Day 1

Hello, WORLD!!!  Here it is the link to Day 1 of the Tat It And See.

I'll be adding links to all the days in the left side bar to make it easier for you to find your way around.  I'll be sitting here waiting for anything you'd like me to add to the blog in the way of progress.

Remember - this is meant to be fun so the sillier the comments and the funnier the pictures the better!!!

PLEASE don't encourage migration of the game onto Facebook or we'll miss more of the fun.  Just send anything (questions welcome too) to lovetotat@gmail.com.

Another of the past Tat It And See games produced this.

We’re off!!  First one into this year’s TIAS is Jane.  Lovely to see you back again, Jane.  Here’s her comment and her picture.

“ Hi Jane, so glad we're off again! Here's my day 1. It's a fish. Definitely a fish.”

Next to arrive is Maureen.  Her comment is

“ I can’t believe I almost forgot to look for Day 1! January is speeding by already.

I think it is going to be an animal, because  of the beads. A very fluffy animal because of all those picots on the chains. And one that is getting bigger and fatter the more we tat.

Have you changed your pattern- writing style Jane? I had to stop and count all those picots separated by one stitch!

On to Day 2.”

Have I changed my style?  Not sure, Maureen as I didn’t realise I’d got a style!!!!  I think I thought it would be easier than having people count all the - for picots to say how many you needed on each chain.  BC3 does try to think logically but often fails!!!

Next in is from Phyllis.  I LOVE your shuttle, Phyllis.  Here’s her comment.

“ Olaf is doing his happy dance that TIAS is back!  Thanks Jane.  Looks like it is a tail of some sort.  Could it be something to whip 2021 into better shape than 2020?

Phyllis Schmidt”

Your guess is as good as mine but hopefully 2021 will be better.

Jenni has now arrived all the way from Australia!!!  She says.

“ Here is my effort.

That first ring nearly knocked me out. My hand isn't quite strong enough for small rings yet.

No idea what it might be but my guess is it won't be what I think it will be in a few days.....so I will be right!

Jenni”

So sorry about the small rings, Jenni.  There aren’t many like that.

Sue’s arrived for this year’s TIAS!!  She says

“Ok. Here's my contribution and I am certain it's going to be my Elephants Foot Umbrella Stand!

I've decided!!! Lol”

Hmmm, Sue, you’ll have to wait and see!!!

Next to land in my inbox is KatieV

Her comment is 

“ It’s a critter with a fluffy tail!

Will it dance, will it flail?

Will it swing, will it sail?

It’s a such a sweet travail 

To tat and follow its trail!

Thank you, thank you, Jane!  You're the best!!

Katie Verna in NC USA

PS  It's clear that I'm not following the trail so well.  I think it was the enthusiasm over the fluffy tail!”

Good to see you back, KatieV.

Next in is Anita who says

“ Hi Jane,

I am so glad you decided on a TIAS this year, I really missed it last year!

Here is my day 1, not sure if I chose the best color.

Depends on what this is going to be. 

A lacy lower part of a dress? 

The beginning of a centipede?

Curious and waiting for day 2 :-)”

I’ve missed them too, Anita!!!

You're just going to love, love, love Andrea's drawing!!!  She could be right, couldn't she?  This is her comment.

"Hi Jane,

Seems do long ago that we had TIAS. Thank you for bringing a ray of sunshine into my day x

I think this could be a crocodile! 🤣

Love

Andrea"

Helga is next into my inbox and she says

"Dear Jane,

Thanks for taking us on the 2021 TIAS journey.

 I’m a real needle tatter, but I’m going to try to make this one with my shuttles.

With all the covid misery we’re going through I hope it’s something cuddly.

Greetings,

Helga Havers"

Welcome, Helga and I'm sure you'll manage the shuttles very well.  Your day one looks excellent.

Melanie has just arrived in my inbox and she's got the same idea as KatieV and Maureen - something fluffy!!  Who knows?  Oh, I do!!!!

"Thank you for running the game! No guess yet, but something fluffy makes sense to me."

Next to arrive is Tatiana.  Hello, Tatiana.  Here's her comment

"Bonjour,

Merci de ce frivolage...

Je frivole depuis 1 mois et je vais essayer d'aller jusqu'au bout du tas.

Je pense que c'est un dinosaure.

Tatiana lenia

Hello,

Thank you for this frivolity ...

I have been frivolous for 1 month and I will try to go to the end of the pile.

I think it's a dinosaur.

Tatiana lenia"

Oooooh un dinosaure. C'est une bonne supposition mais je ne vous dirai pas si vous avez raison ou pas !!!!

Oooooh a dinosaur.  That's a good guess but I won't tell you if you're right or not!!!!

Next to arrive is acreech who says

“ No clue.  Should l have added the beads on which thread?

No don’t worry about the beads - they’re not needed till a lot later on!!!

How lovely to find Marco next in my inbox.  Welcome back, Marco.  Here’s her comment

“ Hello Jane,

I am here again,havent tat in a very long time,but will give it a go.

Hope you are well.

Greetings Marco”

Now another visit to Hungary.  I feel as if I’m on a worldwide travel holiday when I’m doing a TIAS.  This time it’s Agi who has arrived.

“ Dear Jane!

I'm very happy, that I can play again. This is my first day. :)

Ági from Hungary”

Now a trip to France (I think!!).  Valerie has sent him her day 1 and says

“ Bonsoir à tous,

heureuse de participer à ce tias, c'est une 1ère pour moi !

je pense que nous sommes en train de réaliser une plage et un palmier ... oui, j'ai besoin de vacances 🙂

Valérie

Good evening everyone, happy to participate in this tias, it's a 1st for me! I think we are in the process of making a beach and a palm tree ... yes, I need a vacation 🙂 Valerie”

Next to pop in is Valerie who sent this

“ Bonjour

Voici ma réalisation pour le 1 er jour.

Je frivole depuis 6 mois.

C'est ma première participation à un TIAS.

Je propose une girafe 🦒. 

Valerie de france

Hello Here is my achievement for the 1st day. I have been frivolous for 6 months. This is my first participation in a TIAS.I propose a giraffe 🦒. Valerie from France”

I'm on my way to bed but have time to upload the last two in my inbox.  This is from Llewelyn who says

"I had not tatted in about 14 months and was appalled at all I had unremembered.

 But this challenge may bring it back! It is an octopus, the tentacle with the rings being the suckers!"

Now that's an idea I'd not thought of - an octopus.  Now I'm not saying it's not an octopus - just trying to mislead  you!!!

It's always lovely to see old friends (as in friends who are not old but that I've known for a long time) in my inbox.  Here's what Bernice has to say

"I don’t have a guess for you YET.  

Bernice  tatting in Calgary AB  Canada"

Tat It And See 2021

I thought it might be a good idea to post the introduction to the TIAS here and also as a link on the sidebar - just to get you used to where to find the links!!!  The picture is the result of the first ever TIAS which happened in 2008 (I think!).

Introduction

Welcome to this year's TIAS 2021 game.  I’m back with another game for 2021.

To those of you who have played before – welcome back.  To those of you who are new to this game – it's good to see you, welcome to the fun.

The game is a brand new pattern that I have split up into small bite sized pieces and give out every few days.  This allows you to complete each part wherever you are in the world and whether you're working, retired or coping with young children!!  There will only be a few elements of the pattern to work each time and you can always leave it to do whenever you like.  Oh, the fun part is that you don't know what you're making!!!  Nearly forgot to tell you that.  That’s why it’s called ‘The Tat It And See’ (TIAS).  As usual there is no sign up required to take part and I don't keep a record of how many people take part except by numbering the final pictures on the last part.  This year I’ve added a few suggestions for techniques which may be useful.  These are just suggestions, though, and not compulsory.

To make this game more interesting I ask you to send in comments, pictures of work in progress and anything else you can think of during the game.  Guesses are always welcome too.  This is not 'compulsory' but really adds to the enjoyment for everyone!  I will add pictures and comments to the Tat It And See blog which is here.  Any private comments will be kept out of the blog but please let me know if there is something you don't want published!!!  Anonymity is respected if that is what you wish.  In that case then please just send me your 'made up' name with each picture and comment.  You are also welcome to send in links to blogs if you wish people to visit your TIAS there but you'll have to let me know when you've posted so I can add the link to the TIAS blog!  

If you post to Facebook then please bear in mind that I probably won’t pick up on your post so please send to me as well.  Not everybody is on Facebook or visits it very often.  My email address is lovetotat@gmail.com.  

I use Google translate for any pieces in other languages (welcome back to the Hungarian and Polish tatters from the last TIAS) so please bear with me if they don’t ‘quite’ make sense!!! 

Anybody who can manage the basic ring, chain and split rings should be able to complete this pattern which will be written in my usual style of text and diagrams - see examples on my website here.

I will be available to give help at all times – except during sleeping hours.

For this year's TIAS you will need two balls of size 20 thread (a darker one and a lighter one), 2 shuttles and 3 of size 10 or 11 seed beads.  To check the size of your beads you can add them to a thread and measure them.  When you have 11 beads to an inch of thread then you have a size 11 bead - similar with size 10! 

To start day 1 you will need two shuttles.  Shuttle 1 will have 5 yards of thread and shuttle 2 will have 3½ yards.

There will be three parts to this TIAS and quantities for the other parts will be given later.

Happy TIAS to all!!  

Let the fun begin – starting date will be Tuesday 12^th January 2021.

October 7th arrival

What a surprise. This actually came in on Friday but it's taken me until today to get it up and running - whoops, I mean swimming. This came from Stephanie who says:

118. "Apparently she’s a very slow swimmer. She was finished the week the last ‘instalment’ of the 2018 TIAS was released, but between needing to see the hairdresser, then swimming the width of that rather large pond to get to you, it took her a while. 

The mermaid is tatted with Lizbeth 20 (Girly Girl, I think was the color name). Hair is a thin metallic made by Superior Threads. I used more than 1 strand of metallic per picot, since it is such a thin thread compared to size 20 Lizbeth cotton. 

Monday August 27th

I'm very, very pleased to give you this link to Axa's blog post about her finished mermaid. This will be number 117 as you can see. This is the translation to her post.

117. "This year, I started a little late this challenge, but he is not left out. :) sample vessel made of lace technique Jane Eborall plans every year and makes up the steps of the sample blog just next instalment. Thanks for that, again this year. 

While together with us busy completed in several parts of the world, trying to figure out just what it is. Mostly he used to be a nice figure, and in most cases we can be sure it is the last step with what we started to prepare. 

Everyone can send the current portion of Jane, who places it on the blog so you can track where you are from, what they think, what will be the sample, and most of what people can just play with us."

April 3rd

Well between us - Martha forgetting an attachment and me not noticing when she had we've finally got her mermaid into the TIAS blog!!!

115. "Oops, I kept forgetting about the mermaid."

Next to arrive is Grace.  Somehow I didn't get her earlier messages but thankfully she realised and has sent them in now.  She's sent days 13, 14 and 15.

116. 

April 2nd

Today I'm pleased to welcome Claire's mermaid along with this comment from her:

113. "Hello Jane and fellow tatters, 

I am sad to see the end of this TIAS, and I tried to make it last as long as possible but here is my finished mermaid. 

I forgot to take a picture of my day 14, so here is only one picture of the finished TIAS, and the corresponding blog post: https://oclairedelune.wordpress.com/2018/04/01/tias-2018-jours-days-14-15-la-fin-the-end/

My mermaid was made using Lizbeth thread in size 20, in the colorway « Autumn Apple Pie » (#169). 

A big thank you to Jane for creating another great pattern, and sharing it as a fun game every year. It was great to see tatters from all over the world participating to the game, and creating so many beautiful little mermaids. 

Happy International Tatting Day to all."

Well here's another lovely surprise. This mermaid has come from Sandra who has this to say:

114. "Dear Jane, after many things hitting the fan here, I have finally been able to spend some time tatting and finish on April Fool’s Day (in the US, at least) – go figure! I’m so happy to have your precious mermaid, even though I thought for sure it might be a centipede, a pin the tail on the donkey game, or an ant eater, or a fox sawing logs –whew!! I do believe she is on her way to a party."

March 23rd

Well a lovely surprise yet again. This time the mermaid comes from Brenda in Canada and this is what she says:

112. "Dear Jane,

This mermaid was created by a group of friends. Thanks to Fran for the photo, Suzanne for mounting the mermaid on blue material and framing it, Barbara for the yellow perle cotton and especially to you for the T.I.A.S. pattern. I just did the tatting. It was a wonderful project for our craft group.

Thank you,

Brenda (Ontario, Canada)"

March 15th

Another day, another mermaid or two or three!!! 

Today I have Phyllis's mermaid which has just arrived. She says:

112. "Well my mermaid took the long way to you as it has been swimming across the pond. Thanks for another wonderful TIAS this year. Perhaps BC3 will change its mind and do another next year. Phyllis in GA USA"

Next to arrive is a merman!!! This is from Isdihara who sent in two messages!!! What a hoot:

113. "This is my first TIAS a Merman. I think his name must be Herman the Merman since Google keeps autocorrecting my typing, LOL."

Her second message is:

"OMG, now it must be Herman the German Merman-- you must be SO confused! So many autocorrecting. Go home, Google, you're drunk!"

Ummm, that's worrying a drunken google!!!

Back overnight is Isdihara again with the following two pictures and this comment:

"My very purple mermaid #1 is finished. She has big, brown eyes and her name is Serena. She is friends with Herman.

Serena is tatted with Lizbeth 20 #165 Grape Splash. Strands of Elderberry Jam #177, Lilac Medium #642 and a variegated brown sewing thread make up her hair.

Karen/IsDihara from Woodbridge, VA, USA"

March 13th

Today I'm happy to show you Alicja's mermaid. This one has had a long way to come - from Poland. This is the comment that came with it.

111. "Hello Jane,I know, it's late. Now I finished the mermaid. I'm late, but happy. Thank you for the fun!

I used DMC Babylo thread.

Alicja Wolska"

WOW, Alicja - those colours are amazing.  

Sunday 11th March

Another two mermaids (or, rather three!) have wandered or swum into my inbox today. 

First of all I have Fiona's days 14 and then the finished (day 15) mermaid. She says:

109. "Dear Jane

Well, I finally got back to this lovely girl and finished off her tail and tresses. 

Thanks for the fun this year, and for your hard work and efforts too. Seeing this build each year to include translations into different languages and unite tatters all over the world has been a privilege. Your support for beginner and experienced tatters alike is commendable. 

Thanks for continuing to be such a pivotal part of the online tatting community!

Kind regards

Fiona T 

onemadtatter.wordpress.com "

Thanks for the kind words, Fiona.

Now I have two mermaids from Barbara. I love the golden hair, Barbara.

Here's what she has to say:

110. "Dear Jane,

Here, finally, are my two mermaids. I’ve really enjoyed participating in this year’s TIAS. 

The mermaid on the left was tatted with size 20 Lizbeth Green Coral Sea #171. I used size 80 Lizbeth Cream tatting thread for the hair with a couple of thin gold metallic threads mixed in. 

The mermaid on the right was made with size 20 Lizbeth Island Breeze #130. I used “Glamour” in gold by Madeira (that I’ve had for a long time) for the hair. I gave her some fringe (bangs in American English) because she had such a high forehead ;-)

I used size 11/0 seed beads by Toho for eyes.

Thank you for all the time and energy you’ve put providing fun TIAS’ for us to tat. 

Many blessings!

Barbara from Northern California, USA"

Tuesday 6th March

This morning I have one more mermaid in my inbox and this has come from Cheryl who says:

109. "I had seen Bev of south Australia's wonderful idea of making a pretty ocean for her mermaid. 

I painted a ceramic tile with alcohol ink and then made her cute starfish and fish. Getting it glued

to a ceramic tile is fiddly and takes lots of patience."

But well, well worth the effort, Cheryl.

Fifth March

Having finally understood that Jolimama's lovely picture with all the Hungarian mermaids was a gathering of all those sent in already I went back and numbered the following ones on the blog. I have checked it against the numbering I've got in iCloud (TIAS Day 15) I'm on track again. So here's another new one in today and just as I'm heading towards bed!!

This mermaid has come from Sharon who says:

108. "Hi Jane,

After a few interruptions, I have finished my mermaid. Thanks for the TIAS and all the fun. So sad to see it go away.

Thanks again for all your hard work.

Sharon Albers - Iowa, USA."

March 2nd

Well it'll soon be my bedtime and I thought there would be no mermaids today - I was wrong. I have JB's which has just arrived and this is what she says:

107. "Hi Jane,

Please see my mermaid from Satsuma, Alabama. I used hdt color Summer Rainbow from AlenAleaDesign for the body and Lizbeth Lemon Yellow for the hair.

Thanks again for another great TIAS.

JB Locke"

You're welcome, JB and thanks for sending in your mermaid.

First March

First today I have Cindy's mermaid which has now arrived very gracefully into the TIAS blog. She says:

105. "Good Morning Jane,

I was waiting for a sunny day to try to work away the thread ends. Unfortunately this became the longest dreary period Texas has known in a long, long time… I have had to turn on the lights during the day, just about every day! So, today I decided to try it with my daylight lamp. I think the result is not completely awful. I clearly could learn a bit more about finishing techniques in tatting. My little mermaid received a hairdo in the same color as her body. My selection of thread is not huge yet, and it seemed as good a color as any. But the hair tie is a piece of seaweed…. LOL I used Lizbeth size 20, color 127, Butterfly Breeze. The hair tie is Perle Iris size 8, color 5062, a variegated green, of which I literally had just that little piece left over. I live in the Dallas area, in Texas, USA. Thank you for giving us the best reason to look forward to the new year. :D I loved playing the game, even if the last couple of days I got hopelessly behind. The rest of life had apparently no respect for my desire to tat…"

Next in today is a batch of mermaids from Katie!!! Here's what she says along with her husband's rhyme too!!

106. "Hi, Jane,

here are five of my six sweet mermaids--one swam away at the sight of the others' hairdos! Never been good at "styling" hair! Also, may redo these as I like to applique' tatting figures to quilts or my jeans jacket. Floating hair might be a bit much. Actually, I gave the wayward swimmer to a friend from Tri-tatters who thought her daughter would LOVE one! Her job is to be hair stylist for that mermaid, hehe!

Your TIAS projects have all been marvelous as have been the responses of tatters around the world! In your honor, my poetic husband wrote a limerick for this perhaps final occasion:

Adieu, TIAS. Thanks to Jane,

I have tatted a rooster, a plane,

a fat hippo, a goat,

a mermaid, a sail boat,

a rabbit... The joy will remain. 

Well, Jane, that's seven of the ten! 

big, big tatty hugs, 

Katie Verna in NC USA (near Raleigh)"

Oh, Katie I love all the different hairstyles.  The blue one on the bottom left has a particularly interesting hairstyle.  Please tell your husband that I think he must be a descendent of one of our local men - William Shakespeare!!!!