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

Hearts and Countdown to Spring

 

My first try at the "Strong Ukraine" heart pattern designed by FairyLaceAndMore. It's a very clever pattern! I enjoyed the challenge, and was happily surprised to discover a matching blue crystal in my stash.☺ 

New batch of "Thistle" hand dyed thread.

This picture got a lot of views on social media a couple weeks ago. The thread is hand dyed "Tourmaline", the pattern is my own "Heart Aglow", and the steam engine is from a board game box.

Crocuses are beginning to emerge from the cold ground here in my corner of Wisconsin. A welcome sign of spring!

This Lego set is for building a model of a Saturn V rocket. It actually belongs to one of my kids (who's not a kid anymore) so it's been sitting around several years. I got it out as sort of a calming pastime to keep my mind off of worrying about things I really can't do much to change. 

The "Flutterby Heart" pattern and video

"Flutterby Heart"

Using my new smartphone camera (which I'm not yet used to, hence some focusing issues) I made a quick video demo of tatting my free, original pattern "Flutterby Heart".

Link to YouTube video: https://youtu.be/JI5hxX3leRk 

Link to written pattern: https://www.keepandshare.com/doc/8248626/flutterby-heart-pdf-411k?da=y 

The video is in vertical format because I also edited a 1 minute version for Instagram and TikTok from it, and I didn't want to have to video everything in both orientations. But, no worries, I plan to do more YouTube videos in horizontal (landscape) format, since that works better for YouTube.

I've noticed that YouTube viewers tend to prefer short videos of a specific technique, rather than a whole project. so moving forward that's what I'll plan for YouTube. 

On the other hand, both Instagram and TikTok viewers seem to enjoy being "dazzled" by speed edited 1 minute videos showing quick in-progress clips finishing with a completed project at the end. That's how it seems to me, at any rate. 
 

Rose Heart and "Roses" hand dyed thread

"Antique Rose Heart" pattern from Tat's Amore' by Martha Ess

My rose heart is missing one round of Martha Ess's pattern, but I'm happy with how it turned out. The heart measures 3 and 1/2 inches (8.9 cm) across in size 20 Lizbeth thread. I used color numbers 615, 616, 696, 630, and 608 for the center, then hand dyed green ("Celery" and "Leafy") and finished with 676 for the outside edge.

The plan is to sew it onto my white jacket, which I started decorating in 2020.

Also this week I dyed a new batch of "Roses" hand dyed thread, now listed in my Etsy shop.

After several tries "Holly's Heart"

 

When I saw the original vintage photo on Ribbonwinners and the lovely pattern redesign by Lily Morales I decided to give it a try.

Although both the written pattern and diagrams are extremely well done, for some reason I just couldn't wrap my little brain around it enough to be able to follow it. I was ready to give up, but then took a look at the vintage original another way. 

The center is simply square blocks stacked up. 

They're turned at an angle to form the basic shape. 

Additional triangles fill in the gaps to make the heart shape. 

Since I do understand how to "climb out" using split rings, I decided to tat a row of blocks. And then "climbed out" to tat another row of blocks. I was able to finish the heart by taking a section at a time, in 3 sections. So, 3 sets of tails to sew in, not as clever as Lily's method which leaves only 1 set of tails, but I'm happy just to have been able to finish the heart! ♥

Flutterby Heart

Free tatting pattern for you! 

Instant download:
https://www.keepandshare.com/doc/8248626/flutterby-heart-pdf-411k?da=y 

This is a design that I actually came up with in 2017. For some reason I set my experimental sample aside and forgot about it. While looking through some pictures I ran across a photo and thought, "Hey, this is cute, who designed this?" Uh...well...I then noticed my own name on it! 

To make sure that it was really not someone else's design, I asked in an online tatting group if anybody had seen it before. They hadn't! Except the sharp eyes of Sue H. had noticed it on my own Facebook page! 

Well, I guess I have to admit to a "senior moment". \(^_^)/
But, for you, a new pattern!

Made room for the long bead

Based on my Unfolding Heart pattern, I tatted this heart from hand dyed size 10 thread featuring a long red glass drop bead in the center. The pattern as written isn't long enough to make room for the 7/8 inch (2.2 cm) drop bead, so I added an extra ring with corresponding chain stitches to each side of the heart. 

Earrings from Heart Aglow pattern, using the same 11/0 seed beads on size 20 thread, with a 4 mm Swarovski faceted round bead at the top and 11 mm Czech glass dagger bead at the bottom.

Simple Filigree Heart pendant in tatting

Free pattern, folks! 

Tatting techniques used are ring, chain, join, and bead picots, with one shuttle and ball thread. Click HERE to download the pattern.

The story behind this pattern: 

I designed it in 2016 to teach at the Bead&Button Show. I intended to make it public after that, then "put it away" and forgot it.

I had finished a pink heart from this same pattern, but apparently never photographed it and I couldn't find the tatted necklace today. But obviously this little heart can be made in any color. The sample shown is in hand dyed "Stardate". The center is a metal filigree, and a link to where to buy that item is included on the pattern. If you don't want to add the metal piece, you could probably just tat a ring with 6 picots to use instead.

The story behind these colors:

I had used the same seed beads on another item and someone asked me this morning what brand and color they were. It took me most of the morning hunting through my "studio" to find that tube of beads, because, naturally, I had "put them away". You know how it is. I made it my goal of the day to find those beads :)

A lengthy search of the Internet showed that I indeed had a "rare" color of seed beads! I'm not sure but they are possibly Miyuki PF484 Winter Green Matte Galvanized. Apparently discontinued, it seems. I bought them at a local bead shop, and planning tomorrow to visit same bead shop to buy out the rest of their stock if they have any left :) Love that color!

I hope you have fun with the pattern in your favorite colors!

New pattern: Heart Aglow

New pattern in my Etsy shop called "Heart Aglow".

The idea started as a motif or pendant that would be easy enough for new tatters. Then, I thought that the same pattern in smaller thread and beads would be good for earrings. My test tatter, Sue Anna suggested the bracelet idea, and so now there's a set of matching jewelry.

It's really a simple, one shuttle and ball pattern that grew into an 8 page tutorial! Easy level for tatters that know how to tat rings, chains, and joins, and good practice for tatting with beads. 

The instruction for tatting the basic motif without beads is also included. I didn't repeat the entire written directions since they're the same except without beads, but while designing it I wondered how to make the top more decorative without the bead there. After watching Usha Shah's video for Dot Picots string her innovative technique seemed like a very pretty way to finish off the top of the no beads version of the heart.

I also put this new pattern in my Craftsy pattern store. I think it's a fun heart to make, and I hope others will like it too!

Loops, leaves, and heart

The loopy earrings above are a new experiment, my original, no pattern. I used a Celtic shuttle (such as the type sold on Handy Hands Tatting) to weave in the loops. I wire wrapped the earwires of niobium myself, a technique I learned in Lisa's Craftsy class.

Actually, the base of the pattern will be one of the classes that I'll teach at IOLI convention in 2016 as a beginner/intermediate pattern, but the fancy loop layer is not included. I think everyone should be encouraged to have their own creative time and the fun of discovering new possibilities. 

The leaf earrings are both patterns that are already in my Etsy shop and Craftsy pattern store. I think hand dyed thread is great in autumn leaves!

The Unfolding Heart pattern is also one that I've had available for quite a while. The pattern itself does not include anything about beads. I added the beads, lock charm, and brass filigree to make a unique necklace. So often people ask how they can make something to look exactly like the picture. But, it's better to take the ideas learned and change things up a bit to come up with something that's different, don't you think? No two leaves, snowflakes, flowers, anything in nature is an exact duplicate of another. Nature loves variety!

Coming soon in the Winter issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry

Spilling the beans a few days early: a new, original pattern by me will appear in the Winter issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry magazine! It will be on sale beginning December 1st. But, I'm so excited I couldn't wait anymore to tell you all!

There is a bracelet to match the necklace and earrings that is modeled in the magazine. I put a chain on the necklace for the magazine article. The ones pictured here have ribbon attached to wire connectors for a different look, using the same pattern.

The tatting pattern with in-progress photos and a diagram will be in the magazine, I realize that some of my blog readers are not familiar with Belle Armoire Jewelry, but it is a popular jewelry craft magazine here in the USA, and I'm hoping the article will get more people interested in tatting.

Heart with 2 threads as one

While rummaging through my stash, I found a sparkly gold embroidery thread (DMC brand, on a spool, polyester/rayon blend) and wondered how it would combine with some Lizbeth size 10 cotton. I'm reporting that there were many tension problems! I'm not sure if it was because the 2 threads were different sizes, or because they were different fibers.

But, I doggedly persevered, and managed to finish the heart (which is from my "Unfolding Heart" pattern). I also added beads (which are not in the original pattern) and finished it off with gold filigree connectors and gold plated chain. I think it looks pretty, but this heathered version will likely be a one-of-a-kind, since it was so labor intensive to make with this particular combination of threads.

Do they only come in red?

Tatted from my Unfolding Heart pattern, all in size 10 thread. Top is my Stardate hand dyed, center is Lizbeth Victorian Red from Handy Hands, bottom is my Olde Rose hand dyed.

"Unfolding Heart" tatted necklace

Embellished with size 8/0 beads in the picots, a brass lock charm added at the bottom, and brass chain attached. I used size 10 Lizbeth cotton in the Victorian Red color.

It's the same as my basic Unfolding Heart pattern, I just added beads and chain to make it into a necklace.

"Unfolding Heart"

My new original pattern!
It reminds me of the way plants unfold as they grow. I think the heart looks pretty with or without the outer framing round. The pattern is for sale as a pdf in my Etsy shop.

Funky heart pendant in polymer clay and tatting

Originally this was going to be an earring, but the 2 hearts I made of polymer clay didn't match - I mean they were VERY different, so this one got finished up into a pendant on a chain. I still like the idea for earrings, so I'll have to make more hearts. I'd like to make a lot of different colors.

Speaking of colors, some of the colors in the pendant are similar to a shirt I saw the other night at the meeting I attended for the Loose Bead Society (LBS). I just had to tell the lady, "That shirt you're wearing has wonderful colors in it - I would like to dye some thread in those colors!"

While I was at the meeting I had the opportunity to talk for 5 minutes in front of the group (over 80 people in attendance) about the beginning tatting with beads class that I'm teaching at the LBS March Retreat. I do hope I'll be able to get some more people "hooked on tatting"!

Tatted necklace with polymer clay heart finished

It's done! The polymer clay heart measures about 2 and 1/4 inches wide (5.7 cm) by 2 inches high (5 cm). The thread used was Flora size 10.

Detail of note: the ring just before the large round bead is where I began tatting the neck cord, using a Loop Tatted Ring (LTR) to get both threads through the bead without having to unwind any shuttles. This is the technique used by Bina in her Candlelight Snowflake. The LTR is a new trick for me - I don't quite have it mastered yet, but it came in handy for this project!

The closure is a toggle that I made of polymer clay, and can be inserted into any of the tatted openings for an adjustable necklace. I'm very happy with how the necklace turned out.

Funky polymer clay heart with tatting in progress

I made this funky, colorful heart in polymer clay, with holes around the edge for joining a lacy edging. So far I've tatted all the way around the heart, using rings and chains in size 10. Now, to decide what to do next. I want to finish this as a necklace.

"Glowing Embers" heart necklace

Combination polymer clay and tatting - a free form style. I am very busy getting ready for the Artisans and Entrepreneurs Market happening this weekend, but I was happy to get this done in time to show it. Due to the art show preparations my etsy shop is temporarily closed (sorry for the inconvenience!) but will re-open on Monday, Dec. 8.

A colorful polymer clay heart

Ok, I know it's not tatting, but tatting could be attached. The holes are there. - a whole bunch! A ring and chain edging would work. The rings don't need to be joined, because the stiffness of the heart form would keep 'em in place...er, that's the theory, anyhow. I've got a couple of polymer clay heart necklaces in my Flickr album.

They're old scans, so they're a little blurry.

I haven't forgotten about the beaded project for the class I'm preparing for the bead shop, just needed to take a little break from it! That's how I work - disorganized! (grin)