A friend and I went on an "I'm leaving Russia in 2 weeks" shopping spree over the weekend, and boy do I think I found some good stuff for a tatter. :)
First of all, amazingly, I found this:
I guess it's a Pony shuttle? I had never heard of this brand before (but thought the shape looked familiar, and I have been told by OneMad Tatter Fiona that it's like an Aero or Susan Bates).
Anyway, it's a shuttle and I got it in Vladivostok! Hooray! [I'm not going to mention that I usually really dislike shuttles with bobbins...oh wait, oops. :)] Before this all I had found were some tiny white shuttles that I actually think are meant for kumihimo, but work well for Celtic tatting, if nothing else.
Additionally, I picked up these beauties at an outdoor market next to the mall where I found the shuttle:
Russian handkerchiefs for about 20 rubles (USD $0.37 each...the exchange rate is crazy right now)
I had to laugh, because these were also in the pile of handkerchiefs:
Naturally I had to buy a bunch of these!! Hopefully I will be seeing all of these birds in just a few short months, maybe while I tat a border for one of these hankies?!
And then there are the towels...
The red, green and yellow one on the left is a traditional Russian pattern, the two in front have matryoshka dolls on them, the orange towel has a winter scene and snowflakes, and the towel with the green border says "Happy New Year" and shows Ded Moroz (something like the Western Santa Claus) with his granddaughter/helper Snegurochka (the Snow Maiden) giving a present to a sheep, which I believe has something to do with the Chinese New Year, something that is very popular in Rusia (2015 is the year of the Goat or Sheep, depending on what source you look at (it's about 75-25 Sheep to Goats represented in the New Year swag around here, in case you were wondering!!)
So, I have all this great stuff, now to decide what to add to it...
I am historically very bad at adding any tatting to anything I have bought to add tatting to, and I will admit that I am downright terrified to add an edging to a handkerchief...maybe 2015 will be the year of the edgings for me...maybe. :)
First of all, amazingly, I found this:
I guess it's a Pony shuttle? I had never heard of this brand before (but thought the shape looked familiar, and I have been told by OneMad Tatter Fiona that it's like an Aero or Susan Bates).
Anyway, it's a shuttle and I got it in Vladivostok! Hooray! [I'm not going to mention that I usually really dislike shuttles with bobbins...oh wait, oops. :)] Before this all I had found were some tiny white shuttles that I actually think are meant for kumihimo, but work well for Celtic tatting, if nothing else.
Additionally, I picked up these beauties at an outdoor market next to the mall where I found the shuttle:
I had to laugh, because these were also in the pile of handkerchiefs:
And then there are the towels...
The red, green and yellow one on the left is a traditional Russian pattern, the two in front have matryoshka dolls on them, the orange towel has a winter scene and snowflakes, and the towel with the green border says "Happy New Year" and shows Ded Moroz (something like the Western Santa Claus) with his granddaughter/helper Snegurochka (the Snow Maiden) giving a present to a sheep, which I believe has something to do with the Chinese New Year, something that is very popular in Rusia (2015 is the year of the Goat or Sheep, depending on what source you look at (it's about 75-25 Sheep to Goats represented in the New Year swag around here, in case you were wondering!!)
So, I have all this great stuff, now to decide what to add to it...
I am historically very bad at adding any tatting to anything I have bought to add tatting to, and I will admit that I am downright terrified to add an edging to a handkerchief...maybe 2015 will be the year of the edgings for me...maybe. :)
Adding an edging to a handkerchief is not difficult. The 'hard' part is having enough patience to sew all that lace on.....when you'd rather be tatting something. ;-) Edgings can be done in any size thread - from size 80 or smaller to size 20. The size 20 ones you probably want a very 'small' edging - rings and chains, not much width. Then again, for size 80 (or smaller) thread, you could do even a 'wide' edging and it would look lacy and pretty. Once you get settled in the new place, get those hankies out and start playing with edgings. It's fun! :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you for the encouragement and for the information! I have packed two of the hankies in my luggage, the rest will be forwarded to Australia to arrive sometime in the future, who knows when, but I am GOING TO do it! I think I can I think I can! :)
DeleteThere you go - it's another 'sign' that you're off to Oz!!!! Love the hankies. Some Pony shuttles work fine but I've never got on with them. Each person is different, though.
ReplyDeleteThat's what I thought, Jane, it's a sign. I can't say I'm in love with the Pony (or any bobbin shuttle, for that matter). Give me a tortoiseshell Clover, I'm a happy camper. :) Amazingly, we leave for Australia something like 2 months from today. W-E-I-R-D!
DeleteWaw, so many cute hankies to tat edgings for!
ReplyDeleteI don't understand pony shuttles! As a shuttle,.. either you have a tail, so that you can wind a bobbin on it, or you don't have a tail, so you work a tiny bit faster. But Pony's have a tailon which the bobbin does not fit!That is Kafka! Or how do you say that in Russia? Mourzouk!
To be honest, I had never given those tails a thought until now...but you are right, the bobbin does not fit, which seems really silly.
DeleteI believe an appropriate Russian word would be ужасный [oo-jus-knee] (or simply ужас, [oo-jus] which means terrible, or if you feel less strongly about it there is глупый [gloopy], which just means silly. :)
I have confidence in you, first the bird hankie then christmas towels for NEXT year. Frivole's iris edging is really a stunner and wonderfully easy
ReplyDeleteWell thank you so much for your confidence! And you are right, Frivole's iris edging is stunning, and already has a corner so I am going to give it a try! Thank you! :)
DeleteI am SOOOO jealous of those Russian doll towels! WANT WANT WANT.
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm not promising anything, but I will do my best to find time to go back and see if they have any more (they only had the one set when I bought mine) and if they do I will be happy to send them to you :)
DeleteI agree with Tally ... I have to use Pony shuttles because those are the only good quality bobbin shuttles available in India . Last year the 4 shuttles I bought, have 'loose' bobbins that need a rubber band inserted, for control. This time, though, the 2 shuttles I ordered, turned out fine.
ReplyDeleteBut I still prefer my steel shuttle, which is over 25 years old.
Nice shopping :-) Lots of projects waiting for 2015 . We are here to egg you on, while doing the edgings !
Have a great trip Down Under :-)
Hey, just noticed -- that shuttle IS made in India !!!
DeleteWould love to hear about your experience with it .....
Well, as of right now I can't say much for it, but to be honest I don't really like bobbin shuttles, so I am really the wrong person to ask. It feels just as annoying as my Susan Bates, and having never tried an Aero I can't compare those, but at the end of the day, it's a shuttle and it tats so I'm happy. Better to have an annoying shuttle than no shuttles at all! :)
DeleteGreat shopping, ironic to find a hanky with Australian birds on its as if it's drawing you to your next continent.
ReplyDeleteLovely hankys and towels, lots of edging for 2015, I have never used a pony shuttle so I can't comment, but you are going away with a piece of Asia as it's made in India.
Margaret
Ironic is the right word, I think! Funny, too. 2015 may be the year of the edging...maybe :)
DeletePony shuttles seem to be the only ones available in general haberdashery shops in South Africa and the parts of England I visited recently. Like Tally, I'm baffled by the tail that doesn't fit the bobbin and like Muskaan I've found the bobbins come loose very quickly. Love the hankies! I have a tea towel with Australian birds similar to your hanky. Seems like a good omen, your finding it now.
ReplyDeleteOoh, a sign and an omen, I guess our tour in Australia is already blessed! (By the hanky gods, anyway!) :) The Pony is eh but it's more about what it represents than its actual use for me...mostly I was just so thrilled to find another shuttle here, if only I'd found another tatter... :) Oh well, there are tatters in Australia so I'm looking forward to that! :)
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