1927 bonnet and a surprise - nuntium ducentesimum octogesimum primum

We went to Iowa and saw the opera.  It was great fun and my former student did a great job!  My friend forgot her tatting (gasp!) so we didn't do that but we had a great time anyway. 

I started on the 1927 baby bonnet.  Even though I've used long-hand patterns in the past (a long time ago when the dinosaurs roamed the earth), I'm more comfortable with visual patterns- in fact I distinctly remember avoiding patterns that didn't also have pictures for me to look at.  Isn't that funny?
Here's the very beginning.

This is size 100 Fincrochet.  I think it's going to be way too small!

So I drew it out for myself.  It's not even but it works for me.

I'm excited to make it, it's so pretty!  It does break my heart though that someone designed this and gets ZERO credit.  Thank you whoever you were/are!

And lastly, even though this is wildly exciting to me, look what I found at a gas station in Iowa!

My students had so much fun with it!  I had it displayed like this when they came into the room yesterday morning and they were hovering like bees and trying to peer into it from below.  When I told them they could touch it and then put it on, they were so excited.  I have some of the best pictures with HUGE smiles.  (Sorry, I won't show them though.)

Who knew?  When I went to purchase the helmet (and mind you there were two different color crests to choose from), the cashier didn't bat an eyelash.  My friend asked if she sold many and she responded, "Oh, you'd be surprised".  Somehow I have visions of people all over Iowa driving around with these on!

What a giggle and it certainly was worth every cent yesterday morning.  I can't wait until my 6th graders see it tomorrow (snow day here.)

Better - nuntium ducentesimum octogesimum

Well, it's done.  It will serve as a good back up if I don't get the other one completed.

I pressed it but didn't have time to take a picture.  I'm ready to assemble it but am currently in Cedar Rapids, Iowa to attend an opera- Turnadot!  That sounds pretty posh, doesn't it?  One of my former students is in it, so my good friend and colleague and I have driven here so we can see him in action.

But tonight we are here in an Air BnB and our big plan is to sit and tat together!  Double fun!

wrong side - nuntium ducentesimum undeoctigesimum

I thought "I'll do this in a different order".

ha.

Turns out I put the final row on the wrong side!

Maybe I'll finish this week.

Baby bonnet - nuntium ducentesimum duodeoctigesimum

I've been working on a baby bonnet.  I'm trying Karen Cabrera's lovely pattern.  I'm afraid I don't really like size 10.  This is my "backup bonnet".  I have a dear colleague who will be having a baby in May.  Even though I've stopped making such time-intensive items for others, this woman is very special.  Not only is she one of the sweetest people around, she also asked to learn to tat a few years ago.  She hasn't been too active (got married last year) as a tatter, she understands what tatting is and the time involved.  Plus I just wanted to make something special for her.

Here's the start, needed 18 of them.

Very easy but with size 10, the shuttles had to be filled all the time!

Got going and forgot to take a middle picture.

Now still has restarted, so we'll see when this gets done... : )