Category: cross

February Tatting

You know how life keeps happening? You go about your normal business and other things sidetrack you. Recently a young relative went through a sad event and I’m planning a sympathy package to send them as we are too far away to visit. We’ve also been invited to a wedding of some friends, which means a gift is needed. Emotional opposite ends of the happiness spectrum, right? It’s amazing how tatting can fit into both gifts.

I usually make cross bookmarks for sympathy gifts. My “Graduation Cross Bookmark” is simple and quick but still looks good. I started with that, then had an idea.

Green Graduation cross with edging on wandasknottythoughts
Green Graduation cross with edging

Lime Green (Lizbeth #679) isn’t usually a color I think of for a sympathy gift, but it was on my shuttles from a different project. Though the green was size 20 I didn’t have any size 20 handy that looked even close to good with it, so I used a size 10 in Ocean Teal Dark (Lizbeth #65). I played around with stitch counts and developed this edging around the cross. I liked it, so I made one in the colors I had wanted to make it in.

Blue Graduation cross with edging on wandasknottythoughts
Blue Graduation cross with edging

The center of this cross is Country Turquoise Lt (Lizbeth #660) (I think! – I lost the label) in size 20, and the outside is River Blue Dark (Lizbeth #709) in size 10. I finished the edging, cut and hid the ends, and THEN noticed I goofed on the last chain. I’m pretty confident I can fix it without much trouble, but, we’ll see. I think it looks good otherwise.

I had to think a bit to come up with a wedding gift. Then I remembered that a while ago the bride and I were looking at tatting online when she saw one of the doves from Frivolite con sabor and loved it, so I purchased the “Dove of Peace” pattern. I have completed one dove and plan to make another, then frame them to give as a wedding gift.

'Dove of Peace' by Frivolite con sabor on wandasknottythoughts
‘Dove of Peace’ by Frivolite con sabor

This is a lovely pattern, and not hard to do, I just had to pay attention! This will be a lovely gift! The pattern is on Frivolite con sabor’s Etsy shop.

At the beginning of February, it occurred to me that Valentine’s Day was coming up. I didn’t know what I wanted to do for Valentine’s Day, but I wanted to do something, so I started making several of my “January Heart”. I added them to a can for a touch of room decor, but what else to do? I thought it would be fun to have a pin to wear.

"January Heart" pin on wandasknottythoughts
“January Heart” pin

These hearts were tatted and then joined together with a bit of thread. You can see how fancy this pin ended up with that bare safety pin. LOL! It goes on and off of my shirt or jacket easily! I might make it a bit fancier for next year, but it worked for now.

Besides all this tatting, I’m staying on task writing out several patterns. I’m working on how to diagram a particular tatting technique. It’s quite challenging but also rewarding. I’m almost done with one, yay! 😊

“To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides.” David Viscott

Busy, Busy

I have been very busy the last few weeks, which put writing on my blog at the bottom of my to-do list. I have done some tatting but I have not gotten anywhere on writing out any patterns.

League track meets and tennis matches involving my grandkids meant I was traveling a lot trying to make all of them. There were also a few events besides these that were all-day affairs, leaving me tired and hot (or cold) and uninterested in doing anything after making it home.

One of my grandsons was just confirmed into our church. This is not a sacrament or a divine ordinance, but a public recognition of a person’s instruction of the Word and confession of faith. In our congregation, this ceremony is done when the person is about 14 years old, after several years of specific study. I made him my April’s Cross bookmark with modified ends to celebrate the occasion.

April Cross Bookmark for confirmation on wandasknottythoughts
April’s Cross Bookmark for confirmation.

When making it this time I just didn’t care for the look of the ends of the original pattern. I like this better, but I spent an inordinate amount of time getting the stitch count to a place I was happy. I suppose at some point I may add this change to the pattern. My 14-year-old grandson was not all that impressed with this gift. I’m hoping that maybe someday he will appreciate it a bit more.

I haven’t been in the mood to do much in the way of starting or finishing my tatting projects, maybe too tired after all the events and traveling, but I did get some tatting done. The case on my phone is clear and plain. I’ve thought a bit of tatting would look good on it but have not done anything about it. The other day I ran across a ball of thread labeled Star Tatting Crochet in white/off-white. It looks to be smaller than size 40, maybe 70?

Old Star tatting thread on wandasknottythoughts
Old Star tatting thread

I tatted a small ring in the Star thread and another of the same stitch count in Lizbeth size 40.

Star thread comparison on wandasknottythoughts
Star thread comparison

It is definitely smaller than the size 40. I’m pretty sure that the old thread I’ve seen before was labeled 70, so I’m going with that. I made several doodles with it to see how it would look and fit in the phone case.

Phone cover with tatting on wandasknottythoughts
Phone cover with tatting

The tatting is not glued down to anything, but placed between the phone and the case. It is good the thread is so small as it causes the case to be not quite as tight to the phone as it is supposed to be. This allows the tatting to move a bit, but not much, and only in some circumstances. I’ll probably change the tatting in this if/when I come up with other ideas. This certainly changes the look of the case for the better and I’m glad I wasn’t too busy to try it.

“I don’t care how busy I am – I will always make time for what’s most important to me.” Kevin Hart

Making a few changes

I’ve been working on the ‘Iris’ cross bookmark I shared last week. I made a few tweaks as I worked on writing the pattern and tatted it again.

I tatted the original in size 10 thread, bigger than I usually work in. I saw the color and just knew I wanted to use it, and it was in size 10, so that was it. The cross came out the first time with minimal trouble. It ended up being six inches tall by six inches across, much larger than I think of as fitting in a normal book. I decided to make it in a smaller thread as I verified the stitch count.

Iris Cross bookmark in size 10 on wandasknottythoughts
Iris Cross bookmark in size 10

I usually tat in size 20 thread, which would make this cross smaller, but I thought that it might not make it small enough, so I made it in size 40. Which I don’t tat in much, either, so it took longer to tat it. But the end result is about what I was hoping for.

Iris v 2 in size 40 on wandasknottythoughts
Iris v 2 in size 40

The center of the cross has a wonderful pattern, but I was concerned that handling it as a bookmark would be too floppy. I added a picot to the corner chains to make it less floppy. While tatting in the small thread the ends of the arms didn’t come out looking the same as the original so I changed up the stitch count a bit there as well.

Iris v 3 in size 40 on wandasknottythoughts
Iris v 3 in size 40

On the next cross, I changed the stitch count at the ends of the arms again and they came out better, but I still wasn’t happy with them. The shuttle 2 clovers at the tips twisted a lot. This would be a problem if it were handled much.

Iris cross bookmark version 4 on wandasknottythoughts
Iris cross bookmark version 4

The fourth cross came out much better. The tips of the arms are more secure and less able to twist. I am also happier with the look of the ends. I’m wondering if I should leave off the picots I added to hold the center firmer. In the small thread will it be okay without them? I like the look better without that picot.

It is amazing how different the cross looks making it the two different size threads. What are your thoughts? Which one do you like best?

“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.“ Alan Watts

New Bookmark

It’s spring, so it must be time for another bookmark. This time of year brings many occasions for gifts, and I usually include something tatted, often a bookmark. This year, one of my grandsons and three other eighth graders are being confirmed in our church. I’m making each of them a cross bookmark to celebrate the occasion.

Phoebe cross bookmark on wandasknottythoughts
Iris cross bookmark

As usual, I couldn’t just use a pattern I already had, I had to try something different. I do fancy how the center came out with this. It is made of size 10 Lizbeth #647 Purple Iris Dark and measures 6 inches by 6 inches, almost too big for a bookmark. I’ll be making the ones for the confirmands in a smaller thread, and probably in a shade of red.

I’ve worked on this cross and a few other items, but spent more time outside this last week or two. It’s been so nice outside I don’t want to sit inside and the wind makes it challenging to tat outside. I don’t have many flowering plants to enjoy yet, but the trees are blooming.

Red bud tree blooming on wandasknottythoughts
Redbud tree blooms

We have two Redbud trees in our yard. I always look forward to them blooming.

Pear bloom on wandasknottythoughts
Apricot blooms

My neighbor has several fruit trees at the edge of the yard. They are so beautiful when they bloom.

Apple bloom on wandasknottythoughts
Apple bloom

The apple trees are blooming a bit behind the other trees. I was afraid our tree wouldn’t bloom, but it finally is showing a few.

Once in a while, I even catch a picture of a bird. This one is from a few weeks ago. I haven’t been filling the feeders much, so I’m not seeing as many pretty ones yet this year as I’ve seen in the past.

Bird in a bare tree on wandasknottythoughts
Bird in a bare tree

It’s finally spring. We even had rain a couple of nights ago! Our area in Kansas has been in a drought for a while now. Most of the state is in Extreme to Exceptional drought. Any rain is welcome, and the inch we got is wonderful! Now I need to weed the flower beds and get a few flowers out. A few perennials survived the winter but aren’t ready to bloom yet. The weeds are blooming everywhere!

“If the English language made any sense, lackadaisical would have something to do with a shortage of flowers.” Doug Larson

More Bookmarks Needed

The last few weeks have seen several losses of family or friends, though none close to me. Our pastor lost his father and my mother lost a close friend, both to illness. For such occasions, I give cross bookmarks with sympathy cards. I found that I am out of any bookmarks and in need of making more.

Cross bookmark for pastor on wandasknottythoughts
Cross bookmark for our pastor

I chose Lizbeth thread ‘Caribbean’ in size 20 to make the bookmark I’m giving to our pastor. It’s a beautiful color that doesn’t seem too bright to give for a solemn occasion. I used my Graduation Bookmark pattern, which is based on a traditional cross pattern. I haven’t made one for my mom yet, but that’s next.

As the name implies, I also use this pattern for graduations. I have a couple of those coming up, so I need to make several more. Let’s see if I make them in this pattern or something else.

I’ve been tatting more than this, just nothing quite ready to show yet. I did take some pictures the other morning when we had a bit of fog.

Fog at sunrise on wandasknottythoughts
Fog at sunrise
Tractor in fog on wandasknottythougths
Tractor in fog

Sometimes there are beautiful views in places we see every day.

Sympathy Tatting

Since the last time I posted, we have had two deaths in the family. Neither was unexpected, but it still means many things have to be done in a short amount of time including the viewings, the funerals, the dinners, and the family visits. In one case there was taking care of bills and property and other associated issues after. Sad times with a lot of family get-togethers with many happy memories shared.

During all this, I have done quite a bit of tatting but without a lot of computer time to share them. Things may be slowing down a bit, finally, with other, more normal, happenings to take up my time now. Grandkid sports for one thing – or two, or three. I’ve been able to get tatting done but again, not a lot of computer time.

Something I’ve been making a lot of lately is my newest cross. I call it March SR Cross because I’m so ‘good’ at coming up with cool and memorable names for my tatting.

March SR Cross on wandasknottythoughts
March SR Cross

Those of you familiar with my August SR Cross may notice some similarities with this one. The March one is based on the August SR cross but the center is different. The center on this one is layered over the main body, which is pretty, though I don’t know that I’d want to keep it in the center of my Bible.

I made it in several colors, mostly two shades of green, and pink and blue.

March SR Cross in green on wandasknottythoughts
March SR Cross in green

I made them to give out in the sympathy cards, and to other family members.

Cross with card on wandasknottythoghts
March SR Cross with card

I usually add a bit of tatting to the card as well, mostly butterflies and single-ring flowers aroundd the words. This time I added a bit more.

Additions to the sympathy card on wandasknottythoughts
Additions to the sympathy card

The card had plenty of open space and I had a few minutes. It’s nice that a small amount of thread can add that little bit extra to make a card personal.

I’ve been working on the pattern for the new cross in fits and starts. I think it’s about ready, I just need to tat through it to see if it works. It helps that most of it has been done already with the August cross, but that different middle is a bit tricky to re-diagram.

There are several more things I’ve been tatting that are only partially done and I have several more patterns that I’d like to write out. Plus the grandkids will be keeping me busy with sports and visits. This is the kind of busy I enjoy.

“No matter how prepared you think you are for the death of a loved one, it still comes as a shock, and it still hurts very deeply.” Billy Graham

Pattern Conundrum

I’ve been working on the pattern for the August Split Ring Cross I recently made. I have the diagram done and the written part done, but I am having problems making up my mind on how to add the different pieces to the pattern. I’ve made a couple of detailed drawings/directions but am unsure just where to place them in the written pattern.

August Split Ring Cross in Harvest Orange Med on wandasknottythoughts
August Split Ring Cross in Harvest Orange Med

I’ve made a detail for the facing 3-ring sections and for the corner sections, then one large one for the overall cross. The overall diagram does not have the stitch count as the count is repeated over and over and I think the detail will show it more clearly. In the written pattern, do I start with the details on the front page and then the overall, or visa-versa? I keep changing my mind.

I also have a couple of pictures with details of how I did a few things. I’m thinking I’ll add those at the end, a separate page for these. I suppose I could put the detailed drawings on this page as well. Hmmm.

I’m saying the pattern is done for now but I might change it up later. If anyone wants the pattern, please email me. And let me know if you like the layout of the pattern.

I’m still working on the runner but it is a larger project which I only work on at home. If I have time this week to sit down and tat I’m hoping to get the tatting part done. Then it will be putting it all together, which also means sewing. I’d much rather tat. We’ll see how far I get with it in the next week.

“Saying ‘yes’ to one thing means saying ‘no’ to another. That’s why decisions can be hard sometimes.” Sean Covey

August Split Ring Cross

I’ve been working on the runner but it is not a take-along type project. I don’t want to get it dirty or make mistakes due to inattention. Instead, when I’m out and about or don’t have much time to tat I’ve been working on the cross pattern I recently made.

Tatting while waiting on wandasknottythoughts
Tatting while waiting

I took our truck in for service recently. It was going to take long enough I got a loaner car to drive while it was in the shop. While I had the loaner I also had to do a little waiting in a parking lot. This was an opportunity to work on the cross. This time I was tatting it in a thread of a single shade instead of a variegated one. I like this much better for being able to see the pattern than I did the other thread.

August Split Ring Cross purple on wandasknottythoughts
August Split Ring Cross in purple

It came out very well. I gave it as a gift to a lady at our church. I was in such a hurry to get it to her that I forgot to take a picture of it on a plain background to use for the pattern. I like this background, but it distracts from the pattern when using it to make the cross. So I get to do another one!

That is actually a good idea. As I’m making the next cross I’m checking the pattern for mistakes. I’m finding I’ve left out quite a lot! I still have a lot of distractions.

I put out hummingbird feeders this spring and didn’t seen any until a week and a half ago. I’ve finally seen several!

hummingbird at feeder on wandasknottythoughts
Hummingbird at feeder

They are very fun to watch. And this feeder is right outside the window in front of my computer. When the birds show up it is very distracting! Anything I’m working on ends up taking longer than I thought it would.

I think I will have the pattern for the August Split Ring Cross done by next week. I have to finish tatting the cross again so I have a picture for it and fixing those pesky mistakes I keep finding!

“Art is pattern informed by sensibility.” Herbert Read

A Bookmark and Scissors

Saying ‘bookmark and scissors’ together gives the impression of something bad happening, but that’s not what happened. It’s all good!

I’ve been thinking of what I might do for International Tatting Day and came up with the idea of making a few tatted buttons that I might give away. They are quick and fun and look pretty, a fun way to introduce or expose people to tatting. While looking through my thread, and different places I’ve put thread, I found a bag with a mess of threads in it – as in a terrible tangle. While de-tangling all of them, I found an almost finished cross bookmark.

Cross bookmark on Grandma's Bible on wandasknottythoughts
Cross bookmark on Grandma’s Bible

After finishing the bookmark all it needed was a spritz of water to flatten it back out. It was a bit curled up, but it came out great. Just in time for Easter. I’d been thinking about making one for my mother, and there it was!

The scissors were found by my wonderful husband. He randomly will look for things he thinks I might like and found this lovely pair for sale on-line.

Scissors with crosses with crosseswitand cross bookmark on wandasknottythoughts
Scissors with crosses

Aren’t these an interesting pair of scissors? I don’t know much about them except they look like they have been used a lot. I didn’t find any makers marks on them. They are not exactly thread scissors as they are too large. I tried cutting some thread scraps and they cut very cleanly. A bit stiff but that might be remedied.

I didn’t know I had a scissors collection, but I must have. This isn’t the first pair he’s bought me. He’s such a sweety! Now I need a way to display them, right?

I’m hoping things go well for Thursday, April 1, ITD. If all goes as planned I will tat in public, sip on a tasty beverage, and share chocolates.

Let everything you do be done in love. 1 Corinthians 16:14

Gifted Crosses

In between working on the china hutch edgings I’ve made several cross bookmarks as gifts

This one is April’s Cross that I gifted as a wedding gift. The bride sent me a picture of it as I did not remember to take one of the finished bookmark before I gave it away. It came out nicely.

April's Cross wedding gift on wandasknottytoughts
The finished wedding bookmark April’s Cross

I also made one to celebrate a baptism. Well, I made two, as I wasn’t happy with the first one. The pattern is my take on a traditional cross.

Traditional cross bookmarks as gifts on wandasknottythoughts
Two cross bookmarks in my version of a traditional pattern

Both of these are made in size 20 Lizbeth thread #605, Silver. I wasn’t thrilled about the length of the long arm of the top one, it didn’t look proportionally correct with the other arms. So I’ll keep the first one for me.

Both recipients were pleased with their gifts, which also makes me happy.

Now I need to stay on task and finish the third edging for the china hutch.

“The person born with a talent they are meant to use will find their greatest happiness in using it.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe