Flutter Bys

~Updated~ 8/30/07

Tat Days 2007 'Flower Garden' -- September 7 & 8, 2007

Here's a a portion of a recent message from Palmetto Tatters' Guild:

As always we are accepting tatted butterflies and beauties that we distribute each year at the SC State Fair. Last year we distributed over 4000 to let folks know about tatting. As of August 18, we only had 800. You can see some samples from last year here.

It's not too late, if you know someone that wants to come with you, bring them!

Registration can be completed at

Tat Days 2007 'Flower Garden'.
Looking forward to seeing you in 13 days!

Here are the ones I've made thus far... don't you want to make a few, too?

Palmetto Tatters' June Meeting

The Palmetto Tatters' meeting was yesterday, and it was probably the last time we will be meeting at the Lexington Library. Next month we'll meet at a local craft shop, Creative Sewing Machine Center at an earlier time - 12:00 noon. Katharine asked if I'd be available to scribe for the competition judging at Tat Days, and I agreed. Sounds like fun!

There were several guests and visitors at the meeting, two of which were Melissa and Gerard Anayo, and she describes their visit here. It was good to see them in person, and they seemed to enjoy their visit. I'm sure they enjoyed the expertise of a couple of the experienced tatters - there is always more to absorb.

The lesson for the day was Tatted Flowers led by Marie Smith. Here is the sample board that Marie had done:

Hope and I had a bit of trouble with the notation used for the Patti Duff patterns, but I went through and made notes after I got home to get a better understanding of it. Here are a couple of samples I made, though not blocked or pressed:

Palmetto Tatters' May Guild Meeting

I certainly enjoyed our Palmetto Tatters' Guild meeting on Saturday. It was at a different site, and I always get confused with the I-20/I-26 directions around Columbia, but I got there, albeit a little late. Believe me, it was worse going home! I do need to remember to do those 'reverse directions' when printing from Maps!!

It was a great meeting. Everyone was in great spirits, lots of comradery, laughing, and just fun! There were some updates about Tat Days in September, and it sounds exciting! Mary talked about the accommodations as if she kind'a liked them a little - LOL - sounded like a spa!


Flowers, Flowers, Flowers was the theme of the lessons, and one was Gary Houtz' 3D Flower taught by Katharine Bucknered. It was a fun little project, and this is the result I got.

Isn't it a cutie patootie? Can't you see a garden full of them?


The second half of the lesson was led by Lori Dunlap, but it was more complicated and not easily converted to the needle, so I'll have to delve into it a little more later.


During some sharing time, Marie Smith was showing some of the items for the lesson next month, and she was demonstrating to Pam her onion ring. I had tried a while back to do them with directions from the web, but could just never get it to look like I wanted. Well... after watching Marie, I came home and tried it again, and it looks JUST like I wanted - and I added a little top notch, so in orange it would look like a pumpkin, hu?



Deb Strickland brought some of her threads for us to peruse. I got a couple of balls after looking them over. I was so surprised to see the difference in what is called size 20. I had bought a big lot of Rubi size 20, and got the Opera size 20 from Deb. Honestly, I had hoped the Rubi would be this size, but alas...Take a look at the difference in my needle tatting comparing the two.




Last but not least, my pal Hope brought her needles to learn how to needle tat. She is a great shuttle tatter, and very patient and kind trying to help as I convert patterns. I told one of the ladies that she was wanting to learn needle so she could be more helpful - that's just the kind of person she is. I am not a teacher by nature, but after showing her a few times, she had it going and made the little 3D flower! She said she'd bring a project done by needle to the next meeting, and I'm looking forward to seeing it!

OH! Almost forgot that I finally got one of the very nice Butterflies Migrating books.

Note to self: bring camera!!

Palmetto Tatters' Guild

It had been several month since I went to the Palmetto Tatters' Guild meeting in Columbia, SC, but yesterday, Saturday, it just called me so loudly that I went!

One of the girls on the Needle Tat yahoo group said she may be able to go, and low and behold I got to meet Debbie S. We didn't exactly work together, but it was certainly good to put a voice and a smile with those messages. Her tatting is prettier in person than in pictures, of course, AND she's another needle tatter!

I did get to work with my old pal from last year's Tat Days conference, Hope! She's just as much fun as ever, and she has a way of sharing her tatting skills and knowledge that makes it easy to learn! I also met a new friend, Theresa who is so friendly and fun to be with. They made me glad I went.

The lesson/workshop for the day was a garland of daisies led by Barbara Hevener. It was a fun challenge, and you can see my little sample below. Mary encouraged us to join in the Exchange, and since next month's project is a bookmark, I may just do it!!




I'm glad I went, and will make it a priority to be a more dedicated member.

Palmetto Tree

As a 'member' of the Palmetto Tatters Guild, I had to try the Palmetto Tree motif. The fronds could be a little longer, but it looks pretty good to me. Used Finca 16.