Karey Solomon, editor of Tatting Times, has recently published two new booklets of patterns, "Bouquet of Bookmarks" and "Button Abecedarius". 26 pages, 11 patterns, half size booklet. 2012.

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"Bouquet of Bookmarks" is another delightful booklet of tatting patterns from the well known editor of Tatting Times, Karey Solomon. (See https://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art38180.asp .) This offering of 10 flower patterns and their gardener has both color and black and white photos of the projects. Although there are few diagrams, the traditional style written tatting directions are clearly presented.

Techniques used include all the basic tatting techniques plus pearl-tatted chains, maltese rings, lock chain and the double double stitch (aka double balanced stitch.)

I found the thistle pattern most interesting. It is created from a maltese ring. The secondary thread forms 7 picots on the "inside" of the ring which are graduated in size. Before closing the ring, the four larger picots are woven over the three smaller picots which were first joined using the secondary thread. The larger picots are secured in place by additional joins.

The thistle top has cut picots which are frayed by stroking with a pin. Or, the cut picots could be brushed with a toothbrush to enhance the fluffy look.

Karey Solomon, editor of Tatting Times, "Button Abecedarius",
2012, 26 pages, 11 patterns, half size booklet.

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style of pattern

In this alphabet there are only 24 letters! In the tradition of young ladies' samplers, Karey Solomon has omitted the "I" and the "T" from her model of a primitive style tatted chain alphabet. The individual letters basically begin and end with the thread being attached to buttons. There are both color and black and white illustrations of each character (patterns are included for all 26 letters.) Diagrams are added for all but the most simply formed ones, such as "c" and "I."

Colored buttons give a childlike look to the completed alphabet sampler. This use of buttons could be further enhanced if the buttons were chosen with regard to which letter of the alphabet is being tatted. For example, an apple-shaped button for the letter "A." A small zebra shaped button or a black and white striped plain button for the letter "Z." The possibilities are endless and offer many hours of happy tatting.