Tatting Refresher

 

A few weeks ago, I saw a note on an local online group from someone looking for help with her tatting. I got in contact and on Saturday afternoon Suri arrived with her shuttles and some tatting she'd done a long time ago. She wants to tat a bookmark, but when she had a go, she realised that she'd lost the knack! With a bit of demonstration and a lecture about 'the flip' Suri got it right, tatted a few rings and chains and is on her way. I'm happy to give further help if she needs it, but I'm sure she's good to go.

I wanted to show Suri one of the patterns on my blog, but when I clicked on it, I got an error message. Oh dear. I've just investigated and it seems my account has been closed, perhaps because I haven't logged in recently. I've written to Keep and Share to ask them to reinstate it. 

A Knotty Problem

 

The person who knitted the back of the sweater I'm finishing was obviously concerned that new yarn was going to work loose. At each join they've tied a whole series of knots! Honestly, it's unnecessary and just makes a mess on the back. I had to undo all the knots before I could sew the ends in. I did sew all the ends in though and ended up with quite a  pile of orts:

I've started knitting a sleeve. With the colour changes and increases to shape the sleeve, it feels like that game where you have to pat your head and rub your tummy at the same time.

Finished The Front

 I'm dawdling along on my knitting, partly because there's no deadline and partly because I'm not absolutely enthusiastic about finishing someone else's project. Nonetheless, I have finished the front of the pullover:

There are a lot of ends to thread in. 

I think I'll do them now, before I start knitting the sleeves, so the job is not overwhelming when I get all the knitting done. 

Project For Friday

 

 I was given a bunch of these lightweight, silver-coloured rings. I don't know what they were originally used for, but when I saw a picture of towel holders on Pinterest, I thought, aha, they could be used for that. I've used felt for the top part, so that we only need one layer and can cut a buttonhole without neatening it. I've decorated the towel with ribbon and a crochet flower. The members of the craft group at a retirement home are free to decorate their towels any way they please, but I'll crochet some flowers and take them along as an option. 

Busy With Bags

 

Anne, the silversmith, has ordered 50 bags this month, instead of the usual 30, so that will keep me busy for a while. 

In The Mood For Knitting

 Saturday's market wasn't a great success for me. I sold enough to pay for my table, but no more. I decided that if I couldn't sell, I'd better buy - I came home with a basket full of foodstuffs, from double  cream to pecan nuts. 

I'm in the mood to knit. I thought I might tackle the half finished pullover I was asked (a long time ago!) to complete.

First step was to untangle the yarns at the back of the work:

Then it took some time to work out what size was being knitted and where it was on the chart. I had to undo a few rows because there was a mistake, which wasn't altogether a bad thing because it helped me figure out where I'm at. I think I've got it now:

This is not a good take-along project, of course, so I might need to have something smaller on the go too. 

Ladybird

 

Or Ladybug. I've made a ladybird hooded towel for Saturday's morning market table.  She's not easy to photograph or display, but hopefully she will be eye catching. 

I wasn't sure if ladybird spots are symmetrical, so I looked it up and apparently they are. My ladybird duly has spots arranged symmetrically. 

Key Rings

 

With Winter disappearing so suddenly, it seems a good idea to make things other than woolens for Saturday's market. I've whizzed up some key rings with beaded crochet rope, which are usually popular. The spinning wheel has been put to one side for the moment. 

Flowers And Butterflies

 

I've been making another food cover - tatted motifs on net - for the next market. I don't mind if it doesn't sell because it's useful to have on hand in case I need a quick gift. But Summer arrived very suddenly, so it may well sell at the market. 

The 12 butterflies don't show up much in  the photo. I used them to empty shuttles. The lady I was tatting lavender bunches for has moved away, so there's no point in having shuttles filled with lavender colours.