Turning circles into hexagons

If you want to learn to make a Hexagon from a Circle, you must visit Arlette. 
Beware, though, and make sure you have a sandwich and something to drink BEFORE you go look at her blog!
There is no way you can visit there and stay for a short time.

Arlette is incredibly talented.....and that's putting it mildly.

The tatted Daffodil Doily....

....is blocked and on its way to my mom.

As I tatted around, on Round 4, I realized I would end up with an additional ring.  I read the pattern, again....looked at the sketch...and there it was!  On Round 3, one of the chains should have one less picot.  [You can see the extra ring bottom right]
I challenged myself by making split chains and split rings.  It was invigorating!
This is a lovely doily and I'll be making it again. 

Oh, shoot!  I forgot to measure how wide it blocked out to be!  Another excuse to call my mom.  ;^)

A bag and a purse

I made this bag for a niece who got a job, BEFORE she graduated from College, as a Teacher.  I also added a pocket to the inside.

She has 4 younger sisters so I made them all purses to fit their personalities.  It was a blast!  I only wish I had taken a picture of the other purses!!!

The color is more true in the purse made out of the same cotton fabric.

See!!  I can sew, too!  ;^)

A BSJ for Leo Frank Daniels

From this....



....to This!

 

A BSJ is a Baby Surprise Jacket.  It's a surprise because it looks like the "From this...." picture before you do your magic and make it look like the "....to This" picture.  Pretty cool, Meg Swansen and Elizabeth Zimmermann!

I made this with Dalegarn Baby ULL [100% Merino Wool] in 4 bright colors and a neutral.  The pattern can be found at SchoolHousePress as a paper pattern or on DVD.

I also knit a pair of socks from 'Vogue Knitting Socks Two, on the go'.

If you've knit a BSJ, please put your link in the comment section!

A Moebius for my mom

This Moebius should definitely keep my mom's head and neck warm!  She's in Colorado where it's pretty chilly right now!
It's super lightweight because I used Unspun Icelandic Wool.  That wool is so wonderful to knit with.
The pattern is something I made up and it's in garter.  I knit every row.
If you have 'Knitting Around' by Elizabeth Zimmermann [note the 2 n's in her last name], then you, too, can learn how to knit your own Moebius.
After knitting this for mom, I knew I needed one for myself!

You DO NOT want to miss out on this!!!!

If you love to crochet and you love snowflakes....you'll want to have this!  Please take the time to check out the Snowcatcher blog post about how to get her patterns in PDF format.

A past blog post about my sister, Doris, ties in with Snowcatcher, and her husband, in what they are doing.

Feb 2011 DOM

What is a DOM?  It's Doily of the Month and you can find the link to the pattern there.
This 6" doily was made with Aunt Lydia Extra Fine Crochet Thread in US sz 30 and my trusty US sz 11/12 crochet hook.  The hook really does have that size beat into it!  Must be old.
There's nothing like a blocked doily to bring out all the beauty it deserves.  If I had a Like button, I'd like it myself!

Tatting the Daffodil Doily....

....has been quite an experience for this inexperienced shuttle tatter!
The thread I used was Manuela Color by Stahl Wolle.  I believe it is a sz 10 thread.  I first thought the thread was dirty until I looked at it in better lighting.  The color is variegated and SO subtle....
My, oh, my!  I wanted to have a knotless doily.  Well, I got that by learning to make a split chain AND split ring by Linda Davies YouTube video.  She does such a beautiful job showing you how. 
I have the booklet "Learn to Tat" with interactive dvd by Janette Baker.
The pattern, in my copy, had several errors and omissions for this pattern.  I contacted Ms. Baker to let her know and she graciously gave me a link to a pdf file with the correction on her website.  It's here.
I finished this piece today [picture was taken a few days ago] and I decided to leave it as is with the extra ring.  *sigh*
All in all -- I learned a great deal and am feeling more confident to work on other pieces and learn even more techniques.
Once I get this blocked, I'll post a finished photo.

My Tatting Press!!

Isn't it cute?!  I love it!
If you tat, you will want one of these.  Now I can take my tatting with me and not worry about it getting all tangled or snagged by my shuttle(s) with their little hooks!
This wonderful pattern is graciously given by Ann.  Scroll down a bit and find the pattern listed on the Left of her blog.
Thank you, Ann, for my gift!