Field of Clover

Field of Clover

     This is a bookmark from my tatting exchange person.  Funny, she was one of the ladies, I sent a bookmark to.  Her name is Sonja, from the Netherlands.  So, exciting to get tatting from someone else...and have it come from another country.  I rarely tat for myself, so this is a wonderful treat!!!
     The beautiful pattern is called Field of Clover.  This is sooo pretty!!!  This is one of her wonderful designs. She also sent me a netting shuttle for Celtic tatting.  Thank you again, Sonja!!

T-Seal

T-Seal

  

Set Up:

-         2 mm Pyrex rod

-         8 mm Pyrex tubing

-         # 1 tip

-         Matches/mats/towel/glass cutter/screen

-         Blow tube/cork

T- Seal (8 mm tubing):

-         Cut 2 pieces of 8 mm tubing (8" and 6" piece).

-         Use a # 1 tip.

-         Cork one end, of each piece of tubing.

-         Heat the middle of the 8" piece of tubing and blow a small bulge.

-         Heat the tip of the small bulge and blow out the bulge (see last Monday's lesson).

-         Flint knap the rough pieces, leaving a small part of the small bulge.

-         Heat the end of the small, 8 mm tubing and the hole in the other tubing, remove from heat, push them together then slightly pull them apart.

-         Heat one side and allow to collapse

-         Remove from heat and blow to diameter of surrounding tubing.

-         Slowly, repeat for the other three sides.

Patching holes (2 mm rod):

-         Use a #1 tip.

-         Heat the area with the hole and the 2 mm rod.

-         Touch the rod to the hole, remove from the flame, and pull off the rod.

-         Heat the area with the hole, remove from the flame, and blow the tubing to the surrounding diameter.

-         Remove any excess glass with a cold piece of glass.

-         Continue heating and blowing until the tubing is uniform.

           If you had taken my "Scientific Glass Blowing Class", up until now, everyone has a "F".  Once you've completed, todays lesson sucessfuly, you now have a "D".

Next Lesson

Another Corner Bookmark

Another Corner Bookmark

     This is another corner bookmark made with size 10 crochet thread.  This one is going to my other secret person.  We had a choice of one, two or three secret people...I chose two.  Don't worry, the secret is not out.  They should have received them two weeks ago...hopefully.  When I finish with my special orders, I'll make myself one.

Corner Book Mark

Corner Book Mark

     This bookmark is from Nina Libin's, Lace of Beads. There are three parts to making this bookmark, but tats up rather quickly.  The thread is size 10 crochet thread.  This book mark was made for my secret "Summer Tatting Exchange" person, from In Tatters.   The theme was clovers or trifolds.  This pattern just happened to have the trifolds on the bottom portion.
     In Tatters, is a tatting forum.  You must sign in, but it has a free membership.  If you do not belong to it yet, it is well worth your while.  This is very useful for beginning and advanced tatters who have questions about tatting techniques.  There is also an "Eye-Candy" section to see what is being tatted in "Tat-Land".  There is also another tatting forum, "The Tatting Forum", with the same principles.

Roses are Red

Roses are Red

     This is called "Roses are Red", found on Victats blog.  The rose was done with pearl cotton #8.  This is a good lesson for "directional" tatting.

Glass Mat Doily

Glass Mat Doily

     The pattern is "Glass Doily, Adapted by Kendra Goodnow from Senco Book".  This was featured in Handy Hands, Winter 2011 Newsletter.  The doily was done in Lizbeth, size 20, Tropical Punch.   

End-To-End Seal with Two Different Size Tubing

End-To-End Seal with Two Different Size Tubing

 Set Up:

-         8 & 14 mm (any larger tubing will do) Pyrex tubing

-         # 1 tip

-         Matches/mats/towel/glass cutter/screen

-         Blow tube/cork (use cork....NOT rubber!!)

End-To-End Seal (8 & 14mm tubing):

-         Cut 1 piece of 8 & 14 mm tubing, about 6" long.

-         Use a # 1 tip.

-         Make a test tube from the 14 mm tubing.

-         Heat the end of the test tube and blow a small bulge.

-         Heat the small bulge and blow out the bulge.

 

-         Flint knap the rough pieces, leaving a small part of the small bulge.

-    Add a small cork stopper to one end of the 8 mm tubing.

-         Heat the ends together of the small bulge and the 8 mm tubing, remove from the heat, push them together then slightly pull them apart.

-         Heat one side and allow to collapse

-         Remove from heat and blow to diameter of surrounding tubing (8 mm).

-         Repeat for the other three sides.

-    Fire polish the ends (heat the ends enough to create a smooth edge).

Next Lesson

Hens And Chicks Bookmark

Hens And Chicks Bookmark

     This bookmark is called "Hens and Chicks", from Karey Solomon's, Tat Marks the Spot.  The bookmark was done with Lizbeth size 20 in Autumn Spice.

Maple Leaf

Maple Leaf

     This pattern is "Maple Leaf", by J. Paulson, found on Le Blog de Frivole.   The leaf is made in Lizbeth, size 20 thread, Sherbert Delight.

Butterfly Heart

Butterfly Heart

     This is "Butterfly Heart", by  Irene Woo.   The heart was done in size 80 Star Tatting Thread.

Shrink Tatting Shuttles

Shrink Tatting Shuttles

     This is a pattern from Georgia Seitz, for a shuttle made out of shrink plastic (Shrinky Dinks).   They are decorated with Sharpies or some other permanent marker.   Punch the holes with a hole puncher but don't cut the slits.

     Bake them at 275 degrees F, for 3 - 5 minutes (or what the instructions say).  Take them out once the shrinking has completed.  Once the pan is removed from the oven, immediately, press them flat, if they are slightly curled.  Flatten them out with a folded piece of foil and an oven mit.   

     Once they are cool, give them a very light coat of colorless spray paint.  Once that coat dries, give them one more coat.  WARNING...don't spray them too much on the first coat!!!!  The chemical reaction between the spray paint and the marker will cause the ink to run.  Cut the slits with a jewelers saw.

      The pattern makes a 2 5/9 X 1" shuttle.  I made them different sized and add "West Pine Creations" and a differnt design. 

     These make excellent shuttles to show people how to tat.  They are inexpenisve to make and very fun. 

 The first shuttle, is the same as the pattern.

Fish

Fish

 

Set Up:

-         6 mm colorless rod

-         Colors

-         # 3 tip

-         Matches/mats/towel/glass cutter/long nail/tweezers

Fish (6 mm rod or encased rod & colors):
      Remember:  Hot glass looks the same as cold glass!!  Don't burn the top of your bench, put your hot glass on the ceramic mats. 
     DO ALL YOUR WORK OUTSIDE THE FLAME!!!!  Use the flame to soften your glass.  Keep your glass rotating in the flame, for even heating.

-         Make a maria and smash it (ice sickle technique).

o       You can use colorless rod with color fused in the  rod.

-         Pull off one of the handles to form the lower part of the tail.

-         Add the upper half of the tail with the rod you just pulled off.

-         Finish adding the rest of the fins with this rod.

-         Add eyes with a solid color.

-         Using your tweezers to hold the fish, remove the other handle to form a snout.

Next Lesson

Cat Earrings

Cat Earrings

     This patterns reminds me of a pair of cats, sitting on the fence.  The pattern is called "Encore", by  Yarnplayer (Marilee Rockley).
     The thread was size 10 crochet thread.

Special Order Gone Wrong

Special Order Gone Wrong

     This was suppose to be a special order, but I forgot to make the first and last rings.  These rings are for the jump rings.  I was able to add one ring and subtract a pearly ring to make it for myself.  I've been wanting to make myself one of these, but I have several large orders to fill first.  I must have subconsciouly made the mistake.
     This is an easy bracelet to make...it's all rings.   This pattern is from Nina Libin's, "One Shuttle, Lots of Beads", made with DMC Embroidery Thread.

A Large Tote For String

A Large Tote For String

     We can never have enough string....or shuttles.  I found this one at a yard sale.  Brand new!!!!  It was meant for scrap booking but is perfect for string.  The tote has two sides, one for books (my larger strings will go there) and the other side is for photographs.  The tote came with all of the photograph boxes.  The tote is 13X13X6".

 Photograph boxes.

Sample Border #4

Sample Border #4

     This is the last sample border.  This border is from Tatting Book 5 by Penelope.  It was was featured in Handy Hands latest newsletter, Spring/Summer 2012.  The pattern is called  "Vandyke Border", done in size 10 crochet thread and is 2" tall.  I didn't like the back portion of the border, so I left it off. 

End-To-End Seal

End-To-End Seal

 

Set Up:

-         8 mm tubing

-         # 2 tip

-         Matches/mats/towel/glass cutter/smasher

-         Blow tube/cork to fit inside of the 8 mm tubing

End-To-End Seal (8 mm tubing):
    Remember:  Hot glass looks the same as cold glass!!  Don't burn the top of your bench, put your hot glass on the ceramic mats. 
     DO ALL YOUR WORK OUTSIDE THE FLAME!!!!  Use the flame to soften your glass.  Keep your glass rotating in the flame, for even heating.

-         Cut 2 pieces of 8 mm tubing.
-         Cork one end of one piece of tubing.  Put your blow tube on the other piece of tubing.

-         Heat the ends together, remove from heat, push them together then slightly pull them apart.

o       This prevents a large lens from forming.

-         Heat the seal until the glass collapses, then remove from heat and blow a slight bulge.

o       This strengthens the seal.

-         Slightly collapse the bulge, remove from heat, and blow the seal to the diameter of the surrounding tubing.

-         Version II:

o       Heat the ends together, remove from heat, push them together then slightly pull them apart.

o       Heat one side and allow to collapse

o       Remove from heat and blow to diameter of surrounding tubing.

o       Repeat for the rest of the sides.

Next Lesson

Happy Birthday....Sheila

Happy Birthday....Sheila

     No tatting today.  Just happy birthday to my little sister.  She's not so little anymore.....she's 41!!!!  Boy, how time flies!!!

Happy Birthday, love you lots, baby sister!!! 

Sample Border #3

Sample Border #3

     This border is from Ann Ore's, Tatting, from 1951.   I just love the old tatting books!!  I enjoy looking at the furnishings from that time period.  Have you ever noticed the ash trays on every coffee table?
     The pattern is called "Scalloped Edging #37", done in size 10 thread and is 1 1/4" tall.

Sample Border #2

Sample Border #2

     This border is from one of my favorite books:  The Tatted Artistry of Teiko Fujito.  The border is #89 and is done in size 10 crochet thread.  The border is approximately 2 1/2" tall.

Sample Border #1

Sample Border #1

     This is a sample border called "Blue and White Edging", from Forty Original Designs in Tatting by Nellie Hall Youngburg.   This is one of four sample borders.  The chosen border will be used for the new paraments for our Churches alter.
     The border is done in size 10 crochet thread and is 1 3/4" tall.

Large Wooden Tatting Shuttles

Large Wooden Tatting Shuttles

     These are three of my large tatting shuttle for size ten to size three threads.  I made them all one piece, using a Dremel.  Dremel's are so awesome!!  The top one was made from Alder and the other two were made from black walnut.

Sizes from top to bottom:

26 mm deep, 28 mm wide, and 68 mm long.

25 mm deep, 25 mm wide, and 78 mm long.

25 mm deep, 27 mm wide, and 73 mm long.

Side view.   The "B M"  stands for black walnut and the other side has my initials "M M".

Swans

Swans

Set Up:

-         Blow tube

-         File/glass cutter

-         14 or 13mm tubing or any large tubing

-         Mats, graphite paddle

-         Matches

-         Towel

-         Screen, wet/dry sandpaper

-         Color

-         #3 tip

-         Cork to fit 14 mm tubing

-         Food coloring/beaker

Swans (14 mm tubing):
      Remember:  Hot glass looks the same as cold glass!!  Don't burn the top of your bench, put your hot glass on the ceramic mats. 
     DO ALL YOUR WORK OUTSIDE THE FLAME!!!!  Use the flame to soften your glass.  Keep your glass rotating in the flame, for even heating.

The swan is a continuation of the bulb in the center of the tube, from last Mondays (25 June) lesson.
 
 Draw out a color for the eyes.

  Heat one side of the bulb, remove from the flame, and place it on the graphite paddle and blow.  (This flattens the bottom.)

      

  Make the tail by pulling one of the ends of tubing.

       Don’t remove this yet, you need it for a handle!!

  Make the neck and head by collapsing the other side of the tube and drawing it up into a neck.  

  Draw out the beak but don’t remove the tubing.

  Add the eyes.  

  Remove the "handle" from the tail.

       

  Once the swan has cooled, remove the excess tubing with a file.  (Score the glass with the file and snap off the excess glass on the beak.   
USE YOUR TOWEL TO SNAP OFF THE GLASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

   Smooth out the beak with a wire screen and sand (ground-glass) with wet sandpaper.

           
   Fill the swan with color water by heating the bottom of the swan with a cool flame.  Use a tweezers to hold the swan.  While the glass is still warm, hold the beak in the colored water.  As the bottom cools, it will draw in the liquid to fill it’s belly.  Continue heating and filling until the belly is almost full.
      

Next Lesson