No surprises here, row 6 looks a lot like row 5 did.  The stitch count is the same, and I don’t know about you, but I am really looking forward to tatting something different.  Just one more row, then the whole piece will change!  Is your work laying flat?  Mine is more wavy than the sea.  It can be tamed, but I don’t spend much time on blocking when I mess it all up again by working on it.  It will get good and blocked when it’s done. I get a section laying flat enough to take a photo and that’s good enough for me ..read more

 With the stitch count being the same for these rows, they might all be blurred together for you.  It certainly is for me! Row 5 is a continuation just like row 4, but take consolation from the fact that you have got this doily halfway done. I love how the simple rows build up the bulk of the doily and then row 8 will do the rest.  We just have to keep tatting ..read more

 Ready for the next round?  Remember that up to row 7 the stitch counts are all the same, so don’t feel like you have to wait for me.  I’m a slow tatter, and it’s fine to work ahead! Here’s the pattern picture:  The blue arrow is to show you where to put a marker, so there are two rings on that chain.  I found using all 12 was a bit too heavy.  Now I’m just using one and move it up to the next section when I tat up to it.  My marker is a cute little clay panda bear, let me show you. Isn’t that cute?  What do you use as a marker for your work ..read more

 If you’re following along, now I need you to do me a favor.  Go find some safety pins, paper clips, stitch markers, long bits of thread, or hoop earrings.  You will need 12, but they don’t have to match each other, anything will do.  Go ahead, you really don’t want to skip this step.  When you have them, you’ll use them to mark the chains between the two joined rings. (Marked with a white arrow in the picture.) Are you like me? Saying to yourself, “I can keep track of my chains, I don’t need to mark them.”  Yes, I hear you thinking it, but this is the voice of ex ..read more

 Ready for the next row?  This one is easy, and the stitch counts will continue to be the same for the next 5 rows.  The original pattern did not have the small rings joined together above the trefoil, but I really liked the way it looked.  Your doily, your choice ..read more

 Here in the PNW (Pacific NorthWest) we are having record high temperatures this weekend.  It is absurdly hot, but we have a mobile air conditioner so there is one comfortable room in our house.  This means there is a whole lot of sitting still and tatting!  I’ve been working on row D of the Le Soleil section of Lagniappe.  The picture may not look like much progress from my last post, just remember that there are 12 of these medallions to go round and it adds up.  Right now I’m just finishing up the 5th piece ..read more

 I have been working away at the Lagniappe doily.  Here is a picture of what I finished yesterday.  So far I have 8/12 medallions done up to row C, and there are 2 more rows to be done on each.  It’s feeling a bit...tedious.  Not that I’m not enjoying getting each one done!  I’m just ready to get this doily finished. What do you do when your tatting is feeling too repetitive ..read more

 This looks good, right?  I think so anyway.   Too bad the pattern version has 6 points, not 5!  I’ll figure out something else to do with it, but it sure makes me grumpy when I finish something that turns out to be all wrong for the pattern. Gotta pay more attention ..read more

 ...Your tatting will go wandering too.  Good thing I looked down before I closed the ring ..read more

 This outside section of rows is called the Levee in the pattern.  It holds together the center, and makes a break before the larger woven band section.  I had originally planned for it to be all black... but the lavender pink just couldn’t be resisted.  It’s changed how I will need to place the colors on the smaller round motifs, but I love how it looks!  What do you think of it so far? Thread is DMC 80 and Diamant Gold ..read more