Celtic earrings

 

In an Italian tatting magazine IL Mio Chiacchierino October/November 2014 the pattern for these large elegant Celtic design earrings caught my eye, so I wanted to make a pair! 

I needed to learn how to cover a plastic ring with tatting, so searched on YouTube for a tutorial and found this good demo by BridalDYI. 

The earring being worn by me, showing the size. Although large, it is lightweight.

The magazine issue where the pattern appeared.

Google Translate came in handy for translating the Italian pattern. There is a diagram (but I think the 7 ds indicated between picots of the outer row is a mistake). I counted 5 ds on the photograph of the earrings on the model so I used 5 ds on mine and I'm pleased with the result. The thread I used is Liz Metallic size 20 in the color "Sand Dollar".

Still in a Celtic mood, I made 2 pairs of shamrock earrings and listed them in my Etsy shop. One pair in Kelly green, and one in my own hand dyed "Bright Greens". The pattern for these earrings is found on the "My Free Patterns" page of this blog (with a nod to Rozella Linden for the Celtic knot).

A fresh batch of "Brilliant Sunset" hand dyed thread is still waiting in a bin to be rinsed out, so I'm off to attend to that next. 

I hope all goes well for you today!

 

I'm happy to say that my fiber art piece “Starry Quin” has been published in Artistonish magazine, December 2025 issue!

Read the free online version of the magazine here: https://www.artistonish.com/p/december2025.html 

My current method for the Vision earrings

 Since my tatting has "evolved" the reverse work directions in the original "Vision Earrings" pattern found in my book Boutique Tatting do not match what I do now. I hope these step by step pictures help.

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(Instead of joining the top ring to a jump ring while in progress I just tat the ring and add the jump ring later. I've also added one more double stitch to the top ring.)

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(I've tied the threads before tatting the final ring, and tatted over one tail in part of that ring. The tail that remains I sew under some stitches in the previous chain.)

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Vision pattern necklace and earrings sets

 

The necklaces are from my "Vision" necklace pattern which is found on the Free Patterns page of this blog. It's one of my very early patterns and recommended for experienced tatters. I recently updated it with some in-progress photos but the pattern is still difficult. What can I say? I love the design! 

The earrings pattern is also called "Vision" and is found in the "Boutique Tatting" book. 

But I have a confession to make :-O

Back in the day (early 2000s) my tatting technique was different (less sophisticated) in that I always started a split ring with shuttle 1. That resulted in the split ring "turning itself over" after it was made. I haven't done it that way for years, but back when I wrote that book I still did. 

Even worse, many of the "reverse work" instructions in the written directions for that earring pattern don't make sense to my current method of tatting. The numbers and where to join are all correct, though. The photo diagram is correct. It's a cute design, just tricky!