Each month this year for my CQJP (Crazy Quilt Journal Project) I am learning a new skill, experimenting with or adding to what I have learned. This month I worked with needle tatting. I had already learned very basic needle tatting a few years back but had never really done anything with it. My challenge was therefore to follow patterns and I also worked with ways to add beads to my tatting. Three YouTube videos were previously added to my blog and you can find those HERE. I found the videos very helpful and had a lot of fun with this. I am happy to say I finished before the end of the month.
Following are some close-ups. Working on a black block was also something I have been wanting to try. I'm quite pleased with the effect. It is surprising how much brighter the colors look on black than on softer shades.
The fan was definitely one of the most challenging patterns I followed, lots of tearing out stitches and re-starts. I had saved the pattern for several years and was happy to finally make it and have a place to use it. The butterflies are my own pattern and I modified the larger flower pattern.
Since I finished my block early I decided to try a few more patterns and experiments. Those pieces are shown in the following photos. I will probably use these in future projects or maybe just sell them in my Etsy shop. If not any these pieces, I will definitely offer some tatting pieces for sale in my shop as I really enjoyed tatting.
I know there are a lot of excellent tatters and I have learned to appreciate even more the time they put into a piece. Tatted jewelry is also a popular trend and I hope to find some time to try some of those and to try some tatted ornaments.
Do you do tatting? What is your favorite thing to tat? Do you tat with a shuttle or with needle, and if both, which do you prefer?
6 comments:
I bought tatting needles in 2012, and did a couple of practice pieces, and haven't picked them up since then. I came across them the other day, and now am reading about your needle tatting and seeing your lovely work has me wanting to pick them up again.
Thanks for the reminder and the links ~ FlowerLady
I know Lorraine, I am too embarrassed to tell you how long ago I bought mine. This idea for my CQJP has been a good way for me to discipline myself to spend at least a month for now doing the things I have been wanting to try.
Your tatting is lovely! I have tried and tried to learn both shuttle and needle and simply can't wrap my head (and fingers) around it. I love tatting though and really wish I could learn.
Connie this is a lovely block and yes the black shows off the tatting so very well. I do needle tatting at least try to, have made some long pieces in wool and put them on the end of my various pairs of scissors they are now so much easier to find. Love ding the josephine knot and used that quite a bit o my crazy blocks.Could not handle the shuttle and the needle versions are so much easier to unpick when I have gone wrong.
Mary Ann, don't give up on the needle tatting! There are really only two basic steps and once you learn those you learn to follow a pattern using those two steps, starting with a very small simple pattern and work your way up. Margaret I have not tried the shuttle technique but may someday. Right now the needle technique accomplishes what I want.
I have tried to shuttle tat with no good results. I have tried needle tatting and actually made a couple of butterflies and a very simple flower. Your pieces have me thinking I should give it another try. I just know I will love tatting and the portability of the supplies for road trips and such. Thank you for sharing your progress. Creative Tatting Bliss...
Post a Comment