Motif #20 - Red, White and Blue PIn (two versions)

Plus photo of 111-year-old Christening gown, mentioned in my St. Patrick’s Day post.

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In the United States, three Patriotic holidays are coming up (Memorial Day, Flag Day, and Fourth of July), so I’m sharing two versions of a Celtic motif designed by Sue Hanson in 1999, which appeared on the Internet. Here I incorporated the colors red, white and blue, all DMC perle cotton, size 8.

Back around 2000, I apparently was surfing the Net at the library and was able to print out Sue Hanson’s 5-point Celtic Motif, which she did in two colors. The easiest way to see Sue’s basic pattern is to Google “Sue Hanson’s Tatting Patterns”. There’s a nice chart which lists several of her clever patterns, including this one. Her heart pattern is also very attractive.

I believe I independently came up with the idea of attaching (sewing) the motif to a tri-colored ribbon. (The pin backing is also sewn on.)


Motif #20 – Version A

I used red white and blue for the colors in the 3-section motif.

1st section –white rings and chains,
2nd section – (‘star’) blue rings and chains
3rd section – red rings and white chains

I changed the 3rd (outer) section to have longer chains to include three picots in each chain, rather than two. Adding the longer chain definitely gives the motif a different look.

I sewed a brass star (from scrapbooking supplies) in the middle, and added a tiny gold bead through the center hole in the star.

Motif #20 – Version B

Here, tatting-wise, is Sue's original motif (shorter outer chains, having two picots each.)

A slight change to the colors also gives a different look to this motif from the one above.

1st section – white rings and chains
2nd section – blue chains, red rings
3rd section – white rings and chains

I glued a red gem to the center of this motif.

These holidays mean that summer is finally on the way (although I don’t want to ‘rush’ it, and I will savor every moment). This week we have been blessed by the most fantastic weather! My mood has improved considerably, and the back yard is a wonderful place for contemplation and admiration of nature. Lots of birds and rabbits, and occasionally some deer. I’d love to have a butterfly garden, but haven’t been successful in planting one so far.

Christening gown made in 1898 !

In my St. Patrick’s Day post, I mentioned my grandparents, whose parents (English and Irish, although they all lived in Ireland) emigrated to America between 1850 and 1870. My English grandfather had tailoring skills, and in 1898 for his firstborn child (my uncle ) he made a Christening gown, which is still in the family and has been worn by my uncle’s children, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. And now it’s been worn by my uncle’s great-great granddaughter. Here is a very recent photo of the gown, which looks new! Lots of pin-tucks and some nice wide eyelet-type 'lace' for insertions, the hem and sleeves. I believe my mother (b. 1907) also wore the gown as did two other uncles. Fortunately, it has been lovingly stored and cherished down through the generations

Interestingly, it was my grandfather, not grandmother, who did the sewing in the family, and had a laundry business – very important to the community back in the early 1900s. Unfortunately, I never met him, as he died in 1929. I remember my mother saying how her father helped her with her 'school' embroidery projects, of which she did only a few, so I’m delighted to have four napkins she embroidered. She did not have an interest in needle arts, but was a great cook, which, unfortunately, did not ‘rub off’ on me! :-(

My mother graduated from a ‘big city’ school (Springfield, Mass.) in 1924 and went to “Normal” school for two years (now Westfield State Teachers College); then she taught in a one-room schoolhouse in Vermont for six months. (1926-27). I have photos of her standing in front of that schoolhouse (wood siding - no longer there), and actually saw (in 1993) the home where she boarded. She mentioned how she had to start the potbelly stove – like ‘Little House on the Prairie”! The location of the small Vermont town is not far from Arlington, VT, where Norman Rockwell set up a studio in the 1930s, although that was several years after her teaching stint. However, she may have taught some of the children who later became his ‘models’.

Looking forward to picnics, trips to lakes, and nice summer weather!