I pulled out one of my favorite old tatting books, “Tatting Techniques”, by Elgiva Nicholls to get some inspiration for something new and different for my pattern this month. I found it! She had this wonderful chain that curved back and forth with picots at each curve. So pretty! So I thought on it for a while and decided to see what a pair of earrings would look like in metallic with a contrasting color, and with beads.
The result turned out rather funky…so that’s the name of these earrings. I think they would be fun to wear for a night on the town. I imagine if these were made in regular threads and contrasting colors, it would be an interesting change of pace for daytime, too.
One warning, though. The pattern calls for using Fray-Check to secure the knots. Please DO NOT use Fray-Check on anything you anticipate lasting more than a few years. It will turn brown and is impossible to wash or bleach out. I will use Fray-Check on items like earrings or bookmarks that I’m prone to lose. I figure they’ll be long gone before the Fray-Check starts turning brown.
If you don’t have Fray-Check available, a drop of glue will work as well. It would be best to put it on using the tip of a toothpick so you don’t end up with a big blob of it on your tatting.
This pattern is beginner level and uses two shuttles. I used size 30 DMC Cebelia thread in black and Anchor metallic gold thread.
Printable pattern (97K. Opens a new window.)
Patterns are available for download as a PDF file and are readable by using Adobe Reader. Download Adobe Reader free.
You will need:
Thread in your choice of color and size.
2 tatting shuttles
Four 4mm hematite beads
Two earring jewelry findings
| ds | double stitch |
| p | picot |
Instructions:
Wind both shuttles with approximately one yard (1 meter) of thread. Since the sample here is in gold and black, I will refer to the two shuttles as the gold shuttle and the black shuttle.
Thread the four beads onto the black thread. Tie the black thread to the jewelry finding and put a dot of Fray-Check on the knot. Let dry then clip off the thread end. Slide the first bead against the knot.
With the black shuttle as the working shuttle, Ch: 3ds p (1ds p) 6 times, 3ds. Graduate the size of the picots with the smallest on the outside and the tallest in the center.
Slide down a bead.
With the gold shuttle as the working shuttle and the previous chain facing down, repeat the chain.
Slide down a bead.
With the black shuttle as the working shuttle and the previous chain facing down, repeat the chain.
Move down the last bead. Cut the thread, leaving the thread end long enough to allow you to comfortably tie a knot. Tie a knot against the last double-stitch. The bead will hide it quite well. Add a dot of Fray-Check, let it dry, and clip the thread ends.
Repeat for the second earring.
Copyright 2009 by Nancy Tracy, All Rights Reserved.
