Yay! I finally figured out how to throw rings (floating rings) using 2 needles in needle tatting :). The original video I learnt it from is no longer available but I found this YouTube video that shows the same thing here. So easy and so much more neater than doing it with 1 needle. The completed tatted snowflake. I am really happy with it and can not wait to try something more complex :). As for the pattern, this is something simple I made up so I could practice floating...
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Finally found some time this week to paper piece Block 77 Seasons for my Farmer’s Wife Sampler Quilt. I must be out of practice as some of the yellow pieces were cut slightly too small. Hopefully there is enough seam allowance there when I piece all the blocks together :). I have decided to join in Kristy’s Paper Piecing Party on her blog – Quiet Play. For more information about her Paper Piecing Party, please visit her blog here: Hoping to find some time to paper piece more blocks for my FWS quilt next week :)....
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A family friend had a baby boy recently and I had to make a quilt for her little boy. I decided to use the Charm Squares Baby Quilts Pattern by Elizabeth Hartman. You can find the free pattern on her website here. Spotlight had a sale where all fat quarters were $1. I managed to find 4 robot themed prints to use. Unfortunately there is no mention of the fabric designer on the selvage. The pattern asked for 5 different prints so I had to use a blue solid coloured homespun fabric as a 5th print for this quilt. I decided to use the solid colour to separate the print fabrics and used one of the print twice in each row to form an “X”. One thing good about a small quilt is that it is really easy to baste on my dining table :). I used a walking foot to quilt roughly straight lines 1 inch apart using the guide that it came with. LOL I definitely need more practice :). Below are pics of the front and back of the quilt with first stage of binding done. I recently unpacked some stuff (we moved 18 months ago) and discovered a packet of Bobby pins for hair. I trailed them while sewing on binding on my first Mug Rugs and loved it. No more poking myself with pins while adjusting and sewing on the binding :). I am new to quilting so I am sure others would already know about this. Now to finish hand sew the binding and hope my friend and her baby boy likes it :). Gemma at Pretty Bobbins is having her first “I Quilt” linky party (4th Oct 2013) and I thought I would join in with this blog post :). You can find out more information here:...
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It has been a few years since I needle tatted so I had to pretty much relearn how to needle tat. Here’s my progress so far as I relearn needle tatting :). Basics: I taught myself again how to needle tat using TotusMel’s YouTube video: Needle Tatting Flower Pendant. TotusMel goes through how to do double stitch, picot, ring & chain while making a simple flower pendant. She also has a few other YouTube needle tatting videos. I attempted another simple pattern with an extra row/round of chain stitches. Need to work on being consistent with ring size and chain length. Adding Beads: Using RustiKate’s Tatting YouTube video: Tatting – #2 Adding Beads (b) in Needle Tatting: method one, I tatted the same simple flower pendant but this time added some beads on the picot. RustiKate also have a great range of YouTube needle tatting videos. I tatted a different flower pendant using the variations of RustiKate’s first method for adding beads i.e. 3 beads in a picot and a bead between rings. This was fun to do but I must find some beads that have holes big enough for my smallest crochet hook. Or buy a smaller crochet hook :). Throwing Rings off a chain: Next I tried throwing rings (or floating rings) off a chain using this tutorial here. Must try throwing rings off a ring next. Two colour needle tatting: Here’s my attempt at 2 Colour needle tatting using TotusMel’s Two Colour Needle Tatting YouTube video. Going to attempt this again :). 2 Rows of tatting: Aiming for something a bit more complex, I attempted This ‘n’ That’s Snowflake 3 pattern. I had fun tatting this snowflake. Next is to learn how to starch/stiffen/block my completed tatted pieces and learn other tatting techniques...
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I first came across tatting while sitting on a train on my way to uni (~1997). The lady tatting was using a shuttle. I thought the craft was awesome and did some research to find out what it was and to see whether I can teach myself. I discovered that it was tatting, found some books at the local library but I was not able to figure it out from the drawings or photos in the book. Fast forward at least 5 years, my cousin moved to Brisbane and decided to take up tatting again. As soon as I saw her doing it, I asked her to teach me. She taught me the basics for shuttle tatting but I just could not get it looking neat and beautiful like her tatted items. A few years ago I discovered needle tatting and I was hooked. I bought some tatting needles from Amazon but had to wait so I practised with a doll making needle. All I can say is ouch! Luckily my tatting needles arrived and saved me from poking myself :). I have tatted a few small things which I have given to my 6yo daughter. Recently I decided to get back into needle tatting. Here are my attempts at some simple flower pieces I tatted on a long drive up the coast to visit a relative. Next is to attempt a snowflake design and learn shuttle tatting again...
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September has been a crazy busy month for me with lots of school events on at the kids’ school. The kids are now on 2 weeks school holidays so I was able to make the letters for the third month of Easy As ABC QAL. You can find out more information about it on Blossom Heart Quilts here. We are now half way through the QAL but it is still not too late to join the QAL :). Here are my letters for this month. Here are all my blocks so far for the Easy As ABC QAL. I am really liking the rainbow effect. Now to figure out how I want to piece them together i.e. with or without sashing :)....
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