Dorelle's Tatting

Lots of Heart

2012-02-01T18:01:00.003+11:00

We have had a feast of sport in January, both test cricket and the Australian Open Tennis Championship, so it was a good opportunity to empty some of the many shuttles with bits of thread on them. I took my Hearts file, and tatted away. I quite surprised myself how many I managed to do. With Valentines' Day coming up, they will probably all find a home among my card making, quilting and scrapbooking friends.

Mat from Practical Tatting

2012-02-01T17:53:00.002+11:00

When the temperature is as high as it was for a couple of days last week, I need something simple to tat, and this little mat from Phyllis Sparks' book "Practical Tatting" was just the thing. It is done in Lizbeth 40 Butterfly Breeze, though the camera flash seems to have washed out the colour, which is a delightful pastel, summery colour.

Tatted Hanky Gift

2011-12-21T16:01:00.003+11:00

This is a hanky I have tatted for a gift, and oops, now I have taken a photo, I can see a mistake!

Bride Doll at Lilydale Show

2011-11-24T11:02:00.002+11:00

This is the bride doll that I entered in the Lilydale Show last week, in the section "Item or Garment decorated with handmade lace or tatting". She won first prize.

Her veil and her underskirt were edged with "hen and chicks", the veil also being highlighted with seed pearls. The bodice was covered in one of the background patterns from the DMC book of tatting, and the hem of the dress was decorated with Mark Myers' Pointed and Scalloped Edging. When I lay the edging against the white dress, it "disappeared", so when sewing it on, I highlighted the outer edge picots with seed pearls, which gave the pattern more definition. I was going to tat the flowers for her bouquet too, but I ran out of time, so she had to have silk ones!

The tiara was two rows of rings and chain, the rings of the two rows joined by swarovski crystals. The rings all had silver seed beads instead of picots.

All the tatting on the dress and veil was done in 80, and the tiara in 40. The dress itself was organza over taffeta.

Doyley and Runner

2011-09-14T12:45:00.003+10:00

It has been a long time since I posted, but I have been tatting during that time - just not the time or the opportunity or the organisation to take photos. The doily was tatted from a pattern in the antique archives. The colours include Lizbeth 40 Vineyard Harvest, Azalea, Leaf Green, and one of the purple shades. Can't help wondering if it would have looked better in cream.

The runner is 97cm (approx 38 ins) long by 35 cm (approx 13-1/2 ins) wide and is done in 40 Lizbeth Seashells. I have done it from a picture on the net, the site for which has now gone and with my own stitch counts. It is a simple motif of six clovers separated by chains, but the motifs are joined diagonally instead of side by side, thus eliminating the need for a "fill in" motif. This results in the ends being scalloped. I chose not to put an edging on it, as I like the scalloped effect, and I couldn't think of an edging that would enhance this.

2011-09-14T12:40:00.000+10:00

Necklaces

2011-04-18T20:24:00.004+10:00

I haven't added anything to my blog in 2011, not because I haven't been tatting - more because I am disappointed that my photography doesn't show things up well. I have done a lot of tatting, but haven't photographed it, and these necklaces also don't show up all that well. The floral one is done to Lyn Morton's pattern in her jewellery book, and the black one is just my own invention. I started with a length of split chains, and I think I overdid the pearl embellishments. But I had fun doing it!

Animal Motifs

2010-12-07T11:35:00.003+11:00

I have recently tatted seven animal motifs, but these are my favourites. The frog is from Tatted Treats by Pam Palmer and the snail is from Tatted Animals by Inga Madsen.

Good Luck Wedding Horseshoe

2010-10-03T10:58:00.003+11:00

I quickly snapped this horshoe I tatted for a wedding my daughter was attending yesterday afternoon. It was a glorious Spring Day and the wedding was in the outdoors. Nanny and Poppy babysat little 1 year-old Jackson, who is absolutely gorgeous! The horseshoe was designedby a member of our Guild, Kath Montague, and is on the perpetual calendar which the Victorian Guild released earlier this year.

Russian Doyley

2010-08-23T10:42:00.003+10:00

The colour combination is what attracted me to this doyley which I tatted in Lizbeth 20. The colours are Natural, Harvest Orange, and Mocha Brown . I did altter it a little . It was worked from a diagram, and as I cannot read Russian, I cannot give the name of the book, or attribute the designer

Lizbeth Hearts

2010-08-01T11:54:00.002+10:00

The beautiful colours of Lizbeth threads have stolen my heart, so I have done the heart pattern for February 2010 in the Ring of Tatters Pattern of the Month Club, to see how some of the colours look in a motif. Some are done in 20, and some in 40. Matching plain colours are suggested for each of the variegated colours on the list, and set the creative ideas flowing.

Siobahn Centrepiece

2010-05-29T19:27:00.002+10:00

This is the Siobahn Centrepiece designed by Judith Connors from her book "Creative Tatting
with beads, shuttle & needle". It was worked in Lizbeth 40 Shade 626 Shell Pink Lt.

My version of the Jan Stawasz Centrepiece

2010-04-20T16:23:00.002+10:00

It has taken a long time, and there have been many hiccups along the way. First I made a big mistake in the central hexagon, and had to start from scratch again, then I hit a brick wall mentally, because I had never done so many split rings at one time, but I managed to overcome this. Life then threw in a few curve balls in the shape of my husband's illness and other family matters, but finally...finally, it is finished. It is worked in Coats 20, given to me by a dear friend. It is a little like getting a very difficult crossword out, a sort of triumphant relief. It will probably go to my daughter, as she is the one with a beautiful big dining table.

Three Christmas Angels

2009-12-15T14:54:00.004+11:00

These little angels are ready to adorn my tree. The polystyrene blanks were purchased from Spotlight, and it was fun to give them dresses, wings, a halo , hair and a face. There were four in the packet, and one went to our Kris Kringle at Guild.

Tat'n 'Chat Christmas Meeting

2009-12-06T16:12:00.002+11:00

Tomorrow is the last Tat'n'Chat meeting for the year, so I made a little surprise for the ladies. They are hand-made gift containers in the shape of a Christmas Bon Bon, and I have filled them with sweets. They will be able to re-cycle them and use them for gifts at Christmas, as the container part is 24 cm long and 9 cm in diameter and slides apart at the middle to enable gifts to be inserted, I hope they like them.

Waiting Room Snowflakes

2009-09-23T14:06:00.002+10:00

Over the past month or so, I have had a series of appointments, so I decided to use the time spent in waiting rooms to tat snowflakes. I have done about 2 dozen(not all completed in waiting rooms) and no doubt they will be useful during the coming festive season.

I have been off at a tangent crocheting granny squares for charity projects, inspired a little by the appearance of the actress Cate Blanchett at a recent event in an off-the-shoulder number, made up of granny squares! Of course the fashionistas declared it a big fashion faux pas, and I suppose it was a bit way out, but good on her for daring to wear something different, and for putting the spotlight on granny squares.

Doiley in Dusty Rose Lizbeth

2009-08-17T15:16:00.002+10:00

I have to discipline myself and make this the last tryout of my new Lizbeth thread (although I still have four colours as yet unopened). I really must get back to my Stawasz table centre.

This doiley was designed by Anna Maria Hanson of Denmark, and was published in "Orkis", the magazine of the Danish Tatting Guild

Amusement in Turquoise Twist Lizbeth

2009-08-11T14:18:00.002+10:00

I have had fun trying out the new Lizbeth I added to my stash, and I also have some glorious HDT from Lady Shuttlemaker. So much pretty thread and so little time! I hear Lizbeth is to be available in 40! Oh, my bulging stash!

Seashells Doiley

2009-08-03T14:55:00.003+10:00

I took time off from my current project to try out the new Lizbeth thread I bought recently. The colour is Seashells (shell pink/lt. antique violet).

The pattern is from a site called "Annes Nuperellnett" and the source is quoted as "Home No 21, unknown year". The name of the piece is translated by Google as "Easy as cobweb 2".

I found the Lizbeth very nice to tat with, and the finished article very easy to block out.

Destined for a Tote Bag

2009-07-20T10:43:00.003+10:00

This is the first element in one of Jan Stawasz's designs, and it was not until the final blocking out that I noticed that one of the clovers of a middle motif had only two rings! I left it sitting there for a couple of days, but each time I looked at it, all I could see was that two-ring clover, and I decided that I just couldn't proceed adding rows to the project, as it would continue to haunt me, and I would not be pleased with the finished result.

So I have begun the element again, carefully checking that each clover has three rings! I have decided to back the defective piece with red velvet, and investigate the best way of making a tote bag out of it, preferably covering it with acetate or
similar protective covering.

Hearts for The Ashes

2009-07-17T11:49:00.002+10:00

I love watching Test Cricket, especially "The Ashes" Series between Australia and England. It is not a fast game, so I decided to empty some shuttles that have bits of thread on them, in an attempt to stay awake longer. I produced some hearts, but my body calls it quits each evening, so I just manage to see the session before
lunch.

The first Test ended in a disappointing (for Australia) draw, and we haven't made
a very good start in the second Test. I have a number of shuttles with white on them, so it may be snowflakes next!

The hearts will go to my friend Sadie, who besides being a tatter, is also an artist and a calligrapher, and makes beautiful greeting cards.

Motif Mat Complete

2009-06-23T10:46:00.003+10:00

I have enjoyed working this piece, and am happy with the result.
I am now trying to decide on my next challenge.

Back on track

2009-05-01T13:59:00.006+10:00

It has been a while since I caught up with my blog. So much has been happening in the family, including a wedding and my husband's retirement, and the days just fly by.

I also paused to crochet a granny aquare cape. My friend makes capes to give to the District Nurses to distribute to elderly patients who need a little extra warmth
around the shoulders and back, now that our cooler weather is here.

Although I like to crochet, especially for a cause, my fingers itched for my shuttles, and I have begun a table mat, using Jon Yusoff's square motif. I have done "four along" and now I am on the "three across". Thanks to Jon for sharing this pretty motif. The thread is Altin Basak 50, Shade 316

Petunia Doyley

2009-03-09T14:32:00.004+11:00

All of my tatting during December/January was given away, and it was only afterwards that I remembered that I hadn't photographed it. This is my first completed project for 2009. I fell in love with old-fashioned tatting in white and ecru, and although I admire all the lovely things
that are being produced these days, I look at this doiley and think it would have been better in white. Perhaps it is because I haven't the talent for choosing colours. I think it is more that I am a control freak and dislike the fact that where the colour change occurs is out of my control.

Highly Commended

2008-11-19T15:34:00.002+11:00

My first Christmas Ball for 2008

2008-10-21T09:14:00.002+11:00

Here is my first Christmas Ball for 2008 (the dark blue one) together
with a few from Christmases past.

Ta-da! - Finished!

2008-10-04T18:47:00.003+10:00

My large centrepiece is finished at last! I haven't yet done anything about the colour difference in the balls of thread used, but I will get around to it.

It took a long time and gazillions of pins to block it out, and it still isn't 100% right. However in the interest of retaining my equilibrium and poise, and also
the need to get started on my Christmas tatting, I eventually invoked the "man on a galloping horse" rule. I am not sure of the exact wording of that rule, but its
meaning is not to fuss over a detail that will not be apparent to others.

The finished piece is 51cm or 20 inches at the widest point. It was tatted in
60 Coats light ecru cotton from a picture on the net.

A little progress, a little disappointment

2008-09-05T12:29:00.005+10:00

I have been working solidly on this table centrepiece for a few months now. I haven't put any pressure on myself, saying that I will finish it when I finish
it, but the aim was to put it in one of the shows - whichever is closest to when
I finish it. So I have been ambling on, enjoying the project, and being satisfied with how it was coming along. I last blocked it out when I did a progress blog.

To work it, I chose to use two balls of light ecru Coats 60 from my late mother's
crochet stash, and I made very sure that the colour number and the dyelot number
was the same on the two balls. Imagine my disappointment when I took it to our regular Neighbourhood House tatting group, when I put it on the white table under a powerful light, to see that where I had run out of thread and commenced tatting with thread from the second ball, that there was a discernable difference.

Taking it out of my bag and working on it during the evening, I hadn't noticed any
difference, indeed in some lights there is no difference, but I wouldn't now submit
it to a show. I really felt like flinging it into the realms of UFO's - so much
work has gone into it, but the group suggested I press on and finish it, then soak it in a coffee solution. I can't imagine how this could have happened. Certainly the thread had been in Mum's stash for a few years, and I have had it for a while, but both balls still had their plastic protective covers so it couldn't be exposure to the air.

That excited impetus has somewhat abated and I am now just plugging on with my eye
on finishing.

40th Wedding Anniversary

2008-08-30T15:08:00.003+10:00

Tomorrow, 31st August, is the 40th wedding anniversary of DH and me. Every year he has sent me a beautiful bouquet of flowers, but being on a Sunday this year, I have received them a day earlier. They are glorious, and will be more so as the days go by as there are a number of unopened deep red rosebuds. Looking at our wedding photos and then in the mirror, the years have certainly left their mark, but we have a son and a daughter and three lovely grandchildren, so we are blessed. How quickly 40 years go!

I have been tatting steadily through the Olympics (the paras start on 6th September!) but I am on the outer edges of my centre, and there is not a lot of progress to show. Better that I wait till the next lot of motifs is finished. I like doing large pieces, but this one seems to be taking forever, possibly because I have this week received my copy of Jon's Snowflake Collection, and I'm itching to get into doing some of them.

Olympic Viewing Project

2008-08-11T15:39:00.003+10:00

Rather than commence any new projects for "Tatting Olympics", I opted to press on with my current project.

However, the on/off nature of my concentration took its toll, and I had to snip off
a whole row of work. It was only in a small section, so theoretically I could have
got away with it by just re-doing these small parts, but it would have meant 8 x starts/ends to hide, so I opted to snip the lot. I am back on track again, and hope
to be close to the end of the project at the end of the Olympics. No more mistakes, though!

Sunflower Collar & Cuffs

2008-07-25T15:04:00.003+10:00

The Sunflower Collar & Cuffs is from the DMC book
"Tatting for Today".

Scalloped Tablecloth Edging

2008-07-22T14:42:00.003+10:00

This partly embroidered tablecloth (52" or 132 cm square) was given
to me. I had fun tatting the edging, but now the embroidery needs
to be done

Milo the Snugglepuss

2008-07-19T13:49:00.003+10:00

I have been stalking Milo with the camera hoping to get a better pic, but no
luck, so I will have to go with what I already have. Milo arrived at our place
about 2 years ago, stray, and very, very thin; very suspicious, and we think
abused by someone. All attempts by us and the ranger to trap Milo were unsucessful. We caught other cats from the area, but not Milo, who absolutely
refused to come anywhere near the cage once he saw other cats trapped.

Finally admitting defeat, and refusing to use starvation as a means of
entrapment, we decided to let Milo stay. From a semi-feral cat upon arrival,
Milo almost runs the place! Everything is on his terms! I may not pick him up
or put him on my lap, but he can hop on whenever he likes - so he thinks. I
have learned to stare fixedly at my work, and say firmly "No! Mummy's tatting!"

This week that is working. The minute I look into those blue eyes, that is taken

as permission to hop up - or is it that he hypnotises me? I know one thing - shuttles, thread, lace and cats don't mix!

Doiley Project Progress

2008-07-16T12:28:00.002+10:00

It's a good feeling when a stage of a project is completed.

Although I tried to concentrate really hard, there was

still much cutting off of motifs joined in the wrong place!

This piece is destined for one of the shows, not to win

(there are infinitely better tatters in our Guild), but to

support the section, which will be cancelled if there are

not enough entries. Hopefully, the tatting bug will be

buzzing around somewhere, and there will also be new

tatters!

Motif Mat

2008-07-15T12:57:00.003+10:00

The pattern for this mat was in a country newspaper

and the photo was very indistinct. I like to have a

nice clear photo to assure myself that I am going

o.k., so this one was the first one I had worked

"blind" so to speak. It was interesting to see what

the finished effect would be.

Place Mat (Folded)

2008-07-14T11:01:00.002+10:00

I was rather slow in doing these (set of 6), and by the time I finished,the intended recipient had moved to a small unit, & no longer had her dining table, so they await someone who has one, and would like a nice set of place mats for a special occasion.

Stars and Flakes

2008-07-11T12:54:00.003+10:00

I searched everywhere for these last Christmas and have just

found that the flat box containing these and others had

fallen behind a book-case!

Tatting Corner

2008-07-10T13:25:00.002+10:00

My tools: Shuttles, scissors, hook, bunny thread

holder and pincushion.

Sadie's Doiley

2008-07-09T12:18:00.001+10:00

This is a doiley I did for my friend Sadie.

Collar

2008-07-08T12:06:00.001+10:00

This a design by Ethel Whetton, a member of

the Ring of Tatters

Mum's Dressing Table Set

2008-07-07T13:51:00.002+10:00

Done very early in my tatting career. Mum

left it on the card so it was easier to show

around!

Current Project

2008-07-06T11:23:00.002+10:00

So far, so good. Now comes the tricky part!

Patience and persistence - that's what's

needed

Bridesmaid Edging

2008-07-05T13:31:00.000+10:00

This is Mary Konior's Bridesmaid edging, which is beautifully named, as it makes a lovely gift for a bridesmaid.

Bluebird Supper Cloth

2008-07-04T13:19:00.000+10:00

Just add pretty tea-set and two-tiered cake tray filled with patty cakes and you have a lovely

afternoon tea.

Cheval Runner

2008-07-03T14:01:00.000+10:00

This is from the Anchor Book "Learn to Tat.

Coffee Table Cloth

2008-07-02T12:46:00.000+10:00

This embroidered cloth was rescued from an opportunity shop. It had torn machine-made lace

on it, so I gave it a nice tatted one.

Flower Doiley

2008-07-01T14:33:00.000+10:00

I think I would choose different colours if I worked this pattern again.

Handkerchiefs

2008-06-30T12:39:00.000+10:00

Fun to do and always welcome as gifts.

Orr doiley

2008-06-29T10:48:00.000+10:00

I think most tatters like the challenge of this piece.

My Favourite Centre

2008-06-28T11:48:00.000+10:00

I think this is the prettiest centre I have done.

Guild Motif Challenge

2008-06-27T12:32:00.000+10:00

Recently our Guild had a motif challenge, where members were given a basic motif, and asked

to produce any item using that motif. I am always amazed at the inventiveness of tatters, and

two of the entries were a chess set, mounted under glass, and complete with small glass chess

pieces, and the winner, a particularly gorgeous beaded tree ornament.

Each member was given two chocolate eclairs (for voting) upon arrival. A bowl was placed

beside each entry, and the entry which received the most eclairs won! I just made a mat

using the motif.

Benporath Doiley

2008-06-26T14:00:00.000+10:00

I did this many years ago from a very yellow page of an old magazine given to me. I found it complicated, but think it is worth the effort

Humble Beginning

2008-06-26T12:46:00.000+10:00

I am not a tatting "master", but would like to blog my humble efforts: