Spring

Spring is about all things becoming new again. In the spirit of spring, last night I found this.

It's a metal box I got one Christmas that I found was generally perfect for tatting projects - long enough for crochet hook and deep enough to hold most balls of cotton and sturdy enough to protect the shuttle. 

Inside I found a tatted doily project is forgotten about. 

That's the pattern and this is how far is gotten.

Fourth round. The second round was the hardest and I don't have far to go so now it's a new project that's on my list for this weekend. Now that I've got the split rings thing down, it will go soooo much faster.

That gives me simply 3 projects for the weekend. 

1.  Tatted doily 

2.  Bobbin lace miniature flower for necklace

(Magnified view - I'm now in the second half of the 3rd flower). Working with yellow Gutermann's silk thread. So yummy, I can't even tell you.

3.  First installment of Rohn Strong's mystery knitalong shawl where I'll have to make my mind up between a 2-ply merino/angora handspun in white (I have 300+ yds but will need to spin more) or a single-ply Blue Faced Leicestet spun from a gorgeous Frabjous Fibers roving in reds/oranges

Hard choice to make. I may just have to do 2 of them!

I like subtle

Out of the Robyn Spady weaving workshop, I picked 2 of the samples I like best and decided to weave enough for a little bag.

The sample was using my overshot threading and a swivel treadling that I found fascinating. With this pattern, which uses 2 colors for the weft (in my case, blue and natural - the same color as my warp) you make the pattern by alternating the shuttle with the blue and the suttee with the natural. However when you start with the natural first, you get a different but similar pattern. 

Here's what I mean:

I love how the pattern changes so I did the front of the bag with blue first, then added a basic twill treadling for the bottom and the white first pattern for the back. I finished off with a couple of different twill variations for the front flap. 

The flap looks wider because I haven't done the lining yet. Once I do the hem around he flap and the handle, it'll all work. 

Here's a better look at the patterning in the flap.