This month’s pattern is not one of my own, but is a pattern by Don Swearingen who very kindly said I could use it in my newsletter. I saved it for when I knew I’d really need it, and this month I did. On Monday, I raised my arm over my head and felt a “pop”. It was a bit sore and my shoulder kind of grinded a bit, but I didn’t think anything of it. Then I spent the next two days doing computer work and realized that it was not such a small thing! Anytime I moved my arm toward the back or the side, it hurt like crazy! So Bruce took me to the doctor. She told me I had sprained a ligament and could have a minor tear in the rotator cuff. Yikes!
So per doctor’s orders I spent the next two days doing nothing…no tatting, no quilting, no sewing, no piano playing, no time on the computer…no nothing! That was hard. And unfortunately, this was the time I’d set aside to do this month’s pattern.
Thank goodness for Don’s pattern!
Fortunately, I’m healing well and I was actually able to tat today. I’m not going to push it, so I decided this was the best time to use Don’s pattern. I hope you enjoy it!
The pattern is a more advanced pattern and uses split rings. You can find a good tutorial here:Tat-a-Renda, and a video to watch on YouTube that shows one way it’s done here: Tatting a Split Ring.
Since this is a pattern copyrighted by Don Swearingen, I can’t provide you with a printable file.
You will need:
Tatting thread in your choice of color and size.
2 tatting shuttles
Instructions:
Notes on the pattern: Abbreviations used are: R = Ring, SR = Split Ring, – = Picot, — + Longer Picot, + = Join (to a previous space or picot). Picots can also be worked on outside edge of the rings if desired.
Outer Row
Using both shuttles, chain 4; SR 8/4-4, close ring, twice; SR 8/8 close ring; SR 8/4-4 close ring, twice; chain 4–4; SR 8/4 + (to picot of opposite SR) 4, close ring, twice; R 8 + (to space between SR 3 and 4) 4-4, close ring; SR 8/8, close ring; SR 8/4-4, close ring, five times, chain 4–4; SR 8/4 + (to picot of opposite SR) 4, close ring, five times; R 8 + (to space between SR 9 and 10) 4–4 close ring; SR 8/8, close ring; SR 8/4-4, close ring, twice; chain 4–4; SR 8/4 + (to picot of opposite SR) 4, close ring, twice; R 8 + (to space between SR 21 and 22) 4-4, close ring; SR 8/8, close ring; R 4-4 + (to space between SR 2 and 3) 8, close ring; SR 8/4 + (to picot of opposite SR) 4, close ring, twice; chain 4; cut threads, leaving them long; tie the betinning threads and ending threads together to finish the cross.
Center leaves
Using one shuttle, R 5 + (to one of the picot in the center of cross) 5, close ring; R 5 + (to next picot in center) 5, close ring, three times; cut and hide threads.
Copyright by Don Swearingen, All Rights Reserved, used with permission.
