The Learning Curve

I’ve been tatting for nearly four years now, so I don’t quite count myself as a beginner, but it’s an ongoing process. So I joined The Online Tatting Class. It’s free, it’s fun and there’s always someone to ask if you run into trouble. The patterns are helpful and usually have links or illustrations for techniques that may be unfamiliar. There is also a class for Beginners.

The Online Tatting Class is on a break at the moment, but all the patterns and the notes are still available for you to try.

Melt into Spring Snowflake

Melt into Spring Snowflake by Marilee Rockley

I love the pattern, but don’t like the colours. My own fault, I just used a few spare shuttles with some left over thread. I plan to redo it in blue and white. The daisy chains were new for me (the middle section). I love Marilee Rockley’s designs, and have her book ‘Tatted Jewellery’.

Old Tatted Motif

I had a lot of trouble with this one. It is from an old book in the public domain. There are no patterns in the book, only photographs. A pattern and diagram had been added, but there are differences between the pattern and the diagram.

My first try was a mess, so I took some time off to practise some of the techniques.

My second try at the motif was more successful, but it didn’t lie flat. Here it is folded in half, and is clearly not a proper half-circle.

Old Pattern

Flattened out – you can see where it is a little distorted. I learnt to do onion rings on this, and also tried a split chain.

Old pattern – open

Here are some of my own projects.

Doll House Bedspread

This is a miniature bedspread for a doll house in 100 thread. No pattern, because I thought it would be simple… The corners look messy because I am trying to work out an edging for it.

I also made a mistake that I saw far too late to do anything about. I thought I had compensated, but ended up with 37 rings on one side and 38 on the other…

Bedspread Error

Here is a picture of the bedspread on the bed. I hadn’t done the side sections yet.

Doll House Bedspread

I am also working on the Martha Ess Celtic Shamrock Wreath.

Celtic Shamrock July 2015

Four working shuttles…

I do have another blog Tatted Threads. I will be doing another post on these pieces with some more technical information for anyone interested.