Yes, it has been a while. I am slowing down. Getting old.  Some days I can get to it to tat, some days I cannot.Still lots to do around the house, especially since it is fall. And do my leaves fall. But I like my trees, so I tolerate it. Even if I do have to wash the cars more just to keep the tree droppings off.     This is round 6 done on the Stawacz doily. I have added 3 rounds since last post. For each round I have been able to do fast and easy, the split chain, to advance to the next round. Round 7 is like round 6, but has two more stitches o ..read more

    Now that I have completed the Renulek doily and I have given it to my friend for a wedding present, I need something to work on. I do a lot of doilies. I give away doilies. I have plenty, but I just enjoy making them. People seem to like them. They are practical and they are amazed at how intricate tatting can be.     I started something else, but I found the pattern was not working for me so I stopped. I started going through books and once again find myself returning to Jan Stawacz's patterns. This is from Tatting Theory and Patterns. Doily VI, page 83. Le ..read more

      It took a while. I finally got this one complete yesterday. The last round has 32 repeats. I was able to get to a couple per day, so it went pretty quick. At least for me. This measures 24" (61 cm.) across. There are 18 rounds. Two shuttles required.     The friend I am making this for came by a couple weeks ago but never mentioned it, even though it was in plain sight. I wonder if he even remembers it. He is getting married end of August, though, so that may be his wedding gift. He originally wanted it for his mother but as it got larger he started sa ..read more

      One round to go. It has been a long round but I got round 17 done finally. This is the 2020 spring napkin by Renulek I have been making for a friend. I think he may have left town. (Got married and moved to Savannah.) I will hang onto it and if he comes looking, I will let him have it, but first I have one more round to go. If he doesn't come get it, it does look great on my kitchen table, doesnt it ..read more

     No tatting to show for a picture today. Just a question. Has Craftree been closed down or something? I try to login and get an error, then go to the dashboard and see nothing since 4/22/24. I tried to do as it asks and file an error report but that just gave me another error. I tried to post and got the error. I have been trying for over a month to get in normally. Does anyone have any information about this? Am I doing something wrong ..read more

      Only 2 more rounds to go. This is a pretty good sized doily, but then, I think all of Renulek's Spring Napkins are. That is one of the things I really like about them. I just finished round 16 of 18. The next 2 rounds are way more involved. Round 17 is similar to round 12. Round 18 is the last one and is decorative so as to be a closer. Right now, the doily is at 20.5 inches across. I did iron it so it would lay flat for it's portrait so I measured it. I expect it to be about 23 inches when I get done.     I think my friend's mom will be pleased ..read more

      Ok. Challenge accepted. Jane Eborall graciously gave us the pattern to her Celtic Ferris Wheel. I had to try making it. Ever the rebel, when I saw required materials said size 20, I had to do it in King Tut thread. It came out ok. Not as precise as hers, but ok. I did try one change. The ring at the top of the spoke. I added picots and joins, thinking that might make them more stable. I am not sure it actually did, but it's done. I see a few that I got a bit too big, though. By the way, mine is 3 inches across. Nice pattern to work out. Thanks Jane.     ..read more

      I finally finished round 15 of the doily. We are finally getting some warmer days and I can sit on my deck, where the light is better, (sun). This is Renulek's 2020 Spring Napkin. It is the one I am "slowly" making for a friend, when I don't get distracted. It is not neat at present because I have not done any blocking or ironing. The lower left looks a little out of kilter but later that will block out.     I finished this round by getting to the middle of the last chain, then doing a split chain so I could climb out with the chain in round 16. The en ..read more

     We had a new Michael's Crafts store open this past Friday. I was the 3rd customer in the door. I went early to see what they have. There were just 2 other people waiting and we chatted until they opened the doors. When I went in, they asked if I was looking for anything  in particular. Of course, I said tatting. They said "What's that." I am sorry, but I have to be an ambassador for tatting everywhere so I pulled out the phone and started showing them tatted items. They were amazed, but unfortunately, the only tatting related items they have is beads. I found a fe ..read more

     I may soon get over this earring kick I have been on. I had to find one that I don't care for eventually. The colors are for a friend of a friend. It's not the colors.     This is one from IL Mio Chiacchierino number 3. I have not made the other one yet. I really don't care for the construction or the look. Doing the cabone was simple enough, but I think it needs more stitches. The instruction asked for 7 stitches between the picots. I think 9 would be better.      The second round starts with the ring attached to the cabone, then g ..read more