October meeting notes

There were 7 of us at this get-together. Sue Anna delighted us with stories of her adventures at Tat Days, and brought projects from classes taken there: pearl tatted self-closing mock rings, beaded tatting, Jane Eborall's Pig motif, and more.

Khomi brought a beautiful bookmark with tiny tatted flowers to show that was made by her mother's friend in India, who sells them as a fundraiser for a charity called "Baba Amte's Anandwan and Creative Employment for Housewives and Students".

One of the girls, a beginner who was having some trouble with her needle tatting, asked to try the shuttle. She got the flip in just a few minutes of practice! So, I hope next month she'll have some tatting to show.

There were a lot of tatting pattern books to look through and admire. The photo below shows just a few. I think we were all in agreement, though, that the large, 3-D tatted "mosquito" shown on the cover of "Tatting GR-8 Baubles, Bugs, and Blossoms" by the Shuttle Brothers, was one project definitely not on any of our to-do lists - lol :) We've all been bitten too many times :)

December meeting notes

 Seven of us braved the single digit cold temperature and piles of snow to get together for tatting fun! Tatted snowflakes were seen in abundance, but not necessarily white - I guess we Wisconsin folks (and upper Illinois folks) get enough of the white snowflakes outside :) Several of us brought snowflakes or were starting to tat a snowflake pattern, but I think Barbara brought most of them. She added beads to the design of the green snowflakes seen in the top photo, but I don't remember where she said the pattern was found.

The always more than generous Sue Anna brought her hand dyed thread collection, and let everyone choose some as a free gift! Sue Anna and Marilee demonstrated a way to unwind a skein of hand dyed thread. Everyone also got to see and marvel at some of Sue Anna's ever-growing shuttle collection.  Obviously, the Pop-A-Bobbin shuttles are some of her favorites.

Projects that were seen in progress or completed included snowflakes, jewelry, bookmarks, and random tatting (aka making it up as we go along).  A lot of the snowflake designs came from the beautiful pattern books written by Jon Yusoff. Some of the items were from patterns by other designers, too. We happened to be in the right place and time to enjoy the singing of a live choir nearby as we tatted and chatted. I should mention that the school age, youngest tatter in our group is doing very nice work - she's a natural!

Weather permitting, we will be having our next meeting on January 13.

Pop-a-bobbin shuttles

Spinning Wheel pattern designed by Mary Konior

Pattern by Jon Yosoff tatted in thread sizes 10, 20, and 30

Patterns from various sources, tatted by Barbara

November meeting notes

 A total of 10 tatting enthusiasts came to this meeting, with some leaving early and others arriving later. A suggestion of name tags for everyone came up and that's a good idea. I'll try and remember to bring them next meeting.

Not only beautiful tatting was seen, but also some bobbin lace in progress, and broomstick lace as well. The broomstick lace project is a sweater design taught as a Craftsy class by Jennifer Hansen.

Sue Anna and her bobbin lace

There was a discussion of the different styles of Celtic tatting: among these are the actual Celtic knots formed of long tatted chains presented in the book "Celtic Tatting Knots and Patterns" by Rozella F. Linden. Another type of Celtic look is achieved by tatting separate motifs, weaving parts of them through each other, then connecting them in place with another row or round of tatting.

 Always something new to learn, and a lot of fun in this group! Next meeting is scheduled for December 9.

Bobbin lace in progress, with bobbins secured for transport

Celtic tatting in progress

Broomstick lace in progress

The center of the "Arches" doily in variegated purple and green