How do you decide what to tat next? Is there something that’s been sticking in your head and it won’t leave you alone until you’ve tatted it? Do you have an ‘obligation’ for a baby shower gift and you need something special for the future tot? Bored and need something new and out of the ordinary?

There are so many different tatting patterns and now that more and more people are designing and sharing patterns, it can be difficult to decide what you want to make next. At least, I have that problem sometimes. Do I stick with a ‘tried and true’ pattern or go with something new and different? Well, I’ll tell you…it all just depends on the situation at the moment. Sometimes, I just want to do something that’s a no-brainer that can be whipped up in a matter of minutes. Maybe I just need my tatting fix for the day. Quite often a simple little bunny rabbit, a flower or a butterfly will do the trick. It’s something that will put a smile on my face and I can put it aside to be used later on a homemade note card, as decoration on a little girls’ turtle neck collar or stitch onto a washcloth for that newborn baby shower gift. I’ve never felt that tatting a little ‘do-ditty’ is a waste of time or thread. These little critters, hearts, flowers or whatever you chose to make can save time in the future; when you need to make a quick gift and yet you want it to be special and have that ‘homemade’ touch to it.

This would be another wonderful idea for a quick ‘take along’ project when waiting at a bus/train stop, doctor/dentist office, or waiting for the service to be done to your automobile. In a short time these quick (and yet very useful items) can be made and put aside for a gift that others will feel sure that you’ve spent a lot of time and thought into. We won’t tell them any different.

If you want to go a little bit further, how about attaching these miniature projects to some wrapping paper to catch the eye of the recipient? Maybe some little feet can be attached to a wide ribbon for added emphasis. Won’t they feel special having some tatted goodies on their package? I know that I would and I’m sure they would too. And, we all know how the pride we feel, to see the smile on someone’s face, when they see and appreciate that their gift (or even just part of the packaging) was homemade just for them.