Red square

This was my first attempt at block tatting, and I didn't have access to an explanation, plus the pattern is from a german tatting book. Obviously it is just a motif from a bigger design, but I just wanted to try the technique in a small pattern to start off.
The thread is from Frances, a lovely thread, about a 50, and easy to work (and undo when necessary!)
Thank you to everyone for suggestions as to how to hide ends, with this one I managed to sew them through, sort of... but I am keen to perfect the magic threads method as I often tat with small threads and rather tightly, perhaps I'm rather a tense person!

Jon's daisy picot completed

This was quite difficult for me, and took me a couple of tries before I managed to complete it correctly. I am grateful to Jon for her clear instructions. The threads are Valdani 50 "precious pansies" and King Tut "shekels".


Talking of threads, I see other tatters also have a "sample pattern" to give them an idea of how a thread will tat up. Here are a few of my samples...the smallest is Valdani 50, and the biggest is some hand dyed thread from my friend Frances.
I am still having difficulty hiding my ends, either I can't thread the needle or else I can't force it into the stitches, does anyone else have problems with this?

Pink doiley finished

I am pleased to have finished without too many mistakes. Now I am struggling with the daisy picot snowflake, which isn't working at the moment.
(This is from the french frivolité book, with a design modification in the last row as I removed a little ring from the repeat so it would lie flat. The thread is Anchor 80 dentelles colour 8...)

Me, tatting.

I think this shows some of the reasons the pink doiley is progressing so slowly. I apologize for the poor quality of the photo.

Past tatting, a watershed piece.

This was tatted about five years ago, when I had just started tatting again. I learnt to tat in 1974, from a handicraft book, and then it waned as an interest due to the fact I couldn't find patterns. I did find a few old shuttles while browsing through antique markets, but apart from doing the odd little flower, to all intents and purposes I gave up.
Then I discovered the internet! Suddenly there were patterns, suppliers, new techniques...well everything a lost and lonely tatter could wish for.
This bookmark, designed by LaRae, was an important stage in my development as a tatter, as I learned to do both split rings and celtic tatting, plus it was my first experience of working with colour. I was so grateful to her, for sharing this pattern.
I am telling you about the past as I feel the need to keep posting, (no point in being in "the ring" if one doesn't,) but my progress on my pink doiley is rather slow, and I fear several more hours of work before I can show it. So I hope you'll forgive me for "cheating" a little.