Snowflake #16

Snowflake #16!! 

Pattern from Jon called Featherline Snowflake.

This was a great little challenge because the six center 'rings' are all Self-Closing Mock Rings with a Floating ring in the middle of each SCMR. The outer round is tatted with two shuttles as well. Great pattern to practice some more challenge techniques! I kind of like the vibrant blue with the white; it makes for a bold statement. Maybe some clear beads on the outer round would jazz it up a bit?? : )

Tatted in Lizbeth White and Ocean Turquoise Light, both in size 20

We are expecting a pretty big snowstorm to hit northern Illinois with in the next 24 hours, so there will be a blizzard outside... AND INSIDE! I plan on making quite a few snowflakes over the next two days to catch up. 

Have a great evening! Love from the Midwest,

 

Celtic Update....

 Here is some of the progress on the celtic doilies from PineyWoodsTatter's Blog. 

To the far left is my first attempt...a very 'knotty' little guy! I tried making a SCMR and didn't quite behave the way I wanted. Middle left was attempt #2. This time I tried making three standard rings and then using the SCMR to join them together to make the celtic design. Nope, that one didn't work either. I had to pull the chain thread through the other rings to get the chain to overlap and that ended up in a mess too! Middle right is attempt #3 which I got a little farther then #2. I started with one normal, tatted ring and added SCMRs to make the celtic effect of one chain overlapping another. I missed one of the rings so I had to stop but finially on the far right is a completed celtic center for PineyWoodsTatter's motif shown HERE. Now that I made one, I'm not sure if I want to add the next round to it! Haha!! I think I'll try this guy a couple more times with some larger thread and add the next round of chains to those.

Here is a close up on the best center of the celtic motif I was trying for.

This was a fun challenge! I'm really liking using the SCMR technique a lot and think I'll have to give split chains, block tatting, and some other advanced tatting techniques a try!

 Have a great weekend everyone!

 

SCMR - The Self-Closing Mock Ring

I am always excited to learn new tricks and tips and last night's adventure was in the realm of SCMR (self-closing mock ring). The pattern I am working on starts off with a SCMR with a bead in the middle. I have never done one before so I turned to my favorite instruction page: Jane Eborall's website! Her website has so many great patterns but I really have to give a shout-out to her instruction page (Click HERE to visit her website).

So there I sat, with laptop and my shuttles following her guide to the SCMR. I couldn't believe how easy it was, and fun too! Since it's basically a chain with a loop on the end that closes like a ring! WHO KNEW?!?

Image courtesy of http://www.e.n.e.btinternet.co.uk/

 

My newest thread I'm working with is called Pineapple Parfait and I'm pairing it with some pearl beads. 'Pineapple and Pearls'...I like it! Since it's going to be very hot today, that is the current project for my day off :)

Image courtesy of hhtatting.com

Image courtesy of hhtatting.com

From a happy tatter in Illinois,