January 26 - Corner for Beeton's Lace Edge

This variation on the Beeton's edging is tatted with yellow thread on the shuttle and green thread on the ball. The first row ( the one that is sewn to the hanky ) is tatted following the same stitch count and instructions as the edge on yesterday's pattern:

Rings are all 10-10

Chains are all 8-8

To turn the corner on the first row, tat a third ring where there would be two together without a chain between them - See photo above.

You will need to check to be sure that the number of repeats of this pattern will give you corners where the corners need to be for edging your square hanky.

You can change the size thread you are using to change where the corner will be on the edging, or modify the stitch count if necessary. This edging has a little "give" in it, but not as much as some other edging patterns. I recommend that you tat the first row, sew it to the hanky, then tat the second row around the piece.

To turn the corner on the second row, follow the progression of the rings in the photo. There will be three extra rings with chains between them to go around the corner on this row.

Finish this piece with tatting sewn to it by making sure the ends are tied securely, properly hidden, then cut off. [THC, Tie Hide Cut]

Launder it [ by hand if the material calls for that, in hot water if the material can be washed in hot water ] to "set" it so it shrinks as much as it is going to.

Tomorrow another variation on this pattern: An easy cross with NO split rings. This is the cross my grandmother taught me to tat when I was little. It's the same basic pattern as the lace edging in Beeton's book!!!

January 16 - Corners for Edging

Here are three more Corner options for yesterday's Antique Edging


This first corner has an additional repeat of one of the rings from the edging, and Picots increased to 5 on the Center ring.

Instead of two of the (2 - 2) rings there is only one. It would fit a square corner hanky nicely. Instructions should be obvious following this photo and the previous instructions for the edging.

This corner has the extra ring that the first one has, but also two more rings tatted next to each other, and a larger ring joined to each of the 2-2 rings. This one would go nicely on a hanky with rounded corners. But, it begs for something in the middle of the negative space.



Here is a simple ring with lots of picots tatted in that negative space at the center of the corner.
After the Chain (6) Ring (4 - 2 - 4) Chain (6) Ring ( 2-2 ) in the edging...

Chain (3) turn
Ring ( 3 + 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 3)
Ring ( 3 + 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 3)
Chain ( 4 ) turn
Ring ( 3 + 3 - 3 )
Chain ( 6 ) turn
Ring ( 3 + 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 3) turn
Chain ( 3 )
Ring ( 2 - 2 )
Chain ( 3 ) turn
Ring ( 3 + 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 3) turn
Chain ( 3 ) turn
Ring ( 3 + 5 - 2 - 2 - 5 - 3 ) turn
Chain ( 3 ) turn
Ring ( 3 + 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 3) turn
Chain ( 3 )
Ring ( 2 + 2 )
Chain ( 3 ) turn
Ring ( 3 + 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 3) turn
Chain ( 6 )
Ring ( 3 - 3 - 3 )
Chain ( 4 ) turn
Ring ( 3 + 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 3)
Ring ( 3 + 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 3)
Chain ( 3 )
Ring ( 2 + 2 )
Chain (6)
Continue tatting the edging:
Ring ( 4 + 2 - 4 ) turn

Sweet Christmas Edging Copyright 2007 Ruth Perry

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

January 21 - Butterflies Edging from Hope Green

Edging applied to the neckline of a T shirt... Oh my how beautiful!!!


Close up of edging detail

Separate Butterflies Edging
3 shuttles…

1 background Ch (only shows between antenna)
1 rings- butterfly
1 antenna Ch

R 12-8-4
R 4+4-4-4
R 4+4-4-4
R 4+8-12

Antenna shuttle Ch 4-9-
Pick up background shuttle Ch8
Antenna shuttle 1-9-4

Repeat

When butterfly is finished, fold in half so the 2 threads are tensioned before starting chain.

January 25 - Lace Edge from Beeton's Book of Needlework

Project Gutenberg's Beeton's Book of Needlework, by Isabella Beeton
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever.

You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at http://www.gutenberg.net
Title: Beeton's Book of Needlework
Author: Isabella Beeton

Original Instructions:

3.--Lace Edging in Tatting.
Materials: Messrs. Walter Evans and Co.'s crochet cotton No. 10, or tatting cotton No. 20; tatting-pin No. 3; any sized shuttle. For a finer edging, No. 18.

1st oval: Fill the shuttle, but do not cut it off from the reel, as a double thread is used, and commence by working 10 double stitches, 1 purl, 10 double; draw up.

Double thread: Putting the thread attached to the reel round the left hand, work 8 double, 1 purl, 8 double.

2nd oval: 10 double, join to purl in 1st oval, 10 double; draw up.

The pattern is now complete. Repeat from beginning, taking care that the next oval be close to the last. Crochet a heading with the same cotton, working 7 chain, 1 double into the purl in double thread. Repeat.

Modern Instructions:

One Shuttle & ball of thread CTM

Ring (10 - 10) turn
*
Chain (8 - 8) turn
Ring (10 + 10) [ join to the picot of the first ring ]
Ring (10 - 10) turn

*

Repeat between **

Now, lets play with this design a bit:

How about two or four rows of this pattern joined together at the picots:

Tomorrow we'll see about designing a corner for this edging.

January 27 - Easy Cross variation on Beeton's edging

This pretty little cross is SO SIMPLE TO TAT!!!!
*******************************************

Prfect for a beginner or a child to tat once the ring, chain, and join have been mastered... or while trying to perfect them :-)

It is just the edging from Beeton's book that we have been doing for the past two days, with a few corners. Here is a diagram to make it easy to follow:

Start where indicated on the diagram. Follow the arrows around. The rings go in ABC order, the chains are tatted where shown in photo and diagram.

Rings are all 10-10 (or 10 + 10 for the joins), chains are all 8-8 the same as in the edging.
When all the rings are completed tat the last chain section: Chain 8
Then tat another Chain 8 with the thread ends you left at the beginning of the cross.

Tie the core [ Shuttle ] threads from the beginning and the end together in a square knot, and tie the other two ends in a square knot. Hide the ends and cut close to the work, or use them to add a tassel.

A tassel may be added at the bottom, and a cord or loop may be added to the picot at the top. Great for a bookmark, gift, or something to tuck in a card for someone special. Since it's only January you have plenty of time to tat these for Easter. You'll be surprised how fast and easy this one goes, especially once you get some practice.

I used size 20 thread and my finished cross is about 2.5" wide by 3" tall not counting the tassel. To make a tassel, wrap two strands of thread, one of each color if your tatting is two colors like the one I did, around your hand about 5-10 times.

The thread loop is about twice as long as the tassel you want. Bigger is OK. Cut the threads, and fold in half. Put the middle of the tassel threads around the thread ends from the cross, and then put the tassel thread ends through the loop of tassel threads. See the diagram below.

Pull the thread ends from the tatted piece through the loop of the tassel so the tassel is snug at the bottom of the cross, then tie the threads from the cross together in a square knot securing the tassel to the piece. Then pull them down through the loop of the tassel with a crochet hook or the hook on a tatting shuttle. Cut all the ends to length, about the same length as the cross looks good for this piece.

Enjoy!!! Happy Tatting

January 23 - Flea Market Edging from Gina Butler

Flea Market Tatted Piece - Gina Butler Oklahoma City, OK

One shuttle and ball thread

Instructions:
R 4-4-4-4
C 3-3
R 4+4-4-4
C 3-3-3-3-3-3
R 6+6+4-4 (this is a suggestion : )
Repeat except! Chain 3+3



I found the original tatted piece at a local flea market almost 10 years ago. It is a pattern that I have not found in any books. I’d like to know if anyone else does recognize it. It was tatted in heavy (almost yarn) thread.

Original Flea Market Edging

In my thinking, the third ring was too cramped into place. So when I tatted the piece, as I got to the third ring I left off four stitches and the join between the first two rings. Looking back at the finished piece: perhaps my third rings look too strained? What if the count on the third ring were to be changed 6+6+4-4?

I showed the pattern to another tatter several years ago and she made the most lovely handkerchief edging. Lois used a count of four double stitches throughout.

July 20 Easy Doll Clothes Edging by Ruth

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.

January 17 - Crown of Hope Edging Corner

I don't know, maybe tatting a different corner on each of the four corners of a hanky would look nice. Hope, in Florida, asked for a 4th corner design, so here it is; a crown. Can you find the crown in the corner?

After the Chain (6) ring (4 - 2 - 4) Chain (6) in the pattern -

Now begin to tat the corner:

S2 Ring ( 2 - 2 - 2 )

S1 Chain ( 3 ) turn

Ring ( 3 + 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 3 ) turn

Chain ( 3 + 3 ) turn [Join to previous S2 ring]

*

Ring ( 3 + 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 3 ) turn

Chain ( 3)

S2 Ring ( 2 + 2 - 2 )

S1 Chain ( 3 ) turn

*

Ring ( 3 + 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 3 ) turn

This repeats between * * until you have four of the S2 rings with two picots, and five of the larger S1 rings as in the photo. Look at the photo to see the detail. Join the last Chain ( 3 ) to the free picot of the S2 ring.

Continue tatting with the regular pattern instructions for this narrow edging.

August 9 - Meandering Vines Edging by Kaye Judt

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 15 - Vest completion by Ruth

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

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

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

March 9 - Riego Diamond Part 1 updated by Ruth

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

July 11th - Christmas in July Triangle Tree by Ruth

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.

February 3 - Angel at Heart Edging from Lynda

Designed & Hand Tatted by Lynda Nelson Klymko

Abbreviations:
- = Picot
# = Number of Double Stitches
+ = Join
rw = reverse work
clr = close ring
R = ring
slt = Shoe Lace Trick
C = chain

First Heart
R: 8 – 8, clr, rw
C: 4 – 4, rw
R: 6 + 6, clr, rw (join in picot of first ring in heart)
C: 4 – 4 – 4 – 4, rwR: 2 + 2, clr, rw
C: 4 – 4 – 4 – 4, rw
R: 6 + 6, clr, rw
C: 4 – 4, rw; join into the base of first ring.
Chain
C: 4 – 4 – 4 – 4, rw

Bow
R: 6 + 8, clr, do not rw; join into base of 4th ring in Heart.
R: 8 – 6, clr, rw
Chain
C: 4 – 4 – 4 – 4, rw

Heart
SLT: the chain thread should be against the chain, and the ring thread is going out to make a ring so that will come out right next to the chain thread,

R: 8 – 8, clr, rw
C: 4 – 4, rw; join to base of 2nd half of Bow before starting ring
R: 6 + 6, clr, rw (join in picot of first ring in heart)
C: 4 – 4 – 4 – 4, rw
R: 2 + 2, clr, rw
C: 4 – 4 – 4 – 4, rw
R: 6 + 6, clr, rw
C: 4 – 4, rw; join into the base of first ring.

Bow

Chain;
Corner Heart Turn: * -- * 5 Hearts with (6) Chains in-between & at either end

*Heart
SLT;
R: 8 – 8, clr, rw
C: 4 – 4, rw; join to picot of 2nd half of Bow before starting ring
R: 6 + 6, clr, rw (join in picot of first ring in heart)
C: 4 – 4 – 4 – 4, rw
R: 2 + 2, clr, rw
C: 4 – 4 – 4 – 4, rw
R: 6 + 6, clr, rw
C: 4 – 4, rw; join into the base of first ring.
Work Chain; then go to
Heart; SLT;
R: 8 – 8, clr, rw
C: 4 – 4, rw
R: 6 + 6, clr, rw (join in picot of first ring in heart)
C: 4 + 4 – 4 – 4, rw; join to 7th picot, just before the 4th ring of the last heart.
R: 2 + 2, clr, rw
C: 4 – 4 – 4 – 4, rw
R: 6 + 6, clr, rw
C: 4 – 4, rw; join into the base of first ring.

Chain; Heart; Chain; Heart; Chain; Heart, Chain*, and corner is turned.
Bow; Chain, Heart; Chain; Bow

(I named each section, so it is easy to just follow the directions for each section, instead of writing it out over and over again).

March 15 - Ruth's Shamrock Edging

Copyright 2007 Ruth Perry

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

Easter Patterns

Click Here! to view the Easter Patterns.

Click Here! to view the Bunny Edging by Gina.

August 11- Emily's Grand Champion Scarf

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!!!

January 18 - Home Needlework Magazine Insertions

The wide edging is fairly simple, shuttle and ball thread CTM

Instructions:
Ring 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 turn
Chain 3 turn
*
Ring 3 + 3 - 3 - 3 turn
Chain 3
*
Repeat between ** to desired length. Tat another row of the same joining to the first row picots as shown in the photo. This is great practice for tatting consistent DS rings, chains and picots. If you have a picot gauge it is easier to make this insertion look consistent. Richard Seitz makes some beautiful wooden picot gauge sets that you can buy from Georgia Seitz [ Click Here ].
The narrow insertion is a bit more interesting!
One shuttle wound with any size tatting thread, cut thread from ball if you wish { If you leave the thread attached to the ball while tatting "single shuttle rings only" work, you can wind another shuttle by pulling the thread from the ball when you run out of thread on your shuttle. Twice as much tatting without having to join more thread to your work. }
Instructions:
Ring 4 - 4 - 4 - 4
leave a small space in the thread (see diagram)
Ring 4 - 2 - 2
Join the thread into the picot just made then turn the work upside down
Ring 4 - 4 - 4 - 4
Join the thread into the other picot of the second ring, then turn the work upside down
Ring 4 - 2 - 2
Join the thread into the picot just made then turn the work upside down
Ring 4 + 4 - 4 - 4
Join to the 3rd picot of the adjacent larger ring, and close ring, then join the thread into the other picot of the second ring, then turn the work upside down

Continue tatting to desired length following the same repeating pattern shown in the diagram.
Ring 4 - 2 - 2 Join the thread into the picot just made then turn the work upside down


Spit Ring Instructions:

Tat as follows, Two shuttles CTM

Ring 4 - 4 - 4 - 4
Split Ring [2 - 4 / 2 ]
Split Ring [4 / 2 (Ring thrown off 4 - 4 - 4 - 4) 2 / 4 ]
*
Before tatting the next ring be sure that the previous ring thrown off is up
Split Ring [4 / 2 (Ring thrown off 4 + 4 - 4 - 4) 2 ] Join to the 3rd picot of the adjacent ring
*
Repeat between ** to desired length


The rings thrown off can be modified for a variety of interesting looks. I tatted some with plain rings with just 5DS, no picots or joins to previous rings... and like the way it looks! This would also look awesome with beaded rings!!! How about flower beads between the split rings, and hanging clunys thrown off instead of rings... Hummm, lots of tatting to do!

The online tatting class will be starting soon with a lesson in EASY cluny tatting and EASY hanging cluny tatting. Contact Georgia Seitz for more information.

January 31 - Rosette From Gina (antique pattern)

Thanks to Gina for updating this antique pattern from Beeton's Tatting book. This is the same book where I found the edging we did a couple weeks ago on this site.

We'll show some variations on this pattern tomorrow.

Original chained heart rosette motif:
About ½ yard on shuttle, CTM from ball thread

Paperclip

SLT = shoelace trick

This is made entirely of chains so you will use very little thread from the shuttle.

Hang a paperclip, ch 5 ds, p, 10 ds, p, 1 ds, turn work by flipping up,

SLT

Ch 10 ds, j to last p, turn work again and SLT,

ch 10 ds, p, ch 5, j at base where paperclip is.
*Flip up, SLT,

ch 5 ds, flip up, SLT, hang paperclip – this creates your p to join in with each heart

Ch 5 ds, j to last p of previous heart,

ch 10 ds, p, 1 ds, flip, SLT,

ch 10 ds, j to last p, flip, SLT,

ch 10 ds, p, 5 ds, j at base where paperclip is.

Repeat from * until there are 4 hearts.

For the last heart in the motif, flip up, SLT,

ch 5 DS, flip up, SLT, hang paperclip,

ch 5 ds, j to last p of previous heart,

ch 10 ds, p, 1 ds, flip, SLT,

ch 10, j to last p, flip, SLT,

ch 10, j to 1st picot of 1st heart,

ch 5 ds, j to base where paper clip is. Flip, SLT,

ch 5 ds, j to base of 1st heart.

Cut and tie and hide ends.