Patterns

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Ginny's Star

I've been working away over this last week to make a few of the patterns from the Finger Lakes Tatting Seminar.  I took the clunny star class taught by Cynthia Stevenson and the Celtic Star  with interlocking rings taught by Kelly Dunn.  I taught so didn't get a chance to take one of the longer classes.  I thought the line up was great this year and I wish I was able to take each class.  They were all great patterns and classes.

 For the last week I've been tortured trying to make Ginny's Star Attraction Doily.  There's nothing wrong with the pattern, just me.  Its a great pattern and I loved the finished samples.   Ginny uses doodads in the pattern and I keep adding the darn things facing the wrong side!  Its been taking me a little longer than I thought.  Evil Ginny!
Its taking sooo long!

Monday, April 8, 2013

A few thoughts...

A few weeks ago Diane at Lace-lovin' Librarian did a comparison of the larger tatting shuttles.  I found this comparison really interesting and helpful.   I didn't know that clover had made a larger shuttle and was happy to read about it.   In the past I've used mostly clover shuttles but lately I find larger shuttles more comfortable.  I like the normal clovers because they are small, thin, and easy to move around the thread.   I agree with Diane that there is something about the plastic they use to make the clovers that is more snugly than other shuttles.  Even the imitation clovers don't have the same feel.  Unfortunately, the same thing that makes clovers easy to handle is the same thing that's been irritating my thumb and wrist.  They are so small that gripping them for long tatting sessions is difficult (I know I shouldn't be tatting that long without a break...bad tatter!). 

This tip will have to go...any suggestions?


 I received  a Tatsy shuttle last fall from Kelly Dunn (tatfully yours) after she won a few at the Fringe Elements raffle table.  Since she's a needle tatter she had no use for the Tatsy shuttle.  When I used the Tatsy I was surprised that it was more comfortable to handle than I remembered.   In the past I found them bulky.  Since then I've pulled out a couple of larger shuttle brands I've picked up over the years and enjoyed tatting with them.

Right now, the thicker shuttles are more comfortable in my hands.  This is the complete opposite to about 2 years ago when I found them cumbersome.  I'm planning on picking up a Starlit shuttle this weekend to try out (and maybe a few more).  I'm hoping that I will like the thicker shuttle although I know I will have to do something about that tip.

 I collect shuttles for interest I never expected to use most of them. I guess there's a right time and place for each shuttle.   While I won't be giving away my clovers I'm really thank-full that there's a selection of shuttles out there.   A big thanks to all the people who work to provide choices for tatters.