Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Bless Their Hearts...


My two oldest kids INSISTED on staying late at their music lessons so I could have some tat time in the car today. Baby Doll did her part and fell asleep and Groovy Girl laughed as I followed Jon's instructions (which are WONDERFUL) for tatting split rings. She thought it was funny that I was trying to make my hand look like a dead spider. Jon's tutorial was SO clear I was tatting my third split ring when the kids came out of their lesson! I'm very excited! I found a pattern years ago which I really liked and which called for split rings - I think I will pull it back out and give it a whirl!

Here is some visual evidence of my previous foray into tatting. I made this tote for my mom about eight years ago. The pictures aren't so great. I took them with my old camera rather hurriedly so I could mail the bag to her.


I used a bulls eye quilt block. The bag took me quite a while to make, because I took my time with it and enjoyed experimenting with different embroidered embellishments. I had just gotten ELEGANT STITCHES by Judith Baker Montano and there were beautiful illustrations which made me want to branch out from my trusty stem stitch and lazy daisy.

In the bottom left corner I stitched the first letter of Mom's name with french knots and flanked it with wheat because my family farms wheat. I added a gold thread to the floss to make the heads of wheat shimmer.

In the bottom right corner I stitched a spider web complete with spider. I read that traditional crazy quilts often had webs for good luck. There are little clear beads on the web to look like dew. Apparently I am obsessed with dewy webs!

I don't remember where the tatted motif patterns came from. It's been too long. I do remember pulling my ends to the back of the block and tying them off.



I used the same fabrics from the quilt block to make some piping and edged the bag with it. I enjoyed making the bag and think it turned out well, but more importantly, Mom liked it a lot.

14 comments:

Unknown said...

Congrats to you for getting the Split Ring down! :)
That is something to be proud of.

Your tote bag is really pretty! The tatting is a nice touch, too!

sewmuchfun4 said...

Hi Tatting Chic!
Thank you and thank you! I am so happy each time I learn something new. I think this time tatting is sinking in!
Ann

Martha said...

I adore this bag -- the combination of the very geometric quilt block with the whimsy of the crazy stitches is just beautiful. The little tatting motifs add the perfect touch. I'm so envious of your tatting ability -- I would love to learn, but don't know if I have the patience to add a new skill.

sewmuchfun4 said...

Hi Martha!
Thank you so much! I am still a novice tatter. I have a long way to go and a lot to learn. There is a wonderful community of blogging tatters who are generous with their ideas and knowledge. It's an inexpensive hobby to try if you decide you would like to give it a whirl!
Ann

Tat-a-Renda said...

Hi, thank you for dropping by my blog. So glad that I was able to help you conquer the split ring. The tote is lovely with all the little decorations in it.

sewmuchfun4 said...

Thank you Jon! I enjoyed making that tote very much. And thank you again for the great split ring tutorial - your instructions were so clear I didn't make a single misstep!
Ann

EnlightenedByAngels said...

Hi Ann,
Thanks for commenting on my blog. That is so great that you are doing split rings! I think I will wait a few weeks before I try to attempt those. That bag you made your mom is awesome! I'm looking forward to seeing your other creations.

sewmuchfun4 said...

Thank you Enlightened by Angels,
I hope you enjoy your blog. I'm having fun with mine.

I highly recommend Jon's split ring tutorial. It was a matter of minutes and I was up and running. I had always been intimidated by split rings before. I'm making a simple heart with split rings right now - the rings have been no problem, but running out of thread... At least I have gotten good enough to laugh and start over!
Ann

EnlightenedByAngels said...

I looked at the tutorial today! I think I read about it on your blog actually. . . It is a very good tutorial. I got a few split rings made and am looking forward to doing a pattern that calls for split rings.

sewmuchfun4 said...

It is great, isn't it? I'm working on a little split ring pattern and I'm happy with it, but I keep falling asleep! I hope to finish today, but I may have to pull out the toothpicks to keep my eyes open. :)
Ann

Karen from Sew Many Ways... said...

Hi Ann,
This bag is just beautiful. I've always wanted to make this quilt block. All your wonderful touches really add to the finished bag. I love how there are special things just for your mom. Your tatting is perfect. That's one craft I've never tried. You are so like me doing things in the car. Before my girls drove themselves to dance, I always sewed my hexagons in the car waiting for them to come out!
~Karen~

sewmuchfun4 said...

Thank you Karen,
Making the quilt block was pretty easy as I recall (It has been many years). I also made a bag for my daughter. It has received the kid treatment and been washed at bit and has held up well.

I don't think I will ever willingly carpool! I ALWAYS have something with me to work on and I am so bummed when I get to school or a lesson too late to pull it out to work on. Thank goodness traffic at the middle school is usually a snarled mess!

Thanks for saying "Hi!"
Ann

Lace-lovin' Librarian ~ Diane said...

What a wonderful bag! Now I'm really looking forward to getting the book!

sewmuchfun4 said...

Thanks Diane! It is a WONDERFUL book!