Monday, September 23, 2019

Grape Earrings from Italian Magazine

 This cluster of grapes earring design is a pattern in the Oct/Nov 2014 issue of the Italian magazine pictured below. I've finished one earring and have started on the 2nd one in the pair!

The pattern in the magazine is diagrammed and I also used the "Google Translate" app which worked with my smartphone's camera to translate the Italian text. It looked to me like the tatted rings were worked separately then sewn together in the original, but I decided to use a self-closing mock ring with "floating" rings thrown off from it to avoid some of the sewing.

I chose "Lizbeth Metallic" for the grape "berries". Each is a long tatted chain that is coiled around the previously tatted ring.


I tied the ends together. For these I did not try to sew in the tails, just snipped them off and added a drop of my currently favorite glue (Aleene's Fabric Fusion) using a pin. The pin is much easier to clean up than a brush! Simply wipe the pin with a paper napkin or tissue after applying the glue. 

After that hide the knot inside the coiled "berry".

The leaf and tendril at the top is added last. Since this is not my own pattern, I will not be posting any further details about it. It is in the magazine. I purchased my copy from Handy Hands Tatting and it's also available from other tatting supply shops.

7 comments:

Judith Connors said...

I love the effect you have created. The central mock ring is a great idea - saving lots of ends.

God's Kid said...

Absolutely awesome!!! :)

Jane McLellan said...

Splendid! Would make a nice motif as well as earrings.

Lace-lovin' Librarian ~ Diane said...

Lovely tatting, as always! Thanks for the tip about the Fabric Fusion. I haven't tried that one yet. I have used your idea of applying glue with a pin... much easier and neater than anything else I've tried!

Madtatter80 said...

fantastic, I love the grapes and your always picking out great designs too always fun to see what you are up too!

Margarets designer cards said...

They are lovely as always your tatting is lovely, I would love to try tha pattern,

Kathy Niklewicz said...

I'm quite speechless! The design is amazing! Wonderful colors! Could never have imagined how the 'berries' were formed! And your work is perfect, as usual. The Fabric Fusion is a great idea, as is the mock ring.