Collars

I have been invited to 2 fairs in May and they are just a few days one from the other so I have been tatting like crazy. One is on May 2nd and the other is from May 5 to May 9. This is the first time I participate on fairs since I got my Artisan certification. So I'm very happy. But also I'm getting stressed. I don't know how many pieces should I get with me and what kind of pieces will favor. Anyway I've been trying to tat a little of everything: bookmarks, headbands, jewelry and collars. Will try to make a few baby booties as well. They usually sell everywhere. :-)

So here are 2 collars I made this week. This burgundy one is made with a cotton #10 thread from Egypt called Helwan. Really soft and shiny! A little bigger than regular #10 threads I've work with. I used needle tatting for this one. The pattern is from Needle Tatting with Style Book 1. It's not too big. I think it will work better for a girl's dress collar.

This other is from a Russian Book called "Tatting" from 1993. I can't understand the name of the person. I used #10 thread Aunt Lydia's in a light cream. Very pretty color. I had to change a little the counting of the outer chains because if I do it according to the instructions it was going to cup. Also had to stretch the picots so the curve was softer and can make it bigger.

Tatted Girl Collar

Last week I so busy helping my mom take care of 8 children as a part of a Presbyterian Minister's Convention here in PR that I couldn't be online and much less tat, because I arrived home so tire! But this week I started in a good mood for tatting, now that my hands don't hurt too much. :-)



So I made this collar that Renesmee is modeling. She loves it! It's a pattern from a Russian booklet; but I have seen variations of it in old books. The collar was going to be only white, but when I reached the 2nd row I noticed that I didn't have enough white thread to finish it so I added pink for the chains. Then to make it even I added a round of chains around the neckline in pink. So the collar looks like it was written in that way. ;-)

I used #10 thread and the neckline measures 12 inches and it's 2.75 inches wide. It's now on my ArtFire if you want to see more photos or you if would like to have it.

Collar finished

At last, after 3 days of tatting I finished this slim collar. It's from the Gr8 Shuttle Bros new book. It's a very simple pattern and if it wasn't for the humid hot weather I would have finish it in 1 1/2 days. Mom already claimed it! lol So I will make another one to keep it as inventory. I used #10 in a light ecru color and it measures around 20 inches; just perfect to sesw around a t-shirt.

I heard the bros are writing another book (or is it two?). I will be waiting for it! Love the designs in the book. I think I'll fill the shuttles now with white to make a few snowflakes. :-)

Finished Collar

Last night the pain worsen and hubby had to put me an injection. I was able to sleep 3 whole hours. They felt like a blessing. But then woke up at 2:30 am and couldn't sleep any more. So I decided to finish the collar. After I made it I found a way to make the clover fillings and the outer rounds in one pass. So I'll make this one again but in other color and use split rings and SCMR to make it in one pass. The motifs also can be simplify using one shuttle. Definitively is a pattern I'll repeat!

Here is a close up of the collar. I added extra beads on the bottom round. Started like a mistake but I saw it looks prettier this way so I continued it instead of repairing it. :-)

I will post it on my shop later during the day if someone is interested in buying it. The orange is not a bright one. It's more like a dark peach or like the color of an orange sorbet. The beads are clear silver-lined.

Collar

Yesterday was one of those days that there's nothing good on TV so I spent all day listening to music and tatting. I'm in love with a specific book right now: Aunt Ellen's Tatting Handbook. It's a book with a recompilation of patterns from Workbasket Magazine. I'm not sure of the publication year. Anyway, the book has lovely patterns and this is one I wanted to do for awhile. So I took out this orange thread and started on it. It's a collar with 8 motifs and 2 outer rounds. But what I like the best is that it's beaded. I haven't see a lot of collars with beads on it. The center of the motif has beads between the petals and the 1st outer round has clovers with beads on them. I'm anxious to see the whole piece done. The photo on the book doesn't show in clarity the beads. Even without beads will look pretty.

I'm not sure of the color though. I even don't know WHY I got this orange thread. I hate orange. lol So I think I'll sell this one when is done. Anyone wants it?

I'll try to finish the other motifs tonight if I can. Because of the pain I have been laying down on my stomach and tatting that way. But my elbows are starting to sore and I had to take a complete Percocet and now I'm dizzy from it. May be will take a nap and then tat. Today is Friday and there's nothing good on TV until late night. Here in Egypt weekends are Friday and Saturday. Well, see ya later!