Mixed media jewelry with tatting

 

What I usually do is pick the colors first! 

The hand dyed thread I chose for the tatted "flowers" is from the Misty Morning batch, along with some from Blue Skies, both size 10, as well as some size 20 Lizbeth in a solid light blue. 

The teardrop focal bead is Czech glass from BastetsBeads. 

The bronze colored non-tarnish wire is from Bello Modo. I used 16 gauge for the frame, 20 gauge for wrapping the focal bead, and 28 gauge for wrapping the tatting onto the frame. When wire wrapping tatting, I always wrap over the tatted double stitches, avoiding placing wire over a single thread, in order to keep the result as durable as possible. 

The tatting is a random arrangement of Josephine rings and chains of encapsulation technique, with the extra threads carried inside the chains until needed.

While wrapping the tatting onto the frame, tiny beads can be added where desired by stringing the beads onto the wrapping wire.

For macramé I like to use nylon cord in 0.5mm diameter. I appreciate the convenience that the many tails left over from macramé can be cut and melted with a lighter to secure them. The tatting knot can be done in macramé, too!

Wire wrapped touches can look very nice added to tatted lace earrings, too. This design is a variation on my simpler "Giddy" pattern which is published in the book Tatted Jewelry. 

(By the way, I no longer receive any royalties from that book, but I'm still pleased that my name is on the cover.)

My 2020 Tatting (and Weaving and Micro Macramé and Wire Wrapping)

In spite of the relentless chaos of the past year, joy was found in staying creative. Some of my favorite projects of 2020:

My design "Flutterby Heart"

My design "Petal Portal"

Zipper pull gifts

Handwoven towels all from the same warp

From a tutorial by Macramé Tita

From a tutorial by Macramé Tita

From a tutorial by Macramé Tita

My design "Flat Carnation"

My design Double Flower Celtic

Same vintage pattern tatted 40 years apart

Designing the "Daylily Dance" pattern in progress

My design, "Daylily Dance"

My jacket with tatting, still a work in progress

My design "Dissent" collar, inspired by a collar worn by Ruth Bader Ginsburg

An example of wire wrapping combined with tatting

My last tatted project of 2020

More Wire and Tatting Pendants

 

Vintaj® natural brass colored ParaWire, with floral style tatting of my own hand dyed thread. 

A burst of creativity resulted in 5 new necklaces added to my Etsy shop. I've decided that non-tarnish coated wire is the best choice for combining my tatting with wire-wrapping. It comes in a variety of permanent colors (obviously I love colors!) and no worries about tarnishing. Even Argentium silver eventually does tarnish and of course the silver is more expensive, so I won't likely be using it anymore. 

Bronze colored wire with hand dyed thread and nylon micro-macramé

Micro-macramé, or even a simple braided cord makes a nice color-coordinating finish for these projects and the sliding knot enables the necklace to be adjustable to any length. I like that the nylon cord is shiny and smooth, and tail ends can be melted with a lighter. 

Recently I've learned to be very careful with the lighter, as I had to re-do one neck cord because I accidently burned the wrong part. Didn't set myself on fire, though! ^_^

Titanium colored non-tarnish coated wire with hand dyed, white thread, and seed pearls.

2 colors of wire and 2 colors of cord

Tiny beads added during the wire wrapping. On the large focal bead I used a filigree bead cap from a "goodies bag" acquired at a long ago Tollway Tatters meeting. 

Been Doing Macrame and Walking at the Beach

Macrame Flat Rose

 If you're interested in macrame, there are a great many excellent instructional videos on YouTube. I made these projects following the directions by Macrame Tita.

Macrame Rhomboid Pendant

Macrame Seahorse

Lake Michigan

 Away from the city on a weekday, the shoreline is not crowded and offers tranquil views and cool breezes. 
Fun fact: I've moved several times in my life, yet I've always lived less than 20 miles from the shore of Lake Michigan.

Rawley Point Lighthouse

A vacation outing, even for just a few hours, refreshes one's outlook. We surely all need it!

Macrame Nylon Loop Zipper Pull

How to add a zipper pull loop to a motif using macrame cord:

Cut a piece of nylon or polyester macrame cord about 12 inches (30 cm) long. 
Fold it in half. Put the cut ends down through the motif where it will be attached.

Pull the ends through until the loop is at the desired size.

It is easier to keep the cord in place by pinning it down.

Now begin a square knot sinnet. The 2 cut ends are the working cords. The loop is the filler.

Bring the right working cord over the filler to the left. 

Place the left working cord over it, under the filler, and through the loop formed by the right cord. 

Tighten, and you have the first half of a square knot.

Bring the left cord over and to the right of the filler.

Place the right cord over it, under the filler, and through the loop formed by the left cord.

Tighten, and you have a finished square knot.

Repeat square knots for desired length of sinnet. If you forget which half comes next, look to see which side has a completed knot "bump". That's the side to pick up the working cord from.

Trim the tails to about 1/4 inch (6mm).

Carefully melt them with a safety lighter, observing all safety precautions. Press the melted drops into the knot with the edge of the lighter. Or, press with your thumb, but take care to not get burnt.

Attach to anything!