Tatting Pattern Calendar

April 9 Hector Flower by Ruth

2008-04-09T11:58:00.001-07:00

Copyright 2008 Ruth Perry

This little tatted Daisy Picot Flower has BDS stem and Hanging cluny leaves.
Begin with about a yard of the flower center color thread on shuttle #1 and the petal color on shuttle #2. The green for the stem and leaves will be added later, or use the green for the flower center.

S1 Ring: 2
*S2 Petal 8ds tatted on the S1 knotting thread
S1 2 *
Repeat between the * * until you have 5 petals with 2ds between them and 2ds at the beginning and end of the ring. Then close the ring. The DAISY PICOTS will form when the ring stitches are slid together.

Tie the tails of the petal color together to bring the thread ends together so they may be hidden in the stem. Cut the flower threads from the shuttles leaving about 12 - 18 inch tails.

Put about a yard of green thread on a shuttle and leave about 18 inch tail. Insert the tail through the center of the flower and pull it through about 18".

Gather the 4 flower thread tails and the 18" green tail and wrap them together around your little finger like tatting a chain, but we are going to do direct stitches with the green thread on a shuttle to make the BDS stem.

You may wish to read my article on tatting long chains and large rings with the Balanced Double Stitch - BDS

The BDS simply makes a rectangular shaped knot instead of a wedge shaped knot by balancing the amount of thread under the core as is on top of the core. In other words, you can tat straight instead of curved chains and larger rings.

Tat 8 BDS, encapsulating all the other thread ends in the stem. The BDS can be done with encapsulating as easily as with flipped stitches. The shuttle just goes around the core thread twice before snugging up the first half of the knot, then around the core thead twice before snugging up the second half of the knot. Note: The thread will appear to form a little figure 8 around the core. This is what it should do. Just gently snug it up to the previous tatting, and slide the stitches together every few stitches to make it look good.

Encapsulating is like tatting the second half of a split ring, wrapping, or larks head knots, or reverse tatting. All the same thing, but different people call it different things.

Next we are ready to do the Hanging Cluny leaf. One green thread is the loom thread and the other is the weaver thread.

In my sample above I repeated the 8 BDS and another HCL then 8 more BDS.

Three crazy advanced techniques in one class at Hector Tat Days, and most everyone finished easily. A couple of tatters got it the second try, and there were a couple who decided to finish the final end of the stem later. All in all, it was a fun class!

Easter Patterns

2008-03-18T17:07:00.000-07:00

Click Here! to view the Easter Patterns.

Click Here! to view the Bunny Edging by Gina.

March 18 2008 - Ruth's 2008 Easter Cross

2008-03-18T16:47:00.000-07:00

Easter Cross - Copyright 2008 Ruth Perry

I designed this little tiny Celtic Cross today while waiting for my oil change to be finished. I had just a couple yards of thread on a shuttle, and a little time to wait.

Begin with shuttle and ball thread, in this case I unwound about a yard from the shuttle, CTM.

Center: Reverse ring with three rings thrown off.
Rev Ring ( 3 (ring 3 - 3 - 3 - 3) 3 (ring 3 - 3 - 3 - 3) 3 (ring 3 - 3 - 3 - 3) 3 ) turn
Split ring ( 3 - 3/3 - 3 )
Split ring ( 3 - 3/3 - 3 )

Row of chains around the outside

Chain ( - 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 3 - 3 + [this join is to the same picot as the previous join at the end of the arm of the cross] 4 + 4 + 4 + 3 - 3 + [ join to the same picot as the previous join at the top of the cross] 4 + 4 + 4 + 3 - 3 + [ join to the same picot as the previous join at the end of the other arm of the cross] 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 + ) The last join is to the first picot of the chain at the bottom of the cross, or you may tie the ends together at the bottom of the cross.

For my sample I cut the two ends to about 5" and used them to tie around about 6 wraps of the same thread to make a tassel. I added a loop of thread at the top to hang by. The tassel and loop are optional.

Enjoy!

shamrocks

2008-03-10T18:47:00.000-07:00

Shamrocks anyone???

http://tinyurl.com/3cnr9d

Sweet Christmas Edging Copyright 2007 Ruth Perry

2007-11-06T06:06:00.000-08:00

Two shuttles wound with green thread CTM

Red thread on a floss holder or shuttle
White thread on a floss holder or shuttle

Tie the ends of the red and white threads together leaving about 8" tails.
Beginning clover:
Begin with one of the green shuttles S1
Ring (2 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 2)
Ring ( 2 + 8 - 2)
Ring (2 + 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 2) RW
Chain (2 ds with both threads of the red then remove the tail and tat 5 more ds)

S2
Chain (2 ds with both threads of the white then remove the tail and tat 5 more ds)

These chains will curve outward when the tatting is tight enough. Place one chain on top of the other and then wrap it back under so that it looks like piece of a candy cane as shown in the diagram below. Do not twist the tatting, let it lay flat as in the photograph.

S1 shown in black, S2 shown in grey

After wraping the chains, tat with S2
Ring (2 + 3 - 1 - 1 - 3 - 2) RW
Chain ( 9)

S1
Ring (2 + 3 - 1 - 1 - 3 - 2) RW
Chain ( 9)

S2
After wraping the chains, tat with S2
Ring (2 + 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 2) RW
Chain ( 9)

S1
Chain ( 9)
Ring (2 + 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 2) RW
Chain ( 9)

The pattern repeats to desired length. The chains are all 9ds, and the rings alternate between the larger and smaller size ring. Adjust the length of the picots so that the tatting lies straight and flat. This will depend upon the size thread used.

Sample bracelet is craft thread, but this can be tatted in any size and color thread.

Measure your wrist and subtract the length of a jewlery clasp to use this pattern for a bracelet. Add beads, bells, or charms for variety. Tat a row of green or gold chain around the outside for a "holly" looking edging or bracelet. Tat the clover again at the end, attach jewlery clasp to the middle rings of the clovers.

For a Holiday napkin ring, tat this edging 2" longer than needed to wrap around your napkin rolled up. Sew on 1" hook & loop squares so that it holds when one end overlaps the other. Make a short piece of this edging with small thread with beads added for Holiday earrings. Enjoy!

Hugs all,
Ruth
Come check out my tatting podcast in iTunes!
Don't have iTunes? Go to http://apple.com/ Click on iTunes to download the free iTunes application. After installing iTunes, open iTunes, and then select podcasts, and search for tatting. Download it to your computer, mp3 player or ipod. Video tatting podcasts coming in January!!!

Or listen to it on my blog http://rozellalinden.com/ Scroll down on the right nav to the player.
or a larger size embeded player at myspace http://myspace.com/rozellalinden
Or my Aim profile page - ruthptat1

2007-10-27T15:48:00.000-07:00

I just got home from ZigZag Corner in Indiana. Oh my, you should see what Kaye Judt is doing now!!! Mum's the word and I'm not allowed to tell until after Hector next year.

My lips are sealed and you can't get it out of me even if you torture me. So don't bother trying to torture me to get me to tell. No, really, I'm not going to tell.

I had a lovely drive over to Greenfield IN with my friend, Sue, who is a sewer, but not a tatter. I was pleasantly surprised to see Gina there from Lafayette, and several of the regulars at the shop as well. Kaye taught a cute little _____________. No, don't ask me. I'm not going to tell.

Sue bought a couple of pieces of beautiful fabric, and I bought a couple balls of DMC pearle cotton in colors that are almost used up in my stash. I hate running out of a color in the middle of something.

Well, I'm off to the closet to practice my podcasting. Hugs,
Ruth

Southern Illinois Fruit Bat: Tootie Fruity by Ruth

2007-10-08T13:46:00.001-07:00

I spent the weekend with Georgia Seitz, Mark and Kim Myers, and the lovely ladies from the Evansville IN tatting group at the Lincoln Log Cabin Festival in Greenup IL. It was a fun time although unseasonably hot! 92 degrees and humid makes people follow the shade, and wilts the thread.

While visiting with Georgia Saturday evening I worked on this cute little Halloween bat! I had started on her on Thursday while K & Sheila Boniface and I sat at my dining room table talking tatting and looking at books.

The bat has a 6mm magnetic hematite bead in the center to enable her to stick to your fridge. Tat her with any color thread. Brown, orange, or black threads look more like a Hallowween bat to me. The orange (fruit colored) bat is tatted with omega size 30 thread and a 6mm magnetic hematite bead from Hobby Lobby. I bought some 4mm ones at Joann today. They have 3 different sizes of these beads. I bought the thread from ZigZag corner in Greenfield, IN.

The number of stitches will need to be adjusted for different thread or different size bead. To find out how many stitches you need to put a bead in the center of a ring tat a series of rings with the thread you wish to use beginning with about 10 ds. Tat rings with 12, 14, 16, etc stitches and if your bead is too small for one, but too big for the next smaller use the odd number of ds between the two.

I tat the bat using a beaded double core reverse ring BDCRR. Any method to put a bead inside a ring would work just fine, including sewing it in later, or just good ole glue. To tat it my way, put the bead on your thread, and then wind a couple yards of thread onto your shuttle with the bead between the shuttle and ball. Wrap the thread around your hand for a ring two times. The bead should be positioned on the first wrap at the back of your hand out of the way.

All the double stitches on this ring are reverse stitches (encapsulated); no flip and 2nd half first, first half second.

BDCRR

On both core threads tat reverse stitches:

(3 - 3 - 3 -

Remove the core with the bead on it from your hand and let it hang out of the way. Tat reverse stitches on the one core still on your hand.

3 - 3)

CLose the BDCRR in a three step process:

1.
Pull slightly [about 1/2”] on the core thread end, NOT the shuttle thread!
The core with the bead on it should get a little smaller.

Pull on this BEADED core thread so the other core closes first. Do not close tightly, leave about 1/8” open. When you complete the final step this core will also close completely.

Finally, slide the bead up into the middle of the ring and then pull the core thread end until the ring is completely closed around the bead.

Leave a tiny thread space to join to later before tatting the wing.

Wing

Chain (8) turn

Ring (2 - 2) turn

Chain (8)

Reverse stitch chain (21) This is like doing block tatting. It may be done with a second shuttle if you wish. Join to the thread space at the beginning of this wing.

Chain 4 Reverse Stitches, and then join to the next picot.

turn

Head

Ring ( 3 - 3 - 3)

join back to the same picot, and then turn

Chain 4 Reverse stitches, and then join to the next picot.

turn & SLT

Tat the second wing the same as the first one.

Finally, tie the ends at the picot where this wing begins.

The ends may be tied together to form a loop for hanging (she will hang upside down and sideways, like a bat flying around looking for yummy bugs to eat!)

There are more BDCRR patterns in my newest book, Tatted Butterfly Garden, to be released soon. See the cover photograph on my blog.

Moving Again...

2007-08-20T06:23:00.001-07:00

This is my last post until I get things setup in Ohio next week sometime. I'll be taking our network down on Saturday. I'll try to check email once a day by WiFi.

It is possible to move three times in one year. I will be offline for awhile til I get my computers moved and setup. This time, it's back to Ohio, which will hopefully be the last move this year.

Ruth

August 17 - Doilie by Brigitte H.

2007-08-17T00:01:00.000-07:00

Copyright 2007 Brigitte Henneberger

Instructions:
Like the garland pattern from yesterday, this pattern is worked with two shuttles with different colours, in my example, I took variegated pink and dark green. There are always chains with rings on it.Chain: 5 (Ring: 2 – 2 – 2 – 2 – 2 – 2 cl.) 5. Change shuttles (and colour) and repeat with the changed colours.

Inner Ring:
Leave a space of both threads.
Begin tatting with a green ring (2-2-2-2-2-2), chain 5.
Change shuttle.
pink: chain, ring, chain, change shuttle to
*green: chain, ring (2-2+2-2-2-2 cl.), chain, change shuttle,
pink: chain, ring, chain, change shuttle* repeat 4 times from * to *,
green: chain, ring (2-2+2-2+to first ring2-2 cl.) change shuttle
pink: chain, ring, chain, change shuttle,
green: chain.
Knot ends together, sew in or secure it, the way you do it every times.

Second round:
Start with a ring in pink: 2-2+to the second picot of a pink ring from the inner ring2-2-2-2 cl.) chain, change shuttle
green: chain, ring, chain, change shuttle,
pink: chain, ring (joined to the last pink ring), chain, change shuttle
green: chain, ring, chain, change shuttle,
pink: chain, ring (2-2+2-2+to the fourth picot of the next pink ring from the inner ring2-2 cl.)
Tat along till you can close this round by tatting the first part of a pink chain, reaching the first ring of these round. Knot threads together and work in like you want to do.

August 16 - Garland by Brigitte H.

2007-08-16T00:01:00.000-07:00

Note from Ruth: Brigitte, this is just lovely!!! Thank you so much for sharing with us! I think it would look amazing across the yoke of a little girl's dress or blouse!

Instructions:

The pattern is worked with two shuttles with different colours, in my example, I took variegated pink and dark green. There are always chains with rings on it.
Chain: 5 (Ring: 2 – 2 – 2 – 2 – 2 – 2 cl.) 5. Change shuttles (and colour) and repeat with the changed colours.

Knot the ends of the threads together. (Or tat a creative knot.)

Start with pink: work ring and the second part of the chain,
change the shuttle,
*green: chain, ring, chain,
change shuttle,
pink: chain, ring (join second picot to the fourth picot of the last pink ring), chain.
Repeat two times from* change shuttle,

*green: chain, ring (join second picot to the fourth picot of the last green ring), chain,
change shuttle,
pink: chain, ring (without any join) chain,*
repeat 4 times.

Change shuttle and tat along, joining five pink rings, than joining five green rings till you reach the length you desire.

August 15 - Vest completion by Ruth

2007-08-15T00:01:00.000-07:00

Copyright 1978 - 2007 Ruth Perry

Here is Hector Bear wearing his vest. Isn'r he adorable?

What I wanted to show here is the edging around the front. I tatted chains with 5 picots between the flowers, but in the front I tatted a ring with 6 + 6 where the two flowers join together.

There are lots of books that have petal, or shuttle shaped motifs that could be used to tat this in a larger version. Anne Orr's Classic Tatting Patterns has a centerpiece on page 3 that has one included in it.

Any edging would work for around the arm holes and front, collar, bottom edge. Have fun! Enjoy... I'm going to be gone for a few days again. More when I get back probably Monday.

Hugs,
Ruth

August 14 - Vest lower back by Ruth

2007-08-14T00:01:00.000-07:00

Flower O begins with a split ring then follow the diagram and tat flower P, where the top ring joins to Ring "H". One side of this ring is the same as before ( 3 + 7 - 2 + 5 - 3 )

The next ring joins to both of the flowers from the middle back as shown.

Follow the diagram and you'll be fine. Work rings: O, P, then the middle top Q, bottom R other side S then finally T. Ending atthe gray letter C. the threads join to the front letter C.

Tomorrow we'll tat around the arm holes and the front, neck, and all around the bottom.

August 13 - Vest: Part II by Ruth

2007-08-13T00:01:00.000-07:00

Tatted Vest Copyright 1987 - 2007 Ruth Perry
Yesterday we did flowers of rings A - E
Today we begin with the first split ring of flower-F

Split Ring ( 7 - 3 / 7 - 3 )
Split RingA ( 3 + 7 / 3 - 7 )
[ These letters A - M are in BLUE on the diagram]
Split RingB ( 7 - 3 / 7 - 3 )
Rings C,D, & E are all ( 3 + 7 - 7 - 3 )
Split RingF ( 3 + 7 / 3 + 7 )
RingG ( 7 + 6 - 7 )
Split Ring H ( 7 - 3 / 7 - 3 )
Rings I,J, & K are all ( 3 + 7 - 7 - 3 )
Split RingL ( 3 + 7 / 3 + 7 )
Split RingM ( 7 + 3 + 3 - 7 )
Finally, the last split ring of flowerF by the RED Letter I
Split Ring ( 3 + 7 / 3 + 7 )

Continue tatting the flowers for the other side of the front of the vest: J - M Paying attention to the split rings and where the flowers join together. You will end up at the gray A on the bottom flower of the front, then tat the bottom back as shown in the first diagram.

More detail on the lower back tomorrow.

**** NOTE: This could be made to fit anyone by tatting the shuttle shaped petals for each flower. Since lace is really "IN" right now, wouldn't this be a spectacular Christmas present for someone dear? OK, if you're short on time, then maybe for Christmas NEXT year.

August 12 - Jen's Barbie Doll Vest by Ruth

2007-08-12T00:01:00.000-07:00

Tatted Vest for Barbie, Teddy Bear, child, or adult
Copyright Ruth Perry 1978 - 2007

This is a fairly complex piece to tat. I originally made it for my daughter, Jennifer's, Barbie doll when she was in first or second grade. The first one was tatted in size 80 tatting thread, in a variegated pink and blue. It fit Barbie just fine.

I drew out the pattern on a piece of paper in case I ever wanted to make one again... HA! Pen and marker by hand on paper. I kept the piece of paper safely filed away all these years. Jennifer's son, Thomas, will turn 18 in November. He enjoys going with me to demonstrate tatting, and yes he can tat! Even with the drawing I made all those years ago, this was challenging for me to recreate. I tatted one in size 20 flora thread, and it fits the adorable wooden teddy bear that I got as a gift in Hector this year. I'll get his photo in it sometime this week.

You may want to save the diagram on your computer and enlarge it a little so it's easier to see. If you need to have the printed instructions to see it better, I may have them available sometime this fall. Write me and I'll try and let you know when.

Two shuttles: S1 is shown in black, S2 is shown in red

- picot
+ join

The stitch counts are fairly easy. Rings are all 20 ds, but since these are 5 petal flowers, they join around the middle of each flower, so
Top left RingA ( 3 - 7 - 7 - 3 )
RingB ( 3 + 7 - 7 - 3 )
RingC ( 3 + 7 - 7 - 3 )
RingD ( 3 + 7 - 7 - 3 )
Split Ring E ( 3 + 7 / 3 + 7 )

First flower completed.

Follow the diagram for flowers A B C D E along the top ( front and neckline ) of the vest.

Tomorrow we'll do the tricky middle of the back. If you are clever, you should be able to tat this without any more assistance. Joining the fronts to the lower back at the gray ABCD as shown.

If you are fairly new to doing split rings, we'll go through this slowly over several days with more detail.

August 11- Emily's Grand Champion Scarf

2007-08-11T00:01:00.000-07:00

Copyright 1983 - 2007 Ruth Perry

When my younger daughter, Emily, was 6 years old we moved to Michigan where I planned to return to college and study Computer Science. Berrien County MI has the world's largest youth fair, and my two older kids, Jen and Paul both had something to enter in the fair. Every kid who enters something gets a free pass for the entire week.

Emily wanted to enter something too! So the rule was that the child had to at least do "part" of the work no matter what age. So I tatted long ring and chain edging as shown above with yarn. It was long enough to wear as a scarf for a child or an ascot for an adult and about 6 or 8 inches wide.

The tatting is fairly simple, Rings with 3 picots, chains with 1 picot 3 ds between all. Leave the yarn ends about 8 inches long. You can weave yarn through between where the chains join together also if desired. Change the number of stitches if you wish. This was quick and easy, but I did use a very large netting shuttle to hold the yarn and it was kind of akward to tat with it.

The part Emily did was weave lengths of yarn between the tatting as shown in red on the diagram. She used a plastic yarn needle, and we measured the yarn so it was about 15 inches longer than the scarf. Then at the ends we gathered the woven through yarn and the yarn ends and tied overhand knots to form tassels.

Emily was just happy to have something to enter so she got her free pass... what a surprise when she won grand champion for her age group!!!

August 10 - Decorated Meandering Vines by Kaye

2007-08-10T00:01:00.000-07:00

This beautiful variation on the pattern presented yesterday has leaves of Roll Tatted Rings, which are "thrown off" the vines so it requires two shuttles or two tatting needles.

Materials:

Two balls of size 20 tatting thread, one in a flower color and one in a leaf color.

Two shuttles or two size 5 tatting needles

Key:

S1 shuttle 1 or tatting needle 1

S2 shuttle 2 or tatting needle 2

R ring

ds double stitch

d first half of ds

s second half of ds

--, p decorative picot

cl r close ring

RW reverse work

Ch chain

SLT shoe lace trick

+ join

Directions:

Fill S1 with flower colored tatting thread and cut from ball. Fill S2 with leaf colored tatting thread. Or cut a comfortable working length of thread for each tatting needle. Tie the two thread ends together

S1: R 3 ds ( --dd -- ss ) 3 times, -- 3ds, cl r. RW.

*S1 is working thread, S2 is ball thread

Ch 3 ds.

S2: Roll tatted ring. R 1 ds, 12 rolls, 1 ds, cl r.

S1 is working shuttle and S2 is ball thread.

Ch 6 ds SLT and RW. Ch 6 ds.

Roll tatted ring. R 1 ds, 12 rolls, 1 ds, cl r.

S1 is working shuttle and S2 is ball thread.

Ch 3 ds. RW.

S1: R 3 ds + ( to last p of previous R. The vine is not encased in the join but floats across the join on the back side of the work.), ( -- ss -- dd ) 3 times, 3 ds.

cl r. RW.

Repeat from * to desired length

August 9 - Meandering Vines Edging by Kaye Judt

2007-08-09T00:01:00.000-07:00

Meandering Vines Edging Copyright Jaye B. Judt 2007

Materials:
Two balls of size 20 tatting thread, one in a flower color and one in a leaf color.One shuttle or one size 5 tatting needle.

Key:
R ring
ds double stitch
--, p decorative picot
cl r close ring
RW reverse work
Ch chain
SLT shoe lace trick
+ join

Directions:
Fill shuttle with flower colored tatting thread and cut from ball, or cut a comfortable working length of flower colored tatting thread from ball and thread tatting needle.

R 3 ds -- 3 ds -- 3 ds -- 3 ds, cl r RW* Ch 9ds, SLT and RW. Ch 9 ds. RW
R 3 ds + ( to last p of previous R. The vine is not encased in the join but floats across the join on the backside of the work. ) 3 ds -- 3 ds -- 3 ds, cl r. RW
Repeat from * to desired length.

Meet Kaye at ZIG-ZAG CORNER in Greenfield, Indiana

7th ANNUAL TATTING DAY
August 25, 2007
9:30am - 3:30pm

Step back to a time of gentility when tatters would meet to renew acquaintances, show their handiwork, enjoy elegant food, and of course tat! Kaye Judt, author of “Oh My Stars!”, will take you on a journey through the evolution of tatting from 18th century knotting to the tatting of today as you make embellishments for your own Victorian tatting tote.
http://www.zigzagcorner.com/

August 8 - Decorated Button by Marty

2007-08-08T00:01:00.000-07:00

Three of these decorated buttons add pizzaz to a plain T Shirt!!!

Tatting thread DMC size 80 or equivalent
5/8” four-hole button
Remember to place magic threads if you use those, or leave long tails of thread to use in sewing to clothing article.

Notation:
R = ring
Ch = chain
p or - = picot
^ = button attached at picot
+ = picot join

Instructions:

Begin at Ring A
(A) R 3-5-5-3 rw {place magic thread in ring}
Ch 5 do not rw {place magic thread in chain}
(B) R 5^3-3 (^ picot through button) rw
Ch 5+5 (to last p of ring A) rw
(C) R 5+2-5 (to last p of previous R) rw
Ch 10 rw
(D) R 3+3^5 (to last p of previous R) rw
Ch 8-2 rw
(E) R 2+5-1-1-5-2 (to last of previous Ch) rw
Ch 2+8 (to last p of previous R) rw
R 5^3-3 (^ picot through button) rw
Ch 10 rw
R 5+2-5 (to last p of previous R) rw
Ch 5-5 rw
R 3+3^5 (to last p of previous R) do not rw
Ch 5 rw
R 3+5-5-3 (to last p of previous Ch) rw
R 3+8-1-1-8-3 (to last p of previous R)
(K) R 3+5-5-3 (to last p of previous R) do not rw
Ch 5 do not rw
R 5^3-3 (^ picot through button) rw
Ch 5+5 (to last p of ring K) rw
R 5+2-5 (to last p of previous R) rw
Ch 10 rw
R 3+3^5 (to last p of previous R) rw
Ch 8-2 rw
R 2+5-1-1-5-2 (to last of previous Ch) rw
Ch 2+8 (to last p of previous R) rw
R 5^3-3 (^ picot through button) rw
Ch 10 rw
R 5+2-5 (to last p of previous R) rw
Ch 5-5 rw
R 3+3^5 (to last p of previous R) do not rw
Ch 5 rw
R 3+5-5-3 (to last p of previous R)
(T) R 3+8-1-1-8+3 (to last p of previous R and 1st p of ring A)
Cut and hide ends or tie and use long ends to sew to clothing article.

Home again

2007-08-07T00:01:00.000-07:00

I got home from Ohio today, look for a new pattern tomorrow, Wednesday! It's a beauty from Marty.

Hugs,
Ruth

July 28 Butterfly Wings Heart by Ruth

2007-07-28T00:01:00.000-07:00

Copyright Ruth Perry 2003 - 2007
This is a Celtic Heart that hasn't been published yet. There is a slight problem with the design of this knot. Can you see where two chains cross over instead of one over and one under.

I've often thought that butterfly wings often look like hearts... well kind of.
If you tat one of the rings of the wooly worm as the ring here, with this heart added on each side. Front side - Back side tatting will make it look symetrical. Then tat another row around as shown below it solves the Celtic Design problem. This is kind of an advanced pattern, and I didn't give the exact stitch counts. Have some fun with this and see what you come up with. I'm going to be out of town until about Aug, 7th. I should be able to do the calendar posts, but I'm not sure if I'll get them done every day. Guess you'll have to be patient with me again.

Hugs,
Ruth

July 27 - Wooly Worm by Ruth

2007-07-27T00:01:00.000-07:00

This is a simple little fuzzy caterpillar tatted in two colors with finger tatting or four shuttles.

I prefer finger tatting, the thread ends are only about 18" long. Begin with about 3' of each of two colors of thread, any size, any color. Fold the thread in half and begin the tatting at about the middle of the thread.

Ring1 ( 9p separated by 1 ds )

Repeat with the other color

Either pull both threads and shuttles up through this and each following ring before closing, or if finger tatting pull the previous ring thread ends up through the center of each following ring.

Split Ring ( 5p sep by 1 ds / 5p sep by 1 ds ) pull thread ends through

Repeat with the other color & remember to pull the thread ends through

Continue to desired length, increasing the number of picots and ds gradually then decrease again if you wish to tat a worm that is fatter in the middle.

The final ring of each color should again be a normal ring the same size as the 1st rings. Or, if you wish, tat the final ring of one color as shown above as a split ring with the second color thread ends carried through the core. Then tat Chain 15 with the ends using the second color as the core thread, and the 1st color as the ball thread. Finish off with triple overhand knots and cut the ends off close to the knot. Use a dab of glue if you wish to hold the ends in place.

Tie the ends together and hide them, or leave them the length of the picots to make more fuzz. Glue one end to a small magnet for a memorable refrigerator friend. Add tatted wings and antennae for a butterfly.

Tomorrow butterfly wings for him and a true metamorphosis from lowly worm to beautiful butterfly!

July 26 - Octypus by Ruth

2007-07-26T00:01:00.000-07:00

Copyright 2007 Ruth Perry

While SCUBA diving with my husband in the Ocean a couple of years ago we did a night dive and got to play with an octopus in the bay off the world's second largest great barrier reef. They are amazing intelligent creatures!

Here is a little tatted 3 round fellow for your enjoyment.

One shuttle CTM do not cut the thread from the ball.
A piece of cardboard about 1 1/2" wide to make the twisted picots: TP
Twist the thread then wrap it once around the cardboard. Hold the picot in place while tatting the 2 Reverse Stitches on the core. These are tatted like the 2nd half of a split ring. Riego called them Reverse Stitches or RST.

I used a size 20 flora. I did the purple for all my friends who love purple, and that was the ball of thread closest to me when I decided to tat this. Octopi can change colors to hide so any color or any variegated would do.

Instructions:

Center Ring (6 - 3 - 3 )

Round 2: Using the shuttle thread to tat reverse stitches on the ball thread as the core
Reverse stitch chain ( 2 TP 2 TP 2 TP 2 TP 2 TP 2 TP 2 TP 2 TP 2 + 5 + 5 )
Now join to the beginning of this round.
Normal Chain Capturing the twisted picots in an
alligator join Shuttle thread over, ball thread under... ( 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 )
Chain ( + 8 ) turn
Ring (3 + 3 ) turn
Chain ( 8 ) turn
Ring ( 3 + 3 ) turn
Chain (8)

Tie the ends at the beginning of this round. Hide the ends, and then cut.
Slide the twisted picots off the cardboard one at a time, allowing it to twist as much as it wants. You may wish to use a safety pin to hold onto the end of each picot so you can pull it out straight. I didn't do that, and some of my ends separated.

July 25 - Snippette the Celtic Snail by Ruth

2007-07-25T00:01:00.000-07:00

Copyright 2004 - 2007 Ruth Perry

This is another of my favorite tatted give aways. This one is really good for demonstrating tatting because it's mostly mindless tatting, without having to count stitches. This is also a very good FIRST Celtic Knot project - very easy to tat, and fairly easy to weave the knot. And besides, he's adorable. Kids love him.

Instructions:

Body:
Begin with a yard or so of any thread on a shuttle, finger tatting, or needle tatting. The thread I used is the wonderful Valdani thread that I bought from Deb Arnold in April. I just love the color varieties available in this thread!

Start a chain on a paper clip, or begin with an overhand knot tied in the thread between
the ball and shuttle.

Chain ( 20 - 30 + ) Join to the picot of this chain section.

Tat the 2nd half of the DS on the far side of the chain from where you started, then you can continue tatting with the chain securely joined but crossing over itself.

Continue tatting until you have enough tatted chain to loop around four times. This is LAZY tatting, you don’t have to count the stitches! Tight tatting works best. Weave the chain around and through as shown in the diagram. The lighter grey indicates weaving the chain through the knot.

Cut from the ball leaving about 18” of thread. Cut from the shuttle leaving at least 10” of thread. Use these thread ends to weave the same Celtic Knot that is the earring in Celtic Tatting Knots & Patterns.

However, the snail has one join, and a longer chain that weaves through around the outside loops of the knot. It is finished with a ring or a split ring for the head and antannae. Continue tatting enough chain to weave through the outside loops of this knot, and a little bit more for the neck of the snail... Does a snail have a neck????

Head:
Split ring (3 / 3)
Tie double or triple overhand knots in each of the thread ends about 1/2" from the head. Cut near the knots.
NO ENDS TO WORK IN !!! HOORAY !!!

July 24 - Easy Baby Owl by Ruth

2007-07-24T00:01:00.000-07:00

Copyright 1990 - 2007 Ruth Perry

- picot
= Very Large joining picot that is where the two eyes join and the beak.
+ join

This little owl is a fun gift for Harry Potter Fans. Hedwig, I think Harry's white owl is named.
Shuttle and ball CTM, do not cut the thread from the ball.

Ring ( 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 2 = 2 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 ) turn
Chain ( 10 - 1 - 1 - 1 -1 - 1 10 ) turn
Ring ( 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 2 + 2 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 ) turn The join is to the Very Large joining picot of the first ring.
Chain ( 5 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 15 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 15 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 5 )
Tie ends at the base of the first ring, Hide the ends and cut close to the work. You may add a loop of thread at the top of the head to hand him for a suncatcher.

This is good practice for tatting chains that are tight, but not so tight that they curl tightly.

July 23 - Encore Earrings by Marilee

2007-07-23T00:01:00.000-07:00

“Encore” tatted earrings © Marilee Rockley 2007

Finished earring measures about 7/8 inches wide, and about 2 ½ inches long, depending on how long your drop bead is.

Supplies:

2 tatting shuttles
Size 20 crochet cotton
12 seed beads size 10 or 11 for stringing
11 seed beads size 8 for bead joins (2 of these a contrasting color if desired)
1 drop bead

Abbreviations
b beads
bj bead join
bp bead picot
Ch chain
cl r close ring
Fr floating ring (made with shuttle 2)
j join
Lp large picot
Lr large ring
Lsb large seed bead
mm millimeter
p picot
pr previous
r ring
RW reverse work
sb seed bead
sh shuttle
sj shuttle join (locking join)
Sp small picot

String 6 sb, 1 drop bead, 6 sb onto the thread. These are wound onto sh 2. No beads on sh 1.

Lr 6, Sp, 2, Lp about 16 mm when open (able to hold 3 Lsb when closed with room to j), 2, Lp, 2, Lp, 2, Sp, 6, cl r. RW.

Ch 8, bp, 8. Sj to Sp. Ch 12. RW.

R 4, j to Lp with 3 Lsb placed on it, 2, p (about 5 mm open), 3, cl r. RW.

Fr of 5, cl r. Ch 8. RW. R 3, bj (with 1 Lsb) to p of pr r, 2, bj to next Lp with 3 Lsb placed on it, 2, p, 3, cl r. RW.
Now comes the ring with the picot full of beads. This is a Fr made with sh 2. Slide up 5 sb, the drop b, 5 sb. R 5, bp with all the b in it (leave a bit of space so they can dangle freely), 5, cl r. Ch 8. RW.

R 3, bj to p of pr r, 2, bj to last Lp with 3 Lsb placed on it, 4, cl r. RW.

Fr of 5, cl r. Ch 12, sj to Sp. Ch 8, bp, 8. Sj to top.

Last r 5, j to finding, 5, cl r. Work the ends into this last ring.

July 22 - My Great Ant by Ruth

2007-07-22T00:01:00.000-07:00

Copyright Rozella Linden 2002

Some people had a Great Aunt that tatted... I have a tatted great ant. This is another great give away when demonstrating tatting. Boys love them!

The photo shows one tatted with a thick hemp. These are great tatted with wire or leather.

Abdomen
Ring (5 - 5 ) Do NOT turn

Tie the ends in an overhand knot as close to the ring as possible.

Tie three pieces of matching fiber around both ends in a square knot and puch them tightly against the base of the ring.

Thorax
Split Ring ( 4 / 4 ) tie the ends in an overhand knot as close to this ring as possible.

Trim these ends to form antennae, trim the legs so the ant stands up.

Bring out the picnic basket and sandwiches!!!! Tat lots of ants. Enjoy

July 21 Simple Celtic Dragonfly by Ruth

2007-07-21T00:01:00.000-07:00

Copyright Ruth Perry 2003

This is a cute little dragonfly that makes nice earrings or embelishment. I tat a more complex dragonfly named Merlin, but this one is nice too. He has just one Celtic Knot. Merlin has four of them.

You may put a bead in the center of the body ring by tatting it as a reverse double core beaded ring ( advanced technique that I taught at Spokane in April ) or by tatting it as a normal ring with a picot half way, then run the ends through a bead and join them at the picot. Be sure your ring and bead "fit" together properly.

You may wish to tat a stitch gauge by tatting rings with the thread you are going to use, increase the stitch count from a little smaller than you'll need for your bead, adding one or two stitches to each ring until you find the right size for your bead.

- picot
gp Giant Picot
B Bead

Tail
Ring ( 5 – 5 )
Split Ring ( 5 / 5 )
Split Ring ( 5 / 5 )
Split Ring ( 5 / 5 )

Body
Split ring ( 5 gp 1 gp 4 / 5 gp 1 gp 4 )

Head
Chain ( 10 B 10 B 10 )

Tie the chain in an overhand knot with the beads at the corners of the knot for "eyes" and then tie the ends together around the beginning of the chain.

July 20 Easy Doll Clothes Edging by Ruth

2007-07-20T00:01:00.000-07:00

OK I just had to share this. I went to a yarn store this afternoon for the knitting equivalent of a tat & chat. Trying to stir up a bit if interest in tatting around Nashville. Well I had some size 100 thread on a shuttle and decided to mess with it to use it up. I hate wasting thread, even if there's just a little bit left I try to do something with it.

Well, of course, while trying to do a simple ring & chain edging I made a mistake { all new designs are just mistakes that work out to be something else } So here is a neat little tiny edging perfect for doll clothes. It would probably be worth the time to use a toothpick for a picot gauge so the decorative picots are more the same size. The joining picots should probably be smaller than what I tatted, but I was just playing with the thread. You can see how small it is, and I should have paid more attention to detail, but you get the idea, right?

- picot
sp small picot
mp medium picot

*
Ring ( 6 - 3 ) turn
Chain ( 5 sp 1 mp 1 sp 5 + ) [ the join is to the picot of the ring just made ]
turn
*

Repeat to desired length.

July 19 7 Ring butterfly by Ruth

2007-07-19T00:01:00.000-07:00

Instructions:

Two shuttles, needles, or finger tatting.
This butterfly looks great with a solid color thread for the body and solid color matching, or contrasting, or two color variegated thread for the wings. Use about a yard for the wings and 20" for the body depending upon the size of your thread.
A larger size thread, 20 or 10, works best to learn a new pattern.

This pattern is really an intermediate level pattern because there are two split rings. The balance and symmetry of this poseable little butterfly give it a authentic look. It would be awesome sewn on a collar. Start with the thread for the body, at about the middle of the piece of thread tat the first ring...

Ring #1
Ring (1 (Add the wing thread to the carrying thread and tat with both threads) 1 - 3 - 3 - 1 (Exclude the wing thread from the next DS) 1)

Close the ring and tighten all the threads snug. If you are using variegated thread slide the wing thread through so that the ends have the color change at the same place on each end. To really be symetrical you must use thread that has an evenly repeating pattern of variegation to the color, or you could use two pieces of thread with the colors matching on the part that will be used to tat the wings.

Follow the order of tatting shown here

Ring #2
Turn it upside down, and tat a split ring with the body thread.
Split Ring (3 - 1 / 3 - 1) This is symmetrical with 3 knots at the bottom.

Ring #3 , 4, 5, & 6
Next tat the wings on one side... then repeat on the other side of the butterfly..
Ring (1 + 7 - 7 - 2) This is the bottom wing. The join is to the picot of the first ring of the body.
Ring (2 + 10 sp mp sp 10 - 3) This is the top ring. Join to the picot of the bottom ring.
Ring #7
The final ring of the body is a split ring. Pull the wing thread through the picot of the second ring of the body. Tat with the body thread and include the wing thread with the carrying thread inside the ring similar to what we did with the first ring.
Split Ring (1 + 3 / 1 + 3) Join on each side to the picot of the top wings.
Pull all the threads snug, and tie a half knot in the wing thread and body thread on each side if necessary to have the body threads at the center. These will be used to tat the antennae on each side.
Chain (8) Pull the carrying thread snug so that there is a bit of an arc in the antennae.
Finish by tying the ends at the end of each antennae in an overhand knot and trim. A bit of glue suitable for the intended use will help hold the ends if desired.

This is a good project to practice "right side - wrong side tatting" because the wings on one side would be tatted normal, and the ones on the other side would be the opposite.
The antennae will easily bend up and back over the head, and the wings can be positioned up or out like a butterfly would naturally sit on a flower.

July 18 - the spider and the fly by Ruth

2007-07-18T00:01:00.000-07:00

VLP Very Large Picot

SP Small Picot or Bead for the eyes

- Picot

Beads are optional, so if using beads for the eyes thread two beads on the thread before winding about a yard on the shuttle. Leave a thread end about 1/2 yard then cut the thread from the ball.

Ring (1 VLP 1 VLP 1 SP 1 SP 1 VLP 1 VLP 1) This is the thorax, head, eyes, and legs.
Ring (3 - 2 - 2 - 3)
Split Ring (4 + 4 / 4 + 4 ) Join to the picots of the previous ring. Tat it 6 +4 if it doesn't lie flat.

Pull the carrying thread up through the center picot of the inside ring, and tie the thread ends in a square knot. The thread ends are the web the spider spins. Add a clear bead to the threads here if desired, and another thread to make twisted cord for a bookmark.

Use beads or picots for the eyes. This spider would also look great with a bead instead of the inside ring of the abdomen. Use Jacqui Teal’s method of adding a bead inside a ring (Taught at Hector 2005) and the ends will still come out in the right place.

Tat the ring large enough for the bead to fit inside nicely. Then thread the bead on the two thread ends, and join to the picot at the middle of the ring. The bead will lie in the middle of the ring, and the ends will be in the right place for that web the spider is spinning.

Cut the leg picot ends as shown, or leave them (for a tatted fly). “Step into my parlor said the spider to the fly.” A bit of glue on the legs to stiffen them may help this spider stand up better.

Variation:
One picot in the
2nd ring, (5 - 5)
outer SR (10 /10)
Only cut the two picots near the head, and you have A TATTED FLY !!!

This is an easy spider (or fly) to tat for demonstrating in the fall. Kids love them!!! Tatted in gold they are a great Christmas Spider. Use any thread, any color, and any size. I like to tat them in size 10 - bright variegated thread when I’m tatting “give aways”.

July 17 - Little Celtic Bee Marker by Ruth

2007-07-17T00:01:00.000-07:00

This was inspired by a little tatted bee that I saw somewhere. I know that I have seen bees designed by the shuttle brothers, and by Karey Solomon, but I'm not sure where I saw the little one. This isn't my original idea, but these instructions are how I did it. The interwoven split rings are the same technique that I used to tat the Celtic Candy Cane a couple years ago.

It is useful at times to bee able to mark a place in lacemaking and tatting, and using a lobster clasp is a neat way to do just that. This has a lobster clasp on a jump ring. It is tatted with split rings woven as you tat, so it's an intermediate to advanced pattern. I do it with finger tatting using about a yard of black thread and a bit less of the yellow thread.

Begin at the clasp end, or bee butt [ Ring with a picot for a stinger ]

Black Ring ( 6 - 6 )

Yellow Ring ( 12) This is tatted with the threads wrapped through the black ring [see diagram]

Black Split Ring with wings is tatted with the threads wrapped through the yellow ring.

SR ( 3 LP 2 LP 3 / 8 )

Yellow Split Ring is tatted with the threads wrapped through the previous black ring.

SR ( 6 / 6 )

Black Split Ring for the head isn't wrapped, but the yellow threads are carried through as part of the core of the ring.

SR ( 6 - 1 - 1 / 4 )

Antennae

Chain 5 with each yellow thread as the core, and each black thread end as the ball thread.

Tie the ends of one antenna in an overhand knot and cut close to the knot. Repeat witht the threads for the other antenna. A drop of fray check, or glue will help keep the end of the antennae neat. Add a jump ring with a lobster clasp on it to the bee butt ring.

July 16 - Basket of flowers by Laurie W

2007-07-16T00:01:00.000-07:00

Needle tatting pattern from Laurie Walton who has

only been tatting for a couple of weeks.

This is a variation on a medalion found in this tutorial on:

Needle Tatting Group on MSN

Elegant Basket

on postcard made using #5 needle.

R 2-2-2-2-2-2 Close, Reverse Work
* Ch 3-3-3-3 Reverse Work (Joins will not count as half a stitch)
R 2-2+ (join to next to last picot of previous ring) 2-2-2-2 Close,
Reverse
Work*

Repeat * chains & rings * between stars until you have 5 rings & 4
chains.
Do NOT reverse work.

Ch 2+2+ (draw needle through)
R 2+2+2+2+2+2+ Close (1 picot remaining)
Ball thread will cross the center ring so it closes snugly for last chain:
Ch 2+2 (draw needle through)

Create handle of basket by doing 18 Sets of Node Stitches

(or length desired)
[4 first half DS, 4 second half DS] x 18

Join handle to opposite side of basket where 1st ring & chain meet,

matching placement. Secure ends by burying threads into several

stitches in back. Clip threads.

Shorter version
Elegant Basket
R 2-2-2-2-2-2 Close, Reverse Work
*Ch 3-3-3-3 Reverse Work
R 2-2+(join to next to last picot of previous ring) 2-2-2-2 Close,
Reverse Work*
Repeat * chains & rings * between stars until you have 5 rings & 4
chains.
Do not Reverse Work
Ch 2+2+
R 2+2+2+2+2+2+ Close (1 picot remaining)
Ch 2+2+(join at intersection of 1st chain & ring)
HANDLE: Node Stitch [4 first half DS, 4 second half DS] x 18 sets
Attach to opposite side. Secure ends.

July 15 - Ruth's 2007 snowflake variation

2007-07-15T00:01:00.000-07:00

Copyright 2007 Ruth Perry

This snowflake has a lot of frilly lacy rings tatted with shuttle 2 shown in yellow. It is tatted following the same basic idea as the previous two snowflakes. If your tatting is not tight you may need to alter some of the stitch counts to make it come out so that it lies flat. I used a plastic yarn needle as a picot gauge for the decorative picots so they are all the same size.

There is a project to make Christmas ornaments to send to our troops overseas, and these little snowflakes would be a good piece to tat for that purpose. For more information you may write me on the Celtic Tatting Group on Yahoo. I'm waiting to hear back from the contact person for this project.

Hugs,

Ruth

July 14 - Snowflake variation by Ruth

2007-07-14T00:01:00.000-07:00

The clover at the point, and the single large ring are tatted with shuttle 2. Everything else follows the pattern from yesterday's sample. Begin with a center ring that is part of the point of the flake.

It's only taken me 29 years to get around to writing the instructions. I'm not procrastenating... I don't start working on procrastination until tomorrow.

July 13th Lucky 2007 Snowflake by Ruth

2007-07-13T00:01:00.000-07:00

Copyright Ruth Perry 2007

Copyright 1978 Ruth Perry

This is a snowflake that I tatted as a doll house doily when my daughter, Jennifer, was in 1st grade. I made her a little night stand for her doll house with a drawer that works, and this doily to go on top of it. The great doll house project lasted for several years. It was 4' X 4' and 22 inches deep with three floors, stairs between the floors, and neat things like a working doorbell, lights in the rooms, and even a little mouse.

I've tatted dozens of these snowflake doilies and sold them at doll house stores. So now I'm going to share the secret with you, after all, I did promise a snowflake today.

Somewhere I saw something that inspired this originally, if you know of a similar piece please let me know and I'll credit the source. I think it was a doily that my mom had, or maybe my grandmother. Source - unknown at this time.

The stitch count can vary and even many of the design details can change, and still this ONE ROUND snowflake is worked the same way.

Instructions for a sample:

Begin with 2 shuttles wound continuous for the two at the top of this page, shuttle and ball for the sample CTM
Shuttle 1
Center Ring A ( 6 - 2 - 2 - 6 )
Do not reverse or turn the work.
Ring B ( 12 - 12 ) turn
Chain C ( 10 - 10 + )
Chain D ( 10 - 5 - 5 - 10 + )
[ these two previous joins are both to the picot on ringB ]
Chain E ( 10 - 10 + )
[ this join is in the space between ringA and ringB ]
Chain ( 5 - 5 )

[ 1/6th of the pattern completed ] Follow the diagram below, joining where shown.

July 12th - 6 Point Star by Ruth

2007-07-12T00:01:00.000-07:00

Copyright 2007 Ruth Perry

What? You thought it would be a different pattern??? Silly you.

Tat 12 of the triangles with white thread, joining them along the edge on one picot of each of the 4 middle rings. Today a star, tomorrow a snowflake.

If you begin the triangle with a chain 3 in the instructions so that the final ring is any of the 4 middle rings on one side, you can tat around the triangle with a split ring as the final ring of one triangle and another split ring as the first ring of an adjacent triangle. This way you can tat two triangles and only have one pair of ends to deal with. I love finding ways to avoid working ends!

July 11th - Christmas in July Triangle Tree by Ruth

2007-07-11T00:01:00.000-07:00

Several people have asked for Christmas patterns because they start tatting for Christmas THIS EARLY in the year. Well, OK, I get it. When my kids were little (ages and ages ago ) I didn't have a lot of time to do what I wanted to do, and couldn't just sit and tat if I wanted to. I remember those days. I just don't remember where I put my keys that were in my hand a minute ago...

Here is a little triangle, about 1.5 " on each side when tatted in Flora size 20 thread. The photo is a green one, which when decorated with beads, and sequins, etc. makes an excellent Christmas tree. Put a Clapper at the bottom and it's a bell.

If you don't celebrate Christmas stay tuned, tomorrow a 6 point star.

I started with the narrow edging pattern by Riego from the Royal Tatting book. I changed it so it is more like the pattern I used to tat trees to put on Christmas cards. I know that pattern is in a book, but I don't know what book. What I didn't like about the pattern I used then was that you tatted the center, all rings, then cut and tie, then tat the outside row, cut and tie, hide the ends. I am lazy. I don't like to cut and tie, and I don't like to hide ends.

This pattern is tatted in one round and requires 2 shuttles wound with green thread Continuous Thread Method, CTM. When the triangle is completed, you may wish to tat a brown tree trunk at the bottom. I'll leave that up to you. If you put it on a card you can use a marker to make the tree trunk.

Instructions:

Begin with ring A in the center, shuttle 2 (Shuttle 2 rings are in yellow on the diagram)

RingA ( 6 Large Picot 6 ) this picot will have all the other center rings join to it.

Shuttle 1

Chain ( 3 ) turn

RingB ( 4 - 4 - 4 )

RingC ( 4 - 4 - 4 ) turn

Chain ( 3 )

Shuttle 2
RingD ( 6 Large Picot 6 )

Shuttle 1
RingE ( 3 + 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 3 ) turn

Chain (3) turn

RingF ( 3 + 5 - 2 - 2 - 5 - 3 ) turn

Chain (3)

RingG ( 3 + 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 3 ) turn

Chain ( 3 )

shuttle 2
Ring ( 6 + 6 )

Continue tatting around, tie the ends at the beginning,
hide the ends and trim off close to the work.
Decorate the tree while you tat with beads and whatever,
or sew the decorations on after it is completed.

July 10th - Fireworks, a variation on Martha's ribbon

2007-07-10T00:01:00.000-07:00

Pull the ends and unwind the spiral. This is the only way I could scan it quickly.

While moving some of my tatting from the other room, I dropped some of the items I'd tatted recently, and discovered that Martha's Remembrance Ribbon, when stretched by holding onto both ends turns into a spiral... WOW!

First of all I dearly LOVE that pattern, and have made half a dozen of them, added a jump ring in the middle and put them on earring hooks. This Fireworks variation looks good as an earring also, but it's difficult to scan.

If you begin with a few beads, stars, perhaps, and tat some JK chain for a few stitches, then tat all of the first row with 4ds between picots, and all the 2nd row with 5 and all of the 3rd row with 6. Tat two red and white split rings to hide the blue ends in the first one, and one of each of the red and white in the second one. That leaves one red and one white to work in with a needle. All that is left to do then is add a jump ring at the end that doesn't have the beads, and an earring hook.

It resembles fireworks. The ones that shoot up into the air, explode then spiral down and explode in lots of little stars.

Tat them as long or as short as you wish, and with any beads that tickle your fancy.

July 9th, Two color stars by Ruth

2007-07-08T23:13:00.001-07:00

The two color stars I put on this little bag, from Joann Fabrics ($0.89) are similar to the Red, White, and Blue stars. The first row is exactly the same, and the only differrence is that the second row doesn't need to have the picots to join to in the "valleys" between the points.

See on the diagram bellow, where it shows 5 - 1, eliminate that picot and just tat 6 ds there. These stars can be joined together in lots of interesting variations.

The stripes on the bag are from the Celtic Tatting Design Journey book.

July 8th Red, White, and Blue Cross by Ruth

2007-07-08T12:01:00.000-07:00

This Cross is similar to the January 27th cross

The rings are all (10 - 10) or (10 + 10) where the rings join.

The chains are all ( 3 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 3 )

The three color twisted cord is easy to make with the crazy cord winders that Lily Morales sells. It's a bit more difficult by hand as you have to twist each color separately, and hold all three colors evenly.

The tassel at the bottom is made the same as the Jan 27th cross, but with three colors of thread.

July 7 2007 - Silly Yak by Esther Paris

2007-07-06T12:01:00.000-07:00

Instructions:

Two rings only - head and body

Head:

Ring of 5 ds, Very long picot [for horn 1], 2 ds, mp [for ear 1], 8 ds,3 p in a row for beard, 8 ds, mp [for ear 2], 2 ds, vlp [for horn 2], 5 ds. Close ring.

Twist horn picots to make horns. Cut open beard picots to make beard.

If the head is tatted as a reverse ring you can put more twist in the thread before making the horn picots which will make the horns nice and tight.

Body:

Ring of 2 ds, 6 very long picots in a row for fur, 5 ds, a picot so longit should be illegal (tail), 10 ds for rump, picot for rear hoof, 5 ds for underbelly, picot for front hoof, 10 ds for chest. Close ring.

Cut from shuttle. Tie knot of beginning and end thread and add into fur. Cut fur picots and rotate downward. Cut tail picot and finger tat as many JKs as possible. Tie knot at end of tail and then fringe thethread ends. Trim fur as necessary so feet show.

Remembrance Ribbon by Martha Ess

2007-07-06T00:01:00.000-07:00

Copyright 2001 Martha Ess

Block Tatted with 3 plies of embroidery floss (just under 1 yard of each)

The size of the finished ribbon is approximately 1 1/4 x 1"

Instructions:
Wind 2 shuttles: one blue & one white, then tie together
Red as ball thread.

Row 1: Using blue as "ball thread"
(4 ds, small p) 3 times, 4ds, turn

Row 2: Using white as "ball thread"
(4 ds, shuttle join ) 4 times,
(5 ds, shuttle join) 6 times,
(4 ds, shuttle join 4 times, turn
Join in red thread, cut blue thread

Row 3: Using red as "ball thread"
(4 ds, shuttle join ) 4 times
(6 ds, shuttle join ) 6 times
(4 ds, shuttle jon ) 2 times, regular join to 2nd shuttle join of this row,
(4 ds, shuttle join) 2 times, end.

Celtic Knot Tatted Cicada by Ruth

2007-07-05T12:01:00.000-07:00

Notation:

sp = small picot

mp = medium picot

Instructions:

Wind a yard or so of thread on a tatting Shuttle CTM ( do not cut the thread from the ball )

Begin tatting with a picot by tying an overhand knot in the thread between the shuttle and ball, then tat the first stitch about a picot's distance from this knot. The knot will not pull through the stitches, and will leave a small ( joining ) picot at the beginning of the chain.

Chain ( 20 - 20 sp mp sp 30 sp mp sp 20 - 20) Body and wings

Weave the knot following the diagram, starting at the center [A] and when your knot is completed, then join the end to the beginning and tie the ends in a square knot.

And finally, continue tatting the head of the bug.
SR (1 + 1 Bead 2 / 1 + 1 Bead 2) Head Join to adjacent small picots of the body.

Celtic Star Challenge by Ruth

2007-07-04T00:01:00.000-07:00

For this 5 point star you should begin with a tatted chain with about 30 ds between the picots

Chain ( 30 - 30 - 30 - 30 - 30 )

Here is a diagram with the weaving shown in several steps: Follow the weaving color by color from the middle (red) then gray, green and finally black.

It may be easier if you pin it to a pillow as you weave the chains through. I like practicing with a bit of cord or rope til I get the hang of the weaving. The row around the outside of this star is just a Chain with the shuttle thread from the first row and the ball thread the white.

Chain 10 - 10 + 10 - 10 and so on around to the beginning of this row. Tie, cut leaving ends long enough for twisted cord.

If you tat this with one long chain that will wrap around your finger five times, and then do the weaving, insert your finger in the center, and adjust the chains so they are evenly spaced you will have a nice tatted ring for your finger. Just be sure to tie the end to the beginning after it is fitted to your finger, then hide the ends.

That's a bit of a challenge. Enjoy!

Ruth's Easy Celtic Stars

2007-07-03T00:01:00.000-07:00

Copyright Ruth Perry 2004

Here are a couple of simple Celtic Knot stars that I taught a few years ago. The Instructions are pretty simple: Begin with an overhand knot in the thread between ball and shuttle and tat the first stitch about a "picot's distance" from the knot forming a picot at the beginning of your chain. Or begin on a paper clip to hold a small loop of thread at the beginning of the chain.

Follow the weaving diagrams, then tie the ends through the picot or loop at the beginning and hide them or use the ends for a loop to hang the star.

Chain ( 20 - 20 - 20 - 20 - 20 )

For this one, just tie the tatted chain in an overhand knot loosly as shown in black. Then weave the final section over and under as shown in purple.

This one is a little more challenging. The tatting directions are the same as the first one, but...

In step one the tatted chain just forms loops as shown. Step two, follow the gray lines in the second diagram weaving over and under as shown. To finish, tie the ends through the loop or picot at the beginning of the chain.

To see how Betsy Ross cut 5 pointed stars for our flag see: http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagstar.html

Red, White, & Blue Star by Ruth

2007-07-02T00:01:00.000-07:00

Copyright 2007 Ruth Perry

This pretty three color star is tatted in three rows, each a diffrent color. It measures about an inch in diameter when tatted in Anchor size 12 Pearle, which I bought in Spokane WA at the Shuttlebirds tat days in April.

The secret in tatting with rows of different colors is to use the previous row thread for the core thread, and the new color as the ball thread. Rows 2 & 3 are just chains with shuttle lock joins. With care you can avoid the "spots" of different color that happen when joining different colors.

Row 1

Row 2

Use the shuttle thread from row 1 and add the second color as the ball thread.
Chain ( 1 - 5 + 3 - 3 + 5 - 1 )
*
Join in the base of the next ring of row 1
Chain ( 1 + 5 + 3 - 3 + 5 - 1 )
* Repeat around between * *

Row 3

Use the ball thread from row 2 as the shuttle thread and add the third color as the new ball thread.
Chain ( 10 + 3 - 3 + 10 )
Join to the picots of row 2 as shown
Repeat around, Tie like color thread ends together, hide and trim close to the piece.

Simple Stars by Ruth

2007-07-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

Two Simple stars tatted with just one ring. Easy enough for any beginner to tat. Then one intermediate level one ring star that uses a split ring to go on to another star, then another, and another. Enjoy!!!

The first star has just one bead on each picot.
String 4 beads on your shuttle thread.

Ring ( 2 B 2 B 2 B 2 B 2 )

Close the ring and insert each end through the 5th bead, the first end through from one side, the other in through the other side. Tie the threads in an overhand knot, then tie another knot about 3 inched away for a loop to hang, or leave the ends to sew this little star onto clothing.

This Star has three beads at each point.

String 12 beads on the shuttle thread.

Ring ( 3 B B B 3 B B B 3 B B B 3 B B B 3)

Close the ring and string three beads on one thread end, then insert the other thread end through all three beads from the opposite direction. Tie, hide, cut the ends close to the work, or use them to sew this little star onto clothing.

You may also finish this star with a loop for hanging as the first star was done. See diagram below.

These stars look like little dancing "star people" or if tatted in fire colors, dancing flame stars.

April 3 - Fancy Jar Cover by Jon

2007-04-03T00:01:00.000-07:00

Working with two Shuttles

Note: The finish motif forms into a round saucer-shape and does not lie flat. The picots are of standard size throught out except where indicated.

The finished design can fit over a jam jar with a lid of 6.5cm or 2.5inches

Starting with the top centre motif
(*) R1(5-3-3-5), do not reverse.
R2(8^4-4) where ^ is a very small picot, RW
C(10-10+), lock-join to the small picot of R2.

This next step is to make the self-closing mock ring (green in the diagram) and the small ring in the centre.

Switch Shuttle (SS) and make a SCMR as follows SCMR3(5+3[SS, R4(4-4-4)]3-5).
The join in the SCMR is to the last pioct of the first ring R1.
Do not reverse
R5(8^4-4) and reverse.
C(10-10+) lock join to the small picot of R4 (*)

Repeat steps (*-*), joining the R1 to the SCMR, and the R4 to the last picot of the previous R4.

Round 1 – the side
(#)R1(5-5+5-5), join to any chain of the centre motif, RW and then C(4-4) and RW again.
R2(5+5-5-5), 1st join to the last picot of the previous ring; RW
C(4-4) (#)

Repeat (#-#) until the round is completed.

Round 2 – the side frill

R1(5-5+5-5), joining to picot of any chain in Round 1, DNR
SS, C1(8-4), RW
R2(4-2-2-2-2-4) RW
(◊)C2(2)
R3(4+2-2-2-2-4), joioning to last picot of previous ring, RW. (◊)

Repeat (◊ - ◊) THREE times.

C(4+8), joining to the previous chain, C1. DNR.
SS, R4(5+5+5-5) 1st join to the last picot of previous ring; 2nd join to the next chain of Round 1. RW.
C(4-4), RW
R5(5+5+5-5); 1st join to last picot of R4 and 2nd join to next chain of Round 1.

Repeat from chain C1, making the additional joins where required.

April 2 - Crown of Thorns by Esther Paris

2007-04-02T00:01:00.000-07:00

Last Spring I "discovered" how to tat a Crown of Thorns

I shared the pattern with a friend and she made dozens for a craftfair.

Make a ring with only first half of double stitch, and several picots.

Do it in jute or other rough-looking thread.

Voila - crown of thorns

Editor's note: This could be tatted in repeating split rings the right size to go around the head of a child in an Easter pageant and would be much softer than a real crown of thorns. Thanks Esther!

April 1 - Dancing Spring Flowers by Eliz

2007-04-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

Copyright 2007 Eliz Davis

Editor's note: Eliz used ? and ?? as symbols to reference the notes at the bottom of the diagram NOT to imply a question.

This one uses a number of tips and techniques I've learned through the online classes--encapsulated ends, adding a ball thread without a knot, directionally tatted ring, shoe lace trick, and an SCMR.

Dancing Flowers
by Eliz Davis
March 2007

Size 10 variegated
Size 10 green

The blooms are all Rings of 2 (7p X 2) 2. By changing which picot connects them together, you can pull the blooms in closer or spread them out. If you plan ahead and make small joining picots on that first ring you'll be able to pull them in really close. Experiment and have lots of fun!

Begin with the variegated color on shuttle and ball. If making more than one you'll be able to start the first CTM, but a knot is not a problem. My instructions will assume you have a knot in your thread as you start.

Variegated:
R 2 (7p sep by 2) 2, cl, rw.
Ch 6 tatting over the ends for the length of this chain if you began with a knot) rw.
R 2+ (j to 6th p of prev r) 2 (6p sep by 2) 2, cl gently**

**Cut the variegated ball thread about an inch from your last chain and put the ball aside. Grab the end of the green ball and pull an inch or so of it through the last bloom and into the space where the ring closes (a trick I learned from Jane Eborall). Now pull that ring tightly closed as you usually would. You now have a variegated end and a green end hanging loose, a variegated shuttle thread, and a green ball. Keep a good grip on that ring until you get the chain started so that you don't loose that green tail.

Without reversing work, tat a green chain of 6, small p, 6, tatting over those loose ends for at least 4 ds, rw. (You can cut the remainder of those loose ends close to your work now or finish it up later. I like to go ahead and get them out of my way.)

Note: This last bloom will need to be tatted with directional tatting if you want all of the blooms to "face" the same direction. Just reverse the order of the stitch and keep the counts the same. Do the 2nd half, 1st half and count it as one stitch. You'll be doing 2nd, 1st, 2nd, 1st, space for picot, 2nd, 1st, etc.)

Last bloom: R 2 (4p sep by 2) 2+ (j to 1st p of first r) 2 (2p sep by 2) 2, cl.

Without reversing work, use the Shoe Lace Trick to get the green thread to the top and tat a green ch 8 + (j to sm p on previous green ch), ch 6

Leaves:
Leaf #1: I form the first leaf with a mock ring, but if your green thread is on a shuttle you could do a 2nd shuttle ring here.
SCMR: 7, sm p, 1, lg p, 10, cl. Do not reverse work.

Leaf #2: Ch 12, lg p, 1, sm p, 7.

Wrap the chain back toward the stem to form a leaf shape. At the stem, take the ball thread behind the flower stem and bring the shuttle thread across the front so that when you continue to tat, the chain forming the leaf is caught between them. (You'll get a slightly different look depending upon whether you bring the shuttle to the front or take it to the back, so you might like to experiment a bit.)

Finish the stem with 4 ds. Knot the ends any way you wish and cut leaving tails at least an inch long. A square knot will leave the "legs" dancing apart.

March 31 - Bullion Stitch Cross by Ruth

2007-03-31T00:01:00.000-07:00

Tated Bullion Stitch Cross by Ruth Perry - AKA Rozella Linden, Copyright 2007

A few weeks ago someone asked if anyone knew of a way to make tatting that looked like crochet bullion stitch. The idea intrigued me and I set out to try it. After a day of trial and error - mostly error... I came up with this little cross pattern that looks to me like crochet bullion stitch done in tatting. There is a mistake in this sample where a thread didn't get covered properly, can you find it?

I've sent the instructions to a couple of people to review and test. Since this something kind of new, please pardon my use of BS for bullion stitch. I don't think there is already an abreviation.

Two shuttles wound CTM with any size and color thread. This gold one is size 5 pearle cotton that I bought from Sue Hanson at Palmetto a couple years ago. I love the gold look to it. Thanks Sue!! The detail in two colors below is size 8 Pearle Cotton that I purchased at Unique Expressions in Kansas City MO.

Here is a detail photo so it is easy to see what is S1 and S2.

A note about copyright and techniques:

While techniques are not copyright-able (if that is a word), when people spend their time and effort developing patterns and techniques they do have a right to teach, publish, and share their ideas if they want to do so, on the internet or otherwise.

I am choosing to share this freely, however with some hesitation, due to the practice of gathering information from the internet to publish by people other than the designer. Legally if you tat your own samples, and take your own photos, and write your own instructions for a design using someone else's techniques it is not a "copyright violation" as such. And if you give a reference to the originator it's sort of OK, but NOT! You also need to include a reference to WHERE the technique is found so the originator can share insights with people who might wish to have some help with the technique.

But when people do that they rob the originators of the technique of their ability to correctly explain the technique, and share their designs because it is already "out there". If you choose to "steal" this technique, although it is NOT illegeal, it is still WRONG! The effect of doing so will be that everyone can thank (or blame) YOU for other people choosing to NOT freely share their techniques and designs on the internet or perhaps even in books. If you're not the originator of a technique or a design let the designer do the publishing and teaching. If two people come up with the same or similar techniques, which does happen, that is different.

Since I have given everyone some time to guess how I did this, or come up with instructions and no one has been able to do so, I'm quite certain that no one else already did this technique before. If you find it in an antique book, or someone else has already published a pattern using this technique I'll be happy to reference the work if you will let me know who, and where it is and the publication date.

I see this technique being used to tat veins in flower petals, leaves, and other things like fish fins, or what have you. Give credit to me as the originator of the technique, and let me know in advance of anything published using this technique as a matter of courtesy. In time it will all become part of tatting history, but for the next couple of years if you all want me (and others) to continue to share patterns... do the courteous thing because it is right to do so.

I will share this on the Online class http://georgiaseitz.com and also share some additional patterns after I return from Hector, Shuttlebirds, and Tat Camp.

Thank you for letting me borrow the soap box, Sue - the keeper of the tatting soap box on "Here be Tatters" group on Yahoo. You're doing a great job and I enjoy reading what everyone else is doing, as well as my other favorite groups including e-tatting and my own Celtic Tatting group.

Instructions:
2 shuttles CTM. work with s1, and s2 is used as the ball thread except where noted.

Ring 3 - 3 - 3 - 3
turn
Leave a small space for a mock picot then

Chain (3 + 5 - 1) This joins to the next picot of the center ring

Using s2 reach through same picot of the center ring and pull up a loop of s1 thread and pull s2 through it then adjust the length of the threads to the length of the ch5. See diagram below!

Using s1 reach around in between the chain 5ds and the three threads and with the hook on the shuttle pull a loop of s1 thread and insert s1 through the loop. Tighten the s1 thread so the bullion stitch lies close to the ring picot. Keep the thread tight and tat 4 more of the bullion stitches which brings you back out to the end of the arm of the cross next to the s2 thread. This is similar to doing a shuttle join, but you have to keep the thread taught so the stitches are even.
Tat with s1 shuttle and s2 as ball thread Chain 1 1/2 starting with the 2nd half of the ds.

Repeat two more bullion stitch chains, then chain 1 - 5 + join to the same picot of the ring.

One arm of the cross completed.

(It would look nice with beads on the picots that define the corners of each arm of the cross)

Chain 3 then join to the next picot of the ring and repeat previous instructions for the 2nd and 3rd arm of the cross. The 4th arm is the base of the cross, chain 8 instead of 5 and make 8 bullion stitches in the chain.

Bullion Stitch diagram:

How to tat the Bullion Stitch (BS)

This looks like crocheted bullion stitch, and is similar to Dora Young's Knot less method of tatting or what is now called bridging or split chain in where you end up, but not in how it is tatted. Of course, if you wanted to do repeated split chain tatting, that would probably work too, but it would have the "bumps" of the tatting stitches instead of the smoother look of the crocheted bullion stitches.

March 30 - Butterfly Cross by Ruth

2007-03-30T00:01:00.000-07:00

Spring - Blossoms Burst Forth with shouts of Praise and Butterflies!!
Copyright 2007 Ruth Perry

Jesus said, "I am the way..."

Everyone has a bit of God's image in them even those who do not believe in God. The good that you feel when you do a kindness for someone, or encourage another, or just do your best... that is the likeness of God trying to get through. Look at the daffodils and butterflies. Feel the presence of the creator, God, as nature speaks quietly shouts of praise. Hallelujah!!! He lives!

This is really a simple cross. Just rings and chains, nothing difficult or fancy.

One shuttle and ball of thread CTM. I used yellow Flora because today I noticed the beautiful flowers blooming along the roadside and they made me smile. Yellow is a happy color.

Begin with Ring A in the diagram and follow the ABC order and the arrows. The -- is a slightly larger picot. The VLP is a very large picot for the butterfly antannae. See in the diagram, this picot is about the same size as a ring.

Instructions:

Ring A (3-3-3--3-3-3) turn
Chain (6) turn
Ring B (3-3-3--3-3-3) turn
Chain (6-6) turn
Ring C (3-3+3+3-3-3)
Ring D (3-3-3--3-3-3) turn
Chain (6-6) turn

This pattern could get long and boring... But, notice there is no turn or chain between rings C&D or between H&I. Other than that, it's more of the same, just follow the diagram til you get to the butterfly that is the arm of the cross.

Butterfly: After the Chain (6) from the center...

Ring L (6 - 3 -- 3 - 6) turn
Chain (6-6) turn
Ring M ( 6 + 3 + 3 VLP 6 ) turn
Chain (6-6) join to the VLP of the previous Ring
Chain (2) join again to the VLP
Chain (6-6) turn
Ring N (6+3+3-6) turn
[Ring N joins to the VLP and to the center picot of Ring L where Ring M also joins]
Chain (6-6) turn
Ring O (6+3+3+6) turn
Chain (6)

Repeat around to the beginning, tie the ends to the beginning, hide and cut the ends.

Hugs!
Ruth Perry

March 29 - Wabbit by Ruth

2007-03-29T00:01:00.000-07:00

Copyright 2007 Ruth Perry

One shuttle and ball thread wound CTM
VLP is a very Long Picot ( See photo - these will be cut to make whiskers)

Begin with one eye of the Wabbit
Ring (5-2-3) turn
Chain 10 turn
Ring (2 VLP 1 VLP 2 + 2 - 2 VLP 1 VLP 2 ) turn
leave a little space like a picot in the ball thread (mouth)
Chain 10 turn
Ring (3+2+5) turn
This is the other eye it joins to the previous ring and to the first eye.
Chain 4
Hanging Cluny 25 wraps [ear]
Chain 2
Hanging Cluny 25 wraps [ear]
Chain 4

Tie the ends at the beginning , Hide the ends, and cut

My method of a hanging Cluny: http://georgiaseitz.com/users/sherong/hangingcluny.pdf

March 28 - Little Tatted Easter Peep by Ruth

2007-03-28T00:01:00.000-07:00

Copyright 2007 Ruth Perry

Two Shuttles wound CTM with yellow size 10 or 20

Peep Wing
Ring (2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2)] turn
[Old style tatting notation would be: Ring 8P sep by 2DS, RW]

Peep Body
Begin tatting the top of the peep's back then the tail, the bottom with two picots for legs then skip one picot of the wing and tat the chest up to the beginning of this row. It goes like this:
Chain (2+2+3-4+2+2-1-1+2+4)

Tie the ends at the beginning of the chain so what you have is the peep body tatted around the wing, and the ends are tied to where this row begins and we are now ready to tat the head.

Peep Head
Split ring (5 /3-3) The picot is the beak

Now fold both ends towards the center of the ring, one on one side and the other on the opposite side of the ring, and bring one of the threads through the center of this ring and put a small black bead onto both threads.

Now take one thread back through the center of this ring to the opposite side again. Pull the ends just snug so the bead rests nicely inside the ring to make the peep's eye.

Tie the two ends together around the outside of the ring at the neck where the head joins to the body ( where we started the head ).

Tie, hide, cut the ends.

To tat the Easter grass: shuttle and ball wound CTM with green thread the same size as the peep. Join to one of the picots of the body (leg of the peep) tat a chain with all picots the length for the grass.

Chain ( 1-1-1-3-1-1-1) This bends in two around the front of the peep at the 3 ds so there are picots on both sides of the peep. Join to the same picot as where you started with the green.

Join to the other leg picot then Repeat the chain so the grass goes around the back end of the peep. Join to the same picot and tie the ends together at the beginning of this row.

Cut the ends to about 2' and add a piece of the yellow thread that is about 4' long folded in half, matching the center at the peep body, and the ends with the ends of the green.

Make twisted cord, or pearl tat to form the bookmark and add a tassel.

March 27 - Button Easter Egg by Eliz

2007-03-27T00:01:00.000-07:00

Copyright 2007 Eliz Davis

Button Version (4 hole buttons)
I recommend a 5/8" to 3/4" button for size 10 thread, 1/2" to 5/8" for size 20, and 3/8" to 1/2" for size 30. If you like small joining picots, choose a smaller button.

R 3-3-3-3, cl, rw (3 picots)
Ch 10, rw
R 3+ (join to previous ring) 3+ (join in one hole of the button) 3-3, cl, rw.
Ch 10, rw.
R 3+ (join to previous ring) 3+ (join into 2nd hole of button) 3-3, cl, rw.
Ch 10, rw.
R 3+ (join to previous ring) 3+ (join again into 2nd hole of button) 3-3, cl, rw.
Ch 10, rw.

March 26 - Picot Easter Egg by ELiz

2007-03-26T00:01:00.000-07:00

Copyright 2007 Eliz Davis

R 3-3-3-3, cl, rw (3 picots)
Ch 2-2-2-2-2, rw (4 picots)
*R 3+3-3-3, cl, rw
Ch 2-2-2-2-2, rw*
Repeat from * to * 5 more times. (You now have 7 completed rings followed by chains.)
R 3+ (join to last ring) 3+ (join to middle picot of first ring) 3+ (join to remaining free picot of first ring), 3, cl, rw.
Ch 2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2 (7 picots), attach to base of first ring.
Tie and deal with the ends as you choose.

March 25 - Beaded Easter Egg by ELiz

2007-03-24T10:16:00.001-07:00

Copyright 2007 Eliz Davis

Beaded Easter Egg

Ball and Shuttle with 21 beads on your shuttle and 35 beads on the ball thread.
We will place 3 beads in the middle picot of the rings and 1 bead in each picot of the chains. b=bead

R 3 - 3 bbb 3 - 3, cl, rw
Ch 2 b 2 b 2 b 2 b 2, rw (4 beaded picots)
*R 3 + 3 bbb 3 - 3, cl, rw
Ch 2 b 2 b 2 b 2 b 2, rw*
Repeat from * to * 5 more times. (You now have 7 completed rings followed by chains.)
R 3+ (join to last ring) 3+ (join to middle picot of first ring--try to keep all of the beads together toward the center of the motif) 3+ (join to remaining free picot of first ring), 3, cl, rw.
Ch 2 b 2 b 2 b 2 b 2 b 2 b 2 b 2 (7 beaded picots), attach to base of first ring.
Tie and deal with the ends as you choose.

March 24 - Easter Egg by Eliz

2007-03-24T00:01:00.000-07:00

Copyright 2007 Eliz Davis

Easy Tatted Easter Egg
These motifs can be used as ornaments, jewelry, or add one to the tail of a bookmark.

R 3-3-3-3, cl, rw (3 picots)
Ch 10, rw
*R 3+6-3, cl, rw
Ch 10, rw*
Repeat from * to * 5 more times. (You now have 7 completed rings followed by chains.)
R 3+ (join to last ring) 3+ (join to middle picot of first ring) 3+ (join to remaining free picot of first ring), 3, cl, rw.
Ch 16, attach to base of first ring.
Tie and deal with the ends as you choose

March 23 - Bunnies in a Row Edging by Gina

2007-03-23T00:01:00.000-07:00

Copyright Gina Brummett

Wind 2 shuttles CTM (continuous thread method).

You might only want a couple yards on each shuttle until you try it out. I use a paper clip or safety pin to anchor that first chain stitch. I’ll remove it when I join there.

VSP – very small picot. Used for joining only, no decorative value.
BP – big picot. Used for bunny feet in this case – I make them ½ - ¾ inch in length.
VBP – very big picot. Used for bunny ears – I make them 1 – 1 ¼ inch in length.
RW – reverse work

Ch 2ds, vsp, 10 ds. rw R 11 ds, j to place where safety pin or paper clip was in the first ch (in subsequent bunnies, this will be a vsp join), 2 ds, BP, 2 ds, BP, 2 ds, VSP, 11 ds, clr, rw Using ch shuttle for the ring, R 7 ds, VBP, 3 ds, VBP, 7 ds, clr, do NOT rw.

Still using ch shuttle but as the ball thread now, Ch 10ds, vsp, 2 ds, j to p on last r At this point, you are ready to start a 2nd bunny. If not, just cut, tie & hide ends.

Turn up the p for the bunny feet so they are pointing loop up, like the ears. If you are going on, leave a space of about ¼ inch and make a lock stitch. Repeat from beginning, but at the very first vsp in the ch, j to last bunny ch instead.

March 22 - Pam's Cloud Idea by Ruth

2007-03-22T00:01:00.000-07:00

Copyright 2007 Pam Baim

Copyright 2007 Ruth Perry

Pam Baim sent me the drawing at the top of this page as an idea for the tatting pattern calendar, and I promised I'd see what I could do with it. We already did a pot of gold, and some clouds. Well Pam said that she saw her cloud as half closed rings. Unfortunately those don't have much stability, so I came up with this cloud tatted with half beaded rings.

One shuttle with 30 seed beads, size 20 thread in a sky or cloud color. String 30 beads on the shuttle thread, cut from the ball of thread. This is just rings.

Instructions:

Slide 5 beads onto the core thread for each ring, they will just be on the core thread when the ring is closed.
Ring ( 15 large picots separated by 1 DS )
Repeat 5 more times. Tie the end of the thread to the beginning, and hide the ends then cut.

Did I mention that this is easy and beautiful. It looks to me like a way to fake a split ring technique. Do I see jewlery here??? Yes I do. Thanks Pam!!!

March 21 - Cloud-Flower for Spring by Ruth

2007-03-20T22:42:00.000-07:00

Copyright 2007 Ruth Perry

Most tatting designs are not free form like the clouds we have been tatting the past few days. While nature often appears to be random, it has order and a pattern, most of us don't play with the math of Chaos theory. OK, I confess that the wallpaper on my computer screen is a rendering of a beautiful fractal graphic. I come from a family that enjoys math. Some of my relatives actually tell jokes in math. And others actually get the jokes told in math. Trust me, it happens...

The Mandelbrot and Julia sets are some of the most beautiful fractal art that computer graphics and mathemetitions have been doing. Talk about inspiration for tatting patterns!!!

This pattern is a more regular design than the recent clouds, but still somewhat like a cloud in nature. But then I see in it a flower like a morning glory too. It would easily adapt to cover the end of an easter egg, by reducing the number of stitches in the outer rows. Following this pattern of rings and chains it could easily grow infinitely.

Two shuttles wound continuous CTM
Beginners could easily cut and hide ends on each row, more advanced tatters will want to climb out of each row with split rings. I did mention that this is the BEST reason to learn split rings in previous patterns, right?

Two DS between all picots!

Instructions:

Center:
Ring 5 large picots sep by 2 DS
Leave a space the size of a large picot before tatting the split ring to begin the 2nd row

2nd Row:
Split Ring ( 2 - 2 - 2 / 2 - 2 - 2 ) turn
*
Chain ( 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 ) turn
Ring ( 2 - 2 + 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 ) turn
Chain ( 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 ) turn
Ring ( 2 + 2 - 2 + 2 - 2 - 2 ) turn
*
Repeat between ** around following the diagram and instructions

3rd Row:
Split Ring ( 2 + 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 / 2 + 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 ) turn
*
Chain ( seven picots sep by 2ds ) turn
Ring ( 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 + 2 + 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 ) turn
Chain ( 5 picots sep by 2ds ) turn
Ring ( 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 + 2 + 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 ) turn
*
Repeat around following the diagram and instructions

Tie hide cut ends, or use them to tat additional rows, or to lace between this motif and an identical one, both adapted to cover an Easter egg.

Imagine this done in beautiful colors!!! On an Easter egg!!! Maybe with beads added for sparkle. Let your imagination take you on a fantastic journey... get creative, have fun.

March 20 - More Clouds by Ruth

2007-03-20T01:17:00.000-07:00

More Clouds today. This is just Rings and chains with lots of picots.

Ring: (2 - 2 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 2 - 2) turn
Chain (2 - 1 - 1 - 2) turn
Ring: (2 + 2 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 2 - 2) turn
Chain (2 + 1 - 1 - 2) turn

For a close curve omit the chain between two rings. To reverse of direction of the curves tie a knot in the shuttle and ball threads (SLT) or tat with two shuttles and use alternating shuttles for the rings. Join where the rings are close together.

Free form, just let the thread go where it wishes as if blown on the wind.

March 19 - Clouds by Ruth

2007-03-19T06:50:00.000-07:00

Copyright 2007 Ruth Perry

When you look at clouds in the sky what do you see? I see dragons and puppies and sailing ships and flowers. Clouds are as different from each other as different can be. So how do we tat clouds? They are fluffy white bits of fluff in the blue sky.

I tatted this little cloud in split rings, with an occasional ring thrown off. I don't want to give you the exact instructions to tat THIS cloud. Instead, I will tell you how to tat any cloud.

2 shuttles one wound with sky blue, and one with an off white cloud color, possibly a blue and white variegated thread would work well also.

Instructions:

The basic ring has 6 white picots and 6 blue picots.

Split Ring ( white 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 / blue 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 ) tat over all the ends with the blue so there are no thread ends to hide later.

Repeats:
Split Ring ( white 1 + 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 / blue 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 ) ( A )
The join is to the previous ring to give the piece some stability.

Curves:
Split Ring ( 1 + 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 / 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1) slight curve ( B )

Split Ring ( 1 + 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 / 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1) strong curve ( C)

Split Ring ( 1 + 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 -1 -1 / 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 ) reverse curve ( D)

Split Ring ( 1 + 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 / 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 ) strong reverse curve ( E )

A thrown off ring can be tatted from the second half of any split ring. Here is one in white:
Split Ring ( blue 1 + 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 -1 -1 / white 1 - 1 - 1 [ Ring 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 ] 1 - 1 - 1 ) ( F )

To make the sharp corners omit the join, and allow the rings to overlap each other. For some variety tat a bit of chain in blue or white with picots every stitch between rings.

Cloud section sample:
CCCBBBAADDDEEEF join the thrown off ring of F to the first C ring

The clouds can be as varied as your immagination allows!
More clouds tomorrow.

March 18 - Hat Motif by Eliz Davis

2007-03-18T00:01:00.000-07:00

Copyright 2006 Eliz Davis

Size 10 = 3 inches

Ring of 5-5-5-5, close, rw.
*Chain 8-8, rw.
Ring 5+ (join to last picot of previous ring) 5-5-5, close, rw.*
Repeat 3 more times from * to *. (You will now have a total of 5 tatted rings.)

Chain 8-8-8+ (join to last picot of the last ring) 5+ (join to the middle picot of the last ring) 30+ (join to the middle picot of the first ring) 5+ (join to the first picot of the first ring) 8-8-8+ (join to the base of the first ring).
Tie and cut dealing with the ends as you prefer.
Hide the ends or use them for twisted cord/spiral chain, etc. for a bookmark.

March 17 - Lucky's lost Pot O Gold - found!!!

2007-03-17T00:09:00.000-07:00

The missing Pot O Gold has been found, and Lucky wants to wish you a Happy St. Patrick's Day
Copyright 2007 Ruth Perry

Lucky the Leprechaun - a little complex for this calendar, but here is his Pot O Gold

Two shuttles CTM
5 gold jewlery finding rings or similar material

Instructions:

Row 1
Ring ( 4 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 4 ) turn
Chain 8 turn
Ring ( 4 + 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 4 ) turn
Chain 8 turn
Ring ( 4 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 4 ) turn
Chain 8 turn
Split Ring ( 4 + 2 - 2 /4 + 2 - 2 ) turn

Row 2
Split Ring ( 3 / 3 ) turn
Split Ring ( 3 - 3 - 1 - 1 - 3 / 3 ) turn
Chain 12 String 3 gold findings on this chain turn
Ring ( 3 - 3 + 3 - 3 ) turn
Chain 12 String 3 gold findings on this chain turn
Split Ring ( 3 - 3 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 3 / 3 [ Ring thrown off 3 + 3 ] 3) turn
Chain 8
Ring ( 6 + 3 - 1 - 1 - 3 - 6 ) turn
Chain 8 turn
( 12 + 6 + 12 ) turn

Follow on around the outside. Tie Hide Cut ends.

Tat a blue and white cloud with a rainbow arching down to the Gold Rings.

March 16 - Jon's Moon Kite

2007-03-15T23:34:00.001-07:00

Copyright 2007

Wau Bulan (Moon Kite)

The Wau Bulan (or moon kite, because of the crescent shape) is one of the traditional kites of Malaysia. A full-size kite has a wing-span of about 2.5m and can be as high as 3.5m. A ‘hummer’ is usually attached to it, which produces a humming sound which can be heard quite clearly even when flown at great heights. The kites are usually flown after rice-harvesting is over and is the time for some relaxation before the next planting season begins.

DS count for rings:
Ring A(5-5)
Ring B(6-6)
Ring C(8-8)

Using two colours, leave a length of about 3 inches of thread before tying the two threads together. The pattern starts with a chain.

Instructions:

Row 1
Place a paperclip at the beginning to make a mock picot; and begin with C(15) working on the ouside.
Follow the sequence of Rings A, B and C for the first half and repeat in reverse for the second half.
At the end, after the last C(15), flip the work right to left. Make a SLT to switch the position of the shuttle thread. Then, attach another paperclip to form another mock picot.

Row 2
Continue with the next round to complete the crescent shape, making shuttle joins to the top of the rings A, B and C of one half.
Then make C(4) and shuttle join to one hole of a 2-hole button.
Continue with the other half to complete the crescent. Join the end of the chain C(15) to the first mock picot, and then reverse work.

Row 3
Make rings A, B and C as in the diagram. After RC, make C(6+6), joining to the button. Reverse work and make RC again, this time joining this to the previous RC. Continue till the end of the row, as in the diagram.
At the end of the row, join the chain to the second mock picot, and continue with the last row.

Row 4
Begin with C(6+5), making a shuttle join to the RA of the previous row.
The make RB(6+6) joining to the RB of the previous of row, followed by C(6).
For RC, join to the share picot of the previous RC, followed by another C(6).
Make a SLT here to switch th eposition of the shuttle thread and continue with the next chain.
At the tip of the kite, make a small ring R3-3).
Repeat the steps in reverse for the other half. Joining the end of the chain to the beginning.
Leave a length of about 3 inches before cutting the threads. Make a knot of all four threads, close to the starting point.
Cut another length of about six inches of both threads and join to the other side of the kite, making four strands altogether. Make a knot of all four strands close to the end.
Make the same to attach to the small picot at the top of the kite.Separate the ply of the threads to make a bushy tassel.

March 15 - Ruth's Shamrock Edging

2007-03-14T23:51:00.001-07:00

One shuttle and ball of thread CTM

Instructions:

Ring ( 4 - 6 - 4 ) turn
Chain ( 4 - 4 ) turn
Ring ( 4 + 4 - 1 - 1 - 4 - 4 ) turn
Chain ( 4 - 4 ) turn
Ring ( 4 + 6 - 4 ) turn

*
Chain ( 14 - 14 ) turn
Dimpled Ring1 ( 10 + 8 - 8 + 8 - 6 - 4 )
Dimpled Ring2 ( 4 + 6 - 8 - 8 + 8 - 6 - 4 )
Dimpled Ring3 ( 4 + 6 - 8 - 8 + 8 - 10 )

reverse stitch Chain ( 14 + )
Chain 14 turn

Ring ( 4 + 6 - 4 ) turn
Chain ( 4 - 4 ) turn
Ring ( 4 + 4 - 1 - 1 - 4 - 4 ) turn
Chain ( 4 - 4 ) turn
Ring ( 4 + 6 - 4 ) turn
Chain ( 14 - 14 ) turn

*
Repeat between * * to desired length

March 14 - Ruth's Shamrock Sachet

2007-03-14T00:01:00.000-07:00

Copyright 2004 Ruth Perry

This is a fairly easy little sachet or pin cushion to tat and stuff with a small "pillow" with scent or possibly some emery dust to sharpen your needles. Emery sand may be purchased from Georgia Seitz as well as instructions for a pin cushion filler.

One shuttle and ball of thread CTM

Begin the first row about where the twisted cord is located on the pic. Use a paper clip to hold a small loop of thread at the beginning of the first chain, or begin with a picot by tying an overhand knot in the thread and tatting the 1st ds a picot's distance from the knot which will not pull through the stitches.

Instructions:

First row
Chain ( 2 - 2 - 4 ) turn
Ring ( 4 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 4 ) turn
*
Chain ( 4 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 4 ) turn
Ring ( 4 + 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 4 ) [ join to the previous ring ]
turn
*
Repeat so there are 4 rings all joined together as shown. The 4th ring joins to both the previous ring and the first ring.

Chain ( 4 - 2 - 2 )
Tie the end to the picot or loop left at the beginning of this row.

Now tat another 1st row exactly the same as the one you just completed. Do not cut the threads, just continue tatting.

Outside row

Chain ( 4 - 2 - 2 - 4 ) Join to a picot of both of the first row pieces where shown in the photo.
Repeat this chain around joining where shown in the photo. Slip the pillow between the two first row pieces before the final two joins.

Tie the end to the beginning, and finish with spiral chain, twisted cord, or a ring to attach a ribbon. This may be used on a chatelain as a pin cushion, as a bookmark, or for a sachet for your hanky drawer. ( Who has a hanky drawer these days???)

March 13 - Ruth's Celtic 4 leaf Clover

2007-03-12T21:25:00.000-07:00

The 4 leaf variety of Celtic Clover is nearly the same as the 3 leaf Shamrock pattern we did yesterday. The diagram below shows the 3 leaf pattern in black with the added chain stitches in orange.

Shuttle and ball CTM

First row

Begin with a picot or on a paper clip to leave a small loop to join the end of the first row.

Chain ( 8 - 16 - 8 - 8 - 16 - 8 - 8 - 16 - 8 - 8 - 16 - 8 )

Weave the Celtic knot for the earring in the Celtic Tatting Knots and Patterns book

Tie the end to the beginning

Leaf Outline row

Chain ( 17 + 17 + 17 ++ [ Join to the picot of both the first and center loops here ]Chain ( 17 + 17 ++ [ Join to the picot of both the center and third loops here ]Chain ( 17 + 17 + 17 )

Join to the beginning picot

March 12 - Ruth's Celtic Shamrock

2007-03-11T21:17:00.000-07:00

Copyright 2005 Ruth Perry

This green Clover, or Shamrock, with a 4 corner Celtic Knot in the center is a wonderful gift for anyone. Tatted in size 10 to 30 thread, it makes a nice bookmark or pendant. Size 50 to 100 thread is a nice size for earrings, but a bit fussy weaving the Celtic Knot.

Instructions:
Row 1 - Celtic Knot
Start with about a yard of thread wound on a shuttle, Continuous Thread Method (CTM) do not cut the thread from the ball of thread. Begin a chain on a paper clip, or begin with a picot.
Chain ( 16 - 8 - 8 - 16 - 8 - 8 - 16 - 8 - 8 - 16)

Weave the Celtic Knot for the earring in the Celtic Tatting Knots & Patterns book. Tie the end to the beginning. Then adjust the knot so that there are three "loops" with three picots in each loop of the knot as shown here.

Row 2 - Leaf Outline
Chain ( 4 + 17 + 17 ++ [ Join to the picot of both the first and center loops here ]
Chain ( 17 + 17 ++ [ Join to the picot of both the center and third loops here ]
Chain ( 17 + 17 + 4 )
Join to the beginning picot

Stem
Chain 16, add a bead or two, then direct tat back over the stem.
Tie, Hide, Cut ends, or use the ends for twisted cord bookmark

March 11 - Beaded Shamrock by Marilee

2007-03-10T23:34:00.000-08:00

Copyright Marilee Rockley

Abbreviations:
beg. beginning
bp bead picot
ch chain
cl close
cm centimeter
CTM continuous thread method
ds double stitch
j join
mm millimeter
p picot
R ring
sb seed bead
sh shuttle
/ separates stitches on each side of split ring, or sets of ric-rac tatting

ZZ zig-zag or ric-rac tatting of set stitches (first half of ds repeated a number of times, followed by second half repeated a number of times, completing one set)

Supplies:
Size 20 crochet cotton
12 size 8 seed beads
1 size 8mm round bead
42 size 11 seed beads
2 tatting shuttles

String the 42 size 11 seed beads and 3 of the size 8 seed beads onto the crochet cotton. Wind 2 shuttles CTM with the 42 beads on sh 2 and the 3 larger seed beads on sh 1.

Note: All joins in this pattern are shuttle joins made with sh 1.

Instructions:
Begin with an open end ch. Ch 7. R using sh 2 of 10, large p (about 18mm open), 10, cl. Ch 7. J large 8mm bead by slipping it onto the open end of chain, pull sh 1 through the open end and cl.

R with sh 2 of 10, large p, 10, cl. Ch 7. R with sh 2 of 10, large p, 10, cl. Ch 7. J to beginning.

Ch 9, j to base of r.
*Ch (3, bp) 7 times, ch 3. J to large p, placing 3 size 8 seed beads on the p before j. Ch (3, bp) 7 times, ch 3. J to base of same r. Ch 9. Rep. from * for a total of 3 “leaves”. J to beg.

(Stem) ZZ ch 2 sets of 4/4. R 7, p, bp of 3 size 8 seed beads, p, 7, cl. ZZ ch 2 sets of 4/4. J to beg.

March 10 - Riego Diamond Part 2 by Ruth

2007-03-08T22:34:00.001-08:00

Two shuttles CTM. Same thread as in yesterday's pattern. Shuttle 1 is shown in black, shuttle 2 is shown in grey. First and last ring are tatted as regular rings instead of split rings - follow the stitch counts in the diagram.

Center motif ( yesterday's pattern ) is shown in blue. There are connecting lines with red dots to show the Ring B joins to the center and to Ring A. Two DS between all picots and joins on all rings.

Instructions:
Ring B ( 2 - 2 - 2 + 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 ) Join to Picot of center motif as shown
*
Split Ring A ( 2 + 2 - 2 - 2 / 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 )

Split Ring B ( 2 + 2 - 2 + 2 - 2 / 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 ) Join to Picot of Ring A & center motif as shown

Split Ring C ( 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 / 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 )

Split Ring B ( 2 - 2 + 2 - 2 + 2 / 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 ) Join to Picot of Ring A & center motif as shown

*
Repeat between * * around. End with final ring C which joing to the picot of first Ring B as shown.

Tie Hide Cut Ends.

You will need 104 of these diamonds to tat the parasol cover.

March 9 - Riego Diamond Part 1 updated by Ruth

2007-03-08T08:08:00.000-08:00

Copyright 2006 Ruth Perry - adapted from The Lace Instructor by Mlle Riego
I think this Riego Diamond is shaped like a KITE!

In the Irish Lace Instructor publication, Mlle Riego presented a lovely parasol cover to be tatted in size 30 cotton. She used a shuttle and tatting pins in two different sizes to achieve the desired look.
Many things have changed since 1886. Tatting techniques continue to evolve, and yet... her designs remain some of the most inspiring and beautiful to behold.
I have used tatting shuttles, and the padded tatting technique to achieve a similar look to her work. I do not presume to provide a direct translation of her instructions to modern terms. The finished work is similar to her design, but the instructions are very different.

Two shuttles CTM This sample is size 30 DMC Cebelia

Center Motif

The Parasol has eight sections, each section requires 13 diamonds. In addition, there are 12 more repetitions of the center of this design in a row of edging and 1 at the center of the cone in the center of each section.
That is a total of 104 diamonds, plus 104 more of this motif in all eight sections.
Tat 204 of this center design to make the parasol cover. Cut the ends, leaving 6 - 8 " tails and tie the ends through the center in both directions to draw the loops together evenly. Hide the ends.

Padded Ring ( 8 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 8)
Padded Ring ( 8 + 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 8)
Padded Ring ( 8 + 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 8)
Padded Ring ( 8 + 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 + 8)

Part 2 Tomorrow

March 8 - Green Beer by Ruth

2007-03-07T22:42:00.000-08:00

Two shuttles CTM Green Thread

Ring ( 7 - 7 )

Block tatting 8 DS each direction with Picots at each end.

Chain ( 8 + 4 + 4)

Tie ends at base of the ring, Hide and cut

At the other end of the mug, attach white thread ball and shuttle CTM.

This requires a very small amount of thread to tat the foam on the green brew. Tat a chain with a picot at every join, attaching to the picots at the top of the mug. This is shown in grey.

Chain ( 1 + - 1 + - 1 + - 1 + - 1 + - 1 + - 1)

Tie, Hide, Cut

Small amount of thread, and a nice size for earrings.

March 7 - Purple & White Bookmarks for Pal Tatters

2007-03-06T03:33:00.000-08:00

Cross Bookmark
Copyright © 2005 Rozella Linden Tatting (Ruth Perry)

This is a bookmark pattern to make purple and white bookmarks to send to Palmetto Tatters Guild to share tatted bookmarks through a group called the Daughters of the Nile. Any purple and white bookmarks will be appreciated. This is just one possible bookmark pattern.

The guild is working on a project to have 175 purple & white bookmarks completed by our May meeting. You can mail bookmarks to the Guilds permanent address:

Palmetto Tatters Guild
P.O. Box 1597
Lexington, SC 29071

I originally shared this pattern on my Geocities website, Tatter's Home Page, in 1996

This simple cross is made with four clovers of three rings at the ends of the cross.

The cross has chains joined at the picots. It can be challenging to make this turn out so that it looks even. Make sure that your chains are equal length, and even tension before beginning the next clover. You may alter the pattern so that the base of the cross is longer if you wish, as in this diagram.

One shuttle and ball of thread CTM

INSTRUCTIONS:
Clover
Ring1 (2-2-2-2)
Ring2 (2+3---3-2) Join to ring1 last picot
Ring3 (2+2-2-2) Join to ring2 last picot

Turn, Chain (3-3-3-3 (this is the center) 3-3-3-3-3-3), turn
Clover Turn, Chain (3+3+3+3+3+3 (at the center) 3-3-3-3), turn
Clover Turn, Chain (3+3+3+3 (at the center) 3-3-3-3), turn
Clover Turn, Chain (3+3+3+3 (at the center) 3+3+3+3)

Tie the ends, hide and cut.

Weave a piece of ribbon through the picots to finish the bookmark.

The members of Daughters of the Nile are committed to supporting the important work of Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Shriners Hospitals, the official philanthropy of the Shrine of North America, is a network of 22 children’s specialty hospitals throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. There are 18 orthopaedic Shriners Hospitals, three burn hospitals, and one Shriners Hospital that provide orthopaedic, burn and spinal cord injury care. All medical care and services provided by Shriners Hospitals are totally without charge to the children and their families. To date, Shriners Hospitals has provided specialized medical care to more than 800,000 children across North America.
Shriners Hospitals have become renowned for their expertise in orthopaedic and burn care, and they maintain their position in the forefront of these specialized areas through an extensive research program. They also focus on meeting the needs of the children of tomorrow through their affiliations with some of North America’s leading medical centers and their support of medical education and training, with many residents in orthopaedic and burn care receiving some of their training at a Shriners Hospital.

No child (regardless of race / creed / color / national origin / religious ties) ever has to pay for care through the Shriner's hospitals.

Want to do more? Collect Campbells soup labels for education, and pull tabs from aluminum cans. Follow the link to the Daughters of the Nile website for more information about their charitable giving. Don't throw away those labels and tabs, instead collect them for a chance to help a child.

When I lived in Cincinnati, OH I was part of a group of dog owners called the Pet Club. Through the Mental Health Association, we took pet therapy dogs to visit the kids at the Shriner's burns hospital in Cincinnati. The dogs go through extensive testing to be sure they are suitable for visiting kids in the hospital, and you have to follow carefully the guidelines for cleanliness and safety before they are permitted to be a part of this program. I participated with several of my Pomeranian dogs who just simply adored the visits with the kids. Remember, these kids are away from home, and away from their pets for months, at a time.

This is a very good cause!

March 6 - Clover Wheel by Ruth

2007-03-04T17:28:00.000-08:00

Copyright 2005 Ruth Perry

I designed this some time ago, and promised it to someone in time for Christmas. I didn't make it in time for last Christmas.

BTW, a considerable incentive for me to do this tatting pattern calendar was to motivate me to actually write down the instructions for patterns I have designed but never written the instructions. I am doing it for this year only. If someone else would like to carry on with it next year, just let me know.

The inspiration for this pretty clover wheel is the Riego wheel in the Parasol cover in The Irish Lace Instructor. This one is considerably different. The Riego wheel has a flower motif in the center, not a clover. I figured one could put anything inside the wheel. It took a LOT of experimenting to get everything to join up so it would lay flat. If your tatting tension is very tight or very loose you may need to adjust the size of your picots, or the number of stitches (particularly in the stem) to some degree for this to turn out perfectly flat. When you have tatted one to your liking be sure to make a note of any changes to the pattern you made to the basic pattern. Beads may also have an effect on the spacing, depending upon the size of the beads you choose to use.

Two shuttles wound CTM with thread the size and color of your choice. I used white size 30 DMC Cebelia for my sample. Add beads between the rings or on the picots if you wish.

Instructions:

Begin with S1 & tat the clover in the center
Ring1 ( 6 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 6 )
Ring2 ( 6 + 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 6 ) join is to previous ring
Ring3 ( 6 + 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 6 ) join is to previous ring

tie a square knot in the two shuttle threads

Stem:
Chain ( 18) S2 is the ball thread for this
Tat a lock stitch ( 2nd half ds not flipped, 2nd half ds flipped)
Leave a picot sized space of thread for a mock picot here

Wheel row:
SplitRing ( 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 / 2 )

*
Leave a picot sized space of thread for a mock picot
Split ring ( 2 + 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 / 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 )
*
Repeat between ** all around, joining to the clover in the center where it shows in the diagram.

The final ring:

Ring ( 2 + 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 + 2 + 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 ) This ring joins to the previous ring and to the first ring as shown in the photo and diagram.

Tie Hide Cut ends

I think this would make a nice broach, on a contrasting fabric background, a bookmark with twisted cord, or a ribbon. A Christmas ornament, or ????? pretty much anything you want to do with it.

Enjoy!
Ruth

March 5 - Daisy Picot Shamrock by Ruth

2007-03-04T01:00:00.000-08:00

Copyright 2007 Ruth Perry

This little Shamrock is tatted with two shuttles both wound with green thread
Not continuous.

S1 Ring (1 ds [ S2 Daisy Picot 4 - 4 - 4 - 4] S1 2 ds [S2 Daisy Picot 4 + 4 - 4 - 4] S1 2 ds
[S2 Daisy Picot 4 + 4 - 4 - 4] S1 1ds)

Round 2
Chain ( 6 + 12 + 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 + 12 + 6 ) join as shown in photo
Tie ends at the beginning of this round, then tie in an overhand knot

Stem
Chain 12, Tie in overhand knot and cut threads for tassel

March 4 - Shamrock by Jon

2007-03-03T21:09:00.000-08:00

Shuttle and ball thread CTM

Instructions:

Round 1 - dimpled rings (shown in blue)
Make all the picots small
Leave a length of about 4 – 5 inches before starting.
Make ring (4-11-5+11-4), where the join is made to the 2nd picot of the same ring, before continuing with the rest of the ds.

To close the ring, I used a needle and pull up the thread at the bend in the ring and close the first half. Then I pull the thread from the shuttle to close the ring fully.

Repeat the ring with the same ds count, but make an additional join after the first 4ds to the last picot of the previous ring.
Make the third ring the same as the second ring. Cut off the thread about 4 – 5 inches from the rings.

Round 2 – chains only (shown in red)
Again, leave a length of about 4 – 5 inches before starting.
Make chain (4+15+15), 1st join to the first picot of the dimpled ring, 2nd join to the picot in the point of the dimple, and 3rd join to the joining picot between the two rings.
Continue the chain with (15+15+15+15+4) making the joins as shown in the diagram.

I did not use a shuttle join in here. Instead I pull the ball thread through the picot and slide the shuttle through the loop. When closing the thread for the join, I make sure that the shuttle thread is level with the ds and is not pulled through the picot.

At the end there will be four strands of thread measuring 4-5 inches, one shuttle thread and one ball thread coming out from the motif.
Make a series of half-stitch over the five threads using the shuttle. Cut off when you have reached the required length, or tie a knot to make a tassel at the end.

March 3 - Irish Derby (Hearts) by Ruth

2007-03-02T19:08:00.000-08:00

Tat three of the joined hearts from the Feb 28th pattern.

Chain 25 + join to the dimple of the previous heart

Chain 25 - 4 + join to the dimple of the center heart

Chain 4 + 25 + join to previous picot and to the dimple of the other heart

Chain 25 + join at the base of the first heart (see photo)

Chain 8 - 1 - 1 - 8

Tie ends at the base of the third heart. Hide the ends and trim off

If you tat this with green thread it will look like a green derby hat with hearts for the hatband

Enjoy!

March 2 - One Ring Shamrock by Ruth

2007-03-01T20:48:00.000-08:00

This interesting little Three Leaf Shamrock is something I designed while playing with Maltese rings. Begin with two pieces of green thread, each about a yard or so long. Great for using up bits of thread left over from another project. I do mostly finger tatting, but you could use two shuttles each with one of the threads wound on it. The two threads are not continuous.

The ring is tatted as a direct ring, that is all the stitches are reverse stitches like the second half of a split ring. The second thread is held in the pinch and is sometimes wrapped around the little finger like the ball thread when tatting a chain, when you tat over it along with the core thread of the ring.

This diagram shows one leaf completed and one almost completed.

Shamrock Ring:

*[Sh1] 1 r st tatted over both threads

[S2] 1 r st tatted over core thread only

S1 picot about 1/2" long made by direct tatting 1 reverse stitch over just S2 thread

S2 picot about 1/4" long made by direct tatting 1 r st over the core thread

S1 picot about 1/2" long made by direct tatting 1 reverse stitch over both threads

Repeat between * * two more times then pull the core thread (see diagram) to close the ring

Direct Tat 15 r st over all thread ends with either shuttle to make the stem. Finish with a bead and work in the ends, or tie an overhand knot to make a small tassel.

Leap Year Feb 29 - Ruth's Red Heart

2007-02-28T23:59:00.000-08:00

Copyright 2005 Ruth Perry

One shuttle and ball thread CTM

This heart is similar to the little red mat pattern. The inside of the heart is just one shuttle, while the outside row requires shuttle and ball thread.

One shuttle and ball CTM
Instructions:

RingA ( 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 ) turn
RingB ( 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 )
RingC ( 3 - 5 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 5 - 3 ) this is the only ring with a different stitch count
RingD ( 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 ) turn

Continue tatting around the inside of the heart following the single thread path (in gray) and the rings. Refer to the diagram for joining.

RingZ is a split ring ( 3 + 3 / 3 + 3 )
Chain 6 - 6 join as shown
Continue around the outside of the heart as shown. Optional beads, more decorative picots, or joining to every ring with half as many stitches between around the outside of the heart.

Enjoy!

March 1 - Frilly Shamrock by Susan T.

2007-02-28T15:09:00.000-08:00

Frilly clover Book mark
Susan Taliaferro 2/07 ( CW)

Standard abbreviations...

R 5-5-5-5
R 5+5-5-5
R 5+5-5-5 RW
C 5(-5)5 + to where last two rings are joined
C 5(-5)5 + to where first two rings are joined
C 5(-5)5 + to base if clover RW
C 4 +LPPC 2 (-2)3 +NPPC 4 + where last chain was joined to rings
Repeat 2 times but third is joined to base of rings.

For Tail of bookmark... tat a long loose chain... or wavy chain. Add
threads to base a and braid. It is your choice....

Enjoy.....

February 28 - Joined Hearts - Linked Hearts

2007-02-27T21:25:00.000-08:00

Copyright 2007 Esther Paris

This sample is size 40 Anchor thread

Joined Hearts
Shuttle and ball. Work tightly so the hearts are stiff.

Instructions:
Dimpled Ring: 14ds, picot, 7ds, join to picot (makes the dimple), 14ds, close. First heart done.
Reverse work
Chain 7
Reverse work
Dimpled Ring: 7ds, join to previous heart as if the whole thing were a picot, 7ds, picot, 7 ds, join to picot (dimple), 14 ds, close. Second heart done.
Cut and tie off ends.
Make another one the same to use just this motif for earrings.

Linked Hearts
Shuttle only. Work tightly so the hearts are stiff.

Instructions:
Make a dimpled ring as above: 14ds, p, 7ds, join to picot (makes dimple), 14 ds.
Close ring. Cut and tie.
Thread the thread THROUGH the first heart and place first heart at back of left hand before starting second ring. Make a second dimpled heart ring as above: 14-7+14cl.
Cut and tie.
Make another one the same for second earring.

Link two pair of Joined Hearts as shown in the photo if desired. Enjoy!

February 27 - Tiny Heart by Marth Ess

2007-02-25T20:06:00.000-08:00

Copyright 2001 Martha Ess

Size: ¾ x ¾ inch in size 80 thread, 1 x 1 inch in size 30. Good for notecards, or add beads for earrings.

Wind 2 shuttles CTM

Instructions:
Row 1:
R: 5 -- 5 - 3 - 3 clr Do not reverse work. Leave short space of thread for mock picot.

Row 2:
SR: 4 / 4 clr rw
[Ch: 3 - 3 rw
R: 4 + (to next p of large R) 4 rw ] 2 times. Do not reverse work after last R. Switch shuttles

Row 3:
Ch: 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 rw
R: 4 + (to p of Ch of Row 2) 4 clr rw
*Ch: 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 rw
R: 6 + (to same p) 6 clr rw
Ch: 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 rw
R: 4 + (to same p) 4 clr*
R: 4 + (to p of next ch of Row 2) 4 clr rw
Repeat section from * to *
Ch: 2 - 2 - 2 - 2. Cut and tie at base of SR.

February 26 - Easy Little Heart by Ruth

2007-02-24T08:29:00.000-08:00

Copyright Ruth Perry 2007
Mlle Riego used reverse stitches in her patterns, calling them r st. It's tatted 2nd half first NO FLIP, 1st half second NO FLIP. This little heart would be pretty for earrings, to glue to a card or bookmark, or as a little collar decoration for a special someone.

It is a "use up the last bit of thread" on my shuttle pattern after finishing my yellow heart, takes just a few minutes to tat, and makes me smile.

Ring ( 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 )
Chain 25 reverse stitches
Ring ( 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 )
Chain 25 reverse stitches
Adjust the tension of the chains to shape the heart. Tie the ends at base of 1st ring. Finish by hiding ends, or tie the ends for a loop to hang it up. Add a length of tatting, twisted cord, or ribbon to make a quick and easy bookmark. Enjoy!

February 25 - Little Celtic Heart by Ruth

2007-02-24T08:17:00.000-08:00

Copyright 2002 Ruth Perry

This is a simple little Celtic heart that I designed several years ago. There wasn't room for it in the Celtic Tatting book pub by Handy Hands. I saved the two color photo above to use at a later time - like now.

The easiest way to tat this is the third photo.
Ring 30
Chain 30
Ring 1 - 1 - 1 - 1
Chain 30
Adjust the tension on the stitches so it is shaped like a heart (see above)

Tie the end to the base of the first ring, or weave the chains through as shown in the 2 color photo.

The two color one is tatted with one color on the shuttle and a different color for the ball thread. Chain 30 ds
At both ends of this chain tat 30 r st (reverse stitches not flipped, 2nd half 1st and 1st half 2nd)
Weave the chains as shown. Tie them all together for a tassel.

February 24 - Celtic Knot Christmas Tree Heart

2007-02-23T20:40:00.000-08:00

Instructions:

Ring (3 - 2 - 2 - 3) turn
Chain (60 - 60)

Weave the Celtic Knot

Tie the threads ends together at the base of the ring. Shape the knot as shown in the photo to form the Christmas Tree.

Chain (40)
Weave through the bottom loop on one side of the Christmas tree as in the photo.
Join to the picot at the top of the tree, Chain (40)
Weave through the other bottom loop of the tree & Tie the ends around the base of the ring at the beginning. Hide the ends & trim off close to the work. Add a loop of thread at the top for hanging. ENJOY!

February 23 - Yellow Heart (easy) by Ruth

2007-02-22T21:36:00.000-08:00

This easy heart has the outline of a heart and the inside image is also a heart. There are 2 DS between picots everywhere, and all the rings have 5 picots except the one ring at the point.

- picot
+ join

DS tatting knot or double stitch

SP Small Picot

LP Large Picot

SLT Shoe Lace Trick (see below)

comments

Instructions:

Wind one tatting shuttle with thread, but do not cut the thread from the ball. This is called CTM or Continuous Thread Method. The sample is tatted with size 20 yellow flora thread, and is about 3" tall by 3" wide.

Ring (2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2)

Ring (2 + 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2)

turn

Chain (2 + 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2) Join to the first picot of the first ring

( 7 picots total in this chain)

turn

Ring (2 - 2 + 2 + 2 - 2 - 2)
Ring (2 + 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2)

turn

Chain (2 + 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2) Join to the last picot of the previous chain

( 7 picots total in this chain )

turn

Ring (2 - 2 + 2 + 2 - 2 - 2)

Ring (2 + 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2)

turn
Chain (2 + 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2) Join to the last picot of the previous chain

( 8 picots total in this chain)
turn

Ring (2 - 2 + 2 + 2 - 2 - 2)
Ring (2 + 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2)

turn

Chain (2 + 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2) Join to the last picot of the previous chain

( 9 picots total in this chain)

turn

Ring (2 - 2 + 2 + 2 - 2 - 2)
Ring (2 + 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2)

turn

Chain (2 + 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2) Join to the last picot of the previous chain

( 8 picots total in this chain)

turn

Continue tatting following the diagram and stitch pattern as before. There are three more repeats of the rings and chains all with 7 picots in each chain section.

Then tat as follows:

Ring (2 - 2 + 2 + 2 - 2 - 2)

Tie an overhand knot in the shuttle and ball threads like the knot you make to tie your shoes. This is called a SLT or Shoe Lace Trick. It switches the place of the two threads.

Ring at the point of the bottom of the heart:

Ring (2 + 2 - 2 SP LP SP 2 - 2 - 2)

SLT

Ring (2 + 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2)

This is the first ring of the second side of the heart. The rest of the heart is the mirror image of what you have already tatted. Follow the instructions in reverse order back to the beginning where the last chain section joins to the first.

Tie the ends together in a square knot, hide the ends and cut them off close to the work, or tie them in a loop to hang the heart for a decoration.

Enjoy

February 22 - 1894 Flower doily

2007-02-21T00:57:00.000-08:00

Original Instructions:

This is from September 1894 publication called "The Delineator" p.363

Two shuttles wound CTM or one shuttle and a generous thread end left at the beginning to finger tat the split rings. Note there are 15 rosettes in this doily. The first two in every group of three may be tatted with just a little thread for the split rings, while the third rosette should have the second shuttle wound with enough thread to tat the outside round as well as the split rings. I don't much like tie & Cut so this is a beautiful example of how split rings make tatting easier and better!!! Of course if you don't know split rings, you can still tat each of the rows separately and tie and cut at the end of each, then hide the ends. :-( or go learn split rings! :-)

Follow the ABC order of the rings. The first and last rings B, C, & Y are diagramed to show the 1st & 2nd shuttle threads for the split rings.

Center
RingA: 2.5 - 2.5 - 2.5 - 2.5 - ( repeat until there are 11 picots with two and a half stitches between picots and two and a half stitches between at the beginning and end of this ring)

Tatting with two and a half stitches between picots may take some getting used to, and it is not "right side, wrong side" as both sides are the same. But I does work for this rosette.

Middle & outside rows:
These are tatted in one round, alternating middle, outside, middle, etc.
Use both threads from the center (forming a mock 12th picot) to tat RingB as a split ring (2 - 2 / 2 - 2)

RingC and all the outside rings are 4 + 4 - 4 - 4 with joins to the side picot of the previous adjacent ring, with the exception of the first which doesn't have a previous ring to join to, and the final ring which is different ( refer to the diagram and the instructions at the bottom of this pattern)

Reverse Work (Turn it around so the previous ring is opposite the next ring)

RingD and all the middle rings are 2 + 2 + 2 - 2 with joins to the side picot of the previous adjacent ring and to a picot of the center.

Reverse Work

Repeat around following the diagram. Join the final middle row ring as shown to the previous ring in this row and to the center and to the first ring in this row.

The final outside row ring is a split ring.
For the first two rosettes in a group of three tat it:

SplitRing (4 + 4 - 4 / 4 ) tie the ends through the picot of the first ring in this round. (see diagram)

For the third rosette which will climb out to tat the reverse chain around the outside tat it:

SplitRing (4 + 4 / 4 + 4) Leave threads for mock picot and then tat the first ring in the border:
SplitRing (4 - 4 / 4 - 4) turn

Reverse Stitch Chain ( 4 - 4 ) turn
(Riego called the direct tatted stitches r st.)

This would work up better than the one I did in the diagram with the thread spaces between the rings a little smaller than what I tatted. But this was my first try at this pattern. Join rosettes together, and the outside border as shown in the original photo. Enjoy!

February 21 - Daisy Picot Heart for Earring by Riet

2007-02-20T17:49:00.000-08:00

I think this can be an earring if not, you can put it on a shirt or a card.
You need two shuttles and thread, I used Oren Bayan # 50 red and white..
Abbreviations:
R Ring
Ch Chain
Sh1 Shuttle 1
Sh2 Shuttle 2
Rev Reversed
1e H ds first half double stitch
2e H ds second half double stitch
ds double stitch
dds daisy double stitch
P - picot
+ join
Sh+ Shuttle join.
SS Switch shuttles
Shuttle with white thread is Sh1
Shuttle with red thread is Sh2

Start with both threads and hide the both ends in the whole ring.
So the ends make the center a little bit thicker.

Instructions:
Round 1
Sh1: 1 ds
Sh2: 10 dds, - 10 dds.
Sh1: 1ds
Sh2: 8 dds, - 8 dds.
Sh1: 1 ds
Sh2: 10 dds, – 10 dds
Sh1: 1 ds
Sh2: 8 dds, - 8 dds
Sh1: 1ds.
Sh2: 10 dds, – 10 dds
Sh1: 1ds
Close ring. RW

Second Round
Ch Sh2 15 ds, Sh+(P 1e Daisy P). 10 ds Sh+(P 2e daisy P) 8ds Sh+( P
3e daisy P) SS,
Sh1 R: 3ds – 3ds close ring SS go on with chain
Ch Sh2 8 ds Sh+(P 4e daisy P) 10 ds Sh+(P 5e Daisy P) 15 ds Sh+
(begin Chain) RW

Third Round
This is a chain in which you tat the 1e H ds normal and the 2e H ds reversed so no flip. The whole chain is done in this way and you join on the same places as in round 2. Take care that you can’t move the stitches so watch your tension.
Chain with
Ch Sh1 : 12 ds + 7 DS + 5 ds
Take care no join the white thread goes in front of the white R and the red thread goes behind the white R. Go on with the chain:
Ch Sh1: 5 ds + 7 ds +12 ds + begin chain
Now cut and tie or whatever you want. It depends on the use of the heart.
The technique of the daisy picot you will find here.

February 20 - Button Heart by Susan B. Taliaferro

2007-02-19T22:42:00.000-08:00

Copyright 2000 Susan B. Taliaferro - for personal use only.

5/8’ button 4 holes ( it will not work with a two hole button)
one shuttle and ball thread continous wound method
#12 perle cotton or equal thread. You may use smaller thread and button.

Standard tatting abbreviations:

JB-join to hole in button
JnB- join to NEXT hole in button

Instructions:

Round One
R-5 p 5 JB 5 p 5 close RW
Ch 5 p 5 p 5 RW
{R 5 J (LPPR) 5 JB 5 p 5 Cl RW ( all rings are joined in this manner on this round)
Ch 5 p 5 RW} { to } repeat one more.

R 5 J 5 JnB 5 p 5 Cl RW
Ch 5 p 5 RW
R 5 J 5 JB 5 p 5 Cl RW
Ch 5 p 5 RW
R 5 J 5 JB 5 p 5 Cl RW
Ch 5 p 5 p 5

* R 5 J 5 JnB 5 p 5 Cl RW
Ch 5 p 5 Rw
{ R 5 J 5 JB 5 P 5 Cl RW
Ch 5 p 5 RW } Repeat { to } once more *

* to* repeat once more BUT omit the last chain.
You should have 12 rings, three (3) attached to each hole.
The first and last rings are NOT joined together. Do NOT cut, Do Not reverse.
Use the shoe lace trick to have threads in correct position.

Round Two
Ch 5 p 5 p 5 RW
R 8 p 8 J ( to first free picot of last chain in round one) 8 p 8 Cl RW
Ch 8 p 8 RW
R 8 J (LPPR) 8 p 8 Cl RW ( this ring is not joined to chain)
{Ch 8 p 8 RW
R 8 J (LPPR all others will be joined the same) 8 J (next free chain picot)
8 p 8 Cl RW } Repeat { to } 5 times.
Ch 10 p 10
{R 8 J (LPPR.. all others will be joined the same) 8 J (next free chain picot)
8 p 8 Cl RW
Ch 8 p 8 RW } Repeat { to } 5 times
R 5 J 5 p 5 Cl RW ( this ring is not joind to chain)
Ch 8 p 8 RW
R 8 J ( prev ring) 8 J ( to chain) 8 p 8 Cl RW.
Ch 5 p 5 p 5 Join to base of first ring made..

Tie, hide and cut ends..... Enjoy.....

February 19 - Riet's Daisy Picot Hearts Bookmark

2007-02-18T19:58:00.000-08:00

Copyright 2007 Riet Surtel-Smeulders

Is all the same as the pattern posted yesterday, except this; In the first part you tat after the last ring a chain 5 – 5 to go to the point of the heart. Cut the threads , but take care that you leave ends long enough for the tail.

The second part ends after the last big ring.

Then you start the tail

The ends of the first part go on your left hand as a chain thread

Sh1 makes 1 dds Sh 2 makes 1 ds as in the second part of a split ring.

After this 2 ds you make: Sh1 2 dds and Sh2 2ds

Repeat this till you have the length you need make a overhand knot in the 4 ends and cut.

The daisy picot technique goes like this:

Take 2 shuttles with different colors make an overhand knot in the ends. Take the knot in the pinch, Start ring with Shuttle 1 and shuttle 2 is laying over your left hand

After 1 ds. You start making the daisy picot like this

Let Sh 1 hanging down, take Sh 2 and make a ds on the ring thread, but don’t do the flip, so don’t take off the tension. We call this stitch a daisy ds or short a dds.

February 18 - Riet's Two Daisy Picot Heart

2007-02-17T18:16:00.000-08:00

Two Daisy Picot Heart © 2007 Riet Surtel-Smeulders

Abbreviations:

Sh1 Shuttle one
Sh2 Shuttle two
R ring
Ch chain
ds. Double stitch
dds. Daisy picot double stitch
p or - picot
SS switch shuttle
SLT shoe lace trick
RW reverse work
+ join
Cl close ring
( ) daisy picot is between ()

The heart is made in 2 parts, as you can see in the diagram. The technique that is used is daisy picot technique and the pearl tatting. In the diagram you see 2 flowers in the top. In those flowers the green line is Shuttle 1 and the red line is shuttle 2. In the flowers the red leaves are the daisy picots.

Instructions:

Sh1 R: 1-1 (4dds-2dds-2dds-2dds-2dds-4dds), repeat this 4 times, 1-1 Cl. RW.
Ch: 5 – 5 – 5 – 5 +(third p daisy p) – 5-5-5 +(third p next daisy p) repeat this on 2 more daisy picots. Chain goes on:
Ch: - 5 – 5 – 5 RW
R: 5 + (third p last daisy picot leaf )5 – 5 - 5 Cl. RW
Ch: 5-5 RW
R: 5 + (last p last R) 5 – 5 – 5 Cl.
Cut and tie.

This is the first part.

The second part is as follows:

Make the flower just as in the first part. When the ring is closed, don’t reverse work but make a SLT and start the chain , this time it goes in the other way,
take care the start is: 5 – 5 – 5 + (third p first chain first part).
At the end of the chain you go on :
Ch 5-5 RW R: 5 – 5 + (p last R and last R first part)5 – 5 Cl. RW.
SS R: 2 – 2 Cl. Ch 5 – 5 + base of last ring first part

Cut and tie.

February 17 Sue Hanson's Viola Heart

2007-02-17T00:01:00.000-08:00

Made in 20 steps using a Split Ring to bridge from the centre to the outer ring
2 shuttles wound continuous

Size 10 thread 2” x 2.1/2”

Size 20 thread 1.5/8” x 1.3/4”

- very small picot, a mere “blip” for joining

--- longer decorative picot

+ join (instructions inside brackets)

// indicates the split of the ring to bridge to the outer round

SS switch shuttles

Instructions:

Centre

Do not reverse work (DNRW) for this section

R1: 6 - *6 - 6 - 10 - 4 clr lay in magic thread at end of * this set as next p is final join

R2: 4 + (last R) 8 - 8 – 4 clr

Repeat R2 twice more (4 rings made in total)

SR5: 4 + (last R) 10 - 6 // 6 + (R1) 6 clr RW

continue without cutting threads

Outer Round

Ch: 6 --- 1 --- 1 --- 10 RW

R6: 6 + (next p SR5) 3 - 3 clr RW

Ch: 8 RWR7: 4 + (last R) 4 clr RW

Ch: 10 +LJ (R4) DNRW

Ch: 8 - 4 +LJ (R3) SS

Trefoil Sh#2

R8: 4 + (last Ch) 3 --- 3 - 4 clr

R9: 4 + (last R) 4 --- 1 --- 1 --- 4 vsp 4 clr

R10: 4 + (last R) 3 --- 3 – 4 clr SS

Sh#1 Ch: 4 + (last R) 8 +LJ (R2)

Ch: 10 RWR11: 4 - 4 clr RW

Ch: 8 RWR12: 3 + (last R) 3 +(R1 of centre) 6 clr RW

Ch: 10 --- 1 --- 1 ---6 lay in magic thread at end

Cut, Tie & hide ends with magic threads

February 16 Twelve of Hearts Variations

2007-02-16T00:01:00.000-08:00

Carol sent some variations on combining the 12 of hearts motif, and I asked permission to play with it a bit too. Enjoy!!!

Finally, here is a design challenge for you... No time limit. Design the outside row around these three motifs to make the larger heart outlined here... or something similar in nature. Plain, fancy, beaded, your choice. Obviously, any six pointed stars or snowflakes would do for the center. Have some fun with this idea!

February 15 Carol's Twelve of Hearts

2007-02-15T00:01:00.000-08:00

This heart is made using dimpled rings, simple rings and chains. Two shuttles are required, wound CTM. The model was tatted using crochet cotton sized 10, and the motif is 4"

SS = Switch Shuttles
DimR = Dimpled ring

+ = join

- = picot

Instructions:

1st Center Dimpled ring DimR 8-4-4+ to last p made, 4-8

Ch 12 SS

Clover

R 6-3-3

DimR 3+6-4+ to last p made, 6-3

R 3+3-6 SS

Ch12

*Center DimR 8+(first large DimR to make cnter), 4-4+ to last p, 4-8

Ch 12

Clover

R 6-3-3
DimR 3+6-4+ to last p made, 6-3
R 3+3-6 SS

Ch12*

Continue * to * for 6 center rings and clovers.

Join last center ring to first and last chain to base of first center ring.

February 14 - Ruth's Version of Jon's Daisy Picot Heart

2007-02-14T00:01:00.000-08:00

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!
****************************
This heart is one that I tatted from a design shared on Jon's blog. I tatted Riet's Daisy Picot edging, and learned the technique, but Jon's daisy picot heart made me want to try using it in a heart.

This heart is fairly simple. [I like patterns that are easy to remember] The stitch counts are all either 2 (between the picots on the Daisy Picot ring) or 4 ( everything else ).

2 Shuttles wound with different color threads. I used Anchor size 40 in red and purple ( just to please the Red Hat Tatters out there. )

Begin a Daisy Picot Ring with the red shuttle, and use the purple for the Daisy Picots. Follow the diagram for stitch counts and joins. - Enjoy!

The one thing everyone can use more of is love! The minimum daily requirement of hugs is 7 per day for each person. More than that are even better.

Love to all,
Ruth

February 13 - Sharon's Little Beaded Flowers

2007-02-13T00:01:00.000-08:00

The small flower shown here was done in size 12 perle cotton and mounted on a comb.

Each flower takes 1 large 7mm pearl bead and 10 small 3mm pearl beads.
String the small beads on the ball thread. The large bead is inserted onto the very long picot of the center ring and the tip of the picot which is then joined to the opposite side of the same ring. Keep joining picots of round 1 small to maintain upright shape of the flowers.

Round 1

Round 2

February 12 - Mary's Heavenly Heart

2007-02-08T11:17:00.000-08:00

Heavenly Heart Tatting Pattern
Design by
Mary Joseph Donohue
© January 2007

Skill Level: intermediate

Materials needed: 2 shuttles or ball and shuttle

Abbreviations:

R1, R2, R3 = rings one, two and three
CH = chain
RW = reverse work
JK = Josephine knots
DS = double stitch
CH = chain
CL = close
- = picot
SLT = shoe lace trick

Instructions:
R1 = 1ds – (14 x, cl
R2 = 1ds – (17x, cl
R3 = repeat R1
Ch = 2ds – (14 x, rw
R = 1ds – (6x, CL, RW
Ch = 2 ds – (7x
3JK = 16 2nd halves of the double stitch cl.
After the 3 JKs are made, use the SLT to move on to the finishing chain.
CH = 2ds – (8x, attach between cloverleaf and finish off with a square knot and hide ends.

February 11 - Heart Pin by Susan T

2007-02-08T10:52:00.000-08:00

Small Heart Pin
Susan B. Taliaferro
Copyright February 2007

Four hole button, 7/16 inch, less the 1/2”. About the size of a mans
shirt button.
Size 8 thread

Joins to button are made by pulling loop of thread through button hole
with crochet hook, front to back, put shuttle through the loop, Pull
taught, upwards, so that the rings “sit” on the edge of the button.

All rings are closed and no space is left between rings or joins to
button.

Wind 3 yard on shuttle. Cut from ball. Leave about 5 inch tail before
starting the first ring.

Instructions:
R 8-4-4 join to first button hole.(Holding first ring securely in place
so it “sits” on button edge.
R 4+LPPR 4-4-4 Join in same button hole.
R 4+LPPR 4-4-4 Join in next button hole.
R 4+LPPR 4-4-4 Join in same button hole.
R 4+LPPR 4-4-4
R 4+LPPR 4-4-4 Join in next button hole
R 4+LPPR 4-4-4 Join in same button hole.
R 4+LPPR 4-4-4 Join in next button hole
R 4+LPPR 4-4-4 Join in same button hole.
R 4+LPPR 4-8

Cut about 5 inches.
Secure this end to back of button near the button holes, using crochet
hook or tapestry needle.
Secure the starting end that you left long in the same manner. Now tie
and but leaving about 1/8 inch.

Place small about of glue to back of button and threads, secure Tac Pin
to glue. Let dry 24 hours before wearing.