The "flip" of tatting slow video

 

As a response to requests to show "the flip" of shuttle tatting, here's the longer video that I put on YouTube. A short version is posted on Instagram and TikTok. 

I remember trying to figure out "the flip" from looking at pictures in a book, many years ago before the Internet existed. Frustrating, right? Well, I hope the video helps someone. Also, I hope no one minds that I show my own way of tatting as well as the more traditional slip and slide way. Everyone tats differently, but "the flip" is the same. ☺

Blue Pansy hand dyed thread

 

Blue Pansy

When I was looking through my older blog posts I noticed a beautiful hand dyed thread color that I had forgotten - so I made "Blue Pansy" this week!

I have nothing else crafty to show today. I actually had to help shovel snow a few days ago, but today the temperatures are rising and the snow is melting! Found a crocus blooming in my yard, which I take as a sign of hope for better times ahead. 

Devotion Heart demo and Starry Quin at Femina

 

Last week I uploaded a 15 minute video demo tatting the "Devotion" heart to YouTube at https://youtu.be/18d6VG-_V6Y?si=j64yNATSC4od2Kic

I also made a 1 minute short to post on Instagram and TikTok. The pink and purple heart is from size 10 Lizbeth thread in color number 174. The dark red one is Lizbeth color 701 (it's more of a magenta shade in reality than dark red).

The PDF downloadable pattern is available from my Etsy shop in this listing: https://www.etsy.com/listing/227053162/tatting-pattern-jewelry-set-devotion-pdf

Speaking of Etsy, I've moved all of my items (except downloadable patterns) off Goimagine since the website will be closing permanently March 23, 2026.  It's still possible to buy my digital patterns there for a little while (they are all the exact same patterns that I have on Etsy).

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Exciting GOOD News!

My artwork 'Starry Quin' is now being showcased at Femina - 2026 exhibition, organized by Gallerium and powered by @Biafarin platform.

To learn more, please go to:

https://www.gallerium.art/femina-2026?AW=AW127584212

Goimagine is shutting down

 

Goimagine closing announcement

The Goimagine website has announced that it is shutting down soon. No worries, I will gradually move all my listings from there into my Etsy shop, which is staying open! 

Meanwhile, I have been trying to come up with a Monstera leaf design in tatting. Nothing to show yet, but I'll keep trying :-)

Project in progress: here's a photo of my loom which I managed to get "dressed" last week. I'm doing a weaving pattern found in a May 2003 issue of Handwoven magazine (but in colors of my own choosing).

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!