks for sharing the pattern Donata.

turkish thread experiments

2006-10-24T09:32:00.000-07:00

Am sitting here with a sprained ankle ....so nothing to do but tat up a storm. After gleaning the gems posted to the etatters list about this thread, thought I'd give it a go. The turkish filament thread is pretty hard to work with but works up pretty. You just have to tat loosely and be very very careful.

This is just a variation of my other earring pattern I posted but it turned out star-ish and it's ok for christmas giving I think. Using 4 ds instead of 3 and instead of 3 picots 3 beads altogether.

Here's another variation in silver; my husband says this one is nice so will make a mate. Course I don't wear silver! Thinking sis-in-law would like it.

ok I'm getting a new cam as soon as i can shop without crutches.

ok i got a little carried away with the beads. I liked riet's earrings, so I thought I would try something similar with scmr. I will leave a few beads out next try. Not really happy with this one; what are your suggestions? less beads?

The whole reason I ordered the filament thread was for Mark's tat-bat. I didn't like the way this came out. I did a pair of earrings for my niece and exchange partner with one strand of embroidery floss and that is how i prefer it. We live and learn.

A lady's heart

2006-10-21T07:58:00.000-07:00

What's really important is on the inside. I used silver embroidery thread.
This heart is in memory of my aunt who passed this year. She didn't talk much about love, it was more a way of life for her. She was all lady on the outside (never saw her in trousers) and something really special on the inside.

I'll share the pattern for this when I get it worked out.

Winterizing Snowflake earrings

2006-10-15T07:41:00.000-07:00

With my first shuttle tatting class behind me, I am thinking about concentrating on needle tatting classes. We didn't get the snowflake done, so am trying to simplify things even more.

Am feeling in a wintery mood with the heat on and summer wardrobe tucked away.

Here's a simple earring that makes up quick for giving away or craft fairs.

As with all my patterns, use them, copy them, do what you wish save publish them as your own.

It's 5 rings If you may with size 20 crochet thread they make up quick for craft fairs and gifts. (I don't like selling what took me HOURS to make for less than ten dollars..... something I made quickly... ok..I can do that.)
3-3b1b1b3-3
(beads go on the shuttle thread)

The picot version is 3-3-1-1-3-3.

Today is my wedding anniversary; my husband reminded me.

New snowflakes for begginners

2006-09-24T16:50:00.000-07:00

Here's a new snowflake for real beginners or someone who hasn't tatted in awhile.
This mignonette flake I designed for the begginer class which is now full for October. Now I have to find a November project to tat. It's not blocked yet, but here it is.

Mignonette Flake c. 2006 Janet Perkins
R 3-3-3-3 leave a little space.
R 3+ 3-3-3 (Repeat 6 times).
R 3+3-3+3. Tie
Round 2
R 3+3 R 3-3 (repeat all the way around).

Twinkle, twinkle, do you like my star?

Retatting the daisy

2006-09-12T14:52:00.000-07:00

Here's the retat. It's closer to what I was trying for... and it only took three times.

Daisy
c. 2006 Janet Perkins
with yellow
vvsp very very short picot almost a little space instead of a picot
vsp very short picot
R 3 vvsp 3 vvsp 3 vvsp 3 RW
Ch 4 + (leave small joining space) Repeat 3 times
Ch 2 vsp 2 vsp 2 + Repeat 3 times.
with white
join to any picot or joining space
6-6-6-6+ (to same picot) 2 + to next picot
6+6-6-6+ (to same picot) 2 + to next picot or space
Continue around until you get to the last petal. Substitute a join for the last picot on the last petal.

Daisy, daisy

2006-09-10T14:13:00.000-07:00

Have you ever noticed most tatted daisy patterns have rounded petals... and don't look like daisies? I was looking for a pattern and didn't find one I thought looked like a daisy so I decided to come up with my own. Another bright idea.

This is attempt number 2. My first attempt at a daisy motif didn't turn out so nice... the center was loose and there were too many leaves and I didn't join them far enough down the petal. This one isn't perfect, but it's closer to what i want.

Third time's a charm?

red and white celtic button center

2006-09-04T03:21:00.000-07:00

Ok here was my project from yesterday.
I need a new camera I know... My 4 year old one needs to be replaced badly!

I'm into the snowflake mode... as I'm teaching a begginer class and I need presents for christmas. I think this one is easy enough for advanced beginners.

Red and White Celtic-tatted snowflake with button center
c. 2006 Janet Perkins

With white:
R 3-3+ to button 3-3 Ch 3-3-3-3-3-3 Repeat 3 more times. Tie and hide ends (in ring 1).
With red:
R 3+to any white ring p 3+to button 3+3 Ch 3-3-3-3-3-3 Repeat three more times weaving from front to back. Tie and hide ends.
With white:
Join to center p of any chain. Ch 3-3-3-3-3.
Join to center p of the opposite color chain. Chain 3-3-3-3-3. Repeat 6 times.
Tie and use ends as hanger.

Light and dainty

2006-09-02T09:40:00.000-07:00

This one took a long while because I used tatting thread and not crochet thread. Haven't blocked or stiffened it yet, but here it is anyways.

Light and Dainty Snowflake
c. 2006 Janet Perkins

Round 1
R 5-5-5-5
R 5+5-5-5 (4 times)
R 5+5-5+5
Round 2
R 5-5+ (to round one)5-5
R 5+(to previous R)10-5
R 5+5+5-5
(continue pattern around)
Round 3
R 2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2
Ch 10+(to round 2) ch 10 RW
Repeat 9 more times. Join to base of 1st R.

Snowflakes

2006-08-30T18:19:00.000-07:00

This celtic snowflake inspired by the begginer flake below that I tatted as a sample piece for the beggining tatting class I will start next month.

This will be project number one for tatting class number one.

Maybe for a future class I will use this one.

It's a patriotic Christmas

2006-08-22T05:04:00.000-07:00

I love Christmas.

Last Christmas was special because it was a USA Christmas. You'd be surprised how much you miss candy canes, Christmas carols, and the companionship of Americans.

This design was kinda an accident that turned out right. Next time I'll add more picots on the final round and use a thinner thread. I probably will add a few more rounds to this and place it on my desk at work to remind me what I'm working for. (to have money to buy more thread of course!)

Motifs

2006-08-19T15:23:00.000-07:00

The center for motif number one ended up as wings for an angel pin.

The objective for this motif was simple and quick for giving away at Christmas. The 3 berries are tied on with bows and this works up super quick.

The medallion tat a long

2006-08-14T05:17:00.000-07:00

I made this from the pattern that was posted. I'm obsessed with pink. This is the "basic" motif.... variations to follow.. along with my original motifs.

"I'm a little loopy," says this variation. I'm thinking pincushion cover or collar mediallion.