Tatting and Legacy Threads

A few weeks ago, I finally picked up the single tube-woven hemstitched pillow case that I had purchased from a thrift store years ago and devoted a couple hours to the simple embroidery using hand-dyed variegated floss that I purchased even more years ago.

I decided I needed some hand-dyed tatting thread and purchased 100 yards of Marilee Rockley's hand-dyed Lilac Sea.

This is a photo of her size 20 listing on etsy , where she sells various sizes of thread and floss as "Yarn Player", although I purchased it in size 30.  She also teaches a Craftsy course on needle tatting that I purchased ages ago and finally got around to watching.  I'm guessing that we both learned to tat about the same time. She uses DMC Cordonnet Special--which was my favorite thread until a couple of decades ago when even my friends travelling to Europe could not get it.  Lots of dyers use Lizbeth thread from Handy Hands, in Paxton, Illinois, about 70 miles from my childhood home of El Paso, IL. Lizbeth too is a truly lovely thread, although it's not available in size 30, the size I ordered from Marilee in DMC.  (There are also a lot of needle tatting resources available at Handy Hands; however, I strongly suspect that some frustrated want-to-be tatter invented needle tatting when she could find no one to explain how to "flip" the knots.)

Since I like to do wider edgings to use on pillowcases, 100 yards doesn't go very far. (However, it appears that many, many tatters are making jewelry from size 20, and for them, the 50 yard-skeins most hand-dyers sell are more than adequate for multiple pieces of jewelry.)

I think I have enough of the Lilac Sea edging now, but the vintage pillow case has a hem-stitched edge that has not been trimmed, and I think I'll have to give it a very, very narrow hand-stitched hem before applying the tatting.  I'll have to dig out some of my antique tatting-edged and hemstitched hankies and see how our ancestors did it.

 I remembered I had a skein of cotton thread that had never been wound into a ball.  I'm not sure if it was my paternal grandmother's, who died in 1932, or if it was given to me by someone else.

It looks like it was stored in a cedar chest or on unprotected wood for decades; or perhaps it was in a wooden or cardboard box that got wet and stained the thread.

So, I tied a few extra threads around the skein and have it soaking in a bath of oxygen bleach and Dawn detergent.

We'll see how it works to even the tones, and then, since I have decades of experience dyeing fabric for quilting, I'm thinking of putting that experience to use hand painting tatting thread with Procion Dyes.  I did not take off a few yards to test tat to see what size it is.  However, I'm guessing there are probably a couple hundred yards in this hank.

I'm going to continue stirring it occasionally for the next few hours. I'm thinking of adding a few drops of lavender essential oil to the final rinse, although I may postpone that step until it's  been dyed and rinsed thoroughly.

In the process I also found some high quality six-cord in size 40 from J.P. Coats--probably from the 1950s or earlier.  It's in 225 yard balls, and some of it is also stained.  That means that if I decide to hand paint it, I'll have to put it into skeins and clean it up first too.  Since it needs to be in skeins to be hand painted, that won't be an extra step.

I also found a few things from my decades of tatting, beginning when most tatting thread was size 80 and larger sizes of appropriate high quality thread were hard to find.  I'll save those for a later post.

This is what solidified my desire to learn to tat.

 Although I'd been surrounded by Grandma Shreve Scheer's tatting for years and had made numerous failed attempts at tatting, when this lovely linen handkerchief arrived in the mail inside an unsigned graduation card and with lovely handwriting that none of us recognized, I determined that someday I would learn!

To this day, I have no idea what sweet lady in the El Paso-Gridley, Il made this.  She used at least size 100 thread (size 80 was common).  Even the hem-stitching was done by hand!

 School began August 2, so I did not finish the quilts I intended to finish.  Summer just goes way too fast.

Happy quiltmaking, knitting, tatting.....

Swish, Sew, Snip....the College Quilt

A few Lots of fat-quarters

Some yardage...

Swish goes the rotary cutter...

See that green on white dots with crosses above?  That is yardage left over from a dress I made back in the early 80's.  Although I no longer have the dress, I enjoyed wearing it for several years because I'd hand appliqued wonderful morning glories across the bodice.  (A few weeks later I took of the dress at the end of the day and thought one of the morning glories had faded onto my skin!  Then I realized my baby niece had kicked my chest when I was playing with her--so it was a bruise rather than purple dye!)

Sew, sew...

Snip, snip...

Sew, sew

 Stuff the trimmings and tiniest leftovers into a Kleenex box,

because even if it gets bumped off the table,

the snips will stay inside...

 Stop by Busy Bee and pick up more white polka-dots...

I especially like the second from the top, because although it doesn't show in the photograph, the dots are different sizes.

(Busy Bee Quilts is located 1.5 miles north of I-40 at exit 187 in Edgewood, New Mexico
just 20 miles east of Albuquerque.)

Health note: Since adding the daily dose of meclizine for my head-injury-induced vertigo, the vertigo is minimal *and* so are the headaches that plagued me, that failed to respond to any other medication, and that the doctors attributed to stress and anxiety (although they didn't treat me for stress and anxiety).  Life became immeasurably better.  However, I also began having symptoms of low-blood pressure; rehab specialist ignored that concern.  Today I saw my own medical practitioner and we lowered the dosage of the blood pressure medication I've been taking for a couple of decades--since she measured my blood pressure at 102/?? ["couldn't hear it"].  So, now I'm expecting life to get even better--and trying to decide if I should or should not count the days until I return to school.  (August 7 is rushing toward me.)

In the meantime, I'm treasuring every moment of piecing Sweet Teen's College quilt and quilting another project--and throwing in some tatting too, just because it's beautiful and I haven't had much chance to tat since last summer.

Oooh!  Still at only .25 inches of rain for July, although every afternoon thunderstorms spring up all around us.  I *am* grateful for the .25 inches of rain! (I do think some great minds should find a way to create and build a system to economically transport water from flooding areas to where it is needed!)

Happy quiltmaking.....

Linking to: Freshly Pieced 
Free Motion by the River

and Esther's WOW WIPs on Wednesday

Saturday Victory Quilting

Saturday was our monthly meeting for Victory Quilters, our prayer quilt ministry at Mountainside United Methodist Church in Cedar Crest. Here is the visible evidence of what I accomplished.

 Actually, my accomplishments were nothing to brag about.  I managed to cut about 28 strips from seven fabrics.  Four of these fabrics are gifts from my friend Mary, who often sews bindings on quilts for our ministry.  The gold and two violet fabrics are from my stash.  I then sewed about four pairs of strips together on my 1952 Singer Featherweight.  (The Featherweight was a gift from my friend Harriet almost 25 years ago.)

Yes, I was side-tracked.  Someone had donated several bags of fabric that we had to sort.  That took a little while. Then I decided my Featherweight foot control needed a little "souping up" because it was sooooo slow.  (I found out about someone who was horribly badgered and threatened with being banned from a sewing machine list because she called a foot control a "toe pedal."  Actually, when it comes to sewing machines, I understand that "toe pedal" has been used in the South for a long time, something that must have escaped the attention of the person who wanted to ban her. I'm so happy to see people using vintage and antique machines that they can call the FC just about anything and I'll still be happy they are using their machines!) 

I did not get this toe pedal "souped up" enough, so I have a phone call in to my friend Bobbie (who definitely lives in the South), because she's had a lot more experience than I at souping them up!--I've done it, but it was nearly 25 years ago, and I remembered a lot more before I got kicked in the head!  My machine has a new-old foot control, which is now a year old, courtesy of Rocky, the Sew-Man, also known as an OSMG, who lives nearby.  I need to get this machine moving more quickly.

In other news, I've decided that when I take my Sweet Teen to youth group, it makes no sense to drive home and have to drive back to get her or to let someone else bring her home (because they always lose track of time and then I worry).  Although I consider myself little more than a beginning knitter, people frequently ask me if I'll help them learn to knit.  I'm thinking we need a Knit-Tea Night.

That would give me a chance to chat with others while I'm knitting and waiting for her.  It would give other parents and grandparents something pleasant to do while they are waiting for their children or grandchildren.  Furthermore, it would give anyone who wanted something pleasant to do at the end of a work week the chance to unwind and untangle from work challenges while doing some handwork.  We're calling it Knit-Tea Night, asking people to bring some knitting, crocheting, embroidery, tatting, etc. and a favorite teacup and saucer or mug, and just spend a pleasant hour or two stitching and relaxing.  (One woman at church told me if she brought knitting, she would be anything but relaxed!  Hmmmm, I think looking at a pretty magazine like Victoria or Southern Lady or Tea Time or even an e-reader might work!)

Happy quiltmaking,......

Quilt Progress, Tatting, Lucky Finds

If you came here looking for the give-away that runs through September 4, you will find it on this post.

I spent 2.5 hours in the office of the rehab doctor on Tuesday before he managed to get to me for a 10 minute procedure, there was no time left to run errands (in fact we had to do some car hopping and driver changes in order to get me home).  So yesterday I needed to head into Albuquerque for a couple of purchases, and on the way in I stopped at Good Will.  While I realize lots of people find great bargains at Good Will, it's much more rare here, although five or ten years ago I found wonderful things.  However, yesterday I did find some sweet things.

First the quilting progress:

 I'm trying to decide which of these two threads to use in the border of Little Miss Gardener, the quilt for the new great niece who will arrive in early October.  The thread on the right is Fil-Tec Glide and the one on the left is Fil-Tec Affinity, which is the same as the Glide except it's variegated.  (You might want to take advantage of their sale on Magna-Glide bobbins, which will continue for a few days.  No, I don't work for them.  I just love their threads. I use their size L magnetic bobbins in my Class 15 sewing machines.)

Yes, I will do a tutorial on quilting a feathery border, although I've decided to make it continuous around the entire quilt, which is not the way I do it most frequently.

 Here is the quilt so far, in all it's feathery goodness.  The tutorial for how to do the feathered plumes in the snowball blocks is here.

Good Will purchases:

 Two sets of embroidered pillowcases.   They are 100% cotton, so I'm guessing the cases were purchased in the 40s or 50s. Yes, I was amazed first that something of this quality was in that particular store, and more amazed that they had to have been destinedfor the variegated size 40 tatting thread I purchased this summer from Jess! at Tatilicious.

I suspect the pillow cases were never used  and that it was because an edging was never attached.  I have decided that rather than attach these edgings on the edge, I'll attach them on the hem.  A couple decades ago when I finished a set of pillow cases and sheet with embroidery and tatting, I did attach the lace at the the edge.  Despite the fact that I don't often use that set of sheets, the lace is coming apart in some places.  So I think this lace will last longer if it's on the hem.

Both of these lace edgings are narrow and my own design, because I had no idea how far 50 yards of thread would go--and I did end up ordering more.  I was going to come up with a tatted medallion for each pillow case, and I actually have finished one and have begun another, but the embroidery colors on these cases were so perfect that I just knew they were destined to have lace made from this gorgeous thread hand dyed by this wonderful young woman.

I almost didn't see these treasures.  The frames look like pecan wood--and the framing was done by Pic Frame in Alamagordo.  Beautiful stitching with all x's made properly and thread lying nicely.  We have hummingbirds all summer in our area and even more during migration season.  I'm thrilled to have these.

Okay, there were a couple of more purchases.  One was a file to sharpen the blades of my people-powered push mower because the vintage or antique (more likely) file I've inherited from Grandpa is not doing the job.  Neither the file nor the task is at all romantic, so no picture.

This was a splurge from Sunflower Markets/Sprouts  (they're in transition).  I have not had a slice of blueberry pie for decades!  No kidding.  By the time I was 11 or 12, pie making was my task.  My mom used a recipe from Mazola Oil  (at the time we had no idea I was allergic to corn products), and the pies were more like a tart.  My favorite was blueberry, but we rarely had blueberry filling.  (And now my favorite is cherry, but they had no cherry pies.)

Among my goals for today is to get at least the widest border of Little Miss Gardener done.  I'll take pictures as I work.

I'm linking to Melissa's Try New Things Thursday, despite the fact that attaching lace in a new place has nothing to do with quilting (except that bed quilts deserve to be accompanied by beautiful pillow cases).

Happy quiltmaking......

Progress: Tatting, Knitting, Quilting

 Knitting Progress:  All the footies need is the yarn fastened off and the ends woven in.  They've been sitting like this for several weeks.  What is wrong with me that I can't accomplish more?!

 Shawl:  Begun several weeks ago.  It's a six stitch repeat to create the lace--you can see it just beginning on the right hand section. I can't hold the six stitches in my brain and have to keep looking at the chart, and then I forget where I am in the six stitches!

Tatting Progress:  Need to tie off this tatted medallion.  This is DMC Cordonnet Special in beige; my grandma's favorite size; my favorite size until I discovered the threads that Jess!  hand-dyes. 

 These are size 40--my new favorite size, because that's one of the sizes Jess dyes.  These are edgings for pillow cases.  With the thread that's left, I want to make a medallion for the the front of each pillowcase--hoping I have enough thread.  Thus, the attempt in beige in the previous picture.
Several months ago I was struggling more with tatting than knitting; now it's the other way around.

Quilting Progress: A quilt finish and lots of photos:

Tropical Vacation

 Yes, it was windy here before 9:00 a.m.

 Quilting details show up better in some blocks than others.

 Judy R. pieced, layered, and basted the quilt.

I tried out some new quilting designs and some variations of old ones.

 ThreadArt and Fil-Tec Glide thread.

 Quilted on Necchi BU Nova in 1919 Singer treadle irons.

 Quilting shows up better in some places than others.  Most of the fabric in the quilt is very busy.

 One of my friends keeps asking why I put so much work into prayer quilts.  Prayer quilts are the perfect place to practice new things.

 Beyond that, I think doing shoddy or minimal work would akin to donating expired food to a food bank.

 Again, the quilting shows up better in some places than in others.

 (Shadow of photographer.  How UN-cool is that!?)

 Now it will go back to Judy for the label and binding.

Coming tomorrow, Sunday, August 5, 9:30 a.m. MDT will be a tutorial and quilting on a treadle sewing machine.
We had wind, lightning, and thunder with only a few drops of rain yesterday.  At least some of my friends received good showers.

Several linky parties going on.  I do love to visit and see what others are creating.

For knitting, Judy of Patchwork Times posts  Friday On the Needles
For quilting, Richard and Tanya's Link a Finish Friday
Sarah's Whoop! Whoop! for this week.
Erin's hosting this week's Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday over at Missy Mac Creations

 I know of no linky parties for tatting.  If I did, I'd surely share them with you. When I took Sweet Teen to have her senior pictures taken yesterday, the person who was acting as receptionist for the photographer asked about tatting and I gave her a crash course.  I do hope to hear from her so I can share more.  When I wanted to learn, tatting was pretty much a dying art (yes, dyeing the threads is special too), and I've taught scores of women to tat.  I'm just getting back into it after laying it aside for a while--of course, Jess's Tatilicious threads have been very inspirational!  I did find some of my several-decades-old books of tatting, but I haven't found the English one that I think had more medallions in it.
If you visit the parties, please try to leave a comment or two for some of the participants.  Some of us are in the middle of nowhere and cyber-sharing is one of our ways to share with people.

Happy quiltmaking...and knitting...and tatting....

Blessings, Busy Bee, I-40

We have had no rain for weeks--unless you want to count the few mud drops that fall from the sky as clouds pass over. For the last few days, while showers were falling over other areas, I've been able to count the raindrops that visited us.

 Today we had real rain.  The storm lasted for over an hour--I'm guessing we may have gotten an inch, or two, at the most. (Our little airport is reporting 0" thus far.) And, yes, I remember that about this time last year we were in East Tennessee and experienced 10-15 inches in about an hour and half.

We still have flash flood warnings out across the state and are concerned for erosion of the scars from forest fires.
For a while today it came down so hard that the buildings across the field weren't visible.
I occupied myself quilting on the treadle near my north window--reminding myself that if I owned one of those expensive computerized machines and/or a long arm, I would have had to unplug them and would have been just spinning my wheels.

 After the rain:  puddles!

 And more puddles! Glad the rain happened today instead of last night during our town's one-hour-plus fireworks display (that was close enough that I watched it from my driveway).

On the way home from therapy, I stopped in Edgewood to help Busy Bee Quilt Shop celebrate their fourth birthday.  For those traveling I-40 through New Mexico, Edgewood is slightly less than thirty miles east of Albuquerque.  There is only one Edgewood exit, and those who drive between two and three miles north will find the little strip center with Busy Bee Quilts.

Busy Bee is owned by a very nice couple who truly understand the  meaning of hospitality and dish it out liberally.  (I did turn down the offer of cake today.) I really don't have a solid plan for these fabrics yet, since a lot of ideas have been floating around in my head for weeks. While I love the idea of charm packs, layer cakes, stacks of fat quarters, jelly rolls, etc., I do love choosing fabrics from across several lines from several manufacturers.

I came home with this quilt inspiration, including the pale teal in the background. I also won a free fat quarter (I was one of three customers in the shop at 2:00; others, kept away by the thunderstorm, I'm sure.)  I think the last time I won something in a store was when I was seven and won my Charlotte doll a week before Christmas in Mrs. Beatty's Gift Shop in El Paso, Illinois!

I also picked up these interesting dots to add to the collection for Sweet Teen's polka dots and stripes quilt.  I really need to work on that design instead of buying more dots!

I was grateful to have only one therapy today, although it was vestibular therapy and was pretty tough to get through (as are the home exercises, for that matter).  Tomorrow includes two appointments and Sweet Teen's return from her mission trip--so I'm hopeful that I'll be able to fit in some visits at thrift stores because I'd like to find a couple more white 100% cotton sheets for a window project.

I did manage to quilt two colliding feathers onto Brent's quilt--so I'm really just at the beginning of that project still!  I'll console myself with the fact that during some of my waiting time I was able to work on tatted lace.

Happy quiltmaking.....