Button Ornament

I made this ornament years ago, and I honestly can't remember if this is a pattern I came up with, or if I got it from somewhere else. Does this look familiar to anyone?

Easter Egg

I designed this a couple year ago, and it cups too much. I have to retry with different stitch counts, but for now, stiffened and blocked into submission, it doesn't look too bad. For obvious reasons, no pattern yet,

We are back from our big road trip - we drove from Idaho to Yellowstone to South Dakota (Mt. Rushmore, Badlands NP, Devil's Tower...) and then across the middle of the country to Amish country, New York, DC, the Outer Banks, and then back home via the Blue Ridge Mountains and the St. Louis Arch. A week later, we left to travel to the other coast - Seattle and the Olympic Peninsula.

So here are pictures from the two opposite coasts:

Rialto Beach in Northwestern Washington, and Cape Hatteras lighthouse on the Outer Banks, North Carolina.

Fly doodle

Goofy little doodle; you need one black bead and a remnant of thread. Slide bead onto thread, position on ring thread.

Ring 1:   3 --- 1 --- 3 , slide bead into place (beaded picot), 3 --- 1 --- 3, close ring.

Ring 2: 20 ds, close ring; tie bases together, finish off.

--- = long picot for the wings

In other news, I am getting ready for the most driving of my life - we are taking a mother-daughter cross country road trip! All the way from Idaho to New York, DC,  the Atlantic Coast, and then back home. I am mighty nervous - I hope our car holds out!

I walked out of the bedroom in the dark and didn't notice until I had made it down two sets of stairs that I was trailing tatting thread. I think I got to re-roll about half a mile of thread! :0)

First earring experiment went dreadfully wrong. I'll try again tomorrow.

Buttonfly

You will need three buttons. Start with upper wings. jtb=joint to button, SLT=shoe lace trick. The joining picots between rings on the wings around the buttons can be adjusted - use larger picots for a larger button, small picots for a small button, to keep the wing from cupping.

R 3-3jtb3-3, ch 3-3-3, R 3j3-3, ch 3-3-3
*R3j3jtb3-3, ch 3-3-3, R 3j3-3, ch 3-3-3* repeat
R 3j3jtb3-3, ch 3-3-3, R 3j3j3, ch 3-3-3, join to base of 1st ring
CH 3 jtb, ch5-2-9, slt
R 3-3-3, ch 3-3-3
*R 3j3-3, Ch 3j3j3 (joins are to upper wing) *R 3j3-3, Ch 3-3-3* repeat 2 more times.
R 3j3j3 - one half is finished
Ch 5
R 3-3-3, ch 3-3-3
* R 3j3-3, ch 3-3-3* repeat 2 more times.
R 3j3-3, ch 3-3-3, R 3j3j3, SLT
ch 9j2j5jtb3
R 3-3jtb3-3, ch 3-3-3 R 3j3-3, ch 3-3-3
* R 3j3jtb3-3, ch 3-3-3, R 3j3-3, ch 3-3-3* repeat
R 3j3jtb3-3, ch 3j3j3 (to lower wing), R 3j3j3, ch 3-3-3, tie into base of first ring of upper wing, hide ends.

Antenna:
R 8, Ch however long you want the antenna to be :-), jtb3jtb, ch, R 8, hide ends.

Spider!

Tatted spider - mine was tatted with Turkish Simli thread (black with silver metallic). You will need a 4-hole button.


Wind one shuttle and ball using CTM.

Head:
R 9 ds
Body:
//ch2 then make a really, really long picot - about two feet or so (probably don't need quite that long, but better safe than sorry!). Repeat 3 more times (4 really long picots), ch2.//
Shuttle join to any hole on button.

Chain enough ds to fit around 1/4 of button loosely (mine took 12). Shuttle join to next button hole. Repeat all the way around button, shuttle join last chain to first join.
Repeat section between //
Join to base of 1st ring.

Now cut each of the long picots about 1/2 up the right side of the picot, so you have a shorter end on the right and a longer end on the left. These will become your new 'shuttle and ball threads' (the shorter end is the "shuttle"). Fingertat a chain of 20 ds. Knot the ends and cut off, leaving a bit of thread for "claws". Repeat with each picot to make the 8 legs.

Stiffen and arrange the legs to look "spidery".

                                Basic Heart:

Heart with top:

This is a heart with a celtic style top.

Basic Heart:
R 9-3-3-9, ch 3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3 (eleven picots)
R 9j3j3-9, ch 3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3 (10 picots)
R 9j3j3-9, repeat first chain (eleven picots)
R 9j3j3j9.

ch 4-4-4-4, R 3-2j(to second picot)2-3, ch 3-3
***R 3j(to last ring)2j (to next picot)2-3, ch 3-3*** repeat *** 6 more times.
R 3j2j2-3, skip next two picots on chains, R 3j2j2-3, ch 3-3. Repeat *** 2 times.
R 3j2j2-3, ch 3-3-3-3 (tip of heart)
repeat *** 3 times
R 3j2j2-3, skip next two picots on chains, R 3j2j2-3, ch 3-3
repeat *** 7 times
R 3j2j2-3, ch 4-4j(to opposite chain)4-4, tie into base of center ring.



Tatting the top:

clover: R 3-3-3-3-3-3 (five picots), R 3j3-3-3-3-3-3-3 (seven), R 3j3-3-3-3-3
ch 12 R 3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3 (seven picots) ch 12
clover: R 3-3-3-3-3-3 (five picots), R 3j3-3-3-3-3-3-3 (seven), R 3j3-3-3-3-3
ch 7. At this point, thread the 3 ring elements through the three spaces at the top of the heart, back to front (see picture). Keep working chain (7 ds) in the back. Bring the working chain up over the top of the heart, and shuttle join (sj) to the 2nd picot on the clover leaf.
ch 3-3-3, sj to 4th picot on clover leaf. ch 3, sj to next open picot.
ch 3-3-3-3-3, sj to last picot of middle ring of clover.
ch 3, sj to next picot on third ring of clover.
ch 3. sj to 2nd picot of middle ring.
ch 3-3-3-3-3, sj to 6th picot of middle ring.
ch 3, sj to last open picot of next clover ring.
ch 3 sj to next open picot on middle clover ring.
ch 3-3-3-3-3, sj to last open picot on middle clover ring
ch 3, sj to next open picot on last clover ring.
ch 3-3-3, sj to second-to-last picot on clover leaf, ch7, bring chain back over the top to the back of the heart, join to base of clover, do not cut thread
For Stem:
ch 7, sj to joining picot between top center chains of the red heart.
ch 28, sj to same picot, ch 7, tie into base of beginning clover.

Hope you can make sense of the directions!

Ambitatterous did a fabulous version with the top in two colors! Check it out!

Peacock heart

R=ring, - =picot, ch=chain, j=shuttle join, J=regular join


Center Clover: R 6-4-4-6, R6J6-6-6,R 6J4-4-6
ch 6-6-6-6, j middle picot first ring, ch 6-6,
j middle picot 2nd ring, ch 4-4, j to same picot, chain 6-6,
j to middle picot of last ring, chain 6-6-6-6 join to base of clover.
2nd round (can be done without cutting thread if you leave some space to tie into at the end):
ch2-2-2-2 j 2-2-2-2 j 2-2-2-2 j 2-2-2-2-2-2-2 j 2-2-2-2,j to bottom picot,
chain 2J2-2-2-2-2,j to same picot,
ch 2J2-2-2 j 2-2-2-2-2-2-2 j 2-2-2-2 j 2-2-2-2 j 2-2-2-2,
Tie to base of clover.

This was done in Victoria Clayton's hand-dyed silk perle, which sadly isn't available in a lot of colors any more.

Tattingchic  made some beautiful examples of this one!
 Tatskool made a whole bouquet of them!

New Pattern: Quick Heart

This heart tats up really fast. I am not a fast tatter, and I can do this one in well under one hour. The one on the left (two color, peach and tan) was done earlier, and the only difference is the picots on which the tip is joined.The smaller heart is made exactly to the pattern.

Pattern:

Ring 1: 2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2 (7 picots) All rings have this basic pattern and only vary in where they are joined.)

Ch: 4-4-4-4-4 (4 picots - center chain)

Ring 2: 2-2-2j2-2-2-2-2 (join 3rd picot to 5th picot of the first ring.)

Ch 4-4

Ring 3: 2j2-2-2-2-2-2-2  (join is to last picot of the previous ring for all rings except the clover)

ch 4

Ring 4 (same as Ring 3) , ch 4, Ring

ch 4j4 (join to last chain.)

Ring, ch 4j4 (join to center chain), Ring, ch 4j4-4

Clover: Ring  2-2-2j2-2-2-2-2 (join to 5th picot on the last ring), Ring 2j2-2-2-2-2-2-2, Ring 2j2-2-2-2-2-2-2
ch 4j4j4
Ring 2-2-2j2-2-2-2-2 (join to 5th picot of last ring)
ch 4j4, Ring, ch 4-4, Ring, ch 4, Ring, ch 4
R 2j2-2-2-2-2-2j2  (last join is to the first picot on the first ring.)
Ch 4j4
Tie ends into base of the first ring, finish off.


My picots are fairly long on this, and if someone makes tiny joins, it might cup.

Clover Earrings

You need for each earring:
10 seeds beads (I used clear)
1 drop bead (I used clear)
1 faceted bead (I used black)
1 sterling silver bead
Sterling silver fish hook earring jewelry finding

Thread the beads onto the shuttle thread in the following order: 5 seed beads, drop bead, 5 seed beads

First Ring:

Slide the first two beads off your shuttle and onto the ring. 6 ds, slide bead into place, 6 ds, slide second bead into place, 3 ds, picot, 3 ds. Close the ring. ( 6 b 6 b 3 - 3 )

Second Ring:

Slide the next 7 beads off the shuttle thread and onto the ring.
3 ds, join to first ring, 3 ds, slide bead into place, 3 ds, slide the next five beads (2 seeds, drop, 2 seeds) into place (they will be part of a long, beaded picot),3 ds, slide the next bead into place, 3 ds, picot, 3 ds. Close the ring. ( 3 j 3 b 3 bbBbb 3 b 3 p 3).
Third Ring:

Slide the last two beads onto the ring. 3 ds, join to last ring, 3ds, slide bead into place, 6 ds, slide bead into place, 6 ds. Close ring. (3 j 3 b 6 b 6)
Cut the thread, leaving about 6 inches of the ball thread, and at least a foot on the shuttle thread. Thread both thread ends through the black bead.

Now thread only the long thread end through the silver bead. Finger tat a small ring: 3 ds, join to fish hook jewelry finding, 3 ds. Close the ring(3 j 3)

Then thread this thread end back through the silver bead. Knot tightly to the ball thread end, between the two beads. Secure knot with clear fingernail polish or glue; snip off the ends as close to the knot as you can. The two beads will hide the knot.

Suncatcher Pattern

 Just for Stephanie! :0)

 This is another easy pattern, basically just clovers and chains. It has the never-ending-outside-chain with mock rings in common with the Kira's Star pattern.

One shuttle, wound CTM, and one charm, bead, or prism.

First Round: Clover: R 3-3-3-3-3-3, R 3j3-3-3-3-3, R 3j3-3-3-3-3
Ch 3-3-3-3-3-3, ***repeat clover, joining 3rd picot of first ring to 3rd picot of last ring of previous clover.
ch 3j3-3-3-3-3 *** Repeat section 5 more times.
Last clover: same pattern, join last ring to first ring of first clover by middle picots.
Ch 3j3-3-3-3j3, tie into base of first clover.
Total of eight clovers and 8 chains.

Second Round: Thread charm or bead onto ball thread, (or you can attach it with a join later), thread through outside picot of any third ring , wind shuttle CTM.
***Ch 4-4, shuttle join (sj) to next available picot, ch 4-4, sj (to top picot of middle ring), ch 4-4 sj
ch 4-4, sj, ch 4-4-4, sj to top picot
mock ring: ch 4-4, sj to same picot
ch4-4-4, sj.***

Repeat *** section 3 more times, tie into starting picot.
On any one mock ring, slide charm or bead onto picot for a "dangle"
I attached a bead ring and a swarowski teardrop crystal bead for the "dangle".
My example is tatted in Liana size 20 in mint.

If you use beads, or attach a tassel or Angel charm at the bottom, this would also make a nice Christmas ornament.

Takes quite a lot of stiffening to keep it's shape. I don't particularly like the charm on this one, but I haven't made it recently, and so I don't have any prettier pictures. Just keep in mind that the heavier the charm/beaded dangle, the easier the suncatcher will pull out of shape from the weight, so I wouldn't suggest really heavy, big glass beads.

Doodles

These doodle are quick to make when you have just a bit of thread left. I like to stick them on gift tags.

 
Angel:
Ring:  6,long picot(halo),6, cl
Ring2: 1,very long picot (wing),9-1-1-1-1-1-1-9, very long picot, 1, close, tie and finish.


Jumpy Guy Doodle:
Ring 1: 6-1-1-1-6, close
Ring 2: 3, long picot for arm, 8, very very long picot for legs, 8, long picot for arm, 3
Tie and finish.
Cut picots on first ring open and fluff for hair.
Twist picots for arms.
Cut open long picot for legs and knot ends.

Caterpillar:
Ring 1: 12, cl
Ring 2: Split Ring 6/3-3
Ring 3: Split Ring 6/3-3
Ring 4: Split Ring 3/3-6
Ring 5: Split Ring 4-2/4-2
Tie ends and knot for antenna.

This is a prototype for a new small heart pattern - didn't quite work out as planned, so it needs some tweaking. Shape looks okay, stitch count - not so much.

SweetHeart

This is a quick and easy heart that shows off variegated thread very nicely. The example is tatted in Altin Basak size 50.

Clover: R 8-8, R 8-8, R 8-8
ch 4-4-4-4, R 8j8 (to last ring of clover), ch 4-4-4-4. R 8j8 (same picot)

ch 4-4-4-4; clover: R 8j8 (to previous group), R 8j8 (to middle ring of first clover), R 8-8
ch 4j4-4-4 R 8j8 (to last ring of previous clover), ch 4-4

SLT or switch to second shuttle, R 6-6 (tip of heart), SLT or switch back to first shuttle.

ch 4-4, R 8j8, ch 4-4-4-4
Clover: R 8j8 (to previous group), R 8j8 (to middle ring of first clover), R 8-8
ch 4j4-4-4 R 8j8 (to last ring of previous clover),ch 4-4-4-4
R 8j8, ch 4-4-4-4, final clover: R 8j8 (to previous group), R 8j8 (to middle picot of other clovers), R 8j8 (to first ring of first clover).
Finish Off

I actually shortened the chains that lead down to the "tip" ring to 3-3 later - it just looked better to me!

Simple Angel

I tatted up a variation of the SuperSimple Angel (a pattern that I need to overhaul) today using a button instead of a center ring. I thought it turned out cute, and it is very fast. Maybe make the head a little bigger next time around?

Kira's Star

1st Round:
Clover: R 5-3-3-3-5, R 5j3-3-3-3-3-3-5, R 5j3-3-3-5
Ch 14
***Clover; R 5-3 join to 3rd picot on last ring 3-3-5;
R 5j3-3-3-3-3-3-5, R 5j3-3-3-5, Ch 14***
Repeat portion between asterisks 3 more times
Clover: R 5-3 join to 3rd picot on last ring 3-3-5;
R 5j3-3-3-3-3-3-5, R 5j3-3join to second picot of first Ring3-5, Ch 14,
Tie into base of first clover.

2nd Round:
All chains.
Thread the thread through free outside picot of the first ring of any clover, then wind shuttle using CTM.
All joins in this round are shuttle joins.
***Ch 3-3-3-3. j to top picot of middle ring of clover, ch 3-3-3-3 j into the SAME picot (mock ring), ch 3-3-3-3 join to free picot of last ring of clover, chain 3***, j to free picot of next ring. Repeat *** 5 more times, tie into starting picot.
Finish the ends using your favorite method.

Button Cross

This pattern is very easy and quick to tat up. I've made these in size 10 crochet cotton for Easter or Christmas gift tie-ons.

clover: R 4-5-5-4, R 4j5-5-4, R 4j5-5-4

chain: 5-5 join to any hole of button 5-5

repeat clover

ch: 5j5 join to next hole in button 5-5-5-5

repeat clover

ch:5j5j5j5 join to next hole in button 5-5

repeat clover

chain: 5j5 join to last hole in button 5j5

tie into base of clover and finish off.

Adjusting the tension in the chains so that it "sits" right can be a bit tricky. I haven't found any perfect solution for that though...

I've also made this into a pendant (with a tiny mother-of-pearl button) - just attach a jumpring to the top picot, and run a ribbon through it to hang.

Pattern For Wreath

Inner Motif (tatted in green):

R4-4-4, *ch 4-4-4, R4j4-4, repeat from * 3 more times,

ch 4-4-4, R4j4 join to first ring 4, chain 4-4-4,

tie into base of first ring.

Second Motif (tatted in red):

R 3-3-3-3-3-3, ch 3-3-3-3-3-3

* R 3-3-3-3-3-3, ch 3j3-3-3-3-3, rpt from * 3 more times

R 3-3-3-3-3-3, ch 3j3-3-3-3j3, tie into base of first ring

Now take the second motif and weave it through the first motif - one ring through each of the spaces below each chain in the first motif. (Look at picture)

Final Row:

Shuttle join the thread to the last picot on any of the red rings. All joins are shuttle joins

Ch 3-3-3-3, j to first picot of next red ring,

ch 3-3-3-3-3-3-3 (6 picots), j to last picot on same ring, repeat 5 more times,

on the last repeat tie the chain into the first stitch of the first chain to finish.

Also, just a note - the pattern might try to ruffle until you block it, but then it lies flat just fine :-)

It took a lot of stiffener to get this to keep its shape when hanging it up. Especially with pearl cotton, it's really soft and doesn't keep "round" unless you stiffen it!

Small Star

Small Star

Pattern: R of 3 ds, 5 p sep by 3 ds, 3 ds, cl r. Reverse.

Ch of 7 ds.

R of 3 ds, 5 p sep by 3 ds, 3 ds.

Ch of 4 ds, 3 p sep by 6 ds (on repetitions, instead of 1st picot, join to
last picot of previous chain, on last repetition, instead of last picot join to
first picot on first chain), 4 ds, join to center p of prev. ring by shuttle
thread.

Chain of 7 ds.

Repeat 5 more times.

Tie to base if first ring and finish off.

Shorthand:

Ring: 3-3-3-3-3-3 cl rev

Ch 7

Ring: 3-3-3-3-3-3

Ch 4-6-6-4j

Ch 7

* Ring: 3-3-3-3-3-3 cl rev

Ch 7

Ring: 3-3-3-3-3-3

Ch 4j6-6-4j

Ch 7

Rp from * 3 more times

Ring: 3-3-3-3-3-3 cl rev

Ch 7

Ring 3-3-3-3-3-3

Chain 4j6-6j4j

Chain 7

Tie to base of the first ring, finish off

Mine is done in #8 pearl cotton in ecru and yellow.

Tatting Blog

I am starting a new tatting blog, and eventually my web site will go away. I will transfer my patterns over here, and they will eventually not be available on my webpage any more. Since geocities went away, it's just been too much trouble to maintain the web page!

Hopefully, people looking for my patterns will eventually find their way over here.