May brought Bookmarks!

Looped beading needle ~ a new gadget

"InTatters"(aka E-Tatters) decided to have a bookmark exchange in May. I began making bookmarks and so far at least five have fallen from my shuttles. Not all of them are that good! I don't want to send anything but my best tatting, so I just kept making them!

One I made, in HDT silk, is beautiful in color; but, the chains and rings are not consistent in size; so did not pass my self-imposed quality. One is perfect, except for one join where I had to add thread and it has that familiar bulk at the join (although I only tatted two DS over the threads) ~ I haven't tried laying in loops as yet, just haven't gotten around to that technique. These, I have not posted on my blog nor are they being sent to anyone! I read, therefore I get these. LOL

Above are two of the 'possibles'; both designs are from Rosemarie Peel's, "Tatting: Basic Patterns" One was especially fun because it is an adaptation of Rosemarie Peel's Beaded Toggle. I just put beads on the top part (the part that would hang over the book. I did that one in Pamela Meyer's HDT ~ Rainbow Brite with turquoise beads and RB solid Aqua. I extended the Victorian sets to get the length I needed (it's about 7 1/2" long) and I didn't put beads on the bottom as it would be within the pages of the book. I can't name the beads as the pkg didn't identify but they came in my 'thank you' box at the time of Chinese New Year, from Aileen in S'pore. I wish I did have a name and color assignment as they are just beautiful! I felt ear rings coming on as I used them.

The bookmark on the right is actually an edging ~ in her book Rosemarie gave directions of the 'possibilities' in design by different arrangements of two of the same edging. This one is in size 80 HDT, lavender orchid (YarnPlayer) After I did this one, it occurred to me that if I made the joining picots longer...a ribbon could be woven within and between them. . worth thinking about next time. I love it that the specialty ribbon I found had little picots...gives a very dainty look.

There are 3 other bookmarks , but I have posted them in the In-tatters Album; so won't post them here. The biggest problem I still have is consistency in tension; although since I've been doing FS/BS tatting ~ the tension seems to be improving.

I was having a lot of trouble with the beads...my reverse beading tool, I had bought a few years ago, cracked and I had to throw it away. I often use the methods of loading beads as I work...but this time there were 38 beads...and found I couldn't thread the beading needle! I couldn't see the tiny hole well enough (Don't tell me about Big Eye needles; the eye isn't big). So, I used Nina Libin's method by soaking the end of my thread in clear nail polish...3 times, drying it in between "dips." Then I threaded the beads directly on the thread.

Long story short, I asked DH to buy me a needle threader that would work for beading needles. He and Bekah went to Hobby Lobby in Las Cruces and he brought back the plain old-fashioned kind (that use to come in needle cards ~ dating myself here). BUT, he also brought me something he thought, "looked really useful!." They are called Looped Needle Threaders (and from visual on the back are used in beading) for hand, machine and serger needles. They were a bit pricey at 8 dollars for four. I think they are going to prove to be very useful indeed!

I like the ribbon I found, that had its own picots, to weave between the open spaces of the bookmark on the right. This one looks particularly Lacy. DH found the small box of five styles of boutique ribbon; it is so nice to have a husband whose Mother taught her sons so much about fabric, ribbon and needles! She would be proud of her well-rounded, retired Equipment Operating son! I am truly blessed.

The third? Well, that's a secret I'll save for the next post...after my pardner receives which ever I send. . .