8 of 25

Pattern: Edging by Jon Yusoff
Thread: (Lizbeth 40, col 632, purple medium) (Lizbeth 40, col 633, purple dark)
Technique: shuttle tatting

It took me a while to get into the swing of this pattern because I found my rings were looking a bit mis-aligned. I think my technique improved as I went along.

8 of 25 Originally uploaded by michl_007 on 15th March, 2010

Another fantastic pattern from Jon, who designs the most lovely items. I didn't complete the corner for this edging as I don't have a use for it (yet) and it's easier to keep looking nice this way.

Edging Along

Pattern: Queen's Garter from the book A Pattern Book Of Tatting by Mary Konior
Thread: (Lizbeth 40, col 690, mocha brown light)
Technique: shuttle tatting

Simple and effective, works up quickly.

7 of 25 Originally uploaded by michl_007 on 10th March, 2010

I should have straightened this up a bit because the photo makes it look more wonky than it is in reality. It's one of those ones that's described as being able to "ease to a curve" which makes it pretty floppy.

I wonder... how are you supposed to prepare edgings? If I make a motif then I swish it in water, pat it dry in a soft cloth/towel and pin it out but that's not really something you can do with edging, or is it?

Getting To Grips With Size 40

This is the first item tatted with my new stash. I managed to break it in the final stages but that's to be expected when you're working in the wee small hours.

Heart Broken Originally uploaded by michl_007 on 10th March, 2010

I won't be finishing it off because I messed up the left hand side while using the magic thread technique for ends. The last ring has ended up all distorted and I don't much fancy the idea of trying to undo it.

I like this edging very much and have seen it in other books/websites but this is the first copy that's worked properly.

Edging Originally uploaded by michl_007 on 10th March, 2010

Number Five And So On

Pattern: Motif 40 from the book The Tatted Artistry Of Teiko Fujito by Teiko Fujito
Thread: (Lizbeth 20, col 671, christmas red)
Technique: shuttle tatting

This one works up quickly and is one of the easier patterns in the book.

5 of 25 Originally uploaded by michl_007 on 3rd March, 2010

I'm still no good at the roll join so once again resorted to using a lock join for this pattern. Not such a big deal when it's a single solid shade but I really should practice other joins.

I ordered some thread and books and I'm waiting for them to be delivered. Every morning I check the mail, I'm like a child at Christmas.

4 of 25

Pattern: Milky Way from the book Tatted Snowflakes Collection by Jon Yusoff
Thread: (Lizbeth 20, col 624, raspberry medium)
Technique: shuttle tatting

An easy pattern to complete as the chains and rings are pretty much the same throughout.

4 of 25 Originally uploaded by michl_007 on 26th February, 2010

Is it just me or does anyone else find their stitches more or less even depending on which shade being used? A long time ago I used to do cross stitch and stitches were different if you used the colour white which was something to do with the dyeing process, or so I was told.

3 of 25

Pattern: 'Heart's Desire' by Susan K Fuller
Thread: (Lizbeth 20, col 601, white) (Lizbeth 20, col 613, golden yellow medium)
Technique: shuttle tatting

As yet unblocked.

3 of 25 Originally uploaded by michl_007 on 25th February, 2010

I thought before I started that the yellow and white might work but I really don't like them together. Maybe if the yellow was a little bit lighter I might like it more.

Finnegan Begin Ag'in

Pattern: 'Heart's Desire' by Susan K Fuller
Thread: (Lizbeth 20, col 140, country grape swirl)
Technique: shuttle tatting

This might be my favourite pattern. It's an enjoyable project and looks nice when complete. I might make one in a plain single shade next.

1 of 25 Originally uploaded by michl_007 on 18th February, 2010

I have decided to start the challenge again because I enjoyed it so much the first time round. I advise anyone who reads this to do the same and make sure you check out what others make as there's some great tatting out there.

This shade of Lizbeth looks a lot like the one I used for the last motif of my previous 25. I like it but I prefer the purple splendor.

25 of 25

Pattern: Motif 19 from the book The Tatted Artistry of Teiko Fujito.
Thread: Lizbeth size 20, col 129 purple splendor.
Technique: Shuttle tatted.

This is the largest item I've tatted so far. Actually it's not, but I managed to spill tea on the other one before I'd had a chance to take a picture of it and because it was white the stain was really obvious. Anyhoo, this one measures about 16cm across.

25 of 25 Originally uploaded by michl_007 on 9th February, 2010

I really couldn't (and still don't) understand the instructions in the back of the book for the joining technique that was used so I resorted to using a lock join. I don't think it would have made so much difference if I'd been using a solid colour but the joins are more noticeable because of the colour changes. I'm still pleased with how this turned out and for the most part I enjoyed making it.

This marks my final 25 Motif Challenge item. I'm glad I joined the challenge as it's given me the motivation to seek out new patterns and it's exposed me to the work of other tatters. I think I will join for a second round however I think it will be more difficult to find patterns this time round. I have a number of books now but I like to mix it up with free patterns online so that if someone likes what they see then they can make it too without having to wait to order a book.

24 of 25

Pattern: The Third Day of December from the book 24 Snowflakes in Tatting by Lene Bjørn.
Thread: Lizbeth size 20, col 613 & col 623 & col 680.
Technique: Shuttle tatted.

I started to do this pattern in a single shade and thought the middle looked like a flower so started it again in these colours to see what would happen.

I took the picture before blocking just in case anything drastic happened to it when trying to pin it out.

24 of 25 Originally uploaded by michl_007 on 31st January, 2010

I wanted to tackle this snowflake as soon as I got the book but figured it might be too difficult. I'm not sure exactly why I found it so daunting but I'm glad I got over it and gave it a try.

23 of 25

Pattern: Tatted Fall Leaves (pdf) by Heather Johnston.
Thread: Lizbeth size 20, col 100.
Technique: Shuttle tatted.

Mine looks a little different to the pattern but I like it.

23 of 25 Originally uploaded by michl_007 on 29th January, 2010

I've had this pattern saved in my links list for quite some time but every time I tried to follow the pattern it went wrong. Eventually last night I wrote out a rudimentary diagram and filled in the stitch numbers and it worked! I've looked at the pattern again and think that where it calls for a ring it's meant to call for a chain, which is pretty obvious to me now but when you're learning it isn't so. Another thing that's obvious now that I'm more familiar with tatting patterns and their inconsistency is the fact that you are meant to switch shuttles to do the little nodes on the leaf, which the pattern doesn't mention.

I might try the other leaves on the pattern file now that this one has worked.

By George I Think I've Got It

So near and yet.............................................so far.

Dammit & Blast Originally uploaded by michl_007 on 25th January, 2010

I tatted the first couple of rings and chains but something went wrong so I started again but didn't take into consideration the fact that I had less thread on my shuttle. I got to the final ring and didn't have enough pink but was struck with the thought that I could make a self closing mock ring! Genius, right? Well it would have been had I not already cut the blue.

I wound on for my second attempt but instead of looking at the amount I'd used the first time, I did it from memory. So I get to the final ring and damn if I didn't run out of pink and do EXACTLY the same thing as before.

Lessons learnt:
1) Don't cut thread till I'm CERTAIN that I've finished.
2) Don't trust my failing memory.

I wasn't as annoyed as I'd expect myself to be because this pattern is a pleasure to make.

Pattern: Heart's Desire by Susan K Fuller.
Thread: Lizbeth size 20, col 142 & col 145.
Technique: Shuttle tatted.

I'm so glad that I finally managed to get this pattern done after so many false starts. I was going to say this is third time lucky but technically it's fourth time lucky as the black/red effort below was also from the same pattern but remained incomplete after I decided I couldn't get the chains to look right.

21 of 25 Originally uploaded by michl_007 on 25th January, 2010

Because I Like It Originally uploaded by michl_007 on 24th November, 2009

Brains!

Pattern: The Brain by Martha Ess.
Thread: Lizbeth size 20, col 145 & col 640 & col 691.
Technique: Shuttle tatted.

This works up very quickly as it's so small (2cm across) and the pattern is written so as to be easily followed.

20 of 25 Originally uploaded by michl_007 on 23rd January, 2010

I like this little pattern, it's very cute. I could have done a neater job getting rid of the ends but never mind.

19 of 25

Pattern: Magic Moment Snowflake by Jon Yusoff.
Thread: Lizbeth size 20, col 144.
Technique: Shuttle tatted.

This pattern is an absolute pleasure to follow. It looked more complex than it turned out to be and I found that I was able to complete it without having to refer to the pattern a whole bunch of times.

19 of 25 Originally uploaded by michl_007 on 19th January, 2010

I will certainly be making another of these and advise you all to do the same if you haven't already.

Them And Us

Pattern: Faith, from the book Tatting With Visual Patterns by Mary Konior.
Thread: Lizbeth size 20, col 692.
Technique: Shuttle tatted.

Eighteen down, seven more to go. This is very much like the previous pattern I made from the book.

18 of 25 Originally uploaded by michl_007 on 18th January, 2010

Tatting at work today I got quite a few comments. It went something like "What are you making?", "But what is it called?", "Why is it called tatting?", "They should call it something else because it doesn't make it sound delicate and pretty.".

Don't Like The Stawasz, Loving Konior

Pattern: Masquerade, from the book Tatting With Visual Patterns by Mary Konior.
Thread: Lizbeth size 20, col 613.
Technique: Shuttle tatted.

This was a pleasure to make and I like the colour. The background is one of the many squares of felt that I purchased online from Lupin Handmade.

16 of 25 Originally uploaded by michl_007 on 16th January, 2010

I previously tried tatting an item from the book Tatting Theory & Patterns by Jan Stawasz and it left me feeling less than positive. I didn't give up entirely and over the last few days I've been trying to complete a snowflake from the same book but to no avail. I hate this book. It's just bad. The photos of the items are okay but the diagrams are unhelpful and the text is long winded in the introduction with not enough information where you need it (in the pattern).

To make me feel better I've completed Masquerade from the very lovely book Tatting With Visual Patterns by Mary Konior. I enjoyed it so much I've started on another pattern from the same book. Her diagrams are easy to follow and clearly printed with just the right amount of info to get you started. I love this book.

15 of 25

Pattern: Teresa's Shamrock.
Thread: Lizbeth size 20, col 684.
Technique: Shuttle tatted.

I desaturated the background of this shamrock because it was very blue and hard to see what was going on.

15 of 25 Originally uploaded by michl_007 on 10th January, 2010

I haven't tatted any new items over the Xmas/New Year period other than a couple more squares for a tablecloth I'm making. I did this shamrock as part of my motif challenge.

Runaway Turtle

Pattern: Tatty Turtle by Mark Myers (pdf).
Thread: Lizbeth size 20, col 690.
Technique: Shuttle tatted.

Another cute little pattern I think.

14 of 25 Originally uploaded by michl_007 on 23rd November, 2009

As you can tell from the picture it's still raining. I don't think it will ever stop! Poor folks in Cumbria are having it really bad at the moment and looks like they'll be suffering the consequences for a long time to come.

I completed this little pattern and got all the way to the finishing ends stage. I got up to make myself a cup of tea and by the time I sat back down my turtle had vanished. I know he's lurking around here somewhere but I decided to make him a twin to keep him company when he eventually shows up again.

13 of 25

Pattern: Apple (pdf).
Thread: Lizbeth size 20, col 671 & col 680.
Technique: Shuttle tatted.

13 of 25 Originally uploaded by michl_007 on 22nd November, 2009

This is a nice quick pattern. Completing a project without leaving yards of thread on the shuttles is quite satisfying and I'm getting better at it.

12 of 25

Pattern: Bookmark.
Thread: Lizbeth size 20, col 144 col 623.
Technique: Shuttle tatted.

I'm not sure of the written pattern details as it's in Italian(?) however the diagram was simple enough to follow. I didn't do the dangle thingie as I don't like dangles on my bookmarks.

12 of 25 Originally uploaded by michl_007 on 21st November, 2009

Another bookmark that I enjoyed making, although not in these colours*. They were chosen because I decided to use up what I already had on two shuttles, taking some extra from the ball to complete the pink.

*Saying that, they've actually grown on me since I finished it.

11 of 25

Pattern: Heart o' Daisies.
Thread: Lizbeth size 20, col 613 col 695.
Technique: Shuttle tatted.

I wasn't even going to take a photo of this as I don't like it AT ALL, but then I figured that spending the time to make it would be wasted if I didn't count it towards my 25.

11 of 25 Originally uploaded by michl_007 on 20th November, 2009

I think part of the reason I don't like this is because I muffed up the top middle, only a little bit but it's still there staring at me. Partly it's all the picots round the outside, though maybe if they were laying more smoothly I wouldn't dislike them so much.