April 2024 - FairyLace

Organization of space in the craft room, or how to store thread supplies.

Hello everyone! Today I organized my polyester thread supplies. I do this periodically. For some reason my thread supply is not decreasing. I think it’s due to frequent visits to the craft store. Ah, my willpower does not work at all when I see beautiful threads, fabrics, beads, accessories… (the list goes on and on!). I’m not a shopaholic, I’m a collector!

Of course, like any master, while working in the studio I have “artistic chaos”! But after finishing the project, I return the tools and the remaining supplies to their places.

Organization of scissors in the craft room

These are not surgical instruments, these are my scissors! (the photo is old, so now there are a little more scissors).

I hung the most frequently used ones on the “scissor tree”! My handsome husband made this organizer for me. The rest of the scissors are in the box. On the shelves in boxes are accessories for jewelry, needle shuttles and hooks for tatting, and various small items.

Organization of threads in the craft room

Sewing threads are always in place. Two organizers for small and large spools were made for me… You already know who!

I store large balls of cotton thread in two wicker baskets. It’s better to put each ball in a plastic bag, so they don’t collect dust.

I always have a problem with polyester balls. These are the threads I use most often in my work. For example, I made this set of bookmarks from polyester threads in all the colors of the rainbow. https://fairylace.kozinenko.com/product/bookmarks-chakras-tatting-patterns/
At first I put the balls in a basket, then I decided to use a plastic container with a lid. But such storage is very inconvenient. And besides, the threads get tangled and intertwined unless I secure the tail of the thread with a piece of tape (and I sometimes forget to do this). It takes a lot of time and patience to unravel this mess!

While making my next thread purchase, I received two transparent thin plastic boxes from the store. They are not very convenient for storage because they are fragile and soft. But I have a large roll of cardboard and skillful hands! (Is it okay that I’m bragging, LOL!?)
I made four cardboard boxes. Each box holds 10 balls. And two plastic boxes magically became four lids. Now each ball lies in its own “nest”. I don’t have to search for a long time for a ball of the right color, because I can see everything through the transparent lid. But I still have some balls left in a white plastic box. I think I need to buy more thread with a clear box…

Do you also praise yourself when you organize your supplies? Or are your threads always in perfect storage? I will be very interested if you share in the comments how you organization of space in the craft room.

Join me on social networks and also subscribe to my YouTube channel, welcome: https://www.youtube.com/c/ElenaKozinenko

11 ways add bead in tatting, or “maybe it would be easier to sew?”

Hello everyone! I’m sure many tatting masters have used beads at least once to decorate their products. Of course, this adds charm and shine to thread products. Do you agree? There are two directions of tatting, where beads and crystals are used in large quantities. These are Ankars and Beanile. Today I will not dwell on each of them in detail. Because the purpose of my article is different. I want to tell you how to correctly separate the beads between the shuttle and ball threads.

Sometimes people ask me: isn’t it easier to sew on beads? I answer – do as you like! And if we sew on a bead, then this is method 12, ha ha!

First, let’s remember what the threads in tatting are called. These are ball and shuttle threads. By the way, I again strongly advise you to use the link and read detailed information about the terminology on the ABS website. https://abctattingpatterns.com/terms/

In today’s video I use one shuttle and a ball. Therefore, I will not “wander into the thick forest” and talk about options with two shuttles. So, I’m starting!

First way add a bead in tatting

This is the easiest way (like method 2). We simply insert the bead into the picot on the Ring. To do this, we place the bead from the SHUTTLE thread in the loop on the hand. Place the bead between your fingers so that it does not interfere with your double stitches.

Second way

Here we also insert a bead into a picot, but on a Chain. Please note that the bead is located on the Ball thread.

Third way to add a bead

This bead is placed on a picot between two Rings (or Chains, it makes no difference). This is where you need a little more skill! First, measure the bead and select a suitable picot meter. Make the first Ring (or Chain) with a picot of the required size (we did measure the required length of the picot, didn’t we?!). Then make part of the second Ring (or Chain) to next picot. This will be a join picot with the previous element. Place the bead on a thin crochet hook, pull the picot through the bead and make a join picot. I’m not sure if I’m explaining this clearly, but the video will help us!

Way four

Bead on the Cord Thread inside the Ring. The bead is located on the SHUTTLE thread. To add a bead in this case, you do not need to move the bead into the loop on your hand. You just need to move the bead to the work in the right place and continue double stitches.

Fifth way to insert a bead in tatting

This method is a variant of the previous one. But the bead is located at the base of the Ring. To do this, we need to move the bead from the SHUTTLE thread into the loop on the hand. And when we form the Ring, the bead will be exactly where we planned!

The sixth way

As in the two previous methods, we add a bead to Core Thread, but in the Chain. And pay attention, the bead is located on the SHUTTLE thread, from where we will move it to the place we need.

How to add a bead to tatting, method seventh

This method is convenient when we use one shuttle. Add a bead to the SHUTTLE tharsd BETWEEN the rings. In the photo you can see the ball thread under the bead too. But this is also a possible option!

Eighth method

Add a bead to the BALL thread BETWEEN the two CHAINS. Have you already guessed where this bead was located?

Attention! Aerobatics!

These two options will require your concentration and dexterity. We will add a bead to the center of the Ring and Split Ring! I won’t bore you with a description (thanks for your patience!). But it’s better to watch the video please.

11 way

Add a bead to the middle of the Ring using extra thread. It’s elementary! I like this method.

So, I talked about 11 ways add bead in tatting. I’m sure now you know where to place the beads before starting work, on the shuttle or on the ball! And you will use beads more often and more variably! Look what my new bracelet looks like. I used methods 4 and 8. However, there are also sewn ones! The pattern is available in my store, check: https://fairylace.kozinenko.com/product/bracelet-merrilyn-tatting-pattern/

I almost forgot! Link to video in my channel YouTube I hope you will remember to subscribe, follow my blog and comment, thank you! ): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvmV5zLvNCI&list=UULF3dn4_9pp7tIKA2k564wLBQ