Tatting for the Tree

Posted on December 12, 2013 by Billie Crumly — 1 Comment ?

NOTE: You may think this blog is way to early, but think again, 5 more days until September 1. Christmas will be here before you know it. Time to get to TATTING!

If you are a follower then you already know that I have a broken foot and am wearing a boot.  Ugh!!!  For an old lady this is a chore.  And so it’s time to get my Christmas tree up (past time); however, we’ve made the decision not to put it up this year and I’m heartbroken.  Two or three friends have offered to put it for me but whatever we take down has to be put back and they said nothing about putting it back. LoL  I love the ornaments — some we’ve had for years and years — and it’s always fun to get them and remember where each came from.

One year our friend was working for Chic-Filet and I did a large quantity of cross-stitched chickens and put them in tiny frames (ornament) for him to give as gifts.  On the back of the one I have I made a note so I would always remember.  Two others that are super special are two John’s cousin sent from Germany — one is an old lady with knitting needles at work and the other is Grandpa with his pipe (very fitting I would say).

Perhaps the ones that are most special are the handmade ones — lots of tatted snowflakes and a few balls covered with tatting.  There are lots of crochet covered balls, as well as crocheted snowflakes.  I had a good friend who tatted with me — we got together often to have show and tell and exchange patterns, but now she’s tatting in Heaven and I miss her so much.  It’s hard for me to get interested in making additional ornaments, but they do make nice gifts.  This year I have made nothing, but I must whip myself in time and do something.

After the snowflakes are tatted —–  I have a board, like fabric is rolled on in the stores, and I put a piece of waxed paper on that then pin the flakes on — being careful to put a pin in each picot or point.  After that I stiffen them.  I used to wet them first; however, I’ve found it easier to stretch them dry and then apply stiffener.  Stiffener can be purchased, but I use half Elmers Glue and half water and dab it on — have to be careful going around the many pins to get all the flake wet.  I can pin several on a board and they dry over night or in some cases, I can prop them in the sunshine on the sun porch and they will dry quicker than over night.

On second thought, maybe I’ll get the miniature tree out — it only holds tiny snowflakes and wouldn’t be so hard to put or or take down.  I’ll try to use a picture of last year’s large tree for you to see.  This, too, is country living.