This is a sample pattern from my book, “Tat’s Where I Stopped: A Year of Tatted Bookmarks”.
Carving pumpkins in October was one of our favorite family traditions when my children were small. The kids would draw their designs, then we’d vote on which to use. This bookmark with three Jack O’ Lantern faces is a fun reminder of those times.
This pattern was tatted with size 20 Flora thread. It is beginning level and uses one shuttle.
Printable pattern (308K. Opens a new window.)
Patterns are available for download as a PDF file and are readable by using Adobe Reader. Download Adobe Reader free.
Instructions:
| ds | double stitch | R | ring | Ch | chain |
| p | picot | lj | lock join | j | join |
You will need:
Tatting threads in orange and black, size 20. The sample on this page was done with size 20 Flora thread in colors 231 orange and 245 black.
1 tatting shuttle
Pumpkin
Thread: Flora size 20 #231 Burnt Orange Dark
Round 1
R: (4ds p) 3 times, 4ds, close, turn
*Ch: 4ds p 4ds turn
R: 4ds j to last p of prev R, (4ds p) twice, 4ds, close, turn*
Repeat between * twice more for a total of 4 rings
Ch: (4ds p) 3 times, 4ds lj to cp of last R
Ch: 4ds p 4ds lj to cp of next R
Repeat last Ch to end
Ch: (4ds p) 3 times, 4ds
Cut and tie.
Round 2
R: 3ds p 3ds j to 1st p on one of the end Chs of prev rnd, 3ds p 3ds, close, turn
Ch: 4ds p 4ds turn
R: 4ds j to last p of prev R, (4ds p) twice, 4ds, close, turn
Ch: 3ds p (2ds p) twice, 3ds, turn
R: 5ds j to last p of prev R, 5ds j to cp of next Ch of prev rnd, 5ds p 5ds, close, turn
Ch: 3ds p (2ds p) 4 times, 3ds, turn
R: 5ds p 5ds j to last p of prev R, 5ds j to cp of next Ch of prev rnd, (5ds p) twice, 5ds, close, turn
Ch: 3ds p (2ds p) 4 times, 3ds, turn
R: 5ds j to 4th p of prev R, 5ds j to cp of next Ch on prev rnd, 5ds p 5ds, close, turn
Ch: 3ds p (2ds p) twice, 3ds, turn
R: 4ds j to last p of prev R, 4ds j to closes p on next Ch of prev rnd, 4ds p 4ds, close, turn
Ch: 5ds p 5ds lj to cp of same Ch of prev rnd, 5ds p 5ds, turn
R: 4ds p 4ds j to final p of same Ch of prev rnd, 4ds p 4ds, close, turn
Ch: 3ds p (2ds p) twice, 3ds, turn
R: 5ds j to last p of prev R, 5ds j to cp of next Ch on prev rnd, 5ds p 5ds, close, turn
Ch: 3ds p (2ds p) 4 times, 3ds, turn
R: 5ds p 5ds j to last p of prev R, 5ds j to cp of next Ch on prev rnd, (5ds p) twice, 5ds, close, turn
Ch: 3ds p (2ds p) 4 times, 3ds, turn
R: 5ds j to 4th p of prev R, 5ds j to cp of next Ch of prev rnd, 5ds p 5ds, close, turn
Ch: 3ds p (2ds p) twice, 3ds, turn
R: 4ds j to last p of prev R, (4ds p) twice, 4ds, close, turn
Ch: 4ds p 4ds, turn
R: 3ds j to last p of prev R, 3ds j to closes p of next Ch on prev rnd, 3ds p 3ds, close
Cut and tie.
Stem
Unwrap about 18″ of thread from your shuttle.
R: 3ds j to last p of last R on prev rnd, 3ds, j to cp of Ch on first rnd, 3ds, j to 1st p of 1st R on prev rnd, 3ds, close, turn
Ch: 10ds
Push stitches snug so the stem curls. Cut and tie.
Each pumpkin is the same. Join each pumpkin at the picots indicated in the visual pattern below.
Pumpkin faces
To join the thread to the starting picot without tying a knot when stitching a chain:
Lay the thread over the top of the tatting, then in the space next to the starting picot, run it to the back. Bring it back up through the picot, then tie it to your shuttle. Stitch your first double-stitch right up against the picot, and continue the chain from there.
Surprised pumpkin
Thread: Flora size 20 #245 Black
Left eye:
R: 3ds j (1ds p) 3 times, 1ds j (1ds p) twice, 3ds, close, cut and tie.
Right eye:
R: 3ds p 1ds p 1ds j (1ds p) 3 times, 1ds j 3ds, close, cut and tie.
Mouth:
R: 6ds j 14ds j 14ds j 10ds j 4ds, close, cut and tie.
Optional:
Instead of joining as you stitch the eyes and mouth, tat each piece separately then glue or sew to the bookmark. The eye is R: 3ds p (1ds p) 6 times, 3ds, close. The mouth is R: 48ds, close.
Sleepy pumpkin
Thread: Flora size 20 #245 Black
Eye:
Start each eye at the *. Ch: (2ds p) 5 times, 2ds, cut and tie.
Mouth:
Start at the *. Ch: 13ds lj to base of R, 8ds lj 13ds, cut and tie.
Optional:
Instead of joining as you stitch the eyes and mouth, tat each piece separately then glue or sew to the bookmark. The eye is Ch: (2ds p) 5 times, 2ds, close. The mouth is Ch: 34ds.
Angry pumpkin
Thread: Flora size 20 #245 Black
Left eye:
R: 3ds j 4ds j 5ds, close, cut and tie.
Right eye:
R: 5ds j 4ds, j 3ds, close, cut and tie.
Eyebrows:
Start each eyebrow at the *. Ch: 14ds, cut and tie.
Mouth:
Start at the *. Ch: 10ds p 3ds lj to base of R, 8ds lj 10ds p 3ds, cut and tie.
Optional:
Instead of joining as you stitch the eyes, eyebrows, and mouth, tat each piece separately then glue or sew to the bookmark. The eye is R: 12ds, close. The eyebrow is Ch: 14ds. The mouth is Ch: 10ds p 14ds p 10ds.
Copyright 2006 by Nancy Tracy, All Rights Reserved.
