700 words later

 

Tatting and wire pendant

In times past, I would have saved the following announcement as a surprise, but oh well, you wonderful blog readers will find out early! My pendant will be featured in the June 2023 issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry! 

I submitted my pendant in January, according to the instructions that appear in the back pages of each issue. A few days ago I received a notice from their senior managing editor saying that my piece has been chosen for a spotlight in the June issue. That includes a full page photo of the jewelry along with a one page article. So I was asked to write an article about my technique and materials in general (not a detailed step-by-step) for which I'll receive a monetary compensation.

Okay, so I just finished writing about 700 words! 

Well, that's enough writing for today - just wanted to share the excitement!

Cadenza collar

 

Original tatting pattern, "Cadenza". 

Cadenza!

Today I put my new pattern "Cadenza" collar into my Etsy shop. I chose to call it "Cadenza" because that word means a virtuoso solo passage in music, and this pattern is challenging, also. The design is basically the same as the collar shown in my previous blog post, but improved to lie better around the neck. The white collar shown was tatted in size 10 Lizbeth thread.

For the black and purple collar, I used size 20 Lizbeth thread. The result is a smaller, daintier collar, only 12 inches (30.5 cm) in length but with a longer extender chain at the back still fits an adult. I chose to tat it in 2 colors to show how different the same pattern can look!

Techniques used are ring, chain, join, lock join, node stitch (also known as Victorian sets), alligator join. Node stitch is simply 2 first halves of a double stitch followed by 2 second halves, completing one set. In the diagram for the pattern, I used gray numbers to indicate sets, and black numbers for double stitches. There are written directions also, so I made it as clear as I could.

What I feel is the trickiest part of tatting this design is the large rings used in the center motif. But, it is easier to manage by making a very large working circle to tat the ring, and wrapping the excess thread around little finger until needed. That way, more thread doesn't need to be pulled through the double stitches to enlarge the working circle as often.

Here are the 2 collars side by side, comparing size 10 thread (white) and size 20 thread (black and purple).