Under the weather

 

My Etsy shop is on vacation until I recover from Covid. I'm fully vaccinated, so it shouldn't be too bad for me. I felt well enough today to enjoy my tulips blooming in my yard. The photo is of my tallest tulip, which came in a bulb mix from Breck's called "Towering Perennial". 

Tatted daffodils and handknit sweater

From daffodil patterns in Christel Weidmann’s book "Ostern"

I brought out and wore my tatted corsage on Easter morning, even though the weather here today felt like more of winter cold! More about this corsage in a post from 2019:

  https://yarnplayertats.blogspot.com/2019/04/spring-corsage-in-3d-tatted-flowers.html

I'm happily wearing my tatted corsage.

The purple sweater that I began knitting in the fall of 2021 is finished! Here's some pictures of me wearing it.

This sweater pattern is "Spring Leaf" designed by Bronagh Miskelly, found in Knitting Magazine, April 2017

It has a curved bolero shape. The lace edging is knitted on.

The skirt I sewed from an old Simplicity pattern that I've made several skirts from. It's very simple with an elastic waist and has side seam pockets. I chose the fabric from Spoonflower and the designer is ruthjohanna.

 

Josephine rings and barely started time vortex

 

Josephine ring in progress, made of the same repeated half stitch.

A series of Josephine rings.

From my own "Petal Portal" pattern.

The Petal Portal pattern uses several unusual tatting techniques. It's tricky, but I really enjoy seeing the results, especially with using a multicolored or variegated thread for the little Josephine ring "petals" that seem to spill out of the pendant. I'm currently in "blue and yellow" mood but there are endless color possibilities!

The earrings from the "Petal Portal" pattern add the Daisy Picot technique.

I have started another pair since I really like them!

This is as far as I've got with my version of a "Time Vortex Manipulator". ☺

I like how the tatting fits around the lightbulb and the 2 layers. There will need to be a 3rd layer, which will form the actual bracelet. I'm still thinking about the design possibilities for that. The dark tatting in the photo should be able to turn freely, not joined to either the top or bottom. So, one can pretend to change time either backward or forward by turning the middle motif. 

The lightbulb will be activated by completing the circuit (of special conductive thread which will be sewn through the lace) with a snap closure and battery. So you can pretend to jump instantly to another period in time. Of course, that's the plan! The "change time" notion is only make-believe, but the lighting up part is intended to be real! 

Found! Collar from Priscilla No. 2

 

Many years ago (in the 20th century) I tatted this collar from a vintage pattern found in a reprint of Priscilla Tatting Book No. 2. The book I still have is from the Dover Needlework Series; the title on the cover is "Tatting Patterns" Julia E. Sanders.

I used size 10 DMC Cordonnet Special to make it, and followed the directions in the pattern exactly as given (or as best as I could understand them at the time). 

My collar is not as curved in a circular shape as the picture of the model shown in the book. The only blocking I did with it when finished was to lay it out nicely and steam it. The photos in this post have been taken just as it was found stashed away several years in a box. (I'd forgotten where I had put it!)

Here is the collar worn over a sweater and tied in front with a ribbon. 

By the way, the earrings in the picture are from an original pattern by Elena Kozinenko and her patterns are for sale in her Etsy shop FairyLaceAndMore.

Tatting blogger Frivole has been working on improving this pattern. Follow her progress at Le Blog de Frivole.

Thinking about tatting a Time Vortex Manipulator

 

This "Sewing Circuits" kit from BrownDogGadgets.com has been in my possession for almost 3 years. It's really just a middle school level kids fun thing, so I really should stop feeling intimidated by the whole concept of making something electrical. Electrical!!! Oh yikes, it's just a small battery to light up a tiny light bulb with a circuit made of special conductive thread. 

So, with the Dalek finished, I began to think about other cool objects found in the stories from the Doctor Who series. The Time Vortex Manipulator (from the 11th Doctor, I think) is worn as a bracelet, so I may be able to do that. The actual prop looks like leather, but a tatted lace one would be elegant and it seems that it could be made to light up.

In spite of whatever else goes on, Spring still comes! Here are some crocuses found blooming in my yard today!

Another pair of "Loopy" earrings finished. I used a narrow Celtic shuttle to tat the rings around the previous tatted elements. It's one of those things I've been doing by "winging it", aka tatting intuitively, but each time I do, I get closer to understanding the mechanics enough to be able to tell someone else how it's done. So, perhaps another pattern soon.

"Loopy" earrings

Blue and yellow because Ukraine :'(

My free tatting pattern for a Dalek

 

Tatted Dalek

(In Dalek voice) 

"No more procrastinate? EX - PLAIN!!!"

Both the PDF pattern and the video demo are done!!!

Here's the link to the free PDF pattern https://www.keepandshare.com/doc/8270760/dalek-pdf-1-1-meg?da=y

And here's my YouTube demo https://youtu.be/JqBr9ug6xh0      

@marileerockley Tatting a Dalek, my design. Longer demo is on YouTube. #shuttletatting #DrWhoCraft #tatting #crafttok ♬ Dr. Who Theme Song - Mount-Royal Orchestra