Tatting a mock ring with bead in center

A self-closing mock ring (often abbreviated as SCMR) is actually a tatted chain with a loop left at the beginning. To add a bead in the center, tat to reach halfway around the bead, then slip the bead onto the loop. Here I've put the bead onto a small crochet hook and I'll use the hook to pull the loop through the bead, but there are other ways to do it, too.

After the bead is placed onto the loop of thread, put the shuttle though the loop. A trick I like to use is to leave a paper clip in as a space saver, to make the final join easier. The paper clip is hanging between the start of the tatting and the bead, so it's sort of like holding a small picot temporarily.

Continue by tightening the core (shuttle thread) around the bead.

Here the bead is in place. Continue tatting the rest of the way around the bead.

Now the paper clip is removed, showing the space it had been saving. This is where the crochet hook is inserted to pull the shuttle thread through.

Finish with a lock join.

Bead in center of completed mock ring.

This is a technique I use often in my tatted jewelry.
 The pattern for the above example uses one shuttle and ball thread.

Supplies: size 20 Lizbeth thread, an 8mm round bead, and 24 size 11 seed beads. (To use a different size thread or beads, the stitch counts will need to be adjusted to fit). 

String the 24 seed beads onto the ball thread, then wind just a small amount of thread onto the shuttle. The beads remain on the ball thread.


SCMR 2, (bead picot with 3 beads, 2-2) 3 times, bead picot with 3 beads, 2.
Place the round bead onto the loop that was left at the beginning, put the shuttle through the loop, and tighten around bead.

Continue the SCMR with a picot at the end of the round bead, 2, (bead picot with 3 beads, 2-2) 3 times, bead picot with 3 beads, 2.
Tighten, then lock join to base of round bead.

This is how much I have shown in the photos. I hope this will give you an idea that you will enjoy using.